Iomega Zip100 SCSI drive to MacBook Air w/ MacOS 11.4

Question

Iomega Zip100 SCSI drive to MacBook Air w/ MacOS 11.4

Is there a way to connect an old Iomega Zip100 SCSI drive to MacBook Air w/ MacOS 11.4? Originally it was connected to a windows laptop using a PCMCIA to SCSI adapter card, which I still have.

Is there a PCMCIA to usb adapter that would work? If I physically connect it, will the MacBook read it?

I've successfully connected several old laptop HDs (windows and Mac) using simple IDE/SATA enclosures to usb cable and the MacBook is reading them just fine. So, I'm hopeful for the Zipdrive.

Posted on Jun 21, 2021 4:08 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,419 points

Jun 22, 2021 2:37 AM in response to MICHAEL SLONE

Hi,

Another option would be to look for a Zip 100 USB drive and connect that device to a modern Mac. However, a problem with drivers cannot be ruled out.

Do you still have that Windows laptop as well, not only the PCMCIA to SCSI adapter? If so, can the Zip 100 disks be read there (or via another Windows laptop that you have access to)?

Alternatively, do you have access to a (pre-1998) Macintosh computer with a SCSI port? If so, exact model and operating system? It may be possible to find a workaround involving networking to a modern Mac.

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Answer 2

Jun 24, 2021 5:19 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Jan,

thanks for your reply and questions. Unfortunately, the old laptops are NOT working. And no old Mac.

So, I take from your reply I still have two problems, physical adapter and software drivers.

I looked for another Zipdrive to purchase but haven’t found one yet that is certain to work and hate to purchase in that condition.

Is there a SCSI to USB adapter?

Thanks

mike

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Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,419 points

Jun 24, 2021 6:41 AM in response to MICHAEL SLONE

Hello Mike,

Some USB-to-SCSI adapters were available during the early iMac era. Occasionally, you may be able to find such devices via an online auction site. One problem may be finding appropriate drivers. In addition to this, the adapters can be rather expensive.

If in the same situation, I would probably make an attempt with a USB Zip 100 drive first (should not be too difficult to find on auction sites). I do not know whether it is compatible with a Big Sur computer, but there have been reports about successful use with at least some earlier Mac OS X/OS X/macOS machines. You will have to look upon this as an experiment. There is no guarantee that a certain Zip 100 drive is OK (a number of drives had well-known problems).

If you could find a suitable pre-1998 Macintosh computer in a thrift shop, that may be an even more cost-effective solution.

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Answer 4

Jun 25, 2021 5:25 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Jan

thanks for your reply. After much frustration trying to make things work with my patched up old computers, I’m hoping to purchase (at a reasonable price) a working Zip250 USB drive that reads the older 100 disks. I’ll reply back with the results.

mike

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Iomega Zip100 SCSI drive to MacBook Air w/ MacOS 11.4

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