I own a 250 meg. parallel port external Zip drive. This drive could once be used on DOS-based computers with software called GUEST.EXE and some drivers, with GUEST selecting the correct driver and assigning a new drive letter. Iomega seems intent upon forcing everyone to use Windows. They have removed DOS-related software from their web site and stubbornly refuse to allow it to be downloaded, as was easily done only a few years ago. They are also using a spurious "write protect" scheme to defeat earlier software use. Only the end-user should decide whether he needs or wants "write protect" on a particular disk. Some people must still have the earlier DOS software for 250 meg. Zip drives. How can I get it ? DOS 7.1 is a good operating system, sold as late as 2003-2005. It is by no means obsolete, and is superior for some uses.

So you have an old Zip drive with a parallel port? You can't connect that using USB. Nor can you connect that to a computer running any version of Windows newer than XP.

Two options:
1) Buy a USB version of the Zip drive and use it to read your disks. Used, USB Zip drives seem to run around $35 or so.
2) Get a computer using an old version of Windows. If it doesn't have a parallel port, you should be able to buy a PCI card with a parallel port on it.

Once you're able to access the files, copy them onto a USB thumb drive. For $10, you can get a 32 GB USB drive, which should hold everything from at least 320 Zip disks.

It can't.
DOS printing need LPTx parallel port because DOS don't understand/support USB.

YOU can share the printer with windows printer driver, then
go to CMD prompt
Type
Net use lpt1 \\<computername>\<printersharename>
Then print DOS job to LPT1

Try this LINK

Does the disk make a "clicking" sound? .. If so...its called the "click of *****".. its done for... sorry..
I quit using them because of this...

Does it recognize other peripherals plugged in? If the usb port is good you have need of drivers for your Zip drive. Or the bad news is, the zip is bad.

Hey, lost connection with you
Thanks,
Ekse

I'm sure you have fixed your printer by now... but reflash the printer.

Flash memory is contained in SIMMs (single in-line memory modules) located
on the controller board. Printer emulation and operating system software are
loaded into flash memory at the factory, but you will install software in some
situations:
• The customer buys the PGL or VGL graphics, Expansion-CT, or IPDS
option after the printer is installed
• The customer needs to upgrade printer software
• The customer needs different emulation software
• You have replaced the controller board
• You have added or replaced the flash memory SIMM
Emulation and operating system software are stored as a compressed file on
a 3.5 inch floppy diskette. This file is “executable.” You will expand it and copy
it into printer flash memory.
You can load software through the serial, parallel, or Ethernet port of the
printer.
1. If the printer has an Ethernet interface, refer to the PrintNet User’s Manual
for the download instructions. You are finished with this procedure. If you
are going to load memory through the serial or parallel port, continue with
this procedure.
2. Make a printout of all saved configurations. (Refer to the User’s Manual.)
(Installing new software erases all saved configurations. You will use the
printouts to restore printer configuration.)
3. Set the printer power switch to O (off).
4. If the printer is already connected to the serial or parallel port of a
computer capable of running an MS-DOS® based PKZIP® self-extracting
file, go to step 11. If not, go to step 5.
5. Unplug the AC power cord from the printer.
6. Disconnect all data input cables from the printer interfaces.
7. Connect a parallel data cable to the LPT1 port or a serial data cable to the
COM1 port of an IBM-compatible computer that is using the PC-DOS™ or
MS-DOS operating system.
NOTE: You can connect the cable to the LPT2 port if the LPT1 port is alreadyin use. The load commands are different if you use this port, as
described in the note after step 18.
8. Connect the data cable to the appropriate I/O port of the printer.
9. Plug the AC power cord into the printer.
10. Power on the computer.
11. Insert the emulation or upgrade diskette into diskette drive A (or B) of the
computer.
12. Make the diskette drive the active drive by typing the following at the DOS
prompt:
A:<return> (If the diskette is in drive B, type B:<return>)
13. Get the name of the compressed file on the diskette by listing the
contents of the diskette; at the DOS prompt type:
DIR<return>
The compressed file on the diskette takes the form FILENAME.EXE
Now write down the complete name of the file with the .EXE extension.
14. On the printer control panel, press and hold down the ON LINE + PAPER
ADVANCE keys. Without releasing the keys, power the printer on.
Continue holding the ON LINE and PAPER ADVANCE keys down for five
seconds, then release them.
NOTE: The port default is CENTRONICS; this is the standard load through
the parallel port. If you want to use the default, continue at step 18.
15. When you see “WAITING FOR PROGRAM DOWNLOAD” on the LCD,
press the < (NEXT) key. “SELECT DOWNLOAD PORT =
DATAPRODUCT” appears on the LCD.
16. Press < (NEXT) again to cycle through the download ports available in
the printer:
DATAPRODUCT (parallel)
CENTRONICS* (parallel) (default port)
RS232-9600 (RS-232 serial, 9600 baud)
RS232-19.2K (RS-232 serial, 19200 baud)
RS232-38.4K (RS-232 serial, 38400 baud)
RS232-115K (RS-232 serial, 115000 baud)
RS422-9600 (RS-422 serial, 9600 baud)
RS422-19.2 (RS-422 serial, 19200 baud)
RS422-38.4K (RS-422 serial, 38400 baud)
RS422-115K (RS-422 serial, 115000 baud)
17. When the printer download port you want to use is displayed on the LCD,
press ENTER. “WAITING DOWNLOAD / PORT = <your selection>
appears on the display.
18. At the DOS prompt on the computer type:
FILENAME.EXE -pb<return>
where FILENAME.EXE is the compressed file you noted in step 13. This
command decompresses the file on the diskette and copies it as a binary
file into the flash memory on the printer controller board.
NOTE: If you are loading the file using the LPT2 port on the computer, enter
the following DOS command:
FILENAME.EXE -pb 2 <Return>
The 9600 baud rate is the only selection older versions of DOS can
use. The baud rate information entered in the following DOS
commands must match the selection you made in step 16.
the load process and status. (LCD messages are listed in Table 2,
page 37.)
CAUTION Do not interrupt the downloading process once it has started.
Interrupting a download will damage the flash memory on the controller
board and PrintNet card ( if installed).
19. When the new program has successfully loaded into memory and the
printer has reset itself, set the printer power switch to O (off).
20. Unplug the AC power cord from the printer.
21. Remove the diskette from the computer and store it with the printer.

LineMatrix
www.sinca.biz
Toby

External, parallel port based FDD's are just too darn old and uncommon, and there's no auto-detecting on these things. These things also come with their own power supplies - so make sure the power supply is plugged in or else it ain't gonna get no power - and then you'll need the drivers (which I doubt will be XP compatible).

A USB based external FDD would be a much easier solution!

I'm trying to re-install iomegaware zip 100 & it tells me it does not support windows 2000 so I need to update drivers. Can you please help me figure this out as I rely on my zip for backups. I have version 21.1.
thanks very much
Marlene

Computer questions and answers listing 400 - 499 CH000431, How many partitions can DOS / Windows recognize. ... CH000441, Installing a PC parallel port computer printer.

Determining how much RAM is installed and available. To check how much RAM is available on your computer . ... Notice: MS-DOS 6.2 will not accept or recognize more than 64 megs of RAM.

Good Luck, Please dont for get to Vote, Thank You.