MPC3000 won't format SCSI zip disk but still loads and saves

My MPC3000 won't format Zip disks but still loads and saves with no problems.

When I try and format it asks that I make sure the drive is properly connected and asks me to try again.

Should I be buying a new zip drive?

I've tried to search th forum for a similar thread with no luck.

Any help would be appreciated!

If that zip drive used to format disks and now it won't, then most likely it is a problem with the zip drive. Did it ever format disks okay?

HaterNob wrote:My MPC3000 won't format Zip disks but still loads and saves with no problems.

When I try and format it asks that I make sure the drive is properly connected and asks me to try again.

Should I be buying a new zip drive?

I've tried to search th forum for a similar thread with no luck.

Any help would be appreciated!

Maybe not.

1: SCSI ZIP100 ?
2: SCSI ZIP250 ?
3: HYBRID SCSI/PARALELL ZIP100 PLUS ?

Where point 1 is concerned.
Maybe one of the bad firmware batches where IOMEGA blocked the SCSI format unit command.
This caused problems for other sampler users back in the day.
See solutions for point 2 below as a possible work around.
Or ditch this ZIP drive and try another.

Where point 2 is concerned.
If you are trying to use a 100 meg ZIP cart in a 250 meg ZIP drive then a failure to hard format will happen.
The ZIP250 blocks the SCSI format unit command when a 100 meg cart is inserted.
The work around ?
In OS 3.11/3.12 hit SOFT KEY 2 where you see FORMAT NOW.
In OS 3.16 use the FAST format option.
In Vailixi 3.50 use the SOFTWARE LOW LEVEL format or PARTITION ONLY option.

Where point 3 is concerned.
Don't use HYBRID ZIP100 PLUS drives with the MPC3000.
Despite reports of these working for some people; they grossly violate the SCSI spec and should be avoided.

None of the above points relevant to you ?

Good luck.

Rohan

Thanks for the reply guys. I've been running 3.11 and using a 250 drive with a 100 disk. Pressing soft key 2 at format now worked a treat! All praise Rohan! It's not the first time you've helped me out with the Mpc, thanks again for taking the time to offer your advice. Peace

Well there you have it.

Solution 2.

Nice.

Rohan

mpc3000le wrote:

HaterNob wrote:My MPC3000 won't format Zip disks but still loads and saves with no problems.

When I try and format it asks that I make sure the drive is properly connected and asks me to try again.

Should I be buying a new zip drive?

I've tried to search th forum for a similar thread with no luck.

Any help would be appreciated!

Maybe not.

1: SCSI ZIP100 ?
2: SCSI ZIP250 ?
3: HYBRID SCSI/PARALELL ZIP100 PLUS ?

Where point 1 is concerned.
Maybe one of the bad firmware batches where IOMEGA blocked the SCSI format unit command.
This caused problems for other sampler users back in the day.
See solutions for point 2 below as a possible work around.
Or ditch this ZIP drive and try another.

Where point 2 is concerned.
If you are trying to use a 100 meg ZIP cart in a 250 meg ZIP drive then a failure to hard format will happen.
The ZIP250 blocks the SCSI format unit command when a 100 meg cart is inserted.
The work around ?
In OS 3.11/3.12 hit SOFT KEY 2 where you see FORMAT NOW.
In OS 3.16 use the FAST format option.
In Vailixi 3.50 use the SOFTWARE LOW LEVEL format or PARTITION ONLY option.

Where point 3 is concerned.
Don't use HYBRID ZIP100 PLUS drives with the MPC3000.
Despite reports of these working for some people; they grossly violate the SCSI spec and should be avoided.

None of the above points relevant to you ?

Good luck.

Rohan

Thank you Rohan - your clear answer above helped my problem with formatting 100MB Zip disk in external 250MB Zip drive attached to MPC3000LE