Re: IIgs Questions

[newman_nospam@jump.net (Steven M. Fish)]

In message <8F5BB2937craydryguaolcom@news.gis.net>, Cray Drygu <mail@in.sig>
wrote:
> 
> I just rescued a IIgs on it's way to the dumpster (not a Woz
> signature one, but still cool), and have a couple questions.
> 
> 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 =)

Apple is giving away this software
(http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n10078), but good luck trying
to make useable ProDOS disks of the disk images they provide.  Unless you
have access to a Mac with 800K drives, the consensus seems to be you're out
of luck.  BTW: I've tried the old "format the disks then move the files over"
trick and it didn't work for me.
 
> 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.

I've tried that too with no luck. I'm still experimenting with CopyII Plus
and will post if I find a solution.

> 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?

See the next point...

> 3) I'm thinking of ordering the 340mb hard drive shown here:
>     	    	http://www.allelec.com/harddiap.htm

They advertise a 320M drive, but they don't have them anymore.  They only
sell 60M drives with this card.  It still has all the software promised and
(from what they told me) 60M should be more then enough space for anything
I want to do.  We'll see.  They also said the 320 disk had to be partitioned
and that made things less than optimal for GS users.  I'm obviously
paraphrasing here.

They did knock $20 off the retail price for the reduced drive size.  I don't
feel ripped off, but I was surprised the drive would be so much smaller. 
I have not recieved it yet - next week.

Good luck

Steven M. Fish