Need help with an Iomega Ditto easy 3200 external tape drive

[Segadude]

I got an Iomega Ditto easy 3200 external tape drive for $1.50 at a White Elephant sale. I am trying to use it with my old Packard Bell Multimedia running Windows 95. The box stated it is compatible with 95. I connected it, installed the software from the included floppies and restarted when prompted. But none of the software can find the drive. I've tried changing the settings for the parallel port in the BIOS, but nothing works and it's still not detected. Please help.

[submix8c]

Specs... Drivers... Install...

Is the Printer Port properly Enabled? NM... just re-read... Is the Printer Port correctly identified in the OS? Have you tried using the "Add New Hardware" wizard? Is the cable you're using the CORRECT type and fully functional (a Printer cable may be the "old style" wiring) i.e. pre-tested?

Edited August 26, 2012 by submix8c

[Tripredacus]

From what I remember.... the Ditto drive isn't detected as you'd expect a drive to be detected. That meaning, it doesn't get a drive letter, etc. I wish I remembered more or had my old documentation...

You need to make sure your parallel port in the BIOS is set to EPP. ECP and Bi-directional are not recommended. Also make sure you aren't chaining the drive with a printer or other device. Definately make sure you have the latest software.

[submix8c]

@Tripredacus - DOH! You may be right...

Even the "other" Tape Models for other interfaces (e.g. IDE) need the Backup software to "detect" and "utilize". (Had old Conners never used long time ago - same "deal" AFAICR.)

(Just confirming previous post also from "recollection")

[jaclaz]

You need to make sure your parallel port in the BIOS is set to EPP.

Yes

The manual (if needed) is here:

http://download.iomega.com/english/manuals/english/333401.pdf

Drivers/tools should be:

http://www.iomega.com/europe/support/english/documents/10097e.html

thoigh this:

The Iomega® Ditto® drive does not use drivers to recognize the drive. The backup software that came with the drive will allow you to backup to your Ditto drive making drivers unnecessary to operate the drive.

sounds "queer" when compared with this quick reference:

http://www.mpcdrivers.com/apps/instguides63ae.html

jaclaz

[submix8c]

Drivers/tools should be:

http://www.iomega.com/europe/support/english/documents/10097e.html

Nope... Redirects to a page without a listing for them. Already checked that (the reason I pointed to MPC). Maybe WebArchive?

edit - Searching on the filename give a link to the IOMEGA HTTP download

hxxp://download.iomega.com/english/ (insert filename here)

Edited August 27, 2012 by submix8c

[jaclaz]

Drivers/tools should be:

http://www.iomega.com/europe/support/english/documents/10097e.html

Nope... Redirects to a page without a listing for them. Already checked that (the reason I pointed to MPC). Maybe WebArchive?

edit - Searching on the filename give a link to the IOMEGA HTTP download

hxxp://download.iomega.com/english/ (insert filename here)

Good find.

BTW, have you ever seen a FTP server whose address begins with http:// ? here is the "good" page with valid links:

http://www.iomega.com/support/documents/10561.html

As a matter of fact the date on the previously mentioned page:

http://www.iomega.com/europe/support/english/documents/10097e.html

January 1, 1970 GMT

should have given me a hint that it wasn't actually a "properly managed page".....

jaclaz

Edited August 27, 2012 by jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

BTW, have you ever seen a FTP server whose address begins with http:// ? here is the "good" page with valid links:

http://www.iomega.com/support/documents/10561.html

Yes, I have seen HTML front-ends for FTP sites, but they are typically slower than just using an FTP client. I don't recall Iomega having a public FTP for customers tho... I think they just use the term "FTP" on their website but I could be wrong. It has been a long time tho...

[Segadude]

@Tripredacus - DOH! You may be right...

Even the "other" Tape Models for other interfaces (e.g. IDE) need the Backup software to "detect" and "utilize". (Had old Conners never used long time ago - same "deal" AFAICR.)

(Just confirming previous post also from "recollection")

That's the issue. The backup software does not detect the drive. If I try to use any of the software I get this error:

Clicking no gives me this:

I did set the parallel port to EPP, but the drive is still not detected.

EDIT: I got it to be detected! I downloaded ditwintools.exe from jaclaz's link. The installer was identical to what was on the included floppies, but I think Disk 2 was bad because it gave me alot of read errors. I installed the software from the link, restarted when prompted and this time, unlike before, the new hardware found came up and installed the drive. It is now detected. I just need to get a tape for it and I can start using it.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Segadude

[Tripredacus]

I just need to get a tape for it and I can start using it.

Well good luck! I recall that the tapes were worse to deal with than the drives!

[jaclaz]

EDIT: I got it to be detected! I downloaded ditwintools.exe from jaclaz's link. The installer was identical to what was on the included floppies, but I think Disk 2 was bad because it gave me alot of read errors. I installed the software from the link, restarted when prompted and this time, unlike before, the new hardware found came up and installed the drive. It is now detected. I just need to get a tape for it and I can start using it.

Good .

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128727&st=10

jaclaz