Parallel Port to USB Cord Recommendations Needed

[Ro_Laren]

I have some old 250 MB Iomega zip disks that I want to access. While I have a zip drive, it has a parallel port on it and my computer doesn't have anywhere to hook up a parallel port to it. My external zip drive is an Iomega Zip 250 Model Number Z250P. Can anyone recommend how I might access this zip drive on my computer? Can you recommend any specific parallel port to USB cords (assuming those will work)? I saw some on the internet, but don't know if any of them will work (see here). Below are some pictures of my external zip drive:

 

[StarCruiser]

There's a whole thread on this site:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r28640763-Old-parallel-zip-disk-to-USB

That goes over the issues and possible workarounds. More than likely you won't be able to hook it up to a modern system...

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

The device drivers wouldn't be able to recognise and access the drive even if you had a USB to parallel bridge device. Even if you installed a parallel port card, the drivers might not work with an OS more recent than Windows 95. Iomega did a USB version of the drive that you might be able to pick up for a few dollars on eBay but its drivers might not work with modern OSs and I'm not sure the discs are compatible (however the link given above reckons they are). You don't state what OS you are using. To be able to access the device, you might need to install an old OS in a virtual machine under VMware Player or install the OS on a space hard disk and boot the OS from that disk.

A data recovery company would be the last resort but wouldn't be cheap.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I did some looking around and it appears that the USB-based ZIP drives are supported up to Windows 10, probably because they present as USB mass storage devices (like thumb drives and such do). So if you can get your hands on one of the USB models of the 250, you should be set.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

USB zip drives seem to go for between $30 and $50 on eBay. That does seem like the way to go on this. Of course, there's no guarantee that the disks are readable after several years. I've seen as low as 5 years quoted.

 

[Santaman]

Maybe someone has an old machine lying around that they don't use anymore? You might be able to borrow/obtain it so you can use it for old stuff.