Re: Apple IIGS, got one free today, need some help, please

[lurch@eskimo.com (Erik Kloeppel)]

In article <3kav5a$ld2@coranto.ucs.mun.ca>, jdeeley@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca
(Julie A. Deeley) wrote:

> I just inherited an Apple IIGS with 2, 3.5 inch drives, one 5.25 drive,
> one small keyboard, and an RGB AppleColour monitor. The janitor at the
> school where I work gave it to me. It belonged to a teacher who worked
> there a few years ago. The teacher said that after a power outage the
> computer quit working, and asked the janitor to throw it out.
>

Aaaaahhh!!  give it to me!
> When I plugged everything in it made a noise, the screen said "Check
> Startup Device", and a little mac symbol goes back and forth across the
> screen.

Actually, if this is indeed a IIGS, that's two little apples - an outline
(called the Open Apple) and a full one (closed apple)

>  The Apple web page had some info on this computer, but I just bought my
> first computer 6 months ago and Apples web page is a bit techie for me
> just yet.
>
> What I would like to know is:
>
> 1. What do I need to do to get it running, or is it fried?
>
If it got that far, it sounds as though it should work - you need AT LEAST
the system software.  You can download it from ftp.apple.com, last I
heard, or
get copies from any Apple II user group, or from some of th online
services (those that have the distribution license from Apple) such as
Delphi

> 2. Can I use any of it's components on my current mac, (p-mac 6100/60)
> and is there any good reason to (ie. the keyboard as a spare?)

You can use the keyboard, any extra SIMM ram (though this might take an
adapter), but if the IIGS works, why gut it?
>
> 3. Does it need some sort of permanant boot-up disk inserted to work?
> and if so, how do I get the OS from my current mac to the GS? (Assuming
> I can download it from the 'net somewhere to my current mac)

Your mac, if it's running system 7.1 or later, can format and write to
ProDOS disks.  download the relevent software (6 disks) to your mac and
write to 800K
ProDOS disks.

> 4. Is the OS available from an ftp site, say, support.apple.com?
>
I believe so, as indicated earllier.
>
> Email replies or posts are welcome, any info appreciated, especially if
> somebody is using a IIGS.

I have a PowerMac with a Laser printer and two IIGSs connected via
appletalk.  It's the cat's meow.

Lurch