> On Apr 19, 2016, at 10:53 AM, Swift Griggs <[email protected]> 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
