Re: Apple II image files

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Sander Brugmans writes ...
>
> ....
> Does anybody know if there is an application, for an IBM compatible
> machine, with which i can create images of Apple II disks and visa
> versa? ....

     Practically speaking, there is no such IBM PC or PC clone 
application.

     In order to create .DSK image files, you need to be able to read 
Apple II diskettes. In order to transform .DSK image files to diskette, 
you need to be able to write Apple II diskettes. According to the experts 
who have discussed such ideas in the past, the PC cannot read or write A2 
diskettes without a special, hard-to-find hardware add-on to control A2 
drives.

     The best, lowest hassle approach is to let your IIgs handle .DSK 
creation and .DSK-to-diskette transforms. Let your PC take care of 
downloading and unpacking .DSK files.

     Usually, a .DSK file found on an ftp site will in packed or 
compressed-- for example, a .DSK file downloaded from Asimov 

ftp.apple.asimov.net

will actually be named something like "space.dsk.gz" . These files can be 
unpacked using WinZip to produce true .DSK files. (A .DSK file image of a 
5.25" diskette will be about 143k in size.) These are ready for use with 
an emulator like AppleWin.

     You can transfer a .DSK file to your GS via NULL modem and transform 
it to diskette form-- be sure to use a formatted diskette-- using 
programs like DSK2FILE and ASIMOV. The 5.25" diskette will work on 
Apple II computers.

     Using DSK2FILE or ASIMOV, you can transform a non-copy-protected 
diskette to .DSK file form and move the .DSK file to PC via NULL modem. 
The .DSK file can run on an emulator.

     In short, your PC is just half of a complete setup for creating, 
etc. .DSK files. The other half is an Apple II computer.


Rubywand