Iomega Zip Drives - Episode 2

10-24-00 - It is time for another episode in the Iomega Zip saga. While this episode doesn't involve space ships or annoying comic relief aliens, it does involve a lot of swearing and beating on the drive in hopes that it can make the jump to light speed before being blown to bits by the evil empire.

If you haven't guessed by now, I'll just come right out and tell you all - we had two internal zip drives fail in 5 days. Yes, 5 days, and yes, in our brand new G4s! The mythical "Click-of-Death" got them both.

For those of you who may not have heard about this nasty proclivity of zip drives to commit suicide, let me fill you in. The "Click-of-Death" was first encountered a long time ago, fairly soon after zip drives started actually becoming available in quantity. It actually starts with a disk that has a failed sector (or semi-stuck disk media - no one knows for sure). Errors on the disk cause the drive to access it over and over again in an attempt to read the failed sector, and for some reason, it just doesn't give up. It clicks itself to death.

Usually, you can save the drive by pushing the eject button repeatedly until the drive spits the disk out. Sometimes, however, even if the disk is successfully ejected, the drive is kaput. This drive will click-click-click its way through any disk it tries to read, sometimes leaving the disk unusable. The disks can go on to destroy even more drives. Get the picture? In an attempt to rescue data from "infected" disks, more drives may be ruined.

Luckily, our drives are still under warranty, but we have to send the entire computer to the AIT in order to get the drive replaced. We have to wait until Thanksgiving break to do this. In an attempt to prevent further drive failures, I am going to offer you all a little advice:

1. If your disk makes a nasty, continuous, clicking sound when you put it in the drive, please find a lab monitor at once to get your disk out of the drive. Do not attempt to remove it yourself. The new G4s do not have holes drilled in the front bezel yet, but the G3s have a hole in the bezel over the eject button. Restart the machine and use a paper clip on this button while the machine is starting up to eject your disk (do not use the small pin hole above the disk opening. These holes do not line up properly and you can cause more damage to the drive). Bring the disk to me and I will try to recover your data. However, be prepared for the worst. The disk will no longer be usable, and if we are terribly unlucky, the drive may be toasted too.

2. If your disk makes a clicking sound only when you try to access certain files, back-up everything else onto a different disk (copy to the hard drive first, then to a fresh zip), delete the copies on the disk and get rid of it. I would suggest marking it or somehow destroying it so that others do not attempt to recycle it.

3. Keep multiple back-ups on multiple disks. That way, if a disk does die, you will be able to get back to work with a minimum of hassle. Just think - that dead zip could have the only copy of your entire master's thesis or that huge animation project. Protect yourself by backing up.

4. Store and transport your zips properly. Keep them in a case and away from heat, sunlight, and magnetic fields. Check to make sure that the metal slide cover is free of dust, gummy stuff, and is not bent. Don't just throw the unprotected disk in your bag and expect it to come out all right.

These tips should help keep your data safe and our drives in good working order.

-J

Jennifer Nieland is the lab coordinator for the College of the Design student computer labs. I am starting to feel like I need a light saber and my hair in buns over my ears in order to battle these evil zip problems.