Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services
Proper treatment of media
Take appropriate care of removable media (e.g. diskettes, CDs, USB drives). Data stored on removable media (i.e. diskettes, CDs, memory sticks) can be lost through the misuse, mishandling and misplacing of the media.
Disks:
- Replace diskettes each semester as they eventually wear out.
- Never let anything touch the exposed parts of a diskette (i.e. the part concealed under the metal or plastic slide).
- Use high-density diskettes, not double-density diskettes.
- Diskettes are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
- On hot days, car trunks and dash boards can be disk killers. On cold days, permit the diskette to warm up to room temperature before use.
CDs:
- Store CDs in a case or sleeve to avoid scratches.
All types of removable media:
- Do not place media on greasy or dirty surfaces; this is a major reason that food and beverages are not permitted in the labs.
- Do not place media near magnetic fields such as televisions, monitors, or speakers.
- Wait until removable media drives (e.g. diskettes, CDs, USB drives) have finished writing and closing files before ejecting or disconnecting the media.
- Removing media while the drive light is still on (and the media is being accessed) is the single most frequent cause of data loss.
