Re: Apple IIe Boot Disks

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Kevin writes ...
> 
> I have been given an Apple IIe with dual drives.  I had diskettes for both
> ProDos and Dos 3.3.  Neither of these disks will boot.  Once in a while the
> ProDos disk will give the error:
>     ***** UNABLE TO LOAD PRODOS ****
> 
> I believe that the diskettes are bad, but do not have any other disks to
> boot from and look at these.
> 
> Any help or a source for bootable diskettes would be appreciated.
> 

     In case you have not tried it, be sure to use a Head Cleaner Disk (like
the ones at Radio Shack) to clean the head on each drive.

     The 5.25" Cleaner Diskette has panels you pop out to expose the cleaning
surface. Apple II 5.25" drives have a single head which contacts the disk from
the bottom and a pressure pad which presses against the top side. So, pop out
the panel on the bottom side of the Cleaner Diskette and leave the top panel in
place. 

     To clean a drive head, you sqirt a few drops of Cleaning Fluid onto the
Cleaner Diskette disk, insert it into the drive with the bottom side facing
down, and get the disk spinning for 20 seconds. (Booting the Cleaner Diskette
is one way to get it spinning. If DOS or ProDOS is installed, doing a CATALOG
is another way. For example: CATALOG,S6,D2 would get your 5.25" Drive 2
spinning.)

     If you need DOS 3.3 and ProDOS 'getting started' diskettes, you can email
a regular poster on this newsgroup. Plan on paying the cost of materials and
postage-- around $3 - $5.



Rubywand