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This seems a little hard on the heads!

8

8008guy

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Shouldn't result in much damage to the drive heads. If the protection disk is clean and undamaged, the heads will just float over it and then return to their stop position. Tells nothing about the condition of the drives though.
 
But the question was regarding having the drive protection left in during operation not during transport. I doubt that turning on the computer without removing the protection will damage the drives.
 
Chuck(G) said:
No, it won't have any effect at all, as the cardboard doesn't spin, does it?
Click to expand...

The heads will seek at least to track zero durring post and attempted boot if not already there and I've seen some BIOSs that will drive the heads back and forth all the way aggressively if the drive door is closed. So, if the cardboard is smooth and clean as
krebizfan said, probably OK. But, if there is a tear or wrinkle in the wrong place the head(s) could be tugged on pretty hard. The head protectors that came with the IBM 5155 QUME drives where made such that they would push the carriage all the way in (Track zero?) and hold it there if the door is closed, as long as they are inserted the correct direction. I've seen MANY Ebay listing wit the protectors in the wrong way though like the first link posted by 8088guy. Those tabs sticking out are meant to be inside!! All bets are off in that case.
 
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I've had protectors with and without the tabs. The paper ones were all cardboard with a hard face. I think I've also got some made of plastic for 3.5" drives.
 
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