[Smogger]

Just buy an internal Zip drive and install it yourself.

I reccommend looking here for the absolute cheapest prices on all computer hardware software: www.pricewatch.com

[VRWCmember]

Get an external zip drive with a USB cable. They're inexpensive and easy to use. Then if you have a writable CD/DVD drive it is very easy to simply copy multiple zip discs to a single CD-R.

[hattend]

You can still buy new Zip drives but they may not work with the older lower capacity disks.

Take your old drive out of the old PC and install it in your new one.

Order your new PC with a DVD-CD-RW drive and it will come with the needed software installed and just transfer all your Zip drive stuff over to CD. Very easy to do, as easy as copying files.

[FairOpinion]

You can still get a Dell computer with a ZIP drive built in, I just helped a friend order one.

IF they don't offer it in their home/home office section, try their small business section, the computers are not any more expensive, but they offer more customized options.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&kc=6V590&l=en&oc=D83SO&s=dhs

[wrench]

Or...you can get an external USB Zip drive and with an internal CD burner, you can both use your current zip media, and transfer what you want to CDR's or DVD's.

[Toonces T. Cat]

Get a USB Zip drive...You can find them online via "PriceWatch" for under $100...In fact NewEgg has a 250Mb unit, which will read your 100Mb disks, for $80 with a $30 mail in rebate offer.

-Toonces

[Paradox]

HEre at work, we had the same problem, however Dell sells systems that can be configured with Zip drives.

[LouD]

Check out www.iomega.com - they list dealers, and also sell through the website. Installing an internal ZIP drive is relatively easy, or you can just buy an external and just plug it in.

[The Dude Abides]

1. Buy a cheap new hard drive or use zip drive/CD RW)
2. Move important files to new drive
3. Make a Windows boot disk with CD rom drivers
4. Format your old hard drive
5. Re-install windows
6. Move important files back from new drive.
Enjoy- maybe you don't need to buy a new system

[HamiltonJay]

ZIP is pretty much obsolete now due to burnable CDRoms... you can still buy internal and external ZIP drives to my knowlege, but they generally are not an option with new PC's anymore.

[Trailer Trash]

Buy a 256 mb jump drive. Fits in your pocket. No drivers. Plug it into the old machine's USB, and fill it up with the data on the zip.

Walk over to the old machine and drag it into the new machine. Repeat the process for every zip in your stack.

If the new machine has a cdrw or better a cd/dvdrw then you can back it up there.

After that, thank your lucky stars that you didn't wait any longer..

When the last zip drive finally finds it's way into the trash bin, we'll all be way ahead.

[shadowman99]

You need to migrate away from that thing.... Look into USB Keys for your portable file needs. They are solid state, so there's no "click death' issue like on Zip drives.

CDs are cheaper and hold more, so they are better for long term storage.

[Spiff]

Get a DVD-R or DVD+R drive. You will be able to fit the contents of ALL of your ZIP disks onto three $2 DVD disks. Staples has such drives for $150, TigerDirect has a no-name brand for $99.

Just copy the contents of 33 disks to a folder on your hard drive, fire up your burner application, and then burn all that to a DVD. Check DVD burned OK, then delete all of the stuff in the folder and do it again with the next 33 disks, then again.

[Alberta's Child]

Your problem may not only be the multi-tasking, but an unstable operating system. Let me guess -- you're using Windows 98, right?

[Luke Skyfreeper]

I agree with The Dude. You don't necessarily need a new system.

Upgrade your OS to Windows XP. Home edition will probably do; there are online comparisons to see whether you need pro, most people don't.

You can get Win XP for $100 at Wal-Mart.

I'm running Win 2K Professional on a 266-MHz machine and have 10 windows open right now. I don't usually have more than 20 windows open, usually mostly browser windows, but I also run other programs as well.

Consider adding memory. I only have 128 MB on my system; could probably use a bit more.

And install a CD-RW or DVD drive. Move to that instead of zip disks. A CD-RW will hold 650 to 700 MB of data, DVDs much more I believe.

Unless, of course, you have plenty of money to throw. In which case, buy a new computer (again, Wal-Mart's a good place to shop) and give me your old one. I'll pay for shipping. 8-)

Will be waiting for your freepmail. 8-)

[SamAdams76]

Don't even waste your money on a new Zip drive. I find Zip drives to cumbersome and unweildy to use. The media is overly expensive as you probably well know. There are better solutions out there.

Here's what to do. Transfer all the Zip drives to the hard drive of your old computer. When you get your new system, get a USB "flash" drive, which you can get at any computer store. These devices connect to any PC (or Mac) through a USB port and have capacities ranging from 40MB to a full gig, depending on how much you want to spend. These devices are automatically recognized by Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Mac OS's and install their own drivers automatically as soon as you plug them in. They appear on your system as another hard drive and you can send files back and forth between the device and any other drive on your system. They are tiny too and can fit on your keychain. I highly recommend them.

You can use this device to ferry the files from your old PC to your new one and then burn the files to CD for backup. All new PCs come with rewritable CD drives and the software to use them. A stack of blank CDs will cost you what a single ZIP floppy would have costed.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

I also agree with Spiff. With that much data, I'd think I'd go by preference with a writable DVD drive.

[Publius6961]

Use the old zip drive on your new computer.
Then transfer to the new huge hard drive.

Then onto CDs.
Use the old zip drive as a frisbee.
Start using CDRs instead. A fraction of the cost of a zip disk (a low as 10c each).

Use Solid state USB "drives" for temporary stuff.

[Political Junkie Too]

Why is your computer crashing? Are you still running Windows 98 (the operating system at the time)? I had a similar crashing problem with my Gateway P3 500 mhz computer. I recently installed Windows XP and it has been solid ever since. Perhaps the new operating system is better at managing the drivers than Windows 98 was.

-PJ

[Prime Choice]

ZIP drives are rapidly being obsoleted by solid state USB drives which are much smaller, lighter, and easier to use. The falling cost of CD/RW and DVD/RW drives is also having an impact since one CD-ROM can hold more data than 7 ZIP disks and one DVD-ROM can hold more than 400 ZIP disks.

But, to answer your question, you can pick up an external ZIP drive (USB) on buy.com for a really good price. You can also check on ebay.com since a lot of people seem to be selling theirs.

As for CD-ROM burners, I'm really happy with Sony's brand, but I haven't heard a bad word about any other major manufacturer's CD/RW, so let your experience be your guide in terms of product quality.

Happy shopping!