Re: IIgs Questions

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Cray Drygu writes ...
> 
> 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.
>

     You can check the ROM version ('model') of your IIgs by checking the
bottom of the screen when the computer is turned ON or when you do a forced
re-boot (press OpenApple-Control-Reset).

     For a ROM-01 GS, the startup screen shows "ROM Version 01"; For a ROM 3
GS the startup screen shows "ROM Version 3". For a ROM-00 GS the startup
screen says nothing about ROM version. "ROM-00" machines need to have the ROM
upgraded to ROM-01 in order to run modern GS software. (Alltech may still
sell the ROM.) 

 
> 1) Where can I get a copy of the GS/OS? 
 ....

     GS/OS is included in System 6.0.1. You can download the System 6.0.1
disks in convenient Apple II ShrinkIt form from USA2WUG at ...      

http://www.grin.net/~cturley/USA2WUG/SystemSoftware/IIgsSystem601disks/ 

There is a text file with installation directions plus the six System disks
in plain shrinked disk form. The .sdk files just need to be unshrinked to
3.5" diskettes via GS-ShrinkIt or 8-bit ShrinkIt. 

     For information on transferring downloaded files to your IIgs, see
http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2T1TCOM.html . 

     If you would prefer to order the disks, the set of GS System 6.0.1
diskettes can be purchased from Byte Works. For more info go to
http://www.byteworks.org/ and click on "System Software".


> 
> 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,

     Some 3.5" drives and diskettes are pretty quiet.


> 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?
>

     Unless the diskette was already formatted for ProDOS, it sounds like the
format may have worked. Copy II+ v8.3 can format a 3.5" diskette with no
problem (so can v7.1 and some other versions). It takes about 50 seconds to
do a ProDOS format. (BTW, the standard IIgs 3.5" drive works best with DD
'800k' diskettes. High density '1.44MB' diskettes are not reliable.)

     In order to be bootable and let you run BASIC programs, the diskette
needs to have the files PRODOS and BASIC.SYSTEM .

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

     We use a FOCUS drive (80MB) and like it very much. One nice thing about
getting a FOCUS from Alltech is that you can get it with System 6.0.1
installed.



Rubywand