Tips for floppy disk storage

[zoinks]

I have over 600 floppy disks mainly stored in a couple of cardboard boxes. I am looking for a better solution, ideally bulk storage, but single layer so I can easily browse and access them.

Any recommendations?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Photo albums?

[LoadWB]

What kind of floppies?

There's a lot of advice out there, to sum up from memory: store up-right to keep pressure off the media, store in the same kind-of environment you live in, avoid temperature extremes, avoid too moist and too arid environments.  The longevity of the media will greatly depend upon the quality of manufacture.

Addressing the cardboard box, I don't see that as a problem so long as it's sturdy and prevents distortion of the disks.  I use some Sterilite plastic storage boxes you can get at some dollar stores, grocery stores, or I get most of mine from Target.

I tried using CD storage (The Container Store has some nice media cases which accommodate CD, VHS, and DVD) but 5-1/4s are not quite the right size.  I do not know of much which is designed around the 3-1/2 disk size.

[scuzzb494]

I have over 600 floppy disks mainly stored in a couple of cardboard boxes. I am looking for a better solution, ideally bulk storage, but single layer so I can easily browse and access them.

Any recommendations?

I have over 13000 floppy disks and for the greater part they all work fine. Interestingly I still have my very first packs of disks for the Amiga and they all work. I get more problems with the later HD disks for the PC in truth. Dreadful.

The trick is upright storage I found and in disk boxes or drawers. Keeping them out of the dust. I have a lot of disks in plastic sleeves also as they did use to provide those with disks. I also don't keep writing and rewriting over disks. In respect of temperature I don't ever find that a problem, though I would concern myself over condensation and damp environments.

Also the obvious issue of keeping them away from magnets etc. I have always been very careful with disks and other appliances.

I take all my games disks out of their boxes and store them in disk boxes, vertical. I also have loads of small plastic disk cases that I store disks in. When not in use always put them away and keep them out of dust. I also have dustcovers on all my machines and if a computer is left standing I place a dust sheet over the floppy port.

Avoid very sticky labels and constantly pulling them off. Better to have tiny labels and keep a log of what you have. Also make backups and keep copies on hard drives etc.

http://www.scuzzscink.com/amiga/a_scuzz_nov02/a_scuzz_nov02_19.jpg

Last count I had 13301 disks and I never question whether they will work. So just keep them safe and dust free for the most part. I never get issues with 5.25" disk, ZIP disks or 3" disks as they are all stored in the same way. Vertical and dust free. Floppies go metal dust slide downwards. ie.e on the bottom.

13297: SupraRam Software Supra Corporation 1990
13298: Datel Electronics Amiga Tablet Software
13299: MicroDeal Amiga Pro-Midi Interface - Public Domain Programs
13300: DAaTA Scan PandAAL Software
13301: StereoMaster MicroDeal Amiga 1991

[LoadWB]

Concurring on two points: disks manufactured late in the floppy life-cycle were crap, skimping on quality of materials like the magnetic media layer, the "glue" holding it on, the Mylar disk itself, and especially the internal dust jacket.  And definitely do not put them anywhere near where you keep your Bucky Balls.