Iomega Watch Help

Watch has detected that you have inserted a Read/Write-protected disk.  In order to read files from the disk or write files to the disk, you must type the password for the disk in the Watch dialog box and click OK.  Note that using the password will unprotect the disk for the current session only - when the disk is ejected, it will still be Read/Write protected.

If you click on the Eject button in the Watch window, it will eject the protected disk from the drive.

If you click on the Cancel button, it will close the Watch window; however, you will not be able to read files from or write files to the protected disk until you unprotect the disk.

See also:

  What Is Watch?

  Remove Read/Write Protection

  Forgotten Password


What Is Watch?

Watch is a memory-resident utility that detects use of read/write-protected disks.  Watch is designed to help you use protected disks conveniently by allowing you to unprotect a disk when it is first inserted into the drive.  Watch can also help you avoid strange or confusing error messages you might see when attempting to use a disk that is still protected.

NOTE:

Watch does not work with parallel port connections, for example a parallel port Zip drive.  If you are using a parallel port Zip drive, or if you disable Watch, you must use the Protect tool from the drive shortcut menu to unprotect the disk before you can read files from or write files to any read/write-protected disk.

  How to Disable Watch


Removing Read/Write Protection

Here's how to remove Read/Write protection on a Zip or Jaz disk:

1.	In My Computer, RIGHT mouse click on the icon for the drive containing the protected disk.

2.	Select Protect from the drive shortcut menu.

3.	Choose Remove Protection if you want to completely remove Read/Write protection from the disk.  Choose Unprotect until Eject if you want to be able to read files from the disk or write files to the disk, but want to continue Read/Write protection when the disk is ejected.

4.	Enter the password for the disk and click on OK.

  Forgotten Password


Forgotten Password

If you have forgotten the password for a Read/Write-protected disk, there is no way to recover the information on the disk - unless you manage to remember the password!  (Even Iomega cannot recover the data!)

If you cannot remember the password, you must reformat the disk using the long format with surface verify option in order to be able to use it at all.

NOTE:  Reformatting will wipe out all data on the disk!  If the disk contains valuable data, you may want to wait awhile before reformatting to see if you can remember the password.

  How to reformat a protected disk


How to reformat a protected disk ...

1.	In My Computer, RIGHT mouse click on the icon for the drive containing the protected disk.

2.	Select Format from the drive shortcut menu.

3.	Select the Long Format with Surface Verify option.

4.	Click OK to start the format.  When Tools asks for the password for the disk, click on Cancel.


How to disable Watch ...

1.	Click the Start button and point to Programs, then Iomega Tools.

2.	Click on Iomega Watch.

3.	Select No to tell Watch not to check for read/write-protected disks.