Cruzer Zip Drive Quit Working

Just buy a new one for $6...they go bad...If you want something that lasts, you'll have to spend more money than that...I use one of these..

Thanks for the reply. I'm just curious if these wonders of science have a definitive number of times they can be accessed. I guess I should have kept track and do one less next time!

Does the computer see the drive in explorer windows or is the light nigh coming on.

is this with the comparsion backup?

Is this what I call a flash drive? (Also known as a thumb drive, and others.) I have had good luck with them until recently when one became erratic. Sometimes the drive was recognized and sometimes not. I put it in a different USB port one time and it worked fine there. It has been replaced because I couldn't trust it.

When deleting files on any external drive, make sure to empty the recycle bin on the computer before removing the drive, otherwise the data is still retained although not in an accessible manner.

This phenomenon is easiest seen where a file is deleted on a Mac, then the drive is used on a PC. The PC picks up hidden files (Mac hidden files are just prefixed with a dot). Until trash/recycle bin is emptied, the files still remain listed but hidden. Once the drive is removed, the file locations are lost to the machine making the changes, so space appears to just disappear.

Reformat, or file recovery tools can assist.

Hi,

I have read the good replies here however one thing that you should also have a look at is the possibility of a virus that may be affecting the usb drives.

The one I am specifically referring to is the "Autorun or Virut" virus which is a starter for the main virus infection.

The fact that you say it shows that the drive is full but you do not see anything makes be believe this is the fault.

To solve this problem is to use a "Autorun" removal tool from one of the major antivirus companies

or you can try these links

http://www.autorunremover.com/what-is-autorun-inf.html

http://free.avg.com/ww-en/virus-removal

There are many different variations to this virus, but a method I found that seems to work for me is to open up a dos command window, change to the usb drive, do a drive listing using "dir /a/p" (Without the inverted commas) which will list all files, if the file "Autorun.inf" is found, then change its attribute so that the file is readable and delete it.

I hope this helps you to solve your problem.

Keep Well.

The idea I have is to do a double backup. If one zip goes bad, you still have the same data on the other zip. It seems to me that these have a finite number of read/write cycles before they go fubar, although I don't have any numbers handy.

As for extracting the data from a dead zip, I have no idea.

Another thought is to backup on a USB drive (a conventional drive that plugs into a USB slot)... and you might want to double backup this too depending on your situation.

Bill

Static may be the problem if you are not being careful, but that is the same for all computer equipment....Learn how to stop static.....

Basic data safety requires that 3 versions of any data must be retained, grandfather, father and son.

Also 2 copies of each, kept in a different location. So that is 6 copies in all!!!

It depends on how much data, how often you make copies updates as to how often you need to run the update, and also what media you need to use. For many today, re-writable DVDs of good quality, kept in the dark and away from dust, can be a good method.

Larger quantities of data than say 2 x DVD are probably best kept on industrial standard 1/2" tape. There are several manufacturers, such a drive will cost between $5,000 - $10,000 per unit, a secondhand one will cost considerably less.

Tape widths less than that are usually proprietary to one manufacturer and in my experience are simply never reliable enough.

As in all things, you get what you pay for......

All Tape requires a high bandwidth server to allow the drive to stream. Not streaming will wear out tapes quickly due to repositioning damage. Head cleaning will become a problem....if you do not understand this, leave it completely alone.....

Stay with good quality DVDs for as long as you can, a new DVD drive costs little nowadays. Keep a spare one around.

I would recommend only "+" media as it recovers best of all and the reformat does the whole surface, whereas "-" disks, cannot be completely reformatted. Price is the same.

Some use multiple external hard disks, that is also a possibility, they are cheap and with the right interface, can be changed quickly. Again, buy quality and treat them well.

Here is an example only, buy better quality with a fast USB 3.0 interface for both 2.5" and 3.5" discs:-

These are rarely more than $50 each, really cheap and data rates are largely unimportant, but they work fast if the computer is fast!

As I don't know your data, or its size, I cannot be more accurately helpful than this, sorry.

But you must hold at least two copies in different physical places. Most companies who lose their data, go under in a few months...Be warned.