Re: Was just handed a Apple//gs for free...now what?

[!smentzer@ecom.net (Steve Mentzer)]

>Hello,
>
>I was just given a Apple//gs for free, new to the Apple world, hope I
>get get some clues from the folks here, power wise it looks fine, came
>with a 3.5" drive, keyboard and mouse (of course), color monitor,
>looking inside, I see a memory card (is there any memory on the
>motherboard), not sure what kind of memory is
>there, if any...have to look again. When I boot the system, I get a
>message saying, "Check Startup Device!".
>I do have a disk utilites floppy from a Machintosh //se, its on a HD
>disk, when I put that in a bootup, its
>ejected out. Which leads to to believe that the disk drive is a 2D.


So far you seem to be on top of things....

Please be aware that this machine is more of an enhanced apple // than a mac, 
and no mac software is compatible with the //gs. So, the mac system disk is all 
but useless on this //gs.

>
>Questions I have:
>
>    1) Is this error, saying its looking for the bootup disk or is there
>a problem in the disk drive connected?


	This message will usually come up when the //gs is unable to locate
	bootable media in any slot (or drive). Chances are, you disk drive
	is a-ok... You just need a boot disk... and apple //gs boot disk that 
is.


>
>    2) Is the disk drive a 2D or HD...and how can I tell.

	The rule is...  If it plugs into the DB19 (?) port on the back of the
	//gs with a little disk symbol next to it, it is 2D. 800k 2D that is.


>
>    3) Where can I get a bootup disk


	Go to:
	
http://swupdates.info.apple.com/cgi-bin/lister.pl?Apple.Support.Area/Apple.Soft
ware.Updates/US/

	There is an apple II section there that contains system 6.0.1. 	
Unfortunately, I dont think sys601 can be booted from a single floppy. 	
However, nathan mates (http://www.visi.com/~nathan) has a reference for 	
creating a single sys601 boot floppy somewhere. Ignore the rants on his 	
web page.... he is a moron.

	In addition, you will need to determine that amount of memory in the 	
system. I think that 1.25MB was the minimum for using sys601. Anything 	below 
that is useless. 

	To check memory, press <ctrl><hollowapple><esc>. That is the CDA 	
control panel thing (forgive my terminology.... i have been out of the 	//gs 
world for years. Remove any ramdisks in use.

	Also, when the machine starts up, it is helpful to know what ROM
	revision you have. It will say "Rom 0", "Rom 1" or "Rom 3" at the 	
bottom of the page. If you have rom 0, you will need to have it 
	upgraded. Good luck finding a source of the necesssary IC's.

	Anyway, you will need to download the apple software system disks
	from apple.com and use "diskcopy" on the mac to create 800k
	bootable floppies.

>
>    4) Is there any utilites out there that will allow me to download
>files with my PC, or a SunSparc Station, and transfer them into a Apple 
>format? (until I can get the Apple//gs online and hooked to the internet)


	This is the hardest part about dealing with the //gs today.

	Yes, you can do it with a PC, but it is easier with a mac. A mac
	can read and write ProDos format diskettes. A pc cannot.

	The best way to do it with a pc is the following:

	1 - create some bootable floppies using the procedure described 
	 above.
	2 - Get a working terminal program for the //gs. (proterm.. whatever)
	3 - Configure a similar terminal program for the PC.
	4 - Do a direct serial download via ZMODEM (or whatever protocol...)

	As far as internet access goes with a //gs, good luck. If you have
	a shell account, you may be OK, but that still prevents you from
	transferring files properly. I have seen ASCII and ZMODEM downloads
	take place using a shell account, but I wouldn't recommend it. 

	A program called "marinetti" exists for the //gs that allows you
	to connect to a SLIP compatible internet account. If your ISP is PPP
	only, you are screwed. There really arent any viable internet utils
	for the //gs today except for SIS (spectrum internet suite). And that
	leaves alot to be desired. 

	The bottom line->   It is easier and faster to do it with a pc or mac.

>
>    5) Can I network my Apple//gs, to my PC and SunSparcLX...what do I
>need?

	Yes and no. The //gs cannot do ethernet or token ring. However, 		
appletalk->ethernet converters/bridges DO exist if you can find them.
	I know someone here is using a setup like this... ask around.

>
>Thanks in advance for all your help.

No problem.... I might suggest getting a small hard disk. A 120mb scsi drive 
and adapter card will set you back about $150.00, but it will be worth it. 
Trust me on that one. Invest the money if you really want to enjoy the //gs.

On a side note, you now own one of the best computers ever made. It combined 
the mac's ease of use with the flexibility and "hacker value" of the Apple //e 
(which is the computer that started it ALL in my opinion). Enjoy your apple // 
experience...

Steve Mentzer
smentzer@ecom.net