Share via

How access old iomega 100 files on Windows 7?

Anonymous
2010-07-02T12:00:11+00:00

I would assume that I need a current and relevant driver to enable my old iomega 100 drive to work when I plug it into my Windows 7 computer. But -- Is this true? Does it exist? Will it work at all? What other issues do I need to be aware of? I do not recall the operating system I had when I purchased the drive but the year was 1999-2001.

Iomega's site says the following about that qualified for 32-bit Windows 7: "Zip® Drives: Zip® 100MB, 250MB or 750MB USB, ATAPI, FireWire or SCSI drives should work with native Windows 7 drivers. IomegaWare software does NOT work with Windows 7, so features supplied by IomegaWare will not be available."

I am sorry my level of knowledge of computing is much below those of you on this site, (but I am learning! perhaps not apparent here) but I have been unable to find clear help on the web..."native" - so Windows 7 can simply accept the zip drive? that seems very wrong --- Furthermore Iomega can simply be referring to current Zip 100, 250, etc.

I have the 64-bit version of Windows 7 (HP Pavilion dv7): Regarding that qualified for both 32 and 64-bit, it has an entry for "floppy drives" with serial numbers beginning with D0, which my "zip" drive does not begin with.

I would like to accomplish this by myself, but with any of your feedback, it may be clear I need to take the drive to a computer repair store. I am hesitant to just give it a go with further info for fear something will go quite wrong with my computer.

I appreciate your help on behalf of quite the novice. Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-03T00:31:16+00:00

    Then I would find a friend with an XP system and attach the drive to it. You may need to install drivers (which you would get from Iomega's website). You can uninstall them afterwards. Attach the drive, copy your files to the XP box, burn the files to CD/DVD-R. Buy your friend a beer. :-)

    Note: If you get the same issue on XP with all discs, then the drive has probably failed. Then you've got to find someone who still has a USB Iomega Zip Drive. Some techs will still have them; I have one on my shelf - haven't used it in years but I keep it just in case a client has your problem.

    MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

4 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-02-09T17:13:28+00:00

    Win 7 will not support the format feature for Zip drives...

    Maybe find someone with older Win XP & they can re format/erase the old data for you

    Win 7 should be able to read the data however

    But maybe it's time to replace that ZIP drive with USB Flash drive... very cheap these days!

    About $16 fore 32 MB drive

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-02T12:52:01+00:00

    Hopefully this is a USB external zip drive. If it is, attach it to your system and put an Iomega zip disc in it. Hopefully Windows 7 will recognize the drive and allow you to copy the disc contents to your computer's hard drive. If this works, repeat as necessary so you can transfer all the data currently stored on zip discs to the computer. Then toss the old zip drive and discs because you won't be using them any more.

    If Windows 7 doesn't see the drive, please post back.

    http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Backing_Up

    MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-04T15:29:07+00:00

    I recently installed an internal IDE Zip Drive in my Windows 7 x64 Machine for the same reason as to update legacy storage media in the event i come across it.

     My system did not have an PATA slot so I used an old PATA RAID controller I found lying around, come to find out windows detected both of them and it sees the zip drive as a "removable disk" similar to a flash drive.

    Upon inspection of some older zip disks one worked, one didin't and wanted me ro re-format the disk, which reigns true for most compact magnetic film media, other than tapes, that there is a 50% fail rate during storage.

    For anyoone out there that sill uses zip disks or did and still migh have some lying around, it is worth the inestment to hire a tech to transfer your files to CD, you never know when your going to get the infamous "ZIP Burp" where either

    A) All files on the disk dissapear

    B) Just Compressed Formats such as JPG, ZIP, CAB, ECT Disapear

    C) "The Disk Needs To Be Reformatted" message is displayed

    or

    D) files dissapear as you click them

    Other than the flaw of compressed files corrupting the disk the ZIP Disk was a very good storage media

    Charles Keisler CompTIA A+ & Network + Certified

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2010-07-02T20:45:44+00:00

    Thank you Malkeleah. Yes it's an external USB drive, yes Windows 7 recognizes it, however it insists I reformat the disk, which i believe will erase the contents, correct? And ironically enough in the year 2000, the zip disks were my backup. Clearly I should have addressed the issue sooner, but I am hopeful there is a workaround this.

    Thanks for your help, Avery2000

    0 comments