The Zip drive works like any other drive on the Macintosh. When a Zip disk is inserted in the drive, an icon for the disk should appear on the desktop.
After a Zip disk icon mounts on the desktop, you can use the Finder to copy files to or from the Zip drive following the same procedures used for other Macintosh drives. You can also install and run applications on the Zip disk.
Inserting Zip Disks
Verify the Zip drive is on and insert a Zip disk into the drive. When the disk is fully inserted, it rests flush with the front of the drive case. The amber data light on the drive blinks a few times while the disk spins up. When the amber light goes out, the disk is ready to use.
Important: Do not use ordinary 3.5-inch floppy disk in the Zip drive! Doing so could result in damage to the Zip drive.
Removing Zip Disks
To remove a Zip disk that has mounted on the Desktop, select the Zip disk icon and use Put Away from the File menu. You can also click and drag the Zip disk icon to the Trash icon as you would a floppy disk. Both methods automatically eject the disk from the Zip drive.
Formatting Blank Zip Disks
New, blank Zip disks come preformatted for Macintosh or for IBM-compatible computers. If you are using PC Exchange, you can use PC-formatted Zip disks to transfer files between a PC and your Macintosh. Use PC-formatted Zip disks for file transfer only. If you are storing data for use only on Macintosh computers, use Macintosh-formatted Zip disks. There is a risk of losing data (in particular file resource information) when files you use on your Macintosh are stored on a PC-formatted disk.
If you want to reformat a Zip disk you can use the Erase Disk command in the Finder, or Erase or Initialize Disk in the Tools program. To reformat a Zip disk using the Finder, insert the disk and select Erase Disk from the Special menu. Reformatting a Zip disk using Erase Disk in either the Finder or Tools take less than a minute.
If you are reformatting a disk that has read/write difficulties, use the Erase Disk with Surface Verify option in the Tools program. You can also use Erase Disk with Surface Verify from the Finder by holding down the Option key when you start the format. Be sure you hold down the Option key until the disk starts to erase. Using Erase Disk with Surface Verify from either the Finder or Tools takes about 20 minutes.
Note: If you are using PC Exchange and you want to change a PC-formatted disk to a Macintosh format, you must use Erase or Initialize Disk in the Tools program. PC Exchange does not allow the format to be changed when using Erase Disk in the Finder.