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General discussion

Zip Disks/Rafe's Tweets

by technomensch Nov 10, 2009 1:22AM PST

@Rafe:
"What am I supposed to do with old box of Iomega Zip disks all labeled, "Personal data?" I can't erase them, thus can't throw them out." 1:26 PM Nov 7th from TweetDeck

I have a similar issue. I've got a few Zip Disks that I've been trying to get data off of, but cannot. I've got an internal IDE Zip Drive and using an IDE-to-USB connector to a Windows 7 laptop. Unfortunately, Windows is not finding it, or the drivers. Thought about going to a desktop with XP or using XP Virtual mode, but only as a last resort.

Sidenote: Tried Ubuntu also, but it wouldn't mount the drive either.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Rock paper, scissors.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 14, 2009 12:53AM PST

Rocks to crush the zip disks, paper to write why you might do this, and scissors to cut up the media.

Enjoy!

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Amused, but not satisfied.....
by technomensch Nov 14, 2009 2:42AM PST

While I appreciate the suggestion and quite amused, I'd actually like to get the files off them before destroying them. My old college website is on one of them and I really liked the buttons I created for the icons. I made the mistake of never moving them to my CD backups thinking they were safe on the ZIP disks.

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Beg, borrow or steal.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 16, 2009 9:22AM PST
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Ok, you have the IDE model.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 16, 2009 9:23AM PST

That can be finicky on USB IDE adapters. Try again but try all 3 jumpers of CS, MA, and SL.

Don't pass up trying a desktop.

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