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Backing Up Files | Up
Information Systems Technician Training Series, Module 2 - Computer Systems | Next
System Care and Operator/User Maintenance |
destroyed along with your microcomputer. You need to
make multiple backups and store a set in a different area
away from your working area or, at a minimum, in a data
safe. This will require some extra effort by you or the
user, but it will more than pay for itself should you ever
experience a data loss.
Care, Handling, and Protection of Diskettes
As communications specialists, we know how
sensitive diskettes are when it comes to rough handling,
extreme heat and cold, high and low humidity, static
electricity, and contaminants, such as dirt, dust, liquids,
and grease. Unfortunately, many end users do not. They
may leave their diskettes lying around out of their
protective envelopes, expose them to direct sunlight,
store them next to an electric pencil sharpener, and so
on. It will be your job to explain and demonstrate to new
users how to properly manage and maintain their
diskettes as well as other types of magnetic media.
Because diskette mistreatment is usually fatal to
data, it is important to have procedures to help the end
user better understand how to care for, handle, and
protect diskettes. They must be made aware that once a
diskette is damaged, there’s little chance of retrieving
the data. If you were to calculate the value of a single
diskette in terms of the data stored on it and the hours it
took to input the data, then a $2 diskette might well be
worth several thousands of dollars. If you can make the
end users understand this, then maybe they will treat
diskettes more carefully. Go over the fundamentals on
how to care for, handle, and protect diskettes. Explain
how to properly load a diskette into a drive.
CARING
AND
H A N D L I N G O F
DISKETTES.— We know how important it is to keep
diskettes away from cigarette smoke, greasy foods, and
beverages that might be spilled on them, but what about
the end users? Do they know the negative effects these
substances can have on their computer, the media, or
their work? Probably not, and that’s where you come in.
Never bend or fold diskettes. The diskette drive
only accepts a diskette that is absolutely flat. If it is bent
or crinkled, it may cause severe damage to the
read/write heads as well as make the data unretrievable.
When preparing an external file label, never use a
pencil or ball-point pen if the label is already affixed to
the diskette’s jacket. Instead, use a felt tip marker and be
sure to press lightly. Unless labels are scarce, you
would do well to inform the user it is far better to prepare
a new label before placing it on the diskette. Then,
using extreme care, remove any label on the diskette
and place the new one on. Never stack labels one on top
of the other on a diskette. It may cause problems when
you insert the diskette into the drive.
Show end users how to handle and properly use
diskettes. To be used, a diskette must be inserted into a
disk drive. Sounds simple enough; however, if you
were to measure a 5.25-inch diskette, you would find
that each side measures 5.25 inches—it is perfectly
square. To the end users, inserting a diskette into a drive
could become a bit of a problem with eight possible
ways to insert it. We know a diskette goes into a drive
correctly in only one way. If the disk drive is the
horizontal type, insert the diskette with the label facing
up and the recording window toward the drive door, as
shown in figure 2-19. Normally, if the disk drive is the
vertical type, hold the diskette with the label facing left
while inserting it with the recording window toward the
drive door. Once the diskette is properly inserted, close
the drive door by lowering the drive latch. This
positions the read/write heads and locks the diskette in
place. This locking step is necessary; otherwise, the
system will not be able to access the diskette in the
drive.
PROTECTION OF DISKETTES.— How many
times have you read or heard the following “Whenever
diskettes are not being used, they should be stored in a
protective envelope”; or “Whenever a diskette is
removed from its protective envelope, never touch any
of the diskette’s exposed parts”; a thousand times
maybe? The same may not be true of individuals who
have just been introduced to the world of computers. It
will be your job to assist and educate these new users
through OJT in their working environment.
Temperature and humidity are also important.
Never leave diskettes in direct sunlight or in areas where
humidity is extremely high or low. High humidity can
cause moisture to form on the diskette’s surface or
possibly warp the diskette’s protective jacket. Low
humidity makes conditions ideal for the buildup of
static electricity, which you can transfer or discharge to
a diskette, thereby destroying the data. Diskettes are
designed to withstand temperatures from 50 to 125
degrees Fahrenheit, 10 to 52 degrees Celsius, and a
Figure 2-19.—Inserting a diskette properly.
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