Getting started with MicroDrive / ProDos
savant42
I just received my MicroDrive for my Apple IIe. I'd like to start
playing around with it and adding disk images, but I'm afraid I'm a
bit of a greenling. I tried using ciderpress to create a "games"
directory on the main partition, and adding a .dsk file of a game
(Indiana Jones Revenge, 2 knives edition), but that didn't seem to
work. I extracted the contents of the .dsk image to that directory,
but that didn't seem to work either. A nudge in the right direction
would be great.
JB
schmidtd
> I just received my MicroDrive for my Apple IIe. I'd like to start
> playing around with it and adding disk images, but I'm afraid I'm a
> bit of a greenling.
It does sound like you're a little confused. You can't add disk
images directly to a ProDOS volume and expect to be able to use them
in any real way. Yes, you can copy the files - but a .dsk file is a
binary image of a whole 'nother disk. So it doesn't work to copy that
to a ProDOS partition.
Also, when you copied the individual files off of the indy.dsk using
CiderPress, you transplanted code that expected the Pascal "operating
system" to be running underneath it. You booted the IIe with ProDOS,
but then tried to run the Indiana Jones Pascal code... that's not
going to work either. That's the moral equivalent of running a Mac OS
6 app on Intel OSX. Well, maybe a TRSDOS app on CP/M. Yes, they're
just files... but they expect different services and stuff to be
available underneath them. You'll run into the same problems if you
transplant DOS 3.3 games to your MicroDrive. Some singe-file games
may actually work; but anything that wants to load up another file or
access the disk will fail.
So the thing to keep in mind is that your MicroDrive device is running
under the auspices of ProDOS. It can host and run ProDOS files an
applications with aplomb. If you veer off into other operating
systems, there is danger ahead. I imagine it is possible, though I
don't know how, to build a Pascal partition; and I'm pretty sure you
can use DOS.MASTER to build some DOS 3.3 compatibility.
Your CF card will be especially good for ProDOS files and
directories. If you want to dabble with DOS 3.3 and DOS.MASTER, the
docs for that are here:
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/System/DosMaster_docs.txt
Bugman
dos 3.3 equivalent sections and allow you to use dos 3.3 games and
files. However, it only works for programs that are not copy
protected, i.e. you have to be able to see the indivdual file names.
Using DOS.MASTER and a PROSEL frontend, you can create quite a nice
automated boot directory for yourself.
There is another program you can dabble with. It is called
DOS.LAUNCHER. This allows you to make and boot a disk image from a
prodos volume. However, it still struggles with copy protected
software. You will