Re: Mac to IIGS disk creator

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Jeremy <jeremyl@skipnet.com> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>    I was recently given a free Apple IIGS. Just got a 3.5" 800K drive
>in the mail and would really like to get this thing up and running.
>Don't have a hard drive for it yet. I'm looking for a utility that will
>take .do, .dsk, and .po files on a Mac and convert them into a bootable
>800K disk (image) that can be made on a Mac and used in the IIGS. Does
>such a program exist, or is there more to it than just a simple app can
>accomplish?
>
>    I've found .dsk files all over the place like at ftp.apple.asimov
>and the like.

.dsk files unpack into 5.25" disks.

The way you would go about converting these is to get a 5.25"
drive on the IIGS to run the actual software.

You should also have System 6.0.1 up and running on the IIGS.

Go to http://www.allelec.com/ Alltech Electronics and get a Focus
hard drive for the IIGS.  It includes System 6.0.1 preinstalled and
some free/share-ware.

Next, look for a freeware program called DSK2FILE.

Transfer the .dsk images from the Mac to the IIGS Focus hard
drive (you can set up an AppleTalk network between the
Mac and the IIGS or use HFS 800k disks formatted on a Mac
and read through the IIGS Finder to do the transfer).

Finally, run DSK2FILE.  Follow the prompts and insert your
blank 5.25" disks to "unimage" the programs.

However, once you have seen Apple IIGS software that
comes on the Focus, those old 5.25" based .dsk warez will
tire fast.  You'll want APPLE IIGS SPECIFIC software.
Check http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/ the ground ftp server
for the largest source of these.  You'll be surprised at the
quality of freeware and shareware.  Then when you see
these software, you'll see why I say this.  The old .dsk files
can't tap the Apple IIGS's special features like the 32 voice
Ensoniq sound chip.  With the software on ground, you can
hear this chip.  Plug in some speakers of headphones into
the jack at the back of the IIGS.  I've uploaded some music
such as "Like a Prayer", "Bohemian Rhapsody," and
various national anthems.

Check to see that you have at least 4MB of memory to
make sure you can run the best stuff.  Alltech also sells
GS memory (cards can take up to 8MB).