Making a ZIP disk read only *OR* a better backup idea?

[markyb86]

I have heard, that if you put a bootable ZIP disk with system 7 on it into a zip drive on a machine running OS 8 or later, it will overwrite the driver. Making the disk un-bootable. Therefore, I was wondering if it is possible to make a ZIP read-only, so that I could back up my SE's two main ZIP disks (that have ethernet configured correctly, etc) on OS 8.

In the past I have cloned the disks to other ZIP's, so I do have some what of a backup.. but I would really rather have an image file saved to dropbox or onedrive.

 

[johnklos]

I haven't heard about that, but just uninstall the Zip extension if you're worried about that. You can still mount Zip disks manually using any SCSI utility like SCSIProbe.

 

[aladds]

Zip drivers are odd.

http://www.jagshouse.com/zipMacPlus.html

Look about halfway down that page under "Auto update quirk"

Therefore, if you want to not have problems with 'old driver' disks, put an old version of the iomega extension in your Mac OS 8 Extensions folder, and be certain you don't have a new version there too! (Also don't use a new version of Zip Tools.)

 

[bigmessowires]

I can testify to the Zip driver silent update problem. It's very annoying when you're trying to use the same Zip drive on several Macs. As far as I know it's unrelated to System 7 vs 8 though - it's a question of what version of the Zip software you have installed on each Mac.

 

[markyb86]

Hmm. Well the 8.6 version would be whatever came with it, and my 7.1 installs don't have any zip software, as I just formatted like they were a hard disk. I'll look into replacing the stuff on 8.6. 

 

[Charlieman]

The Iomega extension is required only if you use specific Iomega features (eg password protection).

To format a Zip cartridge, use a third party formatter such as Lido.

To mount a Zip cartridge, use a utility such as SCSI Probe.

More myths are discussed at: http://www.vintagemacworld.com/pluszip.html

 

[bigmessowires]

It's not a myth - I've experienced the zip driver silent overwrite first-hand. The page you linked to offers an interesting work-around. I no longer have my zip drive, so I can't test it, but it makes sense.

 

[Charlieman]

It's not a myth - I've experienced the zip driver silent overwrite first-hand. The page you linked to offers an interesting work-around. I no longer have my zip drive, so I can't test it, but it makes sense.

Yeah, it's a myth that if you put your System 6 or earlier Zip disk into a Mac running later OS, it will be messed up. I've done it thousands of times. 

I'm trying to sell the story that you can use your Iomega Zip (Bernoulli, Jaz?) drive or your Syquest safely in any Mac. I provided empirical and theoretical evidence that:

1. Iomega's INIT will only change cartridges which have been formatted using Iomega's tools.

2. You only need a vendor INIT if you use vendor features.

Get rid of vendor INITs and install generic tools to manage your external drives.

 

[markyb86]

My worry is that it won't boot after I copy it. 

My SE uses the ZIP as the internal and only drive at the moment. 

I formatted with the modified HD SC formatter, so it should be alright then I would imagine.

 

[Charlieman]

Quick tip: Delete (or if cautious, disable) the Iomega extension on any computers running any version of Mac OS and reboot.

No Iomega INIT, no problem.

If you wish to live with the Iomega INIT/Extension, make a blind copy of the disk and experiment.

 

[markyb86]

Alright I will give it a shot without it. I never specifically needed it for any reason in the past.