3 Dec
2012
3 Dec
'12
10:38 a.m.
Here is a 1998 article from CNET, "Click of death" strikes Iomega
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-207628.html
Michael Holley
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Tothwolf
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 9:03 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: SIMH images to Zip Disks
On Mon, 3 Dec 2012, Al Kossow wrote:
On 12/2/12 8:01 PM, Eric Smith wrote:
Zane H. Healy wrote:
Same here. Much handier to sneakernet recovered media with a ZIP. Wow! I'll admit that having been hit by the
'click of death', they
scare the **** out of me.
I think I bought all of my ZIP drives and media after that problem
was resolved. I've used them heavily, and never had a problem. From what I remember, the main problem was a
cost-reduced batch of drives
made during a very specific timeframe. To cut costs
some idiot decided to
leave out a small rubber washer which normally kept the head actuator from
hitting the end of the stop. Without it, the servo could damage the head if
the drive was powered down while the head was still over the media.
Once the head was damaged, any media inserted would be damaged, and that
media could then damage the heads of other Zip drives. The details can
probably be found with a Google search.
Even though the number of defective drives was very small compared to the
millions of drives made, that mess severely damaged the reputation of both
Iomega and Zip drives. All because some idiot wanted to save a penny or less
per drive...