2017/12/29 04:47:01
jyoung60
slartabartfast
If you want magnetic media to last forever, you will need to refresh the data periodically.

 
Define "periodically". I have 3.5" floppies with MIDIs on them from 1990, never refreshed.  They work fine.
2017/12/29 06:02:42
mettelus
Before that one takes off on folks, unless you expose magnetic media (especially a HDD platter) to a strong magnetic field it isn't going to spontaneously demagnetize.
 
Every sector of every track actually has bits on it to guide the head on a read/write approach to get in on track. These are not accessible to the head for writing operations (consumers anyway - they are permanently written to the platter as part of the manufacturing process); so if these just demagnetized (which they don't), "refreshing" would be a moot point anyway because the heads would have no clue where they are.
 
For a 3.5" floppy, the areal density is so low (with such a massive margin for error) that the magnetic concerns pale in comparison to exposure to heat, dust, and general bad environment. Those I would recommend copying to something more impervious to the elements (they are essentially a more rigid version of magnetic tape and subject to the same concerns).
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