Iomega zip CD Broken?

[DarkAngel]

I have an older Iomega Zip CD-RW 4x4x6 External USB
(650) drive that is not working, for some reason the drive will not open fully and when i force it open and place a cd in, it won't read it, in fact the drive doesn't even spin, i want to try to see if i can repair it myself but i am unable to open the damn thing - the odd thing is that there are no screws just some joints (or whatever it's call ) that seems to snap the case in place; are any of you guys familiar with this brand and know how to open it without braking the case and some suggestion on what's possibly wrong with it and even more important how to repair this piece of junk?

P.S I have checked the obvious, power and USB cable connections and windows does reconnise it and dispalys the mass storage device icon in the system tray.

[Xenocrates]

Hey DarkAngel,

Let me give you a few facts:

1) CD-RW drives don't usually last for more than 2 years. After that, you HAVE to throw it out.

2) CD-RW drives consist of many MANY moving parts on the inside. 80% of these parts are precision subdevices. Chances are they are pretty worn out (or worn down).

3) There are no tools commonly available that will allow you to open that drive without breaking it. Your CD-RW drive uses what is called a Double-Locking mechanism. That is, there are several shafts inside the cover of the drive which lock into one another simultaneously, sealing the drive shut - without the need for screws. Since it's closed from the INSIDE, you have to cut it open, or seriously BREAK or BEND the cover to get it open. You will need a several screw drivers to accomplish this. But even if you DO manage to accomplish this, your drive still won't be of any use to you.

4) A robot assembled that drive. It is closed in such a way that a common customer would not be able to open it. That's why if you read carefulluy somewhere on that drive, it should read "warranty void if opened".

I have opened a CD Drive before. Believe me, it was a ***** to get it open, but the insides are to die for (that is if you still have that little boy curiosity to find out how things work still inside you). However, in opening the drive, I wrecked it. The drive was already dead, so it didn't matter.

My point is Darko, if the drive is over a year old, approaching two years, and it starts to consistently give trouble, DUMP IT. Opening it is NOT worth the pain it will cause you. These drives are expendable these days. You can get a cool new one for under 4 grand.

- Xenocrates.

[DarkAngel]

Thanks Xeno you have just imparted to me a wealth of info. I wasn't aware that burners had such short life span, this one have long past it's prime it was about 2 1/2 years old, in fact it was my first CD burner I didn't know better at the time. I bought the drive because I didn't want to take the time to open my PC to install another device. I wish I hadn't because since I bought it I was only able to successfully burn a few CDs it was coaster after coaster after coaster........... I finally decided to put it one side and only use it to occasionally to read CDs. I think there was a flaw in this line of Iomega product but I guess you are right it most be all worn out by now.
Guess I will just have to break it open then, hey I have nothing to loose

[Xenocrates]

Coaster maker eh? Yeah, I remember those days. There was a time whenever I burned CD at 4x, I used to cross my fingers and pray. CD-Rs used to cost a whole lot in those days, upwards of 200 bucks. But at that time, CD Burners didn't have Smart-Burn™ Technology.

Smart-Burn allows the CD-RW drive to lower the burn speed in the middle of the burn process, if data wasn't being fed to it fast enough from the computer. If there is a lapse of time when data isn't being sent to the burner's buffer fast enough while the CD is being burnt(usually microseconds), you'd get a "Buffer Underrun" error - and the CD is ejected as a freshly baked coaster.

Today's burners don't make coasters anymore - unless you try to overburn them beyond their physical limits. Not only will you make yourself a coaster, you'll also need a new burner. ;D

- Xeno

[CKnight]

Today's burners don't make coasters anymore - unless you try to overburn them

I beg to differ.

[Cultus]

I beg to differ.
Hey Knight sounds to me like you still making coasters..get a LiteOn CDRW man..

[CKnight]

Hey Knight sounds to me like you still making coasters..get a LiteOn CDRW man..


LiteOn CDRW 32x12x40x

Have it for less than a year.

Claims to have smart burn, but I don't see it.

[Xenocrates]

Hey CKnight,

Tell me something, I have the EXACT same burner as you and I've NEVER made a coaster (except this one time I burned one extra mp3 to the disc and, well.... anyways) So I'd like to know some info, if you don't mind:

1) Speed Hard Drive
2) OS
3) Memory (main)
4) Burning Sofware you use
5) What do you usually burn?
6) Do you change the burn speed recommended by the software for the CD-R you put in? The software automatically sets the burn speed to the maximum possible speed that the CD-R you're using can handle.

Also, if you're not using Nero, then.... ::)

- Xeno.

[kknight]

I've got one of those Lite-On models and I use Nero with it..It's very stable..I even have one of the old parallel port HP 2x burners and it still works...Nero's the best...

[Xenocrates]

...there you go.

[captporkrind]

I have an older Iomega Zip CD-RW 4x4x6 External USB
(650) drive that is not working, for some reason the drive will not open fully and when i force it open and place a cd in, it won't read it, in fact the drive doesn't even spin, i want to try to see if i can repair it myself but i am unable to open the damn thing - the odd thing is that there are no screws just some joints (or whatever it's call ) that seems to snap the case in place; are any of you guys familiar with this brand and know how to open it without braking the case and some suggestion on what's possibly wrong with it and even more important how to repair this piece of junk?

P.S I have checked the obvious, power and USB cable connections and windows does reconnise it and dispalys the mass storage device icon in the system tray. I have a iomega zip cd 650 external it can be opened very easy, on the back there's two holes( shaped somewhat like a triangle one on each side) get two long thin flat headed screw drivers and insert it in the holes keep along the inside with the flat side against the inside wall and push very slowly in, there are two plastic clips just inside about an inch or so,they are shaped like a U, try to have something you can place in the part that separates the top of the unit from the bottom, donot force it as the whole top is one piece all the way to the front.then about three inches from the front on the side are two slots, one on each side, take your screw drivers, an insert them in and straighten them as if you are going into side of the drive, it's alittle tricky, but that should release the U clips and it'll come right off and nothing marred or brokened.I hope this helps, if you are still interested in fixing it. Good luck.