I picked up an Apple IIc for $30 which was not in great shape, but I think I've got everything working on it. The upper bank of memory had 4 bad DRAM's which I 've replaced, I upgraded it to the 4X ROM, cleaned the disk head, fixed the volume control, and got the keyboard cleaned up and working decently. It was so grimy when I got it, but lots of cleaning and some retrobrighting and it looks pretty decent now. I didn't get all the yellow removed so it would look white like the bottom, but it looks good.
It came with one disk which does boot. I can run the CATALOG command after booting this disk. I used the INIT command to make a new disk and that disk also now boots.
I am assuming I have some sort of AppleDOS on it, but how do you know? Is there a way to check the version?
I thought there was a PEEK or POKE command to find out the version of DOS. I thought I had seen this on one of those Beagle Bros Posters, but I checked and could only find what type of Apple II POKE command. From my experience, the DOS is either DOS 3.3 or PRODOS as DOS 3.1 thru 3.2.1 Plus is 13 sector and reqiures a different PROM on the disk controller or a pre-boot diskette. DOS 3.3 and PRODOS are 16 sector disks. I think if you perform a CATALOG command DOS 3.3 it will begin with DISK VOLUME 254 or something close to this and the information for each file will be : * (locked/unlocked), single letter for file type, size of file, name of file). If you perform a CATALOG command in PRODOS it will begin with /USER.DISK (or the name of the PRODOS disk that you are using) and the information for each file will look different (name of file, type of file, number of sectors, date of creation or update).
All DOS and ProDOS master disks tell you their version on boot. The Apple //c cannot run DOS 3.2, or earlier, unless you use a seperate utility to first allow it to boot 13-sector diskettes.
If you can use the command CAT, instead of CATALOG, then it is ProDOS. Otherwise, it's DOS 3.3.
Likewise, INIT is only on DOS 3.x, and not ProDOS, so you have DOS 3.3, but you are missing the utilities that are on the DOS 3.3 Master disk set.
Thanks everyone.
I need to get a serial cable made up and use adtpro to try some software on it.
I have a question about the power adapter. The one that came with it (original) was measured at 17 VDC - is this fine to use - I found the below thread which suggests that it should be:
https://www.applefritter.com/content/apple-iic-power-adapter
It is a linear power supply. Linear supplies always put out a higher voltage with no load on them. Once a load is applied, the voltage will drop. If you had the case off the //c and measured the back of the power connector with the computer on, you would see it pretty close to the 15v listed on the power supply.
Professor Stephen Buggie sells a Toshiba power supply with Din connector attached specifically for the Apple //c:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/c-TOSHIBA-POWER-SUPPLY-FOR-APPLE-IIC-75watts-5A-DC15v-18-00-8-05-S-H-/221294478704
It so much easiler to use than my Apple brick, which I keep in storage.
He also sells automobile cables, 32 bit ROM "0" chips and other handy Apple //c accessories and usually give "free" floppies full of interesting information and utilties with each order.
Steve always makes every package a treat with all his extras!! He has helped me alot with parts and odds and ends.