Contents

The following Help Topics are available:

Introduction to Iomega Tools

Information

Format

Disk Protect

Eject

Make Disk Nonremovable

Diagnostics

Expert Mode

Startup Preferences

Commonly-Asked Questions

Other Zip Tools

For Help on Help, Press F1


Introduction to Iomega Tools

Iomega Tools provides a package of useful utilities to use with your removable drives and disks.  The Information tool gives you details about the selected drive, the disk in the drive, the adapter to which the drive is connected (where applicable), and the computer.  The Format tool allows you to prepare the disk in the selected drive, either with a short or long format.  The Disk Protect tool enables software protection for a Zip disk in a selected Zip drive.  Eject automatically releases and ejects Zip disks, and spins down other Iomega disks in preparation for manual removal.  Making a disk Nonremovable is sometimes required either by software installations to the disk, or by software running from the disk.  The Diagnostics tool starts drive-function tests and reports pass/fail.  Windows-startup Preferences can be set to act on the drive when Windows is started.


Information

The Information tool gives you details about the selected drive, the disk in the drive, the adapter to which the drive is connected (where applicable), and the computer.  Many of the details are highly technical, but may prove useful.

Changeable settings must be set outside this program, with the exception of Drive Sleep time, which can be set in Startup Preferences.

Important Notes:
1) If Disk Life indicates Marginal, the disk is approaching the end of its prime.  In this case, move the data to a new disk and use the old one for less active service, such as archiving.

2) If Format Life indicates Long Format Recommended, it does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with the disk.  Usually, file fragmentation and sector flagging have just exceeded a reasonable level.  However, remember to move the data before formatting.


Format

The Format tool allows you to erase or prepare a disk for new data.  A short format is quick, but does not verify the disk surface.  A long format (also called a low-level format or format with surface verify) prepares the entire disk and verifies the disk surface at the same time.


Disk Protect

The Disk Protect tool enables software protection for a Zip disk in a selected Zip drive (it is greyed out as unavailable for all other drives and disks).  As a replacement for the conventional write-protect tab on removable disks, this tool provides a wider variety of data-protection options for Zip users.

Write Protecting a Zip disk prevents anyone from overwriting critical data, and can be quickly applied with two keystrokes.  For stronger Write protection, use a password.  If you forget the password, the data can be recovered by simply copying the disk to another disk (using Copy Machine), and reformatting the original disk for reuse.

Read/Write Protection is like putting your Zip disk in a safe, and should be reserved for highly sensitive data.  This feature requires a password and carries a strong CAUTION: If you forget the password, the data is unrecoverable and the disk must be reformatted to be used again.

Unprotecting until Eject gives you temporary access to a protected Zip disk.  The disk is reprotected when ejected.

Removing the Protection eliminates all protection-coding on the Zip disk.

Changing the Password allows you to update or vary your password at will.


Eject

Eject automatically releases and ejects Zip disks, and spins down other Iomega disks in preparation for manual removal.  Other manufacturers disks may or may not be ejected or spun down automatically with this tool.


Make Disk Nonremovable

Making a disk Nonremovable is sometimes required either by software installations to the disk, or by software running from the disk.  This tool allows you to make a removable drive look like a hard drive to the system when necessary.


Diagnostics

The Diagnostics tool starts drive-function tests and reports pass or fail.  If diagnostics reports failed, you will be asked to insert another disk and retry.  If diagnostics reports passed with the second disk, the first disk is suspect.  If it reports failed again, contact Iomega.


Expert Mode

Expert mode allows experienced users of Iomega Tools to turn off redundant messages that are useful to a user who is learning the program.  However, cautions that relate to possible data loss are not turned off in expert mode.


Startup Preferences

Windows-startup Preferences can be set to act on the drive when Windows is started.  This tool helps you configure each drive and/or disk according to your specific needs.

The Drive Sleep preference designates the duration of drive inactivity time before the drive automatically spins down the media to conserve energy and disk life.

Unprotecting temporarily (which applies only to Zip disks) allows you to unprotect a given Zip disk or disks at startup until a disk is ejected, at which time it is automatically reprotected as before.

Making a disk nonremovable at startup lets you configure certain disks that you may wish to look like a hard disk.  Some software packages require installing to or running from a hard disk.


Commonly-Asked Questions

Q:	Why the Disk Protect tool?

A:	In software, this tool increases the Zip disk protection options beyond the old write-protect tab.  From simple write protection (with or without a password) to the read/write protect option, this tool allows you to protect your Zip disk data according to its sensitivity.

Q:	What is the difference between the Disk Protect tool and the Make Disk Nonremovable tool?

A:	Disk Protect protects sensitive data on your Zip disk, while Make Disk Nonremovable is generally used to make a removable disk appear like a hard disk to your computer system.  Nonremovability is required to load and/or run some software.

Q:	What is the difference between a short and long format?

A:	A short format erases just the header information on a disk, allowing the rest of the data on the disk to be overwritten with new data as you work.  A long format erases the entire disk and verifies the integrity of the disk surface.

Q:	What happens if I forget my password?

A:	If the Zip disk is write-protected with a forgotten password, use Copy Machine to copy the data on that disk to another disk, and reformat the original disk for reuse.  If the Zip disk is read/write-protected, the data cannot be recovered and must be reformatted to be used again.

Q:	What is Diagnostics?

A:	A drive-specific command that runs drive-function tests and reports pass or fail.

Q:	What if Diagnostics fails?

A:	Try another disk.  If Diagnostics does not fail again, replace the original disk.  If Diagnostics fails again, contact Iomega.

Q:	Why so much detail in Information?

A:	Many situations can arise that require knowing certain details about your computer hardware.  Its a good idea to write this information down somewhere for future reference in case you need it when your system is unavailable.


Other Zip Tools

Copy Machine and Findit are other useful programs in the Zip Tools group.  Try them all!