A LESSON TO YOU ALL! (Concerning Zip Drive 250 "Incompatibilities") VERY IMPORTANT!

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
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Hello folks. I am posting this topic so that others do not suffer as I did. Do any of you remember when I posted the topic "NOW ZIP DRIVE 250 NOT DETECTING PROPERLY"? or something along that line? That topic must have died because I can't find it anywhere.

Anyway, none of you could figure out what my problem is. Some of you just accused my Epox 8RDA+ board of being bad. But you guys are going to kick yourself after you hear this:

Here was my problem in the simplest terms:

"My Zip 250 drive basically does not read disks on my new system. System locks up in stages, and icons on computer as well as on disk take forever to execute when disk is inserted. System takes forever to boot with 250 connected. But when I take the Zip 100 drive off my old system and connect it to the new (in exactly the same way the 250 was hooked), it works fabulous! System boots fast as well. Then when I take the 250 drive and hook it on the old system, it seems to work fine! Problem: There is something rather queer pertaining solely to the compatability of the Zip Drive 250 and the New System!"


Someone pointed out to me at a computer shop that the Zip Drive 250 Jumper positions are different. I looked at the pictures on top of the 250 drive, and sure enough, the standard slave position is when there is NO JUMPER.


I assumed that that placing the jumper pin in the middle (as slave) would be exactly the same as a Zip Drive 100. How on earth would it even cross the my mind that they added the new Slave A setting?

Take a look at this:


Zip Drive 250 ATAPI User Manual

"The Iomega ZIP drive ATAPI added the function of booting from the ZIP drive if set to A: mode. Physically setting a ZIP ATAPI Insider drive in a desktop computer for drive A: mode involves setting a jumper on the configuration clock located on the rear of the drive."

"Note: The physical setup is required when the host BIOS is able to detect that the ZIP drive is drive A: capable, but
is unable to control the drive A: mode enable/disable feature in the drive's firmware.


Note: When booting into MS-DOS the guest DOS driver must be loaded into memory before the sound drivers; if not, the system will hang."



If you guys only knew how many headaches I've experience over this. I just hope that all of us learn from this. Do me a favor and permanently embed this into your heads--should some other uninformed individual as myself run into this.

So here is how it works:

Zip Drive 100:


: : : Master

: : : Slave

: : : Cable Select


Zip Drive 250:

(ZIP drive in standard configuration)

: : : Master

: : : Slave (NO JUMPER PIN!)

: : : Cable Select


(Zip drive set as A: )

: : : Master

: : : Slave

: : : Cable Select


So basically, I had my jumper pin set as Slave A: : : :

This would definitely cause some problems. But why did Win98SE on my old system detect this jumper setting on my Zip 250 just fine?

My only reasonable guess is that since Slave A is for booting in MS-DOS, MS-DOS is FAT16, and Win98 can read FAT16. That's why it didn't freeze up. But WinXP Pro is in NTFS, and trying to bootup from a disk in FAT16 mode would significantly cause problems and freeze!


So there you have it. What do you think about this?
 

Lalakai

Golden Member
Nov 30, 1999
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HA!!! You walked the same path I'm walking right now. Couldn't for the life of me figure out why I was having problems just like you mentioned. Will definitely check the jumper settings and see if the solution will be as easy. Thanks for the info.
 

Lord Evermore

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
9,558
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I think the only lesson here is not to assume two different pieces of hardware have the same jumper settings.

The file system format certainly has nothing to do with the drive settings, since the drive is completely unconcerned with the format of data. Having the jumpers positioned a certain way doesn't define that it boots to FAT16 only (especially considering WinXP can read them all, and you can't make an NTFS boot disk like that).
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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On the money Lord E. Blaming the drive instead of his own failure to RTFM... ASSUME makes an ASS of U and ME!
.bh.
rolleye.gif

 

EeyoreX

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2002
2,864
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A LESSON TO YOU ALL! (Concerning Zip Drive 250 "Incompatibilities") VERY IMPORTANT!

