Re: Apple IIe Master Disk

["Simon Biber" <simon@basilisk2.cjb.net>]

I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that it was so easy. Yes, it is
possible.

There are very few floppy controllers that allow this sort of thing.
Catweasel is one, and you can order it from the page I mentioned below. I
don't think any motherboards implemented this sort of thing. It's an ISA
card you can add to your computer.

Even then you can't access it as a normal floppy drive but only through the
supplied DOS utility software. This software is capable of reading and
writing disk images on the drive in many different formats.

As far as the HD/DD issue I really don't know what quality disks it would
produce. You may be better off getting a DD drive (nominally 360k) for
writing them.

I think it should run in your P-III system so long as you have an ISA slot
available, but no guarantees. The timing circuits may require a lower clock
speed. There are no drivers for Windows 98 but you can run the DOS utilities
from a MS-DOS Prompt in Windows.

Have a read of some of the info at this web page
  http://members.tripod.com/~apd2/catweasl.htm

Simon.


"Tom Zuchowski" <tzuchow@attglobal.net> wrote in message
3aaa46df_1@news3.prserv.net">news:3aaa46df_1@news3.prserv.net...
> I have always understood that making Apple II disks on a PC is impossible,
> but you seem to be saying that it is fairly easy to do. Could you give us
a
> short list of the more common PC floppy controllers that can make Apple
> disks? How common are they?. Do you happen to know which PC makers
commonly
> used these controllers? Which motherboards integrated them?
>
> You stated that any PC drive can make these disks. I would have thought
that
> modern quad-density drives would make DD Apple disks of questionable
> reliability. What has been your experience with that?
>
> You specifically mentioned the "CatWeasel" controller. Are these widely
> sold? Where can I get one? Do you know if I can use it in my Pentium III
> system? Are drivers available for Windows 98?
>
> I know that is a lot of questions, but I am very excited by the prospect
of
> accessing disks directly than through a comparatively slow serial cable.
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Tom Zuchowski