Subject: Re: trying to get an Apple II GS going for fun...
Message-ID: <3726C9BF.7A573DB0@intergate.bc.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 01:41:36 -0700
From: W Stewart <waynes@intergate.bc.ca>
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You don't need system disks to tell how much memory is in a IIgs.
The easiest way might be from the control panel. Start it up with
no disk in the drives . When it says"check disk drives" Then while
holding down the Command(Apple) and the Control keys press and
release the escape key. Use the arrow keys to move to Control panel
and press return. In the control paneldo the same for "Ram Disk".
Add the bottom two numbers together. They'll add up to 1 k less than
your machine has. divide by 1024 to get megabytes. With no memory
cards a ROM 1 the total will be 255k. Any amount over that is on
a memory card. For example on a ROM 1 if the total is 1279 then
subtract 255 leaves 1024k or 1 mb on the memory card.

Yes, you can still buy 800k 3.5 disks. Not every place has them but
most larger computer stores have them. Some people have had
good luck formatting High density disks as 800k with no problems
whatsoever. However I know of people that have had a large % of
these disks become unreadable. If you have a lot of free high density
disks I'd use them but I wouldn't put the only copy of something
important on them. Actually if important I'd made a few copies
anyways.

I believe you can use an Apple drive on a PC but that the hardware
required is super rare.

Power Macs are great IIgs accessories. They normally read and write
disks in PC,Mac and ProDOS format.

       Wayne

"R. Priestley" wrote:

> Hi, wow! Thanks for all the help! Looks like I really hit a goldmine
> here. With this information and links to resourses, I now understand
> my little ][ GS a lot more. Purchasing resourses over the internet
> seems to be the way to go. I'd like to get one of those hard drive
> deals Supertimer mentioned, but I think the first step I will take is
> to order a set of system disks and just get it up and running. Then
> hopefully I will be able to tell how much RAM is in it and if it is
> stable enough to warrant purchasing a hard drive for it. I will be
> able to add to it over time and it will make an excellent computer
> science project for me.
>
> What I would love to do is use my PC to download software for the ][
> GS over the internet> But it seems that one of the problems with this
> is that my contemporary PC 3.5" floppy drive can not physically read
> an 800kb 3.5" floppy, nor could it format it for the ][ GS even if it
> could read it.
>
> A few questions come to mind about this come to mind for me...
> 1] Can you still buy 800kb 3.5" Floppies?!?!?!?
> 2] Could I somehow attach the Apple 3.5" external floppy drive to my
> PC and use it to store files?!?!?! (I know: this is a super-big
> long-shot!!!)
> 3] Can I use one of the aging Power Macs, like a Performa 5200 CD, at
> my workplace to read and write 800kb 3.5" floppies? I could download
> files there onto the Mac and drop the files onto disks to use for the
> ][ GS?
>
> I only list these questions from the computer science perspective
> [after all I am only an intermediate] and I do realise that I have
> other options including hooking up a modem to the ][ GS etc...