For long-term storage, I would worry that the coating on the cardboard might stick to the drive's head, especially if it was humid when the drive is bagged. (I know a number of museum conservators who do not use plastic bags for protecting artifacts because of problems with static and humidity. They only use closed plastic bags when there is a question of insect infestation.) It would probably be a good idea to put a _fresh_ packet of silica gel desicant in the plastic bag with the drive. And, yes, I still have some of the shipping cardboards for my old drives :) . -----Original Message----- From: Fred Cisin [mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com] Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 8:01 PM To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Storing floppy dirves <snip> Does EVERYBODY discard the shipping cardboard that 5.25" drives came with? NOBODY ever expects to have to ship or store a drive ever again? Your choice is NOT between a open (heads unloaded) v a disk loaded. Your choice is between a open (heads unloaded) v a proper shipping cardboard (or disk rotated 90 degrees to use the JACKET of the disk as padding).