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I need to retrieve files from my mother's Mac IIci. (Just need the keystrokes to re-use them in a new book.)
1) I could get the files onto floppies, but I'm working on a new iMac OS 10.5.8. Possibility: get a floppy drive that will play nice with my computer. Do they exist?
2) The other option I hoped would work would be to hook up an old Zip Drive to her computer via scsi cable, retrieve the files, then use my USB cabled Zip drive to bring them to my computer. The problem on that end is that my mother's computer is not recognizing the Zip disk/drive. Might be the disk I was using.
Any thoughts/suggestions?
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How big are the files? You would probably be better off shipping them into the cloud somewhere (using OS 9 email or ftp) and fetching down rather than trying to get the filesystem to work. If you use the filesystem you might want to try to use FAT which both OS9 and OS X recognize (and would involved reformatting a ZIP disk.)
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Is it possible to hook the old IIci up to the internet either via wire or wireless? I have assumed it's not possible.
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Thais,
Numbered is onto something. If the IIci has an internet connection and you're not talking a tremendous number of files, you can email to yourself. Or, via dropbox's web interface, send them to the cloud. Or, FTP them to a space on the web via FTP software.
BTW, if the Mac IIci has an ATA drive - I can't remember if it had a SCSI or ATA connection for its hard disk drive off the top of my head, you may be pull the drive and drop it into an external enclosure.
Or, if it has PCI slots and can find an appropriate drive, you may even be able to throw a USB card into it and then drop the files onto a USB drive. It's been a while and I can't remember if the IIci has Nubus or PCI.
Robert
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Hmm. I had just assumed I couldn't get onto email or the web with the old thing. If I could email, that would be simple as pie. I will see what can be done and also keep in the mind the other options you've presented.
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I won't be at her house for a few days. I'll get back on after trying a few things. Thanks so far.
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It was pretty easy to connect two Macs of that era in a simple network via the serial or ADB ports (I forget which one) with a cheap adapter... regular telephone wires were good for in between. Catch is, there's probably no modern equivalent for the other end of that network that you could hook up to your iMac. Internet connectivity, you'd almost have to have a phone modem with a serial connection... and a dial-up account. Even then, you're probably talking about FTP to move the files. Lots of butt-pain in all those options.
You should be able to get a cheap USB floppy drive for $15-20 new, cheaper used. I have no idea whether a modern Mac would recognize System 7/8 formatted floppies, though.
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That reminds me - I've still got an Asante SCSI-Ethernet adapter in shrinkwrap laying around in the garage somewhere...been meaning to get the IIsi online...
Otherwise - yeah, I'd try to get the zip to work (do you have any other discs to try out? - dumb question-you DID install the iomega extension on the IIci, didn't you?) or maybe sign up for one month's worth of dial-up service (do you still have a modem for the IIci?) - can't possibly cost too much, and might even be free (assuming the IIci can play nice with places like netzero). Or - know anybody with a Beige Mac (with both floppy & ethernet) available?
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If the files in question aren't too large, I think using a modem to connect to the Internet to send the files might be the easiest way to go...
...IF you have access to a dial-up account.
Do you or your mom have access to an America Online account? If so, do they still offer access via modem?
