Re: What System Files Need Be Added to Make a Self-Booting IIgs Disk?

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

In article <D8H4Kq.Hwn@presby.edu>, Stephen Buggie <sebugg@presby.edu> wrote:
>              WHAT FILES MUST BE ADDED TO MAKE A SELF-BOOTING IIGS DISK?
>              oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
> 
> I have a favorite IIgs RAM tester called BIT-BANGER which I launch from the
> System 6.0.1 hard drive Finder.
> 
> I want to make a self-booting disk with this program, but _what system files
> must be added to make the disk complete and self-booting?_   Also, do the
> files need to be arranged in a particular sequence on the disk?

Don't even _try_ to set up a IIgs boot disk this way.  You will almost
certainly get it wrong unless you know exactly what you are doing.

A much better method is to use the System 6.0.1 Install disk set to
create a new 800k boot disk (via "Customize"), then remove files that
you won't need.

The big question: is Bit-Banger a GS/OS or ProDOS-8 program, and if it
is a GS/OS program, does it have a desktop user interface, or is it
text-based?

Assuming the program is no larger than Finder, your best bet is
probably to set up a disk which will boot directly into Bit-Banger,
without Finder on the disk at all.

To do this, create an 800k boot disk using the Installer, then boot
from a _different_ system disk (ideally a hard drive; alternatively, an
existing 3.5" system disk with a different name to the newly created
disk.)

On the newly created disk, delete the "Start" file in the System folder
(this is the Finder).  You should now have enough space to copy the
other application onto the disk.

Assuming it is a GS/OS program, you can put it in the root directory
and rename it so that the name ends with ".SYS16".  (e.g.
"BITBANGER.SYS16").  Before doing this, you will have to move the
BASIC.SYSTEM file in the root directory, e.g. by dragging it into the
System folder.  After putting BITBANGER.SYS16 in the root directory,
move BASIC.SYSTEM back into the root directory.  This ensures that
BITBANGER.SYS16 is the first file with a name ending in .SYS16 or
.SYSTEM.  If you won't be using BASIC from this disk, you can just
delete BASIC.SYSTEM.

An alternative would be to name the program "START" and put it in the
System folder.


If it is a ProDOS-8 application, the whole thing is much easier.
Create a disk containing ProDOS-8 (the P8 file from your system disk's
System folder, renamed to "PRODOS") and copy the application into the
root directory, renaming it so that the name ends in ".SYSTEM".
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand