Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields. (Remember that diskettes store information magnetically.) There are many sources of magnetism in your home or office, such as electrical appliances, telephones, and loudspeakers.

Do not place diskettes on top of your monitor or near an external disk drive.

Never touch a diskette’s magnetic surface. The oils on your fingertips can damage it. Always hold a diskette by its protective jacket. If you are using a 3 1/2-u& diskette, do not slide the metal shutter; this exposes the diskette’s surface.

Do not place anything on top of your diskettes, and be sure they do not get bent. A diskette does not rotate properly in the drive if it has been damaged.

Carefully label your diskettes. Attach labels firmly but gently, and only along the top of a diskette (next to the manufacturer’s label). Do not stick several labels on top of one another; too many labels can make it difficult to insert and remove the diskette in the drive.

It is best to write on the label before you attach it to the diskette. If you need to write on a label that is already on a diskette, use only a soft-tip pen, not a ballpoint pen or a pencil. Always indicate the storage capacity and density type on the label.

Store diskettes in a proper location, such as a diskette container. Do not store diskettes flat or stack them on top of each other. When you are not using them, keep your diskettes in their protective envelopes.

2-10Using Your Computer