Re: 2E - 3.5" drive question

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Jazzmanian <jazzmanianNOjaSPAM@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote:

> I have tried to build a boot diskette using software on my Mac, and
> 800k prodos format, but I think I may have the wrong 3.5 disk drive.

You might also have the wrong disk controller.  A 3.5" drive does not
work with the standard 5.25" disk controller card which is present in
nearly every IIe.

For the UniDisk 3.5 (white), you need either Apple's "SuperDrive" card
or the "Liron" card.

For the Apple 3.5 Drive (platinum), you need either Apple's "SuperDrive"
card or the third party "Universal Disk Controller" card.

For the Apple SuperDrive (also platinum), you need Apple's "SuperDrive"
card.  (The SuperDrive supports 1.44 MB high density and 720 KB double
density disks as well as the 400 KB and 800 KB formats.)  You can use a
SuperDrive with the Universal Disk Controller card, but you won't be
able to use its extra capabilities, and it will behave like an Apple 3.5
Drive.


The "SuperDrive" card's official name is "Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller
Card".  The card has an LED on top, and has its own processor, RAM and
ROM.

The "Liron" card's official name is "Apple 3.5 Floppy Disk Drive
Interface Card".  It has the word "Liron" on the back (which is the
nickname of the IWM disk controller chip, if I remember right).

> Can anyone tell me the model # for a 3.5" drive that will work with a
> IIe.  The drives I have are model A9M0106.

That is the Apple 3.5 Drive.  The "A9M" prefix indicates it is a
combined Apple II and Macintosh peripheral.  ("A2" is the usual prefix
for devices specific to the Apple II, while "M" is the usual prefix for
devices specific to the Macintosh.)

You should find that the drive actually says "Apple 3.5 Drive" on the
label on its underside.

The UniDisk 3.5 is quite a lot rarer.  It looks a little different from
the Apple 3.5 Drive.  For starters, it is a clean white colour instead
of the greyish "platinum".  It also has the eject button just above the
line of the disk insertion slot, with a separate manual ejection hole.
The Apple 3.5 Drive has the button in line with the disk insertion slot,
and the manual ejection hole is in the middle of the button.

The label on the underside says "UniDisk 3.5".  It is model number
A2M2053.

The SuperDrive may be inconsistent.  Mine says "Apple SuperDrive", and
has "Family number G7287" on its label.  The SuperDrive looks exactly
the same as the Apple 3.5 Drive.

> Otherwise is there any way to build a 5.25" boot disk if you don't have
> one now, and don't have comm software ?

No.  The easiest method would be to get someone to send you a boot disk.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand