Bondwell 14 5.25" floppies

[greg221b]

Hello!

A friend of mine got a Bondwell 14 CPM luggable on ebay a little while ago - without any media.  He got hold of some 5.25" disks, but they're not cooperating.

I was wondering if anyone here might be willing to write some supplied disk images to 5.25" floppies (for whatever you think it's worth) so he can use this machine.

Thanks,
Greg

[ChickenMan]

This wouldnt happen to be his post over at VCF forum - https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?thread...st-1354525

He should be able to convert the images he has (are they in IMD format?) by converting the IMD (or the CQM file if from archive.org) to a HFE file using HxCFloppyEmulator software ready for a Gotek.

[greg221b]

Thanks Chickenman.

Good spotting, yes I reckon that's his post.

I'll pass on your note.

The floppies that won't read - do you think a soapy water clean would help here?

Greg

[CheshireNoir]

Thanks Chickenman.

Good spotting, yes I reckon that's his post.

I'll pass on your note.

The floppies that won't read - do you think a soapy water clean would help here?

Greg

Most floppy disks have a fabric liner that'll suck up water and hold it. Not good for your disks.
My understanding is that your best bet is to remove the inner magnetic disk from the sleeve, carefully clean it, finishing with something like Isopropanol to drive the water off, then put it in a clean sleeve. 
It does mean you can't use the disk for much more than a few times to recover your data to a new disk, but if it's that valuable, go for it!

John

[someone]

Someone uses cotton buds and water/isopropyl solution to clean floppy disk heads.
Carefully remove any mould grown on floppy disks. They can instantly contaminate drive heads.
Detergent sounds like a better idea than soapy water because soap is fatty.

[ChickenMan]

Thanks Chickenman.

Good spotting, yes I reckon that's his post.

I'll pass on your note.

The floppies that won't read - do you think a soapy water clean would help here?

Greg

Yes I would remove the disk platter from its sleeve and then give it a good clean with a couple drops of dishwashing detergent and a tissue soaked in water. A good swirling action on both sides has worked wonders for me. Water rinse, dry them off and slip into a new case and try reading them again.  If working use the Bondwell to make new copy.  I have found IPA stuffs some disks by dissolving too much, stick with the detergent/water.

[greg221b]

Thanks for your suggestions chaps - I knew you guys would have had experience with crusty disks.
I'll pass on all suggestions to my friend. He's reluctant to try the disk cleaning - but they're not reading at all, so I can't see the harm.

Greg