Re: Using new 5 1/4" disks with older apples

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

fboswell@rocketmail.com writes ...
> 
> Hi all!!
> 
> Just to restate my problem.  My teacher friend needs to format or initialize
> new 5 1/4" disks for use to save her students work.
 ....

     There is always a chance that some of the disks being used are DOS 3.3
disks which will permit doing a Control_Reset to get to the usual Applesoft
BASIC prompt. A check for DOS 3.3 is to enter this command ...

CATALOG

With luck, you will see a listing of files on the screen headed by "DISK VOLUME"
or "PRONTO-DOS" or "ESDOS ][".

Note: If you see a file list headed by a "/" followed by a name, you are
probably under ProDOS. Fine; but, unless the disk has some utility for
formatting disks, not much help. You can usually identify ProDOS disks because
they are identified briefly on the screen just after booting. 


     If it looks like you are under DOS 3.3, you can probably enter NEW (to wipe
the current program). Then enter this line ...

10 TEXT: HOME: PRINT CHR$(4);"CATALOG": END

Then, stick in a new diskette* and enter this command ...

INIT HELLO

If you are under DOS 3.3, the drive will spin and initialize the diskette (which
includes formatting).


     If all goes well, you can end up with a pile of mainly empty DOS 3.3
diskettes, each of which is also bootable. These can be used for saving programs
as well as work files produced by DOS 3.3 programs. (For more about DOS 3.3 and
ProDOS you can go to http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2DOSMM.html .)


*Another note: Apple II 5.25" drives work only with double-density (DD) 5.25"
diskettes. Hi-density (HD) 1.2MB diskettes found in many computer stores will
not work in Apple II 5.25" drives. You can buy DD 5.25" diskettes in quantity at
a low price from Alltech (760-724-2404).



Rubywand