No right-click menu...freeze

[wazzat]

A friend who has one of the Gateway computers (I'm not sure which one) running Win 98 just called me with a right-click problem. He installed a 250MB external USB zip drive a couple weeks ago. All worked well until yesterday. Now when he right-clicks on the Zip drive icon no menu appears, just an hourglass that does not go away. He said he has to restart to get rid of it, though I think he probably could get rid of the hourglass by doing the ctrl/alt/del thing. I haven't looked at the machine yet. Anyone out there know what the problem might be? He usually ejects the disk by right-clicking, then choosing "eject", but the menu doesn't appear now, just the hourglass.

Thanks

I forgot to mention that the right-click menu does work for other applications and files. The problem seems to be with the zip drive icon only.

[edrod13]

Wazzat,

What brand is the ZIP and have you checked the manufactures website for patches or updates regarding this issue? Let us know so that we can help you sort this issue.

Edrod13

[wazzat]

Thanks Edrod. The drive is an Iomega 250MB external USB Zip drive. No, I haven't checked Iomega's website yet but will do so now that you mentioned it. I did talk to the guy who owns the computer on the phone tonight. When he right clicks the Zip drive icon, the hourglass appears and then doesn't go away. When he does the Ctrl/Alt/Del thing, a message says that Explore is not responding. Thats all I know until I look at the computer myself which will be tomorrow evening. Thenks, Bill

[nightfishing]

Explorer is freezing (probably) because it can't read the drive.

With an external ZIP, the Zip MUST be powered on before Windows boots.

Also disks should always be ejected before the computer is shut down and only inserted after windows has been loaded.

Can he use the drive at all? Or is it just the right-click thing that freezes Windows?

[wazzat]

Its the new Iomega design that is powered by the USB cable. It does not require a power source other than the USB cable.

The drive is working fine as far as writing and reading files is concerned. The problem occurs only when he right clicks on the icon, then the never-ending hourglass appears. I don't know whether he leaves a disk in the drive all the time or not.....have to ask. That's a thought! Thanks.