Lesson: Don't be like me, read the manual.

I am always surprised by how often RTFM fixes "incompatabilities" in all kinds of hardware...

/Dan
 

JohnPaul

Senior member
Oct 20, 2002
435
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I had one of dem' dere' zip drives when I was a boy. I heard they have a very well preserved specimen at the computer museum!! J/K, but seriously, you still use one of those?

John-Paul
 

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
337
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Shame on you guys for getting after me so unruly...:(

I took part of the blame, so don't act like I'm putting all the falt on you. *just partly ;)*

That was the first time I purchased a Zip Drive 250, and let me tell you, WHEN YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT HAVING TO SAVE HOMEWORK, AND WHEN ALL THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB HERE USE ZIP DRIVES, OWNING A ZIP DRIVE IS A MUST!

You may say "why not just use CD-RWs?" Well, did it ever occur to you that it takes much longer to go through the procedures of copying files to a CD than it does to a Zip Drive? I've got all my homework on zip disks...while yet making sure I keep backups and storing everything on my computer.

It was very offensive what JohnPaul said. Seems he doesn't live in the real world where there are continuelly fast data transactions taking place.
 

woodie1

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2000
5,947
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Originally posted by: Lysimachus
Shame on you guys for getting after me so unruly...:(

I took part of the blame, so don't act like I'm putting all the falt on you. *just partly ;)*

That was the first time I purchased a Zip Drive 250, and let me tell you, WHEN YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT HAVING TO SAVE HOMEWORK, AND WHEN ALL THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB HERE USE ZIP DRIVES, OWNING A ZIP DRIVE IS A MUST!

You may say "why not just use CD-RWs?" Well, did it ever occur to you that it takes much longer to go through the procedures of copying files to a CD then it does to a Zip Drive? I've got all my homework on zip disks...while yet making sure I keep backups and storing everything on my computer.

It was very offensive what JohnPaul said. Seems he doesn't live in the real world where there are continuelly fast data transactions taking place.

Does spelling count at your school?

 

Lord Evermore

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
9,558
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Man, you must get offended a lot if you thought that was bad.

It just happens that 90% of the world can't find any reason to use Zip drives anymore. They only still sell because some places already use them and can't do a wholesale changeover to anything else.
 

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
337
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I'm not saying you have to switch. Keep your CD-RWs if you want. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Just make sure you realize that Zip Disks are very handy for College students. It's not like I sit home all day taking the careful time to burn and write data on my CDs, such as you folks ;) Why I use CD-RWs all the time myself...:p

lol
 

JohnPaul

Senior member
Oct 20, 2002
435
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Dude, chill out for @#$(! sake, I was only joking with you, which is why I said J/K. Next time I'll use smileys:)
 

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
337
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Well folks, I'm here to humble myself for I spoke too soon.

As I researched this Zip Drive problem from school, it seemed to be the only logical reason as to why my computer was locking up. So I automatically "assumed" (which I will never do again) that that is why the Zip Drive 250s weren't working.

I got home last night, took off the jumper, booted up the system, and same results. Even without the jumper, the computer still takes forever to boot and hangs periodically when you try and execute programs or try to open the disk. In fact, whenever the Zip Drive 250 is a slave to the Hard Drive it NEVER is able to open a disk. The hour glass basicaly stays there FOREVER! Must eject disk for it to free up (any disk, both 250s and 100s).

However, when I make the Zip Drive 250 slave to the CD-ROM (DVD), although the computer does still take a while to boot, and although the disk takes a LONG time to execute, it eventually opens. Once it opens, you can open the disk freely after that. It's almost like it stores it in memory and the disk now is recognized with ease. But once I eject the disk and pop it back in, back to square one in being patient for the disk to open.

I must say, this is very discouraging news for me. I just don't know what to do anymore. Computer nerds at school are starting to recommend that I try soaking my computer parts in water.

Do you think I just ought to call up Newegg, tell them that my motherboard is having problems reading certain disk drive correctly and not detecting USB ports properly, and then just get a refund for a new one? Perhaps Asus wouldn't give as many problems as Epox has. But of course, I have heard a lot of good things about the Epox 8RDA+, and I trust your judgments. I have an Epox 8K7A and that motherboard has worked superb for me. I just be really unlucky. However, I just fear that if I purchase a new Epox 8RDA+ that I will still have the same results. Trying to narrow down this problem has been the toughest and most unsuccessful campaign I have ever endeavored upon. :(
 

ScrapSilicon

Lifer
Apr 14, 2001
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you could not use the Search to find your thread..and nowhere did you mention that the zip drive in that thread was USB...you are learning tho..good luck..:)
 
Mar 31, 2003
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um....my zip 100 drive is also set up in the way that if there is no jumper in it it is also slave.

in fact i have had 2 zip 100 drives and they were both that way
 

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
337
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Originally posted by: macktheknife23
um....my zip 100 drive is also set up in the way that if there is no jumper in it it is also slave.

in fact i have had 2 zip 100 drives and they were both that way

My Zip Drive 100 is from back in 98. It came with an old Micron system which is no more. And there are only 3 settings on that old 100 drive. Jumper pin on right = master, jumper pin in middle = slave, jumper pin on left = cable select.

I have not seen how the later Zip Drive 100 jumper settings are, so I wouldn't know. But I trust you if that's what you say.


you could not use the Search to find your thread..and nowhere did you mention that the zip drive in that thread was USB...you are learning tho..good luck..

No where did I mention that the zip drive in that thread was USB because it ISN'T USB. I have no Zip Drives that are USB...where did you get that idea? I am having USB problems with detecting my USB mouse, but that is an entire separate problem unrelated with my Zip Drives.
 

ScrapSilicon

Lifer
Apr 14, 2001
13,625
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Originally posted by: Lysimachus
Originally posted by: macktheknife23
um....my zip 100 drive is also set up in the way that if there is no jumper in it it is also slave.

in fact i have had 2 zip 100 drives and they were both that way

My Zip Drive 100 is from back in 98. It came with an old Micron system which is no more. And there are only 3 settings on that old 100 drive. Jumper pin on right = master, jumper pin in middle = slave, jumper pin on left = cable select.

I have not seen how the later Zip Drive 100 jumper settings are, so I wouldn't know. But I trust you if that's what you say.


you could not use the Search to find your thread..and nowhere did you mention that the zip drive in that thread was USB...you are learning tho..good luck..

No where did I mention that the zip drive in that thread was USB because it ISN'T USB. I have no Zip Drives that are USB...where did you get that idea? I am having USB problems with detecting my USB mouse, [/b]but that is an entire separate problem unrelated with my Zip Drives.[/b]

in that you could be wrong if its the mobo itself...
 

Grimner

Member
Nov 12, 1999
176
1
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The dear Zip drive :) Cried over a Zip 100 ATAPI a few years ago, until it was shown it did not want to be a slave - at least under with any harddisk in my procession.

Trouble with a new Zip 250 ATAPI recently. It was subservient enough, but I too ran into the jumper settings. Rembembering my old experiences, I threw logic overboard and plugged away until it worked.

Iomega makes some nice, if peculiar, kits. My reason for staying with Zip is a rather substantial investment in disks and simplicity - no fiddling around with software, just insert the disk and it is ready.
 

Lysimachus

Senior member
May 11, 2001
337
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0
Grimner,

You mind trying to remember the final settings you discovered that worked for your Zip 250 ATAPI?

Absolutely nothing here seems to work for me. Both new 250s do the same to me. Works slightly better when slave to CD-ROM, but nothing significant enough to consider the problem as resolved.

Since I'm having problems with both my USB ports and getting my mobo to properly recognize Zip 250s, do you think it would be wise to call up the company and tell them I have a bad board and get an RMA# to send it back and get a new one?

It just seems rather strange that I would be having this many problems. I just hope that I do not have some wrong settings with my drivers or something...oh how I pray that that is not the case!