Powermac G4 running OSX Tiger (or OS9). I put a zip disk into the built-in zip drive and it is not recognized. I can't eject it. I tried the paper clip in the little hole above the slot (3/4 of the way over from the left in line above the green led) and nothing happens. There is no way to eject it. I am using a PC type keyboard, so if there is some key combination that might work, I'd need the PC key equivalent(s). Thanks in advance for any help.
Stuck zip disk
- Thread starter Bill2reg
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No key combination will get that Zip disk out. I had the same thing happen on three different drives! One was a USB 100MB, another was a USB 250MB, and the third was an internal 100MB. It just happens to the things after a while. Iomega really used crummy components in the manufacture of the Zip hardware, using the mindset that it's "consumer" equipment, so they didn't really bother making it very good. Poor quality components and a rather sub-standard attention to manufacturing are a disastrous combination for a data storage solution.
I sincerely hope you weren't relying on Zip disks for backup, either. The disks' magnetic properties degrade quickly. Grab an 8GB USB flash drive at the store for $25 and replace every one of those Zip disks!
I sincerely hope you weren't relying on Zip disks for backup, either. The disks' magnetic properties degrade quickly. Grab an 8GB USB flash drive at the store for $25 and replace every one of those Zip disks!
I am trashing them..........
The only reason I put in this antique zip disk was to see what was on it (and some others) before I trash them. The problem isn't whether or not to get rid of them, but how to get the stuck disk out. What's the point of having the paper clip hole if it doesn't do anything? Makes you wonder..........
The only reason I put in this antique zip disk was to see what was on it (and some others) before I trash them. The problem isn't whether or not to get rid of them, but how to get the stuck disk out. What's the point of having the paper clip hole if it doesn't do anything? Makes you wonder..........
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As "Jamie-Jamie" mentioned...there may not be a key combo to eject a Zip disk.
But I always like to try. In the "old days" you could eject an internal or external floppy disk using the key combo "Command-Option-1" or "Command-Option-2".
This probably won't work...but you could give it a try just in case! It's free & it won't harm anything...so what the heck!
- Nick
But I always like to try. In the "old days" you could eject an internal or external floppy disk using the key combo "Command-Option-1" or "Command-Option-2".
This probably won't work...but you could give it a try just in case! It's free & it won't harm anything...so what the heck!
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Yes...the paper clip trick in the hole should work. Have you tried a small & a large paperclip? Sometimes the thicker & longer large paperclip has better results.
- Nick
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I'm back now! Sorry to harp so much on the quality of the disks... it's just that at the time, I had two drives go bad on the same day and I lost like... a semester's worth of college work on them!
But back to the topic, I mentioned the dead drive because it's the same thing that happened on mine. Even the paper clip wouldn't eject them in the end because an internal part of the drive is made of cheap plastic, and it breaks. And it's the part that tells the drive mechanism that media is inserted!
Therefore, the drive doesn't know there's a disk, so it doesn't actuate the head and read it, and the mechanical part that locks into place that can eject the disk isn't in place... so it can't eject it! It's frustrating!
But back to the topic, I mentioned the dead drive because it's the same thing that happened on mine. Even the paper clip wouldn't eject them in the end because an internal part of the drive is made of cheap plastic, and it breaks. And it's the part that tells the drive mechanism that media is inserted!
Therefore, the drive doesn't know there's a disk, so it doesn't actuate the head and read it, and the mechanical part that locks into place that can eject the disk isn't in place... so it can't eject it! It's frustrating!
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It's not only the iOmega Zip drives that are built cheaply, it's the disks themselves. I don't know how many disks I've lost because of the infamous "Click of Death" syndrome. As far as the drives themselves are concerned; I received two free replacement SCSI Zip drives from iOmega as RMA for defective ones. Both didn't last very long. The USB versions are not any better.
Like Jamie Jamie recommends, throw them all in the garbage along with the disks. To this day, I won't go near an iOmega piece of hardware.
Regards.
Like Jamie Jamie recommends, throw them all in the garbage along with the disks. To this day, I won't go near an iOmega piece of hardware.
Regards.
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You know, now that I remember, I had one of the disks fly apart in a school computer. The disk surface itself came off of the spindle and turned into a crinkled mess.
Again.......not using Mac keyboard. so?
As I said in the original post, any Mac-specific keystrokes need to be translated to a regular (i.e. PC type) keyboard. So what is Command-Option-1 (or -2) on a standard (non-Mac) keyboard?
Also I did use a heavy duty paper clip, but it seems that it hits a solid surface behind the little hole, and nothing happens.
As I said in the original post, any Mac-specific keystrokes need to be translated to a regular (i.e. PC type) keyboard. So what is Command-Option-1 (or -2) on a standard (non-Mac) keyboard?
Also I did use a heavy duty paper clip, but it seems that it hits a solid surface behind the little hole, and nothing happens.
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If your keyboard is just plugged straight in without manufacturer's options, then the Windows key is Command and Alt is Option. Sometimes that changes if you install Mac software for a keyboard which can make Alt be Command. Either way, it'll be...
Windows+Alt+1 or +2
Windows+Alt+1 or +2
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Wow long time since I handles Zip drives. I seem to recall using a screwdriver or knife to "lift" the lead edge of the disk to get them to eject. Once you get the upward motion started the drive seemed more than willing to finished the ejection. Converse I also remember using same technique but pushing "down" on the disk and then the drive would "accept" the disk and read it. I remember cracking the case of a 200MB Syquest shaving ever so slightly to get the levers to slide as everything was made of plastic.
Try opening the door with your fingertip and pushing down or lifting up on the cartridge. You cannot hurt anything as all the components are protected.
Try opening the door with your fingertip and pushing down or lifting up on the cartridge. You cannot hurt anything as all the components are protected.
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You have to use a long paper clip and push.
It turns out that the paper clip hole is not open all the way into the drive. It's in the faceplate only. Why Apple did that I have no idea. All the keystroke tries did nothing. A needle-nosed pliers grabbing the disk did the trick. Now all those zip disks will be trashed. I have no idea why Apple would make a "dummy" hole and not make it functional but googling it I found that it is the way these G4's were made, not that it was a mistake on my particular Mac.
It doesn't matter now since I pulled the disk out with the pliers. I won't be using the zip drive anymore anyway. I could replace it with another hard drive or DVD writer, but I won't be keeping this computer much longer. It's too old and can't do anything with it now.
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