Re: Annoying newbie question :-)

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

Ross Archer <dogbert@mindless.com> wrote:

> I have a "new" Apple IIc I found very cheap. It starts up, and
> thanks to what I could glean from the huge Tech reference book that
> came with it  (complete with schematics and a full I/O map!),
> I was able to launch the mini-assembler and write a few routines,
> and go into BASIC and write a couple of little programs.
> Great. I can hack characters on the screen and make the speaker tick..
> 
> So now what?  I'd like to save my work to diskette.  I can't find out how
> to do that.  These sorts of questions are apparently far too basic
> for the Tech Ref. manual, and so I'm clueless as to what I need.
> Do I need to boot ProDOS or some sort of OS disk just
> to save my work?  If not, what is/are the command(s)?

You have to boot into some form of operating system in order to be able
to save files to disk.  The only code in the ROM for supporting disk
drives consists of booting a disk (plus block-level I/O for 3.5" drives,
assuming your IIc has anything newer than original firmware version).

The IIe, ][+ and original ][ at least had ROM support for saving to
tape, but that was removed in the IIc.

> If so, how would one go about locating a copy of ProDOS
> suitable for a memory-expansion (late-model) Apple ][c?

You'll have difficulty getting anything which can be downloaded - your
best option would be to get hold of a system disk from somewhere.  I'm
sure that others here can suggest options, or have a look in the FAQ.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz