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Now I know - Version: 4.0.2, 12/13/2004 02:11AM PST
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John Sawyer
Iomegaware 4.0.3?? - Version: 4.0.2, 12/12/2004 04:18PM PST
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John Sawyer
Today, I tried using the version of Iomega Tools (1.0.2.2, with a creation date of Oct 1 2002) from IomegaWare 4.0.2, to format a Zip 100 disk in a Zip 100 internal SCSI drive in a beige G3, running OS 10.3.5. I wanted to use Iomega Tools instead of the Finder, since the disk had one or more bad sectors, caused when I had inserted it into another Zip drive that had its read/write heads torn up (as I later discovered), and in the past, Iomega has stated that a simple Finder erase won't map out or fix bad blocks on a Zip disk, which makes sense since a Finder erase just zeroes out the directory track, and leaves the rest of the disk's sectors untouched. Iomega Tools 1.0.2.2 wasn't able to see the drive. I then tried it in a B&W G3 running OS 10.3.6--same thing. I checked if I had a later version of IomegaWare, and found I had a copy I had labeled "IomegaWare 4.0.3" some time earlier this year. So, I installed version 4.0.3 onto the B&W, and discovered its version of Iomega Tools is 1.0.3.4, with a creation date of Nov 1 2002. It was able to see the Zip drive and formatted it, though Tools hung after formatting the disk, requiring me to force-quit it; the Finder then complained that the disk was unreadable, and asked if I wanted to initialize it. I clicked "Initialize", and this launched OS X's Disk Utility. I chose Disk Utility's option to "zero all data" on the Zip disk, and it formatted the Zip properly, after which it appeared on the desktop.
What all this makes me wonder:
• Maybe this confirms the comments below--you don't need Tools to format a Zip disk under OS X, to repair bad blocks (especially since Tools doesn't seem to work under OS 10.3.x)--just use Disk Utility's "zero all data" option.
• Where did I get IomegaWare 4.0.3? It's not on Iomega's web site, and a Google search for it turns up nothing. It's definitely a later version than 4.0.2, since it was able to see the Zip drive, where 4.0.2 wasn't. Iomega's web site says 4.0.2 is for OS X 10.2.x, so this may further confirm that you should use Disk Utility instead.
What all this makes me wonder:
• Maybe this confirms the comments below--you don't need Tools to format a Zip disk under OS X, to repair bad blocks (especially since Tools doesn't seem to work under OS 10.3.x)--just use Disk Utility's "zero all data" option.
• Where did I get IomegaWare 4.0.3? It's not on Iomega's web site, and a Google search for it turns up nothing. It's definitely a later version than 4.0.2, since it was able to see the Zip drive, where 4.0.2 wasn't. Iomega's web site says 4.0.2 is for OS X 10.2.x, so this may further confirm that you should use Disk Utility instead.
Iomegaware Unnecessary - Version: 4.0.2, 3/26/2004 10:11AM PST
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jimmy-d
When I have spoken with Iomega technical support, they told me I don't need Iomegaware with OS X. In my experience, Zip disks work fine with the generic USB drivers built into OS X. Although, I wonder if OS X drivers offer the same verification option that Iomegaware does. Even if it doesn't, at least you won't have to deal with Iomegaware crashes & data loss as Mac OS updates come out.
If you format a Zip disk in OS 9 with Iomegaware, it installs drivers on the disk (the driver version is shown via Get Info on the disk). If you format the same disk in OS X with Iomegaware, no drivers are installed in the disk (Get Info under both OS 9 & OS X show no drivers). I brought this discrepancy to Iomega tech support, speaking with several technicians. It was very clear they have no idea why this is the case, and emphasized that Iomegaware was unnecessary.
If you format a Zip disk in OS 9 with Iomegaware, it installs drivers on the disk (the driver version is shown via Get Info on the disk). If you format the same disk in OS X with Iomegaware, no drivers are installed in the disk (Get Info under both OS 9 & OS X show no drivers). I brought this discrepancy to Iomega tech support, speaking with several technicians. It was very clear they have no idea why this is the case, and emphasized that Iomegaware was unnecessary.
Still don't know where I got version 4.0.3...