Last one for this go around, a parallel port-based Zip Drive. I've been looking forward to this one. Unfortunately I don't have a computer with a parallel port any more! Guess I have another problem to solve.
At first I thought I lost the power cord but nope...just needed to go back and dig further into the box.
(And yes, I have disks too.)
My neighbor came through, and now I have my very own Zip drive!
Can't wait to start saving up to 100MB of data at a time. This feels like the future.
Mitä tapahtui aikoinaan hyvinkin suosituille Zip-levyille?
Korppujen korvikkeet ehtivät nauttia suosionsa huipusta vain parin vuoden ajan.
https://dawn.fi/uutiset/2025/07/20/mita-tapahtui-iomega-zip-levyille
#iomega #iomegazip #historia #uutiset #teknologia #tekniikka
If you'd like to use an ATAPI #IomegaZip drive on a modern PC, look out for this kernel fix:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/libata/linux.git/commit/?id=91ec84f8
It fixes a bug in the AHCI driver which forced IDE DMA mode on with SATA-to-IDE bridges. The Zip drive only supports PIO mode!
A cheap SATA-to-ATAPI converter is all you need.
(Big thanks to Niklas Cassel for fixing this)
Good news everyone! I wrote up my notes about the Iomega Zip drive proprietary SCSI commands and mode pages!
These work for parallel-port drives too, as they're a SCSI drive and a parallel adapter in a trenchcoat.
Iomega Zip and Jaz drive notes This is a collection of arcana on Zip drives you (might not) find anywhere else... Things I'm looking for If you have any of these documents, please drop me a line at <[email protected]>. * Iomega PPA3 Parallel Port SCSI HBA documentation
Well then. I booted the cube PC from the network (Debian Bookworm over PXE) and it turns out the ATA_PIIX driver has no trouble at all talking to an Iomega Zip ATA drive, whether behind a SATA bridge or not.
Now I need to figure out what's going on with the workstation and the "ahci" driver.
Edit 20240131: This item has found a new home with an enthusiast that will put it to use. Thanks for all the enquiries.
I've got a boxed (reasonable condition) Iomega Zip 250 Parallel drive here with parallel cable and power supply that I want to pass on to someone in the #uk. No idea if it works still (not used since early 2000's) and I don't think I've got any Zip disks lying around but I'll have a look. Would prefer this to go to a #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing enthusiast. Asking for postage cost and to see it go to a good home. Message me if interested and I'll sort pics and dig about in the ancient media plastic box for Zip disks for it. #PC #hardware #iomegazip
C64Whiz
Delta Sierra
AfterDawn
Phil M0OFX
Malte Bublitz 
retrofinds
Paul
Doug Barry 