Re: Apple IIGS Newbie Question

[Mitchell Spector <mitch2gs@hotmail.com>]

"Mr. Fixx" <mrfixx@centurytel.net> wrote:

>I got a IIGS with a Hard Drive (System 6.0.1) loaded on Slot 7..
>
>The IIGS boots and runs fine. But I want to use my DOS 3.3 stuff...
>
>I am not sure how to do it. How do I get it into regular IIe mode?

    The best way to go about this is using the built-in Control Panel to
temporarily configure your IIGS to behave as a typical Apple IIe. 

Follow these steps to set a "IIe mode":

1) Power-up holding down the 'Option' key
2) Select option [1] 
3) Choose "Display"; set "Background" and "Border" to [BLACK]
4) Choose "System Speed"; set to [NORMAL]
5) Choose "Slots";  set "Slot 6" to [DISK PORT], set "Startup Slot" to [6]

    From this point onwards, even after powering down the machine, it will
will automatically boot 5.25 floppy disks and run at a proper 1 MHz. Don't
forget to reverse the steps afterwards, especially setting Slot 6 to "Your 
Card"--this prevents a very annoying grinding and disk polling under GS/OS.

    There is also an option for converting physical 5.25 disks into 140K
image files (so they can be stored on your hardisk) using a program 
called DOS 3.3 Launcher. You simply double-click on the image from
the Finder and all the same steps above are carried out and the game
or application run, only to return your Control Panel settings to normal
when you quit back to the desktop. It was somewhat limited from what
I recall though, mainly it only worked 48K RAM or less titles.

    The IIGS automatically switches between native mode and emulation
mode (acting as an 8-bit Apple IIe) depending on the software run, there's
no special startup disk required or Control Panel settings required. What's
mentioned above just makes running DOS 3.3 software easier and more
automated.

Mitchell Spector