Apple II

3.5 Drive Card Failures

Submitted by Timelord on April 5, 2020 - 4:57am

I tested both of my 3.5 Drive cards today, and both have issues:

 

I believe that Apple used an AMD EPROM and not a Mask ROM for these cards, as I can felel an erasure Window under the labels, so I suspect that bit rot has caused both to become unusable. 

 

Here is what I see if I attempt to boot from a 3.5 Drive connected to one of the cards.

 

Occasionally I see `Check Startup Device` or `Failed to Load ProDOS`.

 

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apple iic monitor a2m4090 horizontal width adjustment

Submitted by rami shaked on April 4, 2020 - 6:34am

hello,

Cant find the way to adjust the gorizontal width size of the picture. Look at the picture i attached. i want to use all the screen width with no black margins.

i think i tried every potentiometer/knobs i have found on the board, they do all the other things accept what i'm looking for

 

any help on this ?

 

 

 

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Apple II

Disk ][, and Mastery Development Cards

Submitted by Timelord on April 3, 2020 - 12:21pm

I came across my big box of Disk ][ cards, and a large set of Mastery Development Teacher/Slave cards today. 

 

Is there an easy way to identify if the Disk ][ cards are 16-sector? I certainly do not recall how, other than the '16' decal that was on the later-model cards. 

 

I'm unsure what I will do with the MD cards. I certainly have enough to make a serial network in here, but I have no practical application for that as no-one else is here to use it. 

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Apple II

Apple ][ Restoration Project

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 9:20pm

I've been going over one of the original Apple ][ models, cleaning it up and getting it into a usable state to add to my wall of systems.

 

I've had this for forty years, but in the last two decades, it's seen some daemons. The little machine was completely choked with dirt, dust, and soot. Thus far, I disassembled and cleaned every component, and I have started a deep clean of the keyboard. 

 

I decided to do a bench test on it, and, after 40 years, it still works perfectly. The video connector could use a reflow, but other than that, no issues thus far. 

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Apple II

TranswarpGS Diagnostics

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 9:12pm

If anyone here is familiar with diagnosing issues on the TranswarpGS:

 

I installed my TWGS card in two different GS systems, a Rom 0, and a ROM 1. Both present me with the same issue.

 

I'm attaching photos of what I see on the display. Please advise if you may know how to determine the cause of the fault. 

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Apple II

65C816->65C02 Board from a2heaven?

Submitted by Timelord on April 2, 2020 - 12:19am

I noticed the 65C816->65C02 Board on a2heaven.

 

Does this function as a ZIP chip did in the //e ? The page states that it runs up to 14 MHz, but it doesn't say if it supports running standard software at higher speed as the ZIP chip did, via a switch of some sort, or how you toggle the mode or set the clk; or if it only allows you to make custom software that can take advantage of the 65c816. 

 

Has anyone here used this product? It's bloody cheap so I may buy one ust for fun, should I want to write any software to take advantage of such a hybrid instr set. 

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Apple II

Apple IIe doesn't read disks

Submitted by cbmeeks on April 1, 2020 - 10:30pm

I have an Apple IIe that I just hooked up with a single Disk II (more recent, plastic version).  I previously cleaned the heads and I'm 95% sure I didn't mess anything up but I could be wrong.

 

When I insert a disk into the drive, the drive just spins forever.  Nothing ever loads.  My disk controller is in slot 6 and the only other cards I have in there are the Super Serial and the aux RAM.

I'm also running a new PSU on this unit (ReactiveMicro Universal).  I have several Disk II's so  I can bring in another to see if the disk controller or computer are at fault.

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Apple II

Modern Media Suggestions?

Submitted by Timelord on April 1, 2020 - 2:21am

I've been out of the loop for the past 25 years...

 

What is the most recommended 'SD' inerface for drive emulation in the IIe and the //gs?

 

Further, has anyone developed a dongle for the c drive port that takes SD cards? I'd rather not need to try to find a Unidisk 3.5, as they have always been cost prohibitive. I'm shocked that in all this time, no-one has created a base board logic device to use a SONY MP-F75W on the //c, unless someone has, and I didn't know it. 

 

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Apple II

Apple II 80-col RGB / Apple III Monitor Cable

Submitted by Timelord on March 31, 2020 - 8:00pm

Hello all. 

 

I've been going through and restoring my 8-bit Apple equipment, and it seems that I still have two of the digital Apple III RGB monitors, and a few of the 80-column //e cards that support them.

 

I seem to recall that I can use the //gs monitor cable with these, as the pinout was equal. Can anyone here verify that?

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