Re: Help with Zip on IIe, file transfer, disk images, etc.

[rubywand@swbell.net]

Michael Maas writes ...
> 
> I want to use all the cool files and disk images on the Asimov site on my
> Apple IIe, and need some information and help. I want to format a Zip disk
> to ProDOS on my Mac, then get a SCSI card for my IIe and hook up the Zip.
> 
> Is the RAM Fast SCSI card the best for this purpose? Will it work with the
> Zip OK? (My IIe is enhanced.)
>

     RamFAST has worked great on our IIgs as the interface for a SCSI Zip 
drive. Perhaps an experienced IIe owner will know something about using a Zip 
drive on a IIe.

 
> How can I format a Zip disk to ProDOS? I think I'm missing something here...
>

     The safest way (at least, on a ][gs) is to start ramfast.system and go 
to their utility which handles formatting and partitioning. You can set up 
the standard 100MB Zip disk as three or more ProDOS volumes.
 
 
> Once that's done, how can I get files out of .gz images and onto the disk?
> Or, is there a program for IIe that can open these images. For example, how
> would I play something like King's Quest from Asimov that isn't file-based?
> How would I get the image onto a  floppy?
>
> Yikes, any info would be greatly appreciated! Or, if there's a FAQ on this
> that I missed, please point me in that direction.
>

     The FAQ's are loaded with useful info. Nathan posted the most recent 
versions to csa2 just a few days ago. I do not know if one of these answers 
your question.

     The usual way to deal with .gz files is to unzip them via WinZip or some 
similar utility. Typically, this produces one or more 143k DSK's.

     DSK's are disk images. For example, on PC, the AppleWin emulator uses 
DSK's the way the Apple ][ uses diskettes.

     If you can get a DSK, say, for King's Quest, onto a ProDOS Zip disk, 
then, you should be able to plug the Zip drive into your RamFAST and deal 
with the DSK file on any Apple ][ which can handle Zip drives.

     A program named "DSK2FILE" will take a DSK image file and 
transform/write it to a 5.25" diskette. (DSK2FILE can, also, transform a 
standard A2 diskette into a DSK. You should find DSK2FILE on one of the major 
A2 net sites, like Caltech Apple2.)

     The diskette will be useable on an Apple ][ with a 5.25" drive.


     If your main objective is to get stuff from Asimov to your IIe, then, 
your best bet may be to just move the (unzipped) DSK image files directly 
from your Mac or PC to your IIe via a NULL modem connection. DSK2FILE will 
handle the transformation, and, viola, you'll have the diskettes with no need 
to mess with moving around a Zip drive.    


Rubywand