TITLE
Apple IIGS: Use DuoDisk on Interface Card, NOT on SmartPort 

Article ID: 5434
Created: 5/1/90
Modified: 6/29/90
 

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TOPIC 


I have a "Blockbuster" Apple IIGS with Rev. 3.0 ROM, a DuoDisk, and Profile in
slot 7.

I plugged the DuoDisk into the disk port on the Apple IIGS main logic board,
installed the ProFile in slot 7, and set the Control Panel to "your card."
Leave both DuoDisk drives empty and power on the system. Then I set startup to
"Scan."

The DuoDisk LED for drive #1 should turn on, but the system will not start. Why
did the Apple IIGS skip the ProFile in slot 7? Then, when I power down the
Apple IIGS and put a non-write-protected disk in the DuoDisk drive, it still
doesn't start.

If I power down the Apple IIGS and place a write-protected disk in the drive,
then power on the system. The system starts up as expected, following the
"Control Panel".

If the system appears to be "hung" following any of the above steps,
momentarily triggering the write-protect switch by inserting anything into the
drive allows the system to start up.

There appears to be compatibility problems with the new Apple IIGS main logic
board and the DuoDisk. Performing the "DuoDisk/Apple IIGS fix" that is posted
on AppleLink has no effect since the problem appears to be hardware (firmware)
based.

What can I do?




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DISCUSSION 

There IS a compatibility problem with the DuoDisk and the Rev 3 Apple IIGS main
logic board. Do not use the DuoDisk on the SmartPort: there is some code in
the ROM that does not handle the interface to a DuoDisk properly.

As of April, 1990, the only workaround is to use the DuoDisk on an interface
card.