Re: IIgs Questions

[CUTblakeney@home.com (Jeff Blakeney)]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2000 21:32:37 GMT, Cray Drygu <mail@in.sig> wrote:

>1) Where can I get a copy of the GS/OS?  This didn't have
>anything but the hardware with it, so all I can do right now
>is AppleBASIC.  And I already have a //e to do that with =)

You can download it from Apple's site but you need to have a Mac to
unpack it and create the ProDOS disks with it.  Note, that some models
of Macs will not be able to create 800K ProDOS disks correctly.  Other
than Apple's site, the only other online site that I know of that can
legally distribute Apple's system software is the A2 and A2Pro forums
on Delphi but you need a pay account to get access to the software
libraries there (you can't get at the software libraries with just a
free web based account).

You can also order the disks from the ByteWorks for a very reasonalbe
price.  Check out:

     http://www.byteworks.org

If you do order a Focus drive, I believe it comes with all the disk
images for System 6.0.1 on the hard drive along with the essential
utilities that all Apple II owners need as well as a bunch of public
domain, freeware and shareware.

>2) I loaded Copy ][ Plus 8.3 onto the GS (it has a 5.25"
>as well as a 3.5", so I just used my Apple //e disks) and
>tried to get it to format the disk in the 3.5" floppy
>drive.  The drive's light turns on, but makes no sound,
>and it's content to sit for a long time saying nothing
>but "FORMATTING DISK."  I know the drive works, because
>the 3.5" disk I have now comes up with "*** ERROR LOADING
>PRODOS ***" when I try to boot from it.
>
>So, I assume Copy ][ Plus (or at least, this version of it)
>won't format my disk.  Is there any way I *can* do this with
>the resources available to me, or do I need to wait for GS/OS?

Copy ][ Plus 8.3 should be able to format you 3.5" drive but you can
only format it for ProDOS.  Don't try to format it as DOS 3.3 (I'm not
even sure it will let you try this).

Another thing to check is to make sure you have the drives connected
to the IIgs in the correct order.  The 3.5" drive should be connected
to the IIgs and the 5.25" should be connected to the 3.5" drive.

>3) I'm thinking of ordering the 340mb hard drive shown here:
>    	    	http://www.allelec.com/harddiap.htm
>
>Can anyone tell me anything useful about this drive, or this
>company?

The company is dependable and from everything I've heard, the Focus is
a great investment.

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| Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro on Delphi     |
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