Re: Which Systems run on IIgs with ROM 0?

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

"Johannes Markus" <jojomarkus@gm(nospam)x.net> wrote:

> I just got a IIgs without software and am looking on ebay for disks. I
> raed somewhere that ver 6.0.1 needs ROM 1 to run. Are there other
> good versions, that run on ROM 0,

The last version that runs on ROM 0 is IIgs System Software 3.2, which
is also the last version which used the ProDOS-16 operating system
(ProDOS-16 version 1.6, if my memory is correct).

IIgs System Software 4.0 introduced GS/OS, and it and later system
versions require ROM 1 (or ROM 3).

The vast majority of late era IIgs software requires a ROM 1 and at
least System 5.0, so you should definitely try to upgrade the ROM.

A better option might be to find another second hand IIgs, and keep the
ROM 0 machine intact, as it is somewhat rare.

> or would you suggest a ROM upgrade and can I still get the chips (as I
> understand, you need some graphics chip besides the ROM)?

It will be very difficult to find the ROM chip, short of scavenging it
from a IIgs motherboard (e.g. if someone had a ROM 1 IIgs that was dead
but the ROM chip was still OK).  Alltech Electronics had them available
for sale many years ago, but they ran out.

It isn't easy to "roll your own" with an EPROM programmer, because the
ROM chips used in the IIgs have fewer pins than the EPROM chips with the
same capacity (128KB), so you either need an adaptor or some
modifications to the motherboard.  (Some machines have a 32-pin socket
already installed, which would allow you to use an EPROM instead of a
ROM.  I've only seen this in early ROM 3 machines.)

> Do the system utilitys include a terminal program, that allows me to
> transfer files?

No such program is included with any version of the Apple II or IIgs
system software, as far as I can recall.

> Or would it be better to ask one of you to send me some disks to get me
> started?

Probably.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz