Re: IIc: "CHECK DISK DRIVE"-error

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

In article <jasper.nuyens-3103951720530001@134.58.9.70>,
 <jasper.nuyens@student.KULEUVEN.ac.be> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I just bought an Apple IIc, but it keeps on giving me the "check disk
> drive"-error. I inserted all disks i could find (they should work!) in the
> diskdrive, tried every side, but it just keeps on saying: "Check disk
> drive". 

Sounds like the drive might be faulty, or it could be something as
simple as the drive connector having come loose.

Does the drive access light come on when you try to boot the computer
(by pressing Control-Apple-Reset)?

> A friend of mine tought the IIc was searching for an 3,5" drive wich it
> didn't found (i only have the 5,..." internal drive).

The IIc versions which support a 3.5" drive will try to boot the
internal 5.25" drive first, then will check to see if there is a 3.5"
drive and try to boot that.

You can check which version of IIc you have by getting into BASIC
(press Control-Reset when you get the "Check Disk Drive" screen) and
typing:

PRINT PEEK(64447)

If the number printed is 255, you have the original IIc ROM, which
doesn't support a 3.5" drive.  If it says 0, you have the version which
supports a 3.5" drive.  Versions 3 and 4 also support a memory
expansion card.

If you have version 255, and you can get hold of an external 5.25"
drive, then you can try booting from it by typing PR#7.

Later versions of the IIc do not support booting from an external
5.25" drive.  The best option would be to take the machine apart and
try another drive in place of the built-in one, after checking that the
drive is plugged in properly.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand