software for Zip harddisk

macdog

I recently purchased a Zip hard card on eBay.
I am looking for any software and or doc's that originally came with
the Zip branded hard card.
I have searched the archives and this is what I have found so far:

Its an ide interface hard card that you connect a 2.5" laptop hard
drive to.
Zip sold very few of these.
For some reason, Parsons Engineering sold them some time after Zip
sold them.
The Focus hard card may or may not be based on it or be an upgraded
model of it.
The Focus software may or may not work with the Zip version.

Questions:

Is there any firmware/rom upgrades available for it?
Does anyone have software for it?
Does anyone have any doc's for it?
Does anyone have any hands on experience with one of these...and if
so, can you give me a few pointers?

Jamie

Henry S. Courbis

Hey macdog.

>I recently purchased a Zip hard card on eBay.
> I am looking for any software and or doc's that originally came with
> the Zip branded hard card.

That's a rare one indeed! If you do find any software please let me know as
I know several people that have those cards and want the software too.


> I have searched the archives and this is what I have found so far:
> Zip sold very few of these.

From what I've been told they were released just at then end of ZIPs life.
Don't think they sold more then 50 of them. Don't think they ever
advertized then either, at least not the normal way they did the ZIP CHIP or
ZIP GSX. From what I was told it was more of a direct marketing campain to
existing ZIP product owners. Would make sense too since print ads are big
bucks and post cards to existing clients would be much cheaper and have a
better chance at sales.


> For some reason, Parsons Engineering sold them some time after Zip
> sold them.
> The Focus hard card may or may not be based on it or be an upgraded
> model of it.
> The Focus software may or may not work with the Zip version.

Good question. I'd say give the Focus software a try. I doubt it would
work, but then again I can barly figure out the Focus software even on a
good day. Tony (or someone) really need to rewite it to make it more user
friendly. When I sell the Focus CF Adapters
(http://www.reactivemicro.com/product...products_id=40)
the buyer normally emails me asking for help setting up the CF Card. It's
always a major undertaking it seems. Anyone willing to setup a new CF Card
and write down a cookbook set of instructions? I and a lot of others would
really appreciate the help! Contact me and we'll work something out for
your time.


> Questions:
> Is there any firmware/rom upgrades available for it?

I have read the ROM for the card. If anyone would like to take a look at
it, it's here:
http://www.downloads.reactivemicro.c...DEC/ZIP_DRIVE/


> Does anyone have any hands on experience with one of these...and if
> so, can you give me a few pointers?

Anyone looking for pics of the card, they are here:
http://www.downloads.reactivemicro.c...IP_DRIVE/Pics/

From what I was told by Western Digital, the ASIC was produced around the
time of the first 8-bit IDE Drives (1989-ish), hence the 1988 date codes on
all the ICs. It was a pretty 'standard' IC back then. By today's standards
it's a total odd ball though. Even 8-bit IDE Drives are super rare. Isn't
even much documentation on 8-bit IDE, so I know very little about it. I
think it was just a few months later that IDE went 16-bit when 286 machines
started to take over market share (1990-ish). From what I understand IDE
was out around 1986-87 but not really for sale till 89 or at least didn't
sell due to price of MFM and RLL Drives being much less expensive and
faster.

Hope that helps.


--
Henry S. Courbis
www.ReactiveMicro.com
Legacy Hardware and Support - Come take a look at what we have to offer!

James Littlejohn

On Jan 28, 3:47 pm, macdog <bigdog...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I recently purchased a Zip hard card on eBay.
> I am looking for any software and or doc's that originally came with
> the Zip branded hard card.
> I have searched the archives and this is what I have found so far:
>
> Its an ide interface hard card that you connect a 2.5" laptop hard
> drive to.
> Zip sold very few of these.
> For some reason, Parsons Engineering sold them some time after Zip
> sold them.
> The Focus hard card may or may not be based on it or be an upgraded
> model of it.
> The Focus software may or may not work with the Zip version.
>
> Questions:
>
> Is there any firmware/rom upgrades available for it?
> Does anyone have software for it?
> Does anyone have any doc's for it?
> Does anyone have any hands on experience with one of these...and if
> so, can you give me a few pointers?
>
> Jamie

Hi Jamie,

After doing a lot of digging I came up with several names that might
be able to help.
Todd P. Whitesel - States in a post from 1995, that he had the
software disk for the Zip Hard card.
BurgerBill (aka Bill Heineman) - did the original design.
Steve Parsons - Parsons Engineering sold the cards.

I too have a Zip Hard card I would like to get working. (Bad drive)