Re: I need to download BASIC.SYSTEM ... help me, Obi-wan!

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

John Jacobs writes ...
> 
 ....
 
> Hi, thanks for the response! Here's the current info: ADT enters itself into
> the monitor just fine (1.2 second line delay and 10ms character pacing), but
> I get an I/O ERROR when it gets to the part of ADT.DMP (the input file for
> transmitting to the Apple) where it BSAVEs the file. Specifically it tries
> to execute: bsave adt a$803,l$a14,s6,d1. If I boot my original DOS 3.3
> System Master disk and type-in this bsave command, I also get the I/O ERROR.
> So...
>
> 1.  Is my DOS 3.3 master hosed?

     Possible; however, so much of your DOS seems to be working that it does
seem likely. If you have any other diskette which boots DOS 3.3 (or Prontodos),
try booting it, exiting to the Applesoft prompt, and INITing a diskette. Then
try doing a BSAVE-- doesn't matter what you BSAVE-- like BSAVE NARF,A$800,L$1000
. If there is no problem, use this copy of DOS for your ADT stuff. (Save the
System Master for later VERIFY checking using Copy II Plus.) 

> 
> 2. Is my Floppy drive/controller hosed?

     If there is a problem with the Controller card, it is most likely to be a
poorly socketed IC or a poor connection at the plug which goes to your drive
cable. Try pulling the card and scootching up and re-socketing each socketed IC.
Also, pull off and reconnect your drive cable-- be sure to line up all the pins
correctly when re-plugging the cable.

     A bad IC on the card is possible; but, this seems to be a fairly rare
problem.


> 
> 3. Yesterday I installed the Apple Super Serial 2 card as well. Could the
> dip switches on it have any effect on slot #6?
 ....

     The SSC does not seem to have any switches which could affect Slot 6. (Of
course, any bad Slot card might affect the complete system.) One quick check to
see if the SSC is messing things up is to pull the SSC and see if you can
suddenly do good BSAVEs.


     There are a few things which would be more likely explanations for the
problem with doing BSAVEs. One that is often overlooked is a gunked up drive
head. If you have not already tried cleaning it, use a Radio Shack (or similar)
5.25" 'Head Cleaner Kit' to clean the the head. The head is on the bottom, so
the bottom panel is the one to snap out on the Cleaner Disk.

     A less common problem is having a drive which is significantly off speed.
Being off on rotation speed, especially spinning too fast, can lead to spotty
R/W performance. For details on speed adjustment, see
http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2FDRIVE.html#003 .

     Be sure to post whatever you discover.



Rubywand