Re: problems with disk drive

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

ludo writes ...
> 
> Hi !
> 
> I'm new to the A2 world and I have some problems:
 ....
> 
> 2- The boot screen shows 'Apple <section><degree>' instead of 'Apple ][' ?
> 
>    A problem with my video card ?

     Probably not. (Some Apple II's have a card to allow getting an 80-column
display; but, mostly, video is built-in.)

     It sounds like your Apple II came from a university where it was used
for handling registrations. The special display may come from in-ROM software
on a plug-in board or from a modified monitor ROM.

     With everything turned Off, remove the lid and check for boards plugged
into the Slots along the back.

     If you have 8 Slots along the back, the first Slot (on the far left) is
Slot 0 and you have an Apple II or II+. If there are 7 Slots along the back
and a special Slot closer to the front on the left, you probably have a IIe
and the first Slot in the back is Slot 1; the special Slot is the Aux Slot.

     Jot down where each card is located.

     You can find out more about different Apple II models at
http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs5MAINHALL.html#000 .

     For pictures of different models, check one of the computer historical
sites listed at http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs4MAJORSITES.html , such
as  http://www.computingmuseum.com/site/page_museum.htm .


     What kind of Apple II does it look like you have?

     If you have a II or II+, remove all of the cards except the one
connected to your disk drives and the one in Slot 0. If you have a IIe,
remove all of the cards except the one connected to your disk drives and any
card which may be in the special Aux Slot.

     Power ON your computer. What does the display say? Is the display in
40-col Text or 80-column Text? What happens when you press Reset? (You may
have to press Control-Reset to get a Reset.)



> 
> 3- I do not have DOS disks
> 
>    How can I recreate them ? (using dos/windows or linux)
> 
 ....

     As Matthew notes, you can't (at least not without special hardware
plugged in).  If your Apple II has a serial interface card (probably plugged
into Slot 2), you may be able to transfer DOS 3.3 from your PC to a diskette
as described at http://206.14.25.120/~cturley/a2zine/Sel/dos33dmp.htm .

     An easier way may be to email one of the regular posters on this
newsgroup. Or, you might contact a users' group near you. For a listing of
users' groups, see http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs9USERGROUPS.html .



Rubywand