Hello,
Just wanting to introduce myself here.
Played Wizardy on a friends Apple IIe back in high school and recently I got
a crazy urge to get it.
On ebay, got a Apple IIe, monitor, dual disk drive delivered to my door for $90
and Wizardry I & II for $30. What a steal.
I'd like to do some BASIC programming as well, being a TRS-80 dude back in the
day, I don't know alot about how Applesoft BASIC is loaded on this system.
Is it off a diskette or a plug in ROM chip I'd have to buy?
I'm sure this has been discussed already, but wanted to introduce myself as well.
Thanks for any help.
Dan
Welcome.
I know how that urge goes...
BASIC is already built into the system you have. You can get into ROM BASIC by just hitting ctrl-reset when you turn the machine on (keep your Wizardry disks out of the drive). Eventually, you'll want to get an Apple DOS disk and boot with that so you can LOAD and SAVE stuff you write. Here is an interesting reference for Applesoft BASIC:
http://www.calormen.com/applesoft/reference.htm
excellent help, thanks alot.
Found a item called Pronto DOS by Beagle Brothers for Apple II, have you heard of this, would it work for saving BASIC programs?
Thanks
Dan
Yep, Pronto DOS is one of the DOS 3.3 derivatives that will work fine for saving. ProDOS was the next generation, but doesn't offer any advantages to loading and saving simple BASIC programs. Here's an even better reference to both Applesoft and DOS/ProDOS commands:
http://www.landsnail.com/a2ref3.htm
thanks for all the help
I got a copy of dos 3.3, it booted up ok, formatted a disk ok, went to make a backup copy of my wizardry disk. everything seemed to be going to plan, after a few copy trys, the apple tells me 'can not read'. now the disk drive seems not to read any disk in it to booted when turned on. does anyone know what I did here? thanks for any help.
No can do; Wizardry is heavily copy-protected. You'll want to do some research on the web for it... I don't have any references handy myself, but Google is your friend...
@ Infinity Dan
Copy ][+ (probably version 9 or later is best) is your friend for making backup copies of your legitimately owned software (created before 2000, that's for all of you sea lawyers out there).
However, I strongly suggest that you do a cleaning and speed calibration of the disk drive(s). This will make them, and your disks, last longer, and prevent errors. I placed the instructions for that already several times on this site, under the Apple ][ discussion section.
(In a monotone voice. . .) Happy communing. . . uhm I mean GAMING.
Mutant Pie
i'll look into the cleaning and cailbration, but it seems like the disk drive is not working at all now. the computer turns on, the drive turns on, but all i can hear is the disk motor spinning.
looks like the drive broke on the backup attempt, was working fine for the past month. i've been using the wizardry disk for the game, but wanted a backup being it is hard to find sometimes. looks like i need to get a another disk drive though.
That's no fun, having the drive break.
Assuming that it's a Disk Drive ][ (metal housing that's been texture coated), you'd be amazed at how much dust, hair, and other assorted crud can migrate into one of those things. The drive just spinning and spinning is not an usual symptom for uncalibrated drives, or ones with dirty heads. It's possible that the belt broke (but probably not).
I can, as can several other people here, sell you a reconditioned and tested disk drive. But that's more expense, time, and hassle for you. Also learning to maintain the drives (which is NOT frequently needed) is a good experience for collectors of these older machines. Contact me here by private message if you have troubles with the alternatives and want to buy one.
Mutant Pie
thanks for the help, i'll let you know
If it is just "spinning, spinning, spinning"
I would think that there might be an issue
with either the connection/cable/conectors
or possibly a failure of the controller card.
Do you have spare cables and/or card(s)? Try
removing and cleaning and reinserting the cable
connectors (they DO get cruddy) and then power
up again and see if the drive will read a non-
critical disk. (use one with some old data or
files on it)
If this does not result n a fix, then try sub-
stituting a new/different controller card for
the drives. If still no fix, then drive is kaput.
New/replacement drive time. Time to hit *Bay for
a new drive. Cheaper than trying to repair the
old one. Save the old one for donor parts such as
ICs and such.
Hope this helps.
Been there, done that, have a WHOLE
CLOSET full of those T-shirts!