Re: DOS 3.3 programs on a IIgs?

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

Koichi Takagi <ktakagi@u.arizona.edu> wrote:

> I have some old DOS 3.3 disks from my //c that I want to use on this
> super-duper IIgs. Some have a "hello" program.
> 
> What I do now is:
> Boot the GS in GS System 6.01 (off the Focus HD in Slot 7)
> Go to the control panel and change it to boot from Slot 6.
> Restart from the floppy, run my program
> When I'm done, press ctrl-opt-power to restart to the Control Panel
> Change it to boot from "Scan" so it starts up from the HD.
> 
> There's got to be a better way?

At least two solutions come to mind:

1. Use DOS Mounter, if it is will work with the program.

DOS Mounter lets you set up disk images of 140K DOS 3.3 disks, and
"boot" them as if they were ProDOS applications.  It works best on a
IIgs, because there is a reasonably clean method of quitting from DOS to
return to GS/OS.

The main catch is that the program must be able to work with standard
DOS 3.3 running in its usual $9600-$BFFF region, and the program must
not touch the language card or auxiliary memory.

2. Use my QUITTER.SYSTEM program (freeware).

There are two methods here:

(a) If you are frequently booting directly into ProDOS-8, with a need to
boot other slots on occasion, then set up your hard drive to boot into
ProDOS-8 with QUITTER.SYSTEM as the startup application.  From there,
you can launch a renamed copy of GS/OS's PRODOS file if you want to use
GS/OS.  You can also boot another slot from QUITTER's menu by pressing
the number key corresponding to the slot.

(b) You will need System 6.0.1 for this one.  If you are mostly using
GS/OS, but occasionally want to boot into ProDOS-8 or other slots, then
leave the GS/OS installation alone, except making sure QUITTER.SYSTEM is
the first .SYSTEM file in the root directory.  If you want to run
ProDOS-8 without GS/OS, or boot another slot, then shut down GS/OS,
restart and press the '8' key to go directly into ProDOS-8.
QUITTER.SYSTEM will be launched, and you can select your desired program
or slot from there.


A third solution (which may be cleaner) is TAIFUNBOOT.  I've never used
it, because I'm quite happy with my own program.  :-)

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand