Diskettes Gone Bad!
by Jack Zanto
February 2004

Over my many years, I've witnessed way too many folks desperately wanting to retrieve data off a diskette that's gone bad.  The first problem with that scenario is that the data on a diskette should also be on a hard drive.  Due to the unreliability of diskettes, they should only be used to transport data from one computer's hard drive to another.  For most diskettes, it's not a question of if it will go bad, but WHEN it will go bad.  If you enjoy playing the old game of Diskette Russian Roulette, then go for it, but please don't hold out any hope of retrieving that lost data.

An alternative

Fortunately, there's now a more reliable, more convenient, and much more spacious option to saving your data in a portable fashion.  That option is the USB key shown in the graphic above next to the diskette.  The USB key comes in a variety of storage capacities.  A 256 mb USB key can store more data on it than 150 diskettes and cost in the area of $50-$90.  I would recommend buying one with some sort of warranty.

Who needs one?

Not everyone needs a USB key.  If you never use diskettes or never burn cd's, you'll manage just fine without a USB key.  If you do any of the following, you may find them very handy:

• PowerPoint presentations

• Take files home to work on your home computer

• Transfer files regularly among computers at work

• Copy files from your desktop computer to your laptop.

Will it work on my computer?

The USB key plugs into a USB port on the computer.  Every computer in the department should have a USB port.  They've been in existence since the 200 MHz computers.  If you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP, there's no software to install.  When you plug in the USB key, the computer discovers the new device and makes the USB key accessible.  The key appears to the user as just another drive, so you can copy and delete files just like a diskette.

Summary

In a few years, the diskette will be a lot like me...something you remember...but not fondly.  Anyone who has used diskettes extensively, has horror stories to tell of them.  The fact that many computers are being made these days without a diskette drive, indicates that diskettes are on their way out.  The USB key, with memory like that of digital cameras, provides an excellent alternative to fill the diskette void with less likelihood of the aggravation. 

If you have any questions, please contact the IT staff.