On Apr 19, 2016, at 10:53 AM, Swift Griggs
<swiftgriggs at gmail.com> wrote:
Well, after discussing all things that can go wrong with a floppy disk to
corrupt or destroy it, it makes me wonder about another vintage media
format: the cart.
You mean a ROM cartridge as opposed to a magnetic tape cartridge, right?
("Cart" is also broadcast radio slang for magnetic tape cartridges, vaguely like
an 8-track tape in appearance.)
How long will they last?
That would depend on the ROM type: mask, PROM, EEPROM. I don't know which was used.
Fuse PROM supposedly may suffer from "fuse regrowth" depending on manufacturer
and process used. But if well made I would expect them to last as long as any other solid
state electronics.
Why does blowing on them help? (mosture? cleaning
action?)
Placebo effect? :-) I can't see how it makes any difference, unless the contacts are
dirty. If they are, they should be cleaned, with a proper cleaning method.
paul