Re: Apple IIe Duo Disk Problem

[tomk@pro-nsdapple.cts.com (Tom Kelly)]

In <01bbc28f$4eb7c980$d3d38686@intel.com.ibeam>
"Roger Hurwitz" <roger_a_hurwitz@ccm.jf.intel.com> writes:

>I just purchased an early Apple IIe with Duo Disk and monitor at a rummage
>sale along with some interesting software.  Unfortunately, it came with no
>documentation or anything resembling system software.  It appears from the
>game software that I should be able to boot the machine from the game disks
>themselves, but when I try putting the boot disk in the left-side drive of
>the duo disk and powering on the computer the drive lights up, "chatters"
>for a few seconds, appears to be spinning, but the system just hangs after
>displaying the Apple ][ logo on top.  When I disconnect the I/O card the
>unit boots nicely from ROM, but that is somewhat less satisfying than
>having the drive unit operational.  The machine has an SMT Vidtech 80/64
>card in it if that is relevant.  In terms of a frame of reference, I have
>never owned an Apple although I am very familiar with PC h/w and s/w.  Any
>help would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>Roger Hurwitz
>roger_a_hurwitz@ccm.jf.intel.com


You could have bad disks or most likely drive 1 is bad.
The drive mechanism for both drives are the same
you can swap them and see if it fixes the problem.  There is quite a bit of
disassembly involved in swapping.  Before doing that I recommend that you
borrow another drive and controller card (Disk ][ and controller will work)
install them in a higher numbered slot than your current controller.
Try this with and with out your current controller.  Try booting then.
If it works, place known good copies of good disks in each of your drives
and try to catalog the disk in each drive.  That will help isolate exactly
which drive is bad and/or if your controller is bad.
You should be able to get help and system disks from a user group
in your area.    If that doesn't work out, I have controllers, drives as
well
as other hardware and software for the Apple II.  I also do repairs.
You might try finding a User Group in the area.
Call Apple at 1-800-538-9696 and ask about User Groups.
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