Re: "New" IIgs, but no system software

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

"Bob3000" <bob3k@cwnet.com> wrote
>
> THE PROBLEM:
> No system software! I only have the built-in basic!
> Is there any way to convert the prodos or gno disk images i have (and my
> .2gs game images) to a real floppy using my floppy drives? (i have my
> standard 1.44 drive and a 5.25 drive salvaged from a 286).
> Can I use a null modem cable and the built in basic to transfer stuff into
a
> ramdisk then write it to a floppy?
>
> Please help! Thanks in advance!
>
>

Well, Bob, that's a common problem. If you have access to an older Mac with
a SuperDrive 1.44 floppy you can download the GS/OS software from the Apple
System Software Archives. It is in the form of a half-dozen or so disk
images. Use the Mac DiskCopy utility (free download from Apple) to transfer
the contents of the disk images to real 800K ProDos floppies.

Your 3.5" IIgs floppy drive is probably an 800K drive. Look on the bottom,
it should say. The 1.44 drives take a special card to work, the built-in
floppy port can only access 800K disks.  Those are the ones with only 1 hole
in the corner, not two. In the DOS world, they hold 720K.  You can reformat
DOS disks, but you should use the one-hole disks. You'll run into problems
if you use the two-hole disks, though in a pinch you could try covering the
extra hole in a 1.44 so the Mac thinks it's an 800K disk.

If you don't have access to an older Mac, you can pay to have the disks
mailed to you, or use a null-modem cable and a program called ADT to
transfer files. That's complicated though.

All the details on this can be found in the FAQ, which is a goldmine of
Apple II info. You can find it here:

http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs1START.html

Good luck, and have fun with your IIgs.
-Paul