Recovering backup files from a Zip disk

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Recovering backup files from a Zip disk

I've been encountering a slowness in ejecting a 250MB Zip from an Iomega 250 Zip USB drive on a Mac running OSX 10.3.9.
When the disk failed to eject physically after a good long time (although it had vanished from the desktop), I unplugged and replugged the drive, hoping to effect an ejection. Instead, the disk seems to have become unreadable, and now I can't get to the files backed up on it. This happened with two different 250MB disks over a period of a week. I have tried every way I know to recover the files--via the disk utility and via Disk Warrior. The utility sees the zip, though it does not appear on the desktop, but will not mount it, nor seems able to repair it.
Does anyone know if there is some command-line method of moving the files off such a disk before throwing it out? Or is this thing toast? I've used Zips for years, and only recently have I seen this.

Posted on Sep 21, 2005 2:31 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 21, 2005 3:14 PM in response to Gregory Frost

I had a similar problem happen a while ago...very long time between dismounting and actual ejection was common, one time I gave up and unplugged the (USB-powered) zip drive. Then couldn't mount. Eventually I figured out how to eject it (I think I eventually used Disk Utilites or hdiutil or something...can't remember:( For the **** of it I reinserted the disk and it was read without any difficulty! Something about the actual insertion was needed to trigger the mounting process. I think my fundamental cause was something Norton-related (I know I know, it wasn't my system to administer).

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Answer 2

Gregory Frost Author

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111 points

Sep 22, 2005 8:11 AM in response to Daniel Macks

Sounds very much like the same phenomenon...save that I don't own Norton utilities (and would not, on pain of death, thank you very much). I fear the files are unrecoverable in this instance, which has me on the fence about throwing out Zip as a backup format--if I didn't have dozens of zip disks, I probably would have. A CD is so much cheaper, and the data is the data is the data....

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Answer 3

Sep 23, 2005 7:31 AM in response to Gregory Frost

Will other zip discs mount? I have had a similar situation with force ejecting a cd that would not mount, then nothing would mount untill I restarted the computer.

Glenn

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Answer 4

Gregory Frost Author

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111 points

Sep 23, 2005 8:36 AM in response to Glenn Bateman

Glenn,
Yes, other disks will mount--both 100MB and 250MB. Some of them are old--years old--whereas both the 250s that no longer mount are of relatively recent vintage, and by two different manufacturers, so it's not as if it was a bad batch of Zip disks, either. It's more as if the drive itself is becoming unreliable.

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Answer 5

Sep 23, 2005 8:48 AM in response to Gregory Frost

Believe it or not your delima is not at all that uncommon.
The first thing to do is turn your computer off and leave the USB plugged in.
Wait a minute or two and then power back up...This should mount it back on your desktop...More often than not when a problem like you describe is from pulling the USB without ejecting it.
Always eject your disk before you unplug....I know I know you probably done it before without problems.. It will simply avoid you problems...
Go to I-Omega's site and make sure you have the latest drivers for OS9 and OSX.
Another tip if you are using new disk's make sure they are formatted for MAC,
You can use your 250 with either if you have the right drivers and the disks formatted correctly.
You may have to repeat the process, if it dosen't work the first time..
Hope this helps....Don
Make sure you use I-Omega Zip Disks..
Others may work but are not as reliable

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Answer 6

Gregory Frost Author

Level 1

111 points

Sep 23, 2005 9:17 AM in response to Donald Morgan

Thanks, Don.
The thing is, the disks had ejected from the desktop, just not physically from the drive itself, which is why I figured it was safe to unplug and replug the USB. I've had flash sticks upon occasion that had also removed themselves from the desktop but when I unplugged the disk, came up with a "This disk was incorrectly removed and may have incurred data loss" message. That's never been the case...but, you know, if it's ejected off the desktop but it's NOT removed, how exactly does one tell without jumping through hoops?
They were formatted for Mac, so that isn't the issue.
I note that Iomega's driver, 4.02, is only listed as being for OSX 10.1-10.2. They seem to have done nothing for Panther compatibility...or maybe it wasn't necessary.

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Answer 7

Sep 23, 2005 1:19 PM in response to Gregory Frost

Just another note of intrest..I have an iMac with 9.2 and a Powerbook wwith 10.3.9 and a PC with XP and I use my 250 across all the platforms ... NO PROBLEMS... The only problem was the right formatting of disks, for PC...and MAC...Make sure you go back to there site and take your time and drag the drivers to the Applications Folder before you open ...Cheers..Don

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