Re: Detecting ROM

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

Mike K <lps_keppel@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I know there was a message with a solution posted a few weeks back as to how
> to check which ROM version you have for the IIgs.  My news client must have
> deleted it since it was an old post.  I need to know what ROM version I
> have.  I just bought another "Thrift Store" special IIgs, but when I try to
> boot up system 6 I get an error that says I need to have a ROM 01 or higher.

If GS/OS is giving this message, then you definitely have ROM 00.

If you have ROM version 01 or 3, the version is displayed on the bottom
line of the startup screen when you turn the machine on.  By "startup
screen", I mean the text screen with "Apple IIgs" at the top, which
appears immediately when you turn on the computer.  The screen also
shows a copyright message near the bottom for these ROM versions.

ROM 00 doesn't indicate its version number or have a copyright message -
this screen simply says "Apple IIgs" at the top.

With this ROM version, you can't run any version of GS/OS, i.e. IIgs
System 4.0 or later.  It doesn't stop you running ProDOS-8, and you can
use the older native IIgs operating system called ProDOS-16, which was
used with IIgs System 3.2 and earlier.