Odd ZIP 250 problem

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Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Mr. Softkey Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:33 pm
Good day MPC scientists,

I have been using the 3K with the standard iOmega250 for many years now.
As you know, 3K ZIP250 disks are usually partitioned into 9 partitions (A-I)
I have about 7 Zip Disks all partitioned like this.
Just recently I have encountered an issue where any partitions after D do not load!

In other words, I can access partitions 1-4 on all of my discs, but if I try to access partitions 5-9 I get the eternal clicking, then error message*

usually the error message is the standard "This disk may be damaged ..."
but along with this most recent issue I have been seeing a new (to me) error message that explains something may be wrong electronically- but this is ONLY when I try to get at partitions E-F on my discs.

A few months ago, I tried to format a ZIP100 with this (not realizing, as a 3.10 user, that I could not). Could that have "confused my ZIP250?

It is a very wacky problem but I'm resolved to beat it- will be trying various tricks today.
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Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Tha_Skywalker Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:59 am
Mr. Softkey wrote:usually the error message is the standard "This disk may be damaged ..."


I think thats the best guess, from my knowledge Zip disk/drives give A LOT
of error messages, and what your describing to me sounds like
the click of death, if its a repetitive clicking then yeah thats the issue.
Its actually something thats very common with
zip drives. They say theirs no fix to it but check this out

found this on the forum

(My advice would be upgrade to a CF Card Reader but if money's tight then check out this thread below)

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=119158

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Mr. Softkey Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:37 pm
Thanks I am reading this now..
To be clear- this inability to access partitions 5-9 occurs on my whole collection of 8 discs. So the drive itself is suspect #1, and not the discs.
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Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Lampdog Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:01 pm
yeah, sorry to say but it sounds like your drive is on it's last legs.

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By JVC Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:22 pm
No one should be using Zip drives at this point, it is criminally fragile data storage system. while you need to make back up of your data on zip disks, you should use SCSI MO drive instead.

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By JVC Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:37 pm
Acid Mitch wrote:I've been using zips for years with no trouble.

You've been lucky, good for you! But, it doesn't negate the fact that Zip is not fragile data storage. I still call it one of the worst data storage ever (the worst one, I think, is JAZ drive (also iomega), or SyQuest drive.)

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Acid Mitch Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:42 am
JVC wrote: while you need to make back up of your data on zip disks, .


You need to back up your data no matter what media you use.


JVC wrote:You've been lucky, good for you! But, it doesn't negate the fact that Zip is not fragile data storage.


I've been no luckier than all the other people that dont have any/many problems with zips . Even the OP states he's been using his drive for "many years" and dont you mean " it doesn't negate the fact that Zip is fragile data storage" ?

All media I know of is fragile in one way or another.
I've had more hard drives , CD drives/discs and floppy drives/disks die than Zip drives/disks.
Compact flash is not exempt from problems either.

JVC wrote:I still call it one of the worst data storage ever (the worst one, I think, is JAZ drive (also iomega), or SyQuest drive.)


Most people seem to agree 3 1/4" floppies are worse and you dont hear of many people backing up to tape anymore.

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By JVC Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:25 pm
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make anyone defensive. If you are happy with Zip drive, that's your choice. I was just suggesting to stay away from using Zip drive if you can. Personally I've seem many dead Zip drives in 90s' (SyQuest drive too.) so, I don't trust zip disks.
Unlike floppy disk, Zip disk holds much more data (1.4MB VS 100/250MB), so Zip should be much more reliable than floppy.
Ideally, you should make back up for all of your data, but disaster strikes at the worst possible timing.

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By Acid Mitch Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:03 am
JVC wrote:I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make anyone defensive...


No need to apologise, I dont think you made anyone defensive.

JVC wrote: If you are happy with Zip drive, that's your choice. I was just suggesting to stay away from using Zip drive if you can. Personally I've seem many dead Zip drives in 90s' (SyQuest drive too.) so, I don't trust zip disks. ..


As far as I know there were batches of Zip drives that had manufacturing defects but the rest of failures were caused by rough/improper handling , not keeping drives/disks clean and using cheap third party disks.
I presume the majority of drives from the bad batches are already dead ,so as long as you dont have a drive from a bad batch and look after your disks and drives things should be fine.
Fewer than 1 in 200 drives developed the "click of death". Iomega produced more than 12 million drives which means there is a lot of working reliable Zip drives out there.
Disks came with a 5 year warranty which is better than some hardrives,memory sticks , cdr/dvdr disks , and floppies.

Zips aren't perfect but they are better than some things and no worse than others.

JVC wrote:Unlike floppy disk, Zip disk holds much more data (1.4MB VS 100/250MB), so Zip should be much more reliable than floppy..


The amount of data something holds has nothing to do with how reliable it is.


JVC wrote:Ideally, you should make back up for all of your data, but disaster strikes at the worst possible timing.


It's a necessity . There is an old saying that your data doesn't exist unless it's in 2 different places .

Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By JVC Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:45 pm
Acid Mitch wrote:As far as I know there were batches of Zip drives that had manufacturing defects but the rest of failures were caused by rough/improper handling , not keeping drives/disks clean and using cheap third party disks.
I presume the majority of drives from the bad batches are already dead ,so as long as you dont have a drive from a bad batch and look after your disks and drives things should be fine.
Fewer than 1 in 200 drives developed the "click of death". Iomega produced more than 12 million drives which means there is a lot of working reliable Zip drives out there.
Disks came with a 5 year warranty which is better than some hardrives,memory sticks , cdr/dvdr disks , and floppies.
Zips aren't perfect but they are better than some things and no worse than others.


I didn't know Zip came with 5 year warranty.
Acid Mitch wrote:Fewer than 1 in 200 drives developed the "click of death"'


Wow, I guess many of my friends had really bad luck with Zip drives! I always thought it was much more common issue...
Acid Mitch wrote:... Iomega produced more than 12 million drives which means there is a lot of working reliable Zip drives out there.

I must say, this is the first time in my life that I saw the phrase "reliable Zip drives"!

Acid Mitch wrote:
JVC wrote:Unlike floppy disk, Zip disk holds much more data (1.4MB VS 100/250MB), so Zip should be much more reliable than floppy..

The amount of data something holds has nothing to do with how reliable it is.

What I wanted to say was that, loosing data on one Zip disk is much more devastating than loosing data on one floppy disk.

Acid Mitch wrote:
JVC wrote:Ideally, you should make back up for all of your data, but disaster strikes at the worst possible timing.

It's a necessity . There is an old saying that your data doesn't exist unless it's in 2 different places .

It's a good proverb, but I can't say I have backup data for everything. I do make back up often. But again, disaster strikes at the worst possible timing.

Back to Mr. Softkey, the data on Zip disks might be fine though, because Zip drive is not working, most likely. He needs to get a working ZIP drive.
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Re: Odd ZIP 250 problem

By mr_debauch Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:16 pm
Acid Mitch wrote:As far as I know there were batches of Zip drives that had manufacturing defects but the rest of failures were caused by rough/improper handling , not keeping drives/disks clean and using cheap third party disks.
I presume the majority of drives from the bad batches are already dead ,so as long as you dont have a drive from a bad batch and look after your disks and drives things should be fine.
Fewer than 1 in 200 drives developed the "click of death". Iomega produced more than 12 million drives which means there is a lot of working reliable Zip drives out there.
Disks came with a 5 year warranty which is better than some hardrives,memory sticks , cdr/dvdr disks , and floppies.


wikipedia wrote:
In September 1998, a class action suit was brought against Iomega over a type of Zip disk failure dubbed the "Click of death".
In 2006, PC World rated the Zip drive as the 15th worst technology product of all time.[6] However, in 2007, PC World rated the Zip drive as the 23rd best technology product of all time.[7]


sounds like more than one in 200 drives to me... but iomega claims the issue occurred in LESS then one in 200 drives across their zip and jaz series. I call BS on iomega, and I believe that everyone back in those days called BS on iomega.. cause look at this:

wikipedia wrote: Iomega often stated that the problems were caused by the use of (functionally identical) third-party media. A class action suit was filed against them for violation of the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act[5] in September 1998.


not to mention, iomega used to be known for having terrible customer support.



Acid Mitch wrote:The amount of data something holds has nothing to do with how reliable it is.
[/quote]

yeah, but with floppies.. we know the risks.. when they get an error we throw them away and pop in another one.. not a big deal.. plus they cost pennies.

when a zip disk, which was advertised as a device for backing up data... happens to fail... well great, there goes who knows how much data, plus a more expensive disk, plus your drive is ****... but at least today we know how garbage zip really is and we know to not use it as a back up medium.
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Point blank!

By Lampdog Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:40 pm
mr_debauch wrote:we know how garbage zip really is
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