Apple IIgs and 3.5 floppies

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
Punkyclown's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 5 months ago
Joined: Aug 12 2019 - 16:50
Posts: 21
Apple IIgs and 3.5 floppies

 Hi All, Does anyone know if the 3.5 floppy model no. M0131 will run on an Apple IIgs?

Much appreciated,

Brad Hansen

dorkbert's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 hours 49 min ago
Joined: Apr 12 2009 - 16:33
Posts: 364
Punkyclown wrote: Hi All,

[quote=Punkyclown]

 Hi All, Does anyone know if the 3.5 floppy model no. M0131 will run on an Apple IIgs?

Much appreciated,

Brad Hansen

[/quote]

 

Not with the built in smart port. To run that drive on a II, you'll need a UDC.

Punkyclown's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 5 months ago
Joined: Aug 12 2019 - 16:50
Posts: 21
Apple IIgs and 3.5 floppies

Thanks, What is a UDC?

jwg1962's picture
Offline
Last seen: 14 hours 40 min ago
Joined: Jan 29 2012 - 07:17
Posts: 363
Apple Universal Disk

Apple Universal Disk Controller.   About $300.00 on eBay when they come up. 

 

http://wiki.apple2.org/index.php?title=A2_Floppy_Controllers#UDC_.2F_Universal_Disk_Controller

 

Reactive Micro has a 3.5 controller that also supports it for $100.00 less. 

 

https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/apple-ii-3-5-drive-controller-card/

 

Thanks,

Jay 

 

Online
Last seen: 1 hour 21 min ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 569
The SuperDrive controller won

The SuperDrive controller won't work with the M0130 or M0131 3.5" drives.

It works with the 3.5" Unidisk, the A9M0106 & the G7287. Also with a couple of AE drives.

May not matter much as Reactive Micro doesn't have them in stock. Last time they were out of stock it was years before any showed up again

 

[quote=jwg1962]

Reactive Micro has a 3.5 controller that also supports it for $100.00 less. 

 

https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/apple-ii-3-5-drive-controller-card/

 

[/quote]

jwg1962's picture
Offline
Last seen: 14 hours 40 min ago
Joined: Jan 29 2012 - 07:17
Posts: 363
Wayne, 

Wayne, 

 

Good catch.  I didn't read the original post and just responded to the question "What is the UDC?".  The M0130 and M0131 won't work perfectly as they do not have eject buttons.  However, the article below states they will work with the UDC. I suspect you are not able to eject the disk without a paperclip though so it is not an ideal situation. 

 

Here's a couple of resources: 

 

https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Reference/Articles/aplus0187-apple2_drives.pdf

 

https://apple2online.com/web_documents/apple_floppy_disk_drives.pdf

 

As for the Rective Micro Controller - Henry did have some of these at KansasFest last year for sale so I know they are making them again.  I would send a message to check availability before ordering. 

 

J

 

Online
Last seen: 1 hour 21 min ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 569
I was refering to the

I was refering to the superdrive controller.

With the UDC cards it seems to be problematical whether the eject button works with any drive. I used the A9M0106 with one and the eject buttons didn't work so I connected the eject button directly to the eject motor.

That's a possible mod for the M0131. Run a couple of small wires in with an external button.

Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 10 min ago
Joined: Jul 5 2018 - 09:44
Posts: 2516
That drive is really intended

That drive is really intended for Macs.  It will work on an Apple II with the VTech/Central Point/Laser "Universal Disk Controller" (not to be confused with the similarly named card from Apple).  For DOS 3.3 support there is AmDOS or UniDOS, which can be found on Asimov, etc.  Nobody makes a clone of the VTech card, but occasionally they can be found on eBay fairly reasonably.

 

Oh, and yes, Mac specific drives without an eject button are a PITA on an Apple II.  Keep the paper clip handy.

 

 

 

 

 

Punkyclown's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 5 months ago
Joined: Aug 12 2019 - 16:50
Posts: 21
Mac Floppies on a IIgs

Hey guys, Thanks for all the great support, I really appreciate all the feedback.

Brad Hansen

Log in or register to post comments