Due to intermittent delayed write failure messages when I eject zip disks
from my computer, I would be interested if anyone knows how to disable write
caching for my zip drive. It is grayed out for the zip drive as an option
under device manager. I would hope there is a registry tweak that would
enable me to do so.

Computer: Windows XP SP2 - ASUS
AMD Athlon 64 Processor
2800+
1.8 GHz, 1.00 GB RAM

Do you have/use any Iomega support software for the Zip ?
Is it an IDE/ATAPI mode Zip or a USB one ?

Are you saying that in the Disk Drives category of Device Manager
the device Policy is set to "Optimize for Speed" and the alternate
mode is grayed out >?

"Warren" <unknown@cox.net> wrote in message
news:cfs3f.19442$sE3.1654@lakeread07...
> Due to intermittent delayed write failure messages when I eject zip disks
> from my computer, I would be interested if anyone knows how to disable
> write caching for my zip drive. It is grayed out for the zip drive as an
> option under device manager. I would hope there is a registry tweak that
> would enable me to do so.
>
> Computer: Windows XP SP2 - ASUS
> AMD Athlon 64 Processor
> 2800+
> 1.8 GHz, 1.00 GB RAM
>
>
>

Thanks for your response to my query. I cannot find an answer to my
question regarding write caching in any support software. I have an IDE.
Under device manager, I select the zip drive and look under properties and
then policies. There are 3 options, all of which are grayed out: optimize
for quick removal, optimize for performance, and enable write caching on the
disk. The last option has a check in it that cannot be removed. I am
thinking that my delayed write messages might be stopped if I could somehow
remove that check mark from the write caching box. Thanks for your
assistance.

It's been a while since I retired my last Iomega gear. However,
I seem to remember that you could set those operating modes
with the Iomega software. That's why I asked if you had it on
your PC. It "may" be that the option fields are inhibited by the
settings on the drive itself. I believe XP would natively support
the Zip, so if you have that Iomega software running check it
for device settings.

"Warren" <unknown@cox.net> wrote in message
news:8Cs3f.19446$sE3.3779@lakeread07...
> Thanks for your response to my query. I cannot find an answer to my
> question regarding write caching in any support software. I have an IDE.
> Under device manager, I select the zip drive and look under properties and
> then policies. There are 3 options, all of which are grayed out: optimize
> for quick removal, optimize for performance, and enable write caching on
> the disk. The last option has a check in it that cannot be removed. I am
> thinking that my delayed write messages might be stopped if I could
> somehow remove that check mark from the write caching box. Thanks for
> your assistance.
>

Zip Drives do write-caching by default, you can't turn it off.

These errors in the event log are fairly common w/ zip drives,
don't worry too much about them.

if you install the IOMegaWare drivers you'll get more right-click options,
and an IOMega tab in the properties dialog, but it is not truely required;
I like to have it installed - biggest benefit is the disk gets ejected at
shutdown if you forget to do it, instead of being stuck in there until
next powerup. [it installs 2 processes that run at startup].

you do not need the "Active Disk" thingee that it installs, reboot and go
into Add/Remove and remove Active Disk. [IoMega App Services you do need
tho, don't remove it].

Having the IOMegaWare doesn't seem to reduce the frequency of these error
log entries tho. I see them occasionally still; it's often logged well
after I've ejected the disk (minutes); I suspect perhaps explorer is
trying to refreash something and is unaware that the disk is gone? I'm not
sure... I usually do use the right-click eject (not the physical button),
so it should know the disk has been removed. whatever...

------------

REAL errors w/ Zip disks (disks, not the drive) are usually preceded by a
noticable CLICK sound comming from the drive - this is the drive
recalibrating the head position servo upon a disk write/verify operation.
If you hear this retract-click-reseek noise (usually two ro three times in
a row) then the DISK is probably getting old; when possible do a LONG
format on the disk (you'll need the iomegaware installed) to redo the
surface scan, and then check the disk's life expectancy in the properties
dialog - retire the disk if it's getting bad.

The above is not the notorious "Click of Death" that plauged older zip
drives; that problem has been fixed for years.

Good Luck

Thanks for all of the assistance from each of you.
Have a great day