Re: Apple ][e floppy on ][c? Possible??

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

In article <43sp2s$2kf@fullfeed.msn.fullfeed.com>,
Garrett Meiers <gmeiers@via.org> wrote:
> I have a laser 128, quite similar to an apple][c.. It also has an 
> external floppy port.. I was wondering if it is possible to wire a floppy 
> drive from a ][e to work on the ][c?

There are two general types of Apple II 5.25" drive:

- The original "Disk ][" (metal box, black front, lift-up door, 20-way
  ribbon cable with IDC-20 female plug).

- The "UniDisk 5.25" (beige, white or platinum plastic case,
  push-in/pop-up door, circular cable with DB-19 male plug,
  daisy-chain connector on the back).

There is also an external drive for the IIc which is very similar to
the UniDisk 5.25, but has no daisy-chain connector.

The IIc (and presumably Laser) is able to support one external 5.25"
drive (the IIc+ can support two, as its internal drive is a 3.5"
drive).  You can plug a UniDisk 5.25 or Disk //c directly into the IIc
drive prot.

You can also connect a Disk ][ to a //c (or to a UniDisk 5.25 card in
a II+/IIe/IIgs, or to the IIgs disk port) if you buy or make the
appropriate adaptor cable.

Be warned, though: if there is anything wrong with the adaptor cable,
you could easily damage your IIc AND your 5.25" drive.

I wrote an article a while back about how to make this adaptor (derived
from an article in Open-Apple from 1985).  I'll see if I can dig out a
copy.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand