Date   : Wed, 22 Dec 1982 02:55:00 EST (Wed)
From   : Ben Goldfarb <goldfarb.ucf-cs@Udel-Relay>
Subject: Cleaning disk drive heads

Recently, Jerry asked for info about how to load the heads on his disk
drive in order to clean them.  While I don't have a program that does
it, it got me thinking about another rumor versus fact brouhaha that
has not yet been clarified to my satisfaction:  is it necessary or
desirable to clean heads?  I have heard both sides of the story:  1)
the oxide buildup on floppy disk heads is harmful, causing excess wear
and unreliable data transfers, and 2) cleaning the heads is an
excessively abrasive procedure that shortens their life.

I'd like to get some opinions on the above, if not hard data.

                                       Ben Goldfarb 
                                       ARPA: goldfarb.ucf-cs@Udel-Relay
                                       uucp: ...!duke!ucf-cs!goldfarb