From: larry_fosdick@hotmail.com   
      
   "Knut Roll-Lund"  wrote in message   
   news:l-OdnQViWumTRKHZRVnzvA@telenor.com...   
   > Doug_M wrote:   
   >> Dave Griffith wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>thewises  wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>>>>So I turn the computing off, pause, and back on. LDOS boots. This disk   
   >>>>>is "good", and this behaviour is the same with other boot disks. What   
   >>>>>gives? Is it okay to turn your M4 on with a floppy in the drive?   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>>>I've heard that when you turn a computer on(or turn it off), a power   
   >>>>surge goes through the floppy drives that will damage disks that are in   
   >>>>them. I heard that this can happen with _any_ computer.   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>>I haven't heard of such a problem like this until a few months ago.  It   
   >>>/may/ be true of TRS80 machines and CP/M machines, but I missed their   
   >>>heyday.  I haven't noticed the problem with x86 PCs since at least 1992.   
   >>>Before that I used Apple II series extensively and it didn't happen   
   >>>there either.  In fact, I seem to remember the Apple II manuals   
   >>>specifically saying that one should insert a disk, THEN turn on power.   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> The last place I read about it was in the DOSPLUS 3.3 manual (for the   
   >> Model III). It said to prevent damage to the disk, turn the M3 on,   
   >> insert the disk, press reset. I don't have an actual M3 to try this on,   
   >> but it doesn't work on the M4 (at least not on mine).   
   >>   
   >> Regards,   
   >>   
   > I think it is not a good idea to power up a system, any computer, with a   
   > floppy inside, especially old ones (even if it was safe once doesn't mean   
   > it is now when capacitors may have deteriorated).   
   >   
   > I wouldn't trust manuals on this, most say to insert disk then power up.   
   >   
   > BTW I got an extra manual with my first drives and Smal-LDOS. It was from   
   > the UK importer of LDOS; Molimerx, telling me to power up first then to   
   > insert the disk and apply reset (I should scan that manual, it is good).   
   >   
   > Most of the time I would half insert the disk, turn the machine on then,   
   > while it is still spinning, insert the disk fully and close so I don't use   
   > the reset unless I'm too slow.   
   >   
   > Actually I have seen that people recommend that floppys should not be in   
   > the drives at all when powering up or down. Kind of paranoid but there is   
   > a point there.   
   >   
   > On my model I's I have all bootfloppies writeprotected because contact   
   > problems with the EI cable might actualy destroy the floppy while trying   
   > to boot (regardless of sequence) but this is model I.   
   >   
   > Anyway, have backups it is the only way to ensure keeping of data.   
   >   
   > Knut   
      
   I have trashed floppies on my Model I and 4P when turning on or off the   
   computer with a floppy in drive 0. Usually, it's when I turn it off.  I do   
   the same as Knut, turn on computer and insert disk during the initial seek   
   period.  If that works for you Doug, then it might be your best bet.   
      
   When turning off my Model I especially, if a floppy is in the drive, I hear   
   a distinct "clunk" as though the heads load or unload.   
      
   Larry   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)