Article 18284 of comp.sys.amiga.hardware:
Path: orstcs!ogicse!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!plav
From: plav@cup.portal.com (Rick M Plavnicky)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: A1000 and floppy disks go swimming.
Message-ID: <53828@cup.portal.com>
Date: 2 Feb 92 02:42:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: cup.53828
References: <1992Jan30.141643.15079@spectrum.xerox.com>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 45


morgana@canard.wrc.xerox.com (Stephen C. Morgana) writes:

>A friend of mine had his basement flood while he was away on vacation.
>Oddly enough this is where he used to keep his Amiga.  The entire system
>plus several floppy disks were submerged for several days.  Though his
>
> [...]
>
>I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to clean the
>floppies (the media is covered with what looks like water spots and an
>oily film). I was also wondering if there are any good tools available

Sure, it's possible to get the data back, and it's as easy as you
probably first thought.  Pass this along to your friend.

First, find a new floppy disk and split its case, removing the media.
The important thing here is to avoid damaging the plastic case.  It
might take a few tries to get a good one.  Don't worry about the
shutter, and remove it, too.

Now that you've gotten some practice taking floppies apart it's time
to get to work on the ``dirty'' ones.  Take those apart now.  This
time, though, carefully preserve the MEDIA - the case is the
expendable part of these.

Take your caseless floppies to the sink and wash them.  That's right,
use a bit of detergent to cut the grease, and plenty of water.  You'll
want to avoid scratching, or otherwise damaging them physically, but
they're actually pretty robust.  When they're nice and clean, lay them
out on a lint-free cloth and air dry.  You can speed the process by
blotting the excess water with a lint-free cloth first.  Resist the
temptation to pop 'em into the oven or blast 'em with a hair dryer.

When the media drys (and NOT before!) you can install them, one at a
time, into the clean case you prepared at first.  Immediately copy the
floppy to new media.  Repeat as necessary. 

If you work carefully you'll salvage most, if not all of the damaged
data.  I've done this before and haven't lost anything in the process. 


>morgana.wbst128@xerox.com

/* Rick Plavnicky   plav@cup.portal.com */