Re: Help with Profile

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

In article <D5uDJA.rs7@pen.k12.va.us>,
Claudette F. Obenschain <cobensch@pen.k12.va.us> wrote:
> Can someone tell me how to load programs on a Profile hard
> disk?  I have a IIe, with dual disk drives.  Would like to load
> appleworks and Print Shop.  Thanks.

First question: does it work?  ProFiles are notoriously bad for losing
their formatting, and requiring a low-level format (especially if they
have had heavy use).  This requires some very specialised software and
hardware (including an Apple ///).

Assuming the drive works, using it under ProDOS is a simple matter of
following these steps.

1. Use any ProDOS disk utility program, such as FILER, SYSTEM
UTILITIES or COPY II PLUS to initialize the ProFile.  This should
set up the directory and allow the disk to be booted.

2. If you want to boot from the ProFile, copy the PRODOS file onto it,
and some kind of program selection utility (e.g. my QUITTER, renamed
to QUITTER.SYSTEM, or ProSel, ...).

3. Create directories as required and copy the desired applications
into them.

You should think about how you want to arrange the files on the drive.

I suggest creating a directory at the root level for each major
application (e.g. APPLEWORKS).  Keep all program files in the
directory, but store your data files in another directory (or
preferably on floppies).

Note that you can only use the ProFile with PRODOS programs, and then
only with ones that don't mind being copied onto a hard drive
(AppleWorks is OK, New Print Shop should be OK).  DOS 3.3 programs
cannot use the ProFile at all.


There is one potential problem: if you have an unenhanced IIe, you
will not be able to boot the ProFile directly (with Ctrl-Apple-Reset),
even if the ProFile card is in slot 7.  The IIe will boot the 5.25"
drive, as normal.  On an enhanced IIe, a ProFile in slot 7 can be
booted (as long as it has been initialized and has PRODOS and a SYSTEM
file).

On an unenhanced IIe, you can boot the ProFile manually by getting
into BASIC (e.g. push Ctrl-Reset while the 5.25" drive is spinning
at boot time), then using the PR#n command (where n is the slot).

e.g. if you have the ProFile card in slot 5, you can boot from it as follows.

1. Turn on the computer.  It will try to boot the 5.25" drive (in slot 6).

2. Press Ctrl-Reset.  This will give you a BASIC prompt.

3. Type PR#5 and press return.  The ProFile will boot.


Also note that the ProFile takes a long time (over a minute) to get
ready for use when it is powered on.  You should turn on the ProFile
first, and wait for it to finish its self-test before turning on the
computer.
--
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand