Converting Zip 100 Disk to Zip 250 Disk...is it possible?

LOAF

Member
Jul 15, 2002
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I'm just wondering if it's possible. About the only thing I've noticed that's different between the two is that the Zip 250 has the reflector covered. Are they machanically or electrically different in any other way? I'd like to convert my old Zip Disks if possible.
 

jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
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sure, all you do is punch a hole on the upper-left corner and you've got yourself a higher-density disk
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: jhu
sure, all you do is punch a hole on the upper-left corner and you've got yourself a higher-density disk

Haha, I remember trying that :)

As for being able to update a Zip, I dont think so. 150% more storage capacity is not that easy to come by. No way the read-write heads are the same size.

 

Kurupshin

Senior member
Jun 17, 2001
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Call me crazy, but if we could do it to a zip disk, that would mean we should be able to make our hard drives 250% their size by modifying the externals.

I'm 99.99% sure without looking up, that a zip disk is as dense as it can get.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
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Originally posted by: Kurupshin

I'm 99.99% sure without looking up, that a zip disk is as dense as it can get.

Funny, I've said that about some people and they always manage to prove me wrong :D
 

LOAF

Member
Jul 15, 2002
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Originally posted by: Evadman
As for being able to update a Zip, I dont think so. 150% more storage capacity is not that easy to come by. No way the read-write heads are the same size.

That covers the drive hardware, but what about the disk itself? If you could fool the drive into thinking the disk is a 250MB disk, could it be formatted as one? That's essentially what you do by punching a hole in a low density floppy.

Anyway, I've got enough spare Zip 100 disks sitting around. I guess I'll just try covering the reflector and see what happens. Hopefully it won't fry my drive.
rolleye.gif
 

rimshaker

Senior member
Dec 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: jhu
sure, all you do is punch a hole on the upper-left corner and you've got yourself a higher-density disk

LOL... ahhh, the good ole days of 720k disks..