Re: Apple /// help - please!

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

In article <4ur0ta$em4@europa.frii.com>, shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy
Shackelford) wrote:

>In article <cps-0908961811080001@newsreader.digex.net>,
>Chris Smolinski <cps@access.digex.net> wrote:
>
>>It requires a straight thru 25 pin cable. (Actually, one of the pins
>>should be missing, since most profiles have a plug in one of the pin
>>sockets. But I digress). WHen you turn it on, it should do a self test of
>>the media, it will step through each track, and the LED on the front panel
>>blinks. Then the LED should stay on.
>
>Hmm can't recll any pins missing on my profile cable

Definitely has pin 7 missing on both ends: the hole is blocked on the card
and drive, which prevents you plugging a serial cable in at either end
(pin 7 is required on a serial cable, as it is the signal ground line!)

>>Using the System Utilities disk, try formatting the profile. It's possible
>>the drive needs a low level format. You can't do one with a ///. I have
>>heard a Lisa can do one, but no one has ever been able to actually explain
>>how. (Too bad, I have 5 of them)
>
>Actually you can only do a low level format on a III. I hear tell you have
>to temporarily swap a chip in the drive to do it too.

Yes, and it is a rather oddball chip: a single-chip micro (Zilog Z8, I
think) with a piggy-back EPROM.  You also need the Apple /// ProFile
controller card and the low-level formatting software.  This was never
publically available, and was a special service provided by Apple
dealers.  (One of the local dealers had to keep an Apple /// for several
years after they were distontinued, just so they could do a low-level
format for a ProFile.)

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