May I ask what a zip drive is, I can't remember Where I heard its name...

a ZIP Driver...is more like hmm another type of storage device...

like floppy and the Harddisk.

But as its a removable disk then we can say more like the floppy disk...looks kinda of the same but different of course.

as far as i can remember the discs can hold up to 60 MB :confused: floppies only 1.44 MB ...soo big difference...

It would be handy for backups... but overall as its not universally used...very few really use it... you cant just go from one computer to another to transfer files like you would do with the floppy discs....

its time has gone I would say....as now with Cd writable discs and even Dvd writable discs.... I cant see a good reason for it to stay around for long.

Originally posted by DeSerTDesTroYeR
a ZIP Driver...is more like hmm another type of storage device...

like floppy and the Harddisk.

But as its a removable disk then we can say more like the floppy disk...looks kinda of the same but different of course.

as far as i can remember the discs can hold up to 60 MB :confused: floppies only 1.44 MB ...soo big difference...

It would be handy for backups... but overall as its not universally used...very few really use it... you cant just go from one computer to another to transfer files like you would do with the floppy discs....

its time has gone I would say....as now with Cd writable discs and even Dvd writable discs.... I cant see a good reason for it to stay around for long.

CooL, just like I expected Dede, it holds space, but lemmi ask you, is it easy to put into a pc, or hard, and y can't I just go from one computer to another to transfer files...with it...

the level of easy depends on weither you want to have/ use a:

External or internal Zip Drive.

External: I would say is much easier as you just plug it in. And install the software required to use it (there would be a CD that contains this software).

Internal: Well its good too, if your objective of usage of this Drive is for backing up your data, with no need to transfer it from one PC to another. So having it molded. Would be recommended though you can do the same with the external one.

So The external one would have the advantage of mobility, and the inernal probably would have the advantage of a higher transfer rate.

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The reason for not being able or lets say flexiable to go from one PC to another and use your Zip disks. Is quite simple, cause not every PC would have a Zip Drive :) we all know that most if not alll PCs have floppy drives as a standard, but so far Zip Drives havent became Standards. If you walk in to a office it would be likely to find 1 or 2 the most in a normal case.

Alright, a zip drive sound like a good idea for me, cause you see, I got 3 computer here, and 1/3 of my files are on each one...

So, I will probably need it...
now tell me dede, where can I find a Zip drive and for how much do they sell it here in Oman?

3 computers... cool ....thats Lite..:D

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Have you considered connecting them in a network, you can buy a hub or a switch instead and alll 3 will be connected allllll the time? Unless they arent in the same room.... hmm welll in that case....still do-able if you dont mind the wires..going from a room to another..:p

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ok.......lets say you wanna go with this Zip drive... I would say you can find them in most computer shops..like malls.... Just ask for Zip drives..they should have some.

for how much...i wouldnt have a clue...but i would guess hmmm maybe around 15-20 rials..!? a year ago it used to be more then 50 rials...soo better check around...before buying

good luck

Originally posted by DeSerTDesTroYeR
3 computers... cool ....thats Lite..:D

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Have you considered connecting them in a network, you can buy a hub or a switch instead and alll 3 will be connected allllll the time? Unless they arent in the same room.... hmm welll in that case....still do-able if you dont mind the wires..going from a room to another..:p

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ok.......lets say you wanna go with this Zip drive... I would say you can find them in most computer shops..like malls.... Just ask for Zip drives..they should have some.

for how much...i wouldnt have a clue...but i would guess hmmm maybe around 15-20 rials..!? a year ago it used to be more then 50 rials...soo better check around...before buying

good luck

Yeah, the three computers are in different rooms, so it will be hard trying to connect them... Been there, Done that...:D

Anyway, today I might go to City Center, I'll check!

i recommend you to buy an external Zip drive there are different types 100MB and 200Mb as well they are quit useful actually i do av one in me computer !! and i m8 try to get me an external one as well the USB one no need for power supply !!

^^3aBaDY^^: wow...now thats cool... The USB ones with no need for power supply.... but would he have a usb port on the 3 comps... hmm he can simply also buy a USB card..:)

sounds good mf_alkhalili, let us know about your progress with this matter. Am sure other members might find it useful.

Hehehe, well, I guess that there is a problem here, as DeDe guessed, my computer doesn't have a USB Port, its kinda old...
But the rest have...

Anyway, I was also gonna ask how to get a USB Port on my PC, cause the Zip drive would not be useful without a USB... One by One!

mf_alkhalili: well..thats why i sugguested that you might need a USB card..:p... you can find it easily... i think:) it usually has 2 ports, as far as i can remember should be more then enough for you.

Originally posted by DeSerTDesTroYeR
mf_alkhalili: well..thats why i sugguested that you might need a USB card..:p... you can find it easily... i think:) it usually has 2 ports, as far as i can remember should be more then enough for you.

I wish I can, but you see, there is no space for the USB Port in my Pc, some people told me that I could but this thing that is put in an old port (which people used to use for transfering data long ago) and the other side of this thing is a USB thing...

But I have no idea where to find it, or how... but I would prefer the one that Dede told me about!:D

Originally posted by DeSerTDesTroYeR
as far as i can remember the discs can hold up to 60 MB :confused: floppies only 1.44 MB ...soo big difference...

Man, you are living on technology of 10 years old or what? ;)

Zip Drives come in 100mb, 250MB, 1000Mb (1GB), 2000MB (2Gb), and so on.

If both has 2 internal zip drives, then you can move files easily between them if you are too lazy to get a cross over cable to connect them both together. or if they are far away from another.

You can get an external zip drive which will be really easy to use. You can just plug it in any computer when needed.

If you do not have empty USB ports left, you can buy a USB PCI card as DesertDestroyer suggested. You can get it with 2ports, 4 ports, and more if in hub version. Either 1.1 (~15Mbs) or 2.0 (~550Mbs).

If you do not want to spend money, then everytime pull of your one of your USB devices, and stick the zip drive temprory.

They sell now USB STICKS, which look like a small stick you can stick it in your computer USB port and have many versions for spaces. 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256, 512MB, etc.. It is REALLY small, and very convinient. You do NOT a zip drive or a huge device to carry around. Just put your USB memory stick in your pocket and you are done.

don : quoting myself: as far as i can remember

soo pretty much true... :rolleyes: :D anyway...as long as i was able to give a decent answer...i guess...no harm done....and for sure...i can always expect you to jump in to correct me here and there...:cool: as you usually do :)


and I guess your post gave a good summary about the whole thing.

Don:

Thanks alot for the explanation... I don't have a free USB Port in my PC, so, I went today to this pc store, asked for one, he showed me 2 USB ports stuck to a big chip, I bet that this is how it looks like from the inside...

I'm thinking of taking it, he offered 6 rials... is this a good price? :confused:

Originally posted by mf_alkhalili
he showed me 2 USB ports stuck to a big chip,

Do you mean 2 port USB PCI slot? If yes, does it look something like the bottom picture (this one has 4 ports, but yours has 2).

http://www.omanserv.net/forum_temp/es/usbport.jpg

If yes, then make sure of one thing, does your motherboard in your Computer has an empty PCI slot? Because if not, then you will be able to put it in your computer.

If it's for 6 R.O., then buy it, it's not bad price. I bought mine for $20 last year.

Originally posted by Don Khaled
Do you mean 2 port USB PCI slot? If yes, does it look something like the bottom picture (this one has 4 ports, but yours has 2).

http://www.omanserv.net/forum_temp/es/usbport.jpg

If yes, then make sure of one thing, does your motherboard in your Computer has an empty PCI slot? Because if not, then you will be able to put it in your computer.

If it's for 6 R.O., then buy it, it's not bad price. I bought mine for $20 last year.

Yes, that's the chip, but with 2 slots ofcourse...

But, I can't find the empty PCI slot, what does it look like?:confused:

Open your case, and look at your motherboard. You should see white slots. If there is an empty slot, then you have space. If you don't know what's a slot, then a slot looks like the following picture. You see the white slots in the picture below? then those are the PCI slots.

http://omanserv.net/forum_temp/es/pcislot1.jpg

ANOTHER SCREEN SHOT

http://omanserv.net/forum_temp/es/pcislot.jpg

http://omanserv.net/forum_temp/es/pcislot2.jpg

Yeah, I see them, I have 2 empty ones... But I think that it is only for putting more Rams on your PC... :confused:

I don't see the point of wasting money on a Zip drive, you better go buy yourself an external CD-writer and some CD-RW that you could use over and over again to transfer files between your PCs.
You can use your CD writer for everything, but you can't use your Zip drive for anything but transfering files between computers. PLUS, you would need to move the Zip Drive from one place to another along with all your Zip disks when you transfer you files (UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A ZIP DRIVE FOR EACH PC YOU HAVE), unlike the CD-writer where you could write the CD using the CD-writer then read the files on the CD using any CD-drive you have on your other PCs.

Originally posted by BLuE_Chi
I don't see the point of wasting money on a Zip drive, you better go buy yourself an external CD-writer and some CD-RW that you could use over and over again to transfer files between your PCs.
You can use your CD writer for everything, but you can't use your Zip drive for anything but transfering files between computers. PLUS, you would need to move the Zip Drive from one place to another along with all your Zip disks when you transfer you files (UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A ZIP DRIVE FOR EACH PC YOU HAVE), unlike the CD-writer where you could write the CD using the CD-writer then read the files on the CD using any CD-drive you have on your other PCs.

Well Blue_Chi, I thought of that, but I got the CD-writer on the computer that doesn't have files, and I have no idea how to move it and connect it to the pc that I need the files from...

It's complicated man...:duh:

I only need the Zip drive cause I need more space on my pc, and cause I want to exchange files between the 2 PC's...

Buying a proper Zip Drive would cost you more than buying a normal external CD writer ;)

mf_alkhalili, you already have a CD burner? Then I would suggest you not to waste your money on a zip drive. But if you still insist on the zip drive. then as I said, those white slots are called "PCI SLOTS", not memory RAM. Don't let your eyes go above these PCI slots, because RAM slots has nothing to do with it.

I can't believe that you were even thinking of buying a Zip drive just for your home usage! It is really ridiculous. Go get yourself a CD writer, it is so useful unlike the Zip Drive that you would only use once every year! (maximum :P )

Okay, after you read the following, u will know why I need a Zip Drive...

First you'll have to know that I have 3 PC's

The first one is mine, it is really old, it has 1.8 GB and 32 Ram...
it doesn't have a USB port and it has a 52X CD-Rom... Windows 98

The Second is not bad, it only has 7 GB's and 64 Ram, and IT HAS THE CD WRITER, but it doesn't have important files on it, that's why the CD writer will be useless, and ofcourse it has a USB Port... Windows 98

The Third one is the best one, 40 GB's and 224 Ram, it has windows XP on it, and it isn't mine, but I get to use it and put my files in it... it has the same CD R as the first...

Now, I always need to transfer files from The Third PC to the second, so that I could Burn what ever I want (GAMES downloaded from the net, Music, Personal Stuff like pics)
If I the thing that I want to move is less than 4 MB, then I'll take it on a disk...

For my Personal stuff like pic and music, I only need to use the ZIP Drive to take them to the second PC, and burn them on it's CD Writer and use the files on the new CD on the first one...

As for games, I always download lots of games that are more that 150 MB, so, I'll use the Zip Drive to take them from the fast(Third PC) to the second PC to burn them and KEEP them cause the first PC doesn't have space to use them...

I always try and try to take big 8 MB files on disks, but it takes lots of time and most of the time it gives me errors...

And I need to buy a USB Port so that I can put the Zip Drive in the First old PC...



I have an MP3 Player, it has a Memory Card that can hold almost 60-70 MBS of MP3, and it also can carry zip files, which is good, so I used to take files from the third PC and put them into the second, burn them, use them on the first…I used to do this, until the third PC got Win XP, which is not compatible with it’s program or with it’s hardware that goes into the USB Port…

Now you get it why I need a Zip Drive?

mfk,

I had an internal zip drive. It was a pain in the butt, conflicted with everything. Get an external one if you really need one; it's no big deal to unplug something else from a usb port on the odd occasion you need to use zip.