Floppy disks grinding and not working

[Andy001z]

hi,

after unpacking my A1200 for the first time in 5years I was mortified to hear the internal and external floppy drive grinding away when a disk was inserted. I decided to buy a new internal drive and once installed I tested and to my horror I noticed that some disks worked by others (ones left in box in garage) did not and made this horrid noise as it tried to read the disk. The disks do not work.

Anyone fixed this, my disks do not look dirty, and I have tried blasting with air cleaner but still nothing. I know the drive is working as others load up fine with no sound effects.

Ideas?

Cheers
Andy

[Andy001z]

Thanks for your tips, you reminded me that yes some did used to require a gentle nudge. The problem is I fear its more than that becuase nearly 90% of the ones that had not been in a floopy disk box had the problem. Therefore I assumed some sort of problem has happened to these disks. If not dirt, maybe damp or heat?

Cheers

[Andy001z]

Hmmm, thanks for tips, it does seem however that how you store them will depend on the likelyhood of them working or not. The ones I had in a proper sealed disk box work fine, the ones in the cardboard box / plastic bag look like they have died over time. In fact I can go further and say the ones in the box were kept in the house where as the others in the garage, so possible issue there.

As to what I have lost, well mostly PD demos but worst was some of my old Amos Pro projects, nothing major but a shame all the same.

Andy