Q: Can I use a ZIP drive with my LCII?

Do you need to store the files on Zip disks or could you use an external SCSI hard drive?  The reason I ask is that Zip drives, while very useful and convenient, had some production problems and/or a design flaw (depending on one's point of view) for a while.  The problem was named after the symptom that it caused - "Click of Death" or "Death Click."  You'd insert a disk into the drive and hear the heads click down to find the control track, then after a few moments, the heads would release, then click down again, then release, etc.  While the drive was still powered ON and trapped in this endless cycle, you couldn't eject the disk with the Mac OS "Put Away" command or by pressing the manual eject button.  Whether it was an alignment problem or not, the disks became damaged.  I don't think that Iomega ever compiled a definitive serial number range for affected units, so there's really no way to determine whether or not a used unit will develop the problem at some point.  I bought an internal SCSI Zip drive about 6 years ago at eBay and it developed the problem within a couple of weeks.  Fortunately, the seller sent me a replacement and didn't require return shipping of the bad drive.  You could be lucky and get a drive that has had little usage and delivers trouble-free performance for as long as you need it.  As for using the Zip drive with your LC II, you may need to download an older version of the IomegaWare software from Iomega's web site, to be compatible with the Mac OS you're running - especially if it's System 6.  I've never used a Zip drive with anything older than 7.5, possibly 7.1 on my LC III - I can't remember since I soon upgraded the LC III to OS 7.6.1.  With the Iomega software on a floppy disk, you can run the "Iomega Guest" program, that enables use of the Zip drive without installing the software on the hard drive.  Otherwise, installing the IomegaWare software on the hard drive would be most beneficial to you.

We have two Iomega SCSI ZIP 100 externals and one USB ZIP 100, plus an old Beige G3 with an built-in ATA ZIP 100. Fortunately, none ever showed the Click of Death issues. I did get a 2-3 bad disks but they never took down the drives. I have to say they gave years of faithful service. The failed disks were never ones ibought for home use; they work ordered from work and only failed in an internal ZIP 100 in a Windows computer I had to use when not using the two macs in the office.

I just looked: Iomega no longer has the older drivers on their web site, but I suspect a Google search would turn them up. There are web sites devoted to older drivers.

Ask the eBay vendor if the drive comes with the original Iomega "Tools" disk (maybe it's teh guest disk Jeff mentions). It had drivers and some other software that is probably old enough to take care of your LCII

Older Zip drives are very convenient, but as Jeff indicated, make sure you have a warranty or promise for money back if it clicks.  The defective drives were produced for just a short time.  Iomega did not warn people about the defect so they were sued.  They have produced many good products.  Just make sure that you get a good one and do not plan to store files on zip disks for long term storage.

We put a different operating system on each zip disk so we could start up twenty different computers.  If you use a universal installation, you can start many models from the same disk.  You can fit system 8.1 on a zip disk if you do not install all the file conversion files.  The name escapes me right now but the files were for converting PC files, etc.  Similar to Apple File Exchange.

You can boot from an external zip drive and reformat the internal drive.  Zips are very convenient.

I noticed that you posted a european ebay site.  Hopefully you can get a good drive.  That appears to be a good price.

Ji~m

Actually, the eBay auction he linked is by a U.S. seller (macdealz), located in St. Louis.  The page was translated into Italian, but here's the same eBay page in English.

As for finding a compatible, older version of the "IomegaWare" software to use with an LC II, Iomega lists version 2.1.1 as compatible with OS 7.5 - 8.1.  The LC II shipped with System 7.0.1, so an upgrade to OS 7.5.3 (available download from Apple) would be needed to run IomegaWare 2.1.1.  Unfortunately, I've just spent 10 minutes trying to find it anywhere on the web, but could not.  This brings me back to my original question for Mc128k, regarding the necessity for using Zip disks, as opposed to an external SCSI hard drive.  The latter (if pre-formatted) would be ready for use, without searching for discontinued/hard-to-find software.  If he plans on accessing the files on the Zip disks via a newer Zip drive, such as a USB version, I can understand the preference for the SCSI Zip drive.

Any ideas on why Italian?

I assume that Mc128k's native language is Italian.

Do not forget that in addition to using Iomega Guest from a floppy or hard drive to mount the SCSI volume or device, having the zip disk in the drive and spinning when you start up the computer will allow it to be seen as the LCII polls devices during startup.

Remember to have the drive power on before inserting the disk.

Here is the Italian link for Iomega Support:

https://iomega-eu-it.custhelp.com/app/cust_alp/p/1,18/c/82

https://iomega-ap-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16739

Apple Support here and here and here.

I saw several drives on Italian eBay, one from Germany with a guarantee.