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Zip Disks Data Recovery

Iomega Zip and Jaz disks are designed to be robust and operate in somewhat harsh environments. The disk enclosure, or cartridge, is much sturdier than that of a floppy, and the shutter mechanism is also more effective at shielding the storage medium from the elements. Sources of data loss with this type of media can include magnetic interference, and physical damage from dust infiltration or mishandling. However, by far the most common issue with Zip disks is the so-called 'click of death'.

The terms 'click of death (CoD)' and 'click death' were coined to describe the symptom of a serious data threat posed by Iomega's Zip drives. Although these drives are well engineered and contain very effective fault-tolerance, there appears to be (or have been) a design problem that can cause data loss. During normal use with a healthy drive and cartridge there should be no clicking noises, except when the cartridge is initially inserted, or accessed after a period of disuse. The repeated clicking itself is NOT the problem; it is only a sign that the drive is failing to access the data.

Since the cause of CoD is either a physically, electrically, or mechanically defective drive, the only possible course of action is to replace the drive. Iomega's warranty period is normally one year, however, because the CoD problem has become such a controversial issue, Iomega has stated that they will replace any afflicted drive. To verify that a Zip drive does not suffer from CoD, you can use a freeware utility from the Gibson Research Corporation (http://www.grc.com) called 'trouble In paradise' (TIP). When used on a healthy drive, TIP is also very effective at restoring and keeping cartridges in good health. However, if the damage is severe, or if the data is critical, a data recovery tool should be used.