IomegaWare Drive Tools

Accessing the drive tools

To access the drive tools from the drive shortcut icons within IomegaWare

  1. Open the IomegaWare program (See Starting IomegaWare for detailed instructions).
  2. Click on the Iomega drive icon located within the IomegaWare program window.
  3. Select the drive tool or utility you would like to use.

To access the IomegaWare drive tools from My Computer or Windows Explorer

  1. RIGHT mouse click on the appropriate drive icon in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
  2. Select the drive tool or utility you would like to use.

Eject

The Eject tool allows you to eject your Iomega disks from My Computer or Windows Explorer and may also warn you if your computer bay door covering is down before ejecting your disk (depending on your particular system configuration).

Using the Eject Function from IomegaWare

  1. Open the IomegaWare program (See Starting IomegaWare for detailed instructions).
  2. Click on the appropriate Iomega drive icon.
  3. Select the Eject command.

Using the Eject Function from My Computer or Windows Explorer

  1. RIGHT mouse click on the appropriate Iomega drive icon in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
  2. Click Eject.

Format

The format tool allows you to format or prepare a disk for new data.

A short format is quick, but does not verify the disk surface. Use this option when reformatting a disk only if you are sure the disk is undamaged.

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. Use this option to repair a disk that has developed read/write errors.

Accessing the Format Function from IomegaWare

  1. Open the IomegaWare program (See Starting IomegaWare for detailed instructions).
  2. Insert the disk you want to format.
  3. Click on the appropriate drive icon.
  4. Select format from the menu.

Accessing the Format Function from My Computer or Windows Explorer

  1. Insert the disk you want to format.
  2. RIGHT mouse click on the appropriate drive icon in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
  3. Select format from the drive-shortcut menu.

Protect/Unprotect

The Protection tool enables software protection for an Iomega disk in a selected drive (it is grayed 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 Iomega drive users.

Write Protection prevents anyone from accidentally overwriting critical data. For stronger Write Protection, use a password. If you forget the password, you can recover your data by copying it to another disk and formating the original disk for reuse.

Read/Write Protection is like putting your disk in a safe, and should be reserved for highly sensitive data. This feature requires a password.

CAUTION: If you forget your password your data cannot be recovered. You must select the "I Forgot" option from the Unprotect screen and long format the disk before you can use it again.

Use Password allows you to enter a password when write protecting a disk, if desired. A password is required when you read/write protect a disk. You must know the old password in order to change passwords.

    NOTE: Although Iomega disk protection options are set using the Protect tool, the actual protection mechanism is secured in the drive hardware. Because Iomega disk protection is not software-based, it cannot be bypassed using other software programs.

Unprotect eliminates all protection coding on the disk. Remove the check from the box entitled "Remove protection only temporarily" to remove protection entirely. If this box remains checked, you have temporary access to the disk. Protection will be automatically restored when the disk is ejected.

If you forget your password and the disk is read/write protected, your data cannot be recovered. You must select the "I Forgot" option from the Unprotect menu and long format the disk before you can use it again.

Accessing the Protect or Unprotect Function from IomegaWare

  1. Open the IomegaWare program (See Starting IomegaWare for detailed instructions).
  2. Insert the disk you want to protect or unprotect.
  3. Click on the appropriate drive icon.
  4. Select Protect or Unprotect from the drive shortcut menu.
  5. If you are protecting a disk, choose the protection option you want to use.

Accessing the Protect or Unprotect Function from My Computer or Windows Explorer

  1. Insert the disk you want to protect or unprotect.
  2. RIGHT mouse click on the appropriate drive icon in My Computer.
  3. Select Protect or Unprotect from the drive shortcut menu.
  4. If you are protecting a disk, choose the protection option you want to use.

Iomega Properties Screen

Property Sheets provide detailed information about the selected drive, the disk in the drive, the adapter to which the drive is connected (where applicable), and the computer. The Iomega properties screen contains both drive and disk information. You can set the drive sleep time, run a diagnostic program, or set disk protection from within the Iomega property screen.

Drive Section

The Drive section gives you detailed information about a selected drive. Here you can:

  • get information on the type of drive that is connected, the driver that is being used, the version of the software that is installed
  • set the Drive Sleep Time
  • use the Diagnostics tool to see if the drive is functioning properly

The Drive Sleep Time sets the amount of time the drive must be inactive before it will spin down to conserve energy. (A drive that has spun down will automatically spin back up when needed.) You can change the drive sleep time by clicking on the up and down buttons. Changes in this setting take effect immediately - you do not have to restart your computer.

Clicking the drive icon next to Diagnostics starts drive function tests and reports "Passed" or "Failed."

Disk Section

The Disk section of the Iomega Properties Screen gives you detailed information about the selected disk in a drive.

Important Notes on the "More Info..." screen:

  • 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.
  • If Format Life indicates Long Format Recommended, it does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with the disk. Usually flagged sectors have just exceeded a reasonable level. However, remember to move the data before formatting. (To re-format the disk, use the format tool and select the Long Format option.)

You can also set disk protection and make a disk non-removable from the disk section of the Iomega property screen.

Make Disk Non-Removable 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. When the Make Non-Removable option is selected, the disk in the currently selected drive will be set as non-removable until the setting is changed back or Windows is restarted.

Click the box next to the message "Make Disk Non-Removable," to make the disk non-removable.

Accessing the Iomega Properties Screen from IomegaWare

  1. Open the IomegaWare program (See Starting IomegaWare for detailed instructions).
  2. Click on the appropriate Iomega drive icon in the IomegaWare window.
  3. Choose Properties from the drive-shortcut menu.

Accessing the Iomega Properties Screen from My Computer or Windows Explorer

  1. RIGHT mouse click on the appropriate Iomega drive icon in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
  2. Choose Properties from the drive-shortcut menu.

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