Re: How to get a IIGS going without disks...

[Rob Greene <nospam-greener@charter.net>]

Wow, this has been quite an adventure!  I'm out of the woods but file 
transfers still suck (as defined by needing the source computer, a 
translation computer, and the destination computer).  PC -> Mac -> Apple 
IIGS.

I figured out how to hack out the resource fork.  Just in case others 
get stuck like I did:

1. Locate the file by scanning the directory, the storage type is $5 
(presumably indicates the resource fork).  This is the high nibble of 
the first byte (just before the filename - the lower nibble is the 
length of the filename).

2. Go to the block identified as the key block pointer (offset $11/$12).

3. This block does not list other blocks as expected:
   a) I think the first byte is the "real" storage type.
   b) The 2nd and 3rd byte are the real key block. Double-check it.

4. Patch the real key block into the directory entry and change the 
storage type back.  Note that the storage type can be $1 (1 block file), 
$2 (2-256? blocks) and $3 (257+ blocks).

Yes, there are dangling blocks after this (at least two), so you'll have 
blocks that won't ever get freed.

Hint: Save files in the root directory and it'll be on blocks 2-5.

Another hint: Use an 800K floppy you'll be fine reformatting multiple 
times (because of the dangling blocks).

Strategy hint: Decode GSHK first since it handles the resource forks!