Managing Floppy Disks

Adequate care has to be taken of floppy disks or they might get corrupted. Maintenance of floppy disks involves two major functions:

• Identification of data and software
• Security for data and software stored

Identification of Data and Software

In contrast to the hard disk, where you store a large quantity of data in well-organized directories, a floppy typically stores specific software or data. The number of floppies you might have to maintain often runs into hundreds, or even thousands. Labeling floppy disks appropriately is the easiest method of identifying data and software.

Paper Labels

Paper labels are used with floppy disk for external identification. As soon as you save any data on a diskette, you should use the label to indicate the contents of the diskette.

Software Labels

Apart from the external labels, software labels, also known as volume labels can be assigned to diskettes. You can assign a character label to the disk to indicate its contents.

While you are formatting a diskette, you can assign a volume label. The DOS command LABEL may also be used for this purpose. It accepts a name from the keyboard and stores it as the volume label. For example, to label the diskette in drive A use the command:

LABEL A:

When a diskette is formatted, the volume label gets erased and you can assign a new one.

Security - Write-protecting Floppy Disks

Protection of data and software is vital, since unauthorized users tend to destroy valuable data and software. Since data and software is going to be stored on floppy disks or hard disks, protecting the floppy disks or hard disks ensures data security to a great extent.

Write-protecting Floppy Disks

You would often create files which have to be used extensively but do not require modification or deletion. These may be data files you are using only for reporting, and not for processing. Or, they may be programs, which you would like to save from being overwritten or accidentally erased.

One way is to make the whole floppy write-protected. In other words, no writing operation can take place on the disk. Data can only be read. In a microdisk, the write-protect tab is a small sticker that has to be stuck onto the floppy disk. In a microdisk, the write-protect tab on the diskette has to be pushed down to enable protection.

Write Protection on a 3½ Disk

Handling Floppy Disks

Floppy disks need special care and handling, as they can get exposed to dirt, heat, and other environmental hazards. Such exposures tend to corrupt the floppy disks. The integrity of the data and software stored is lost. That is why each floppy disk is enclosed in its own protective cover. It also comes with a paper jacket. Some of the things you should observe while handling diskettes are:

• Store diskettes in their boxes.
• Hold a diskette always by the corner and write on labels with a felt-tipped pen (a pencil or ball-point pen can damage the disk if you press too hard).
• Do not place heavy objects on top of diskettes.
• Do not touch the exposed parts of the disk or bend it.

Microdisks have rigid plastic covers with metal shields that protect the disk from dirt and fingerprints. When you insert the disk into the disk drive, the computer automatically moves this shield aside to read the disk.

Whichever type of diskette you are using, it is important to store it in a safe place, away from dust, moisture, magnetism, and extreme temperatures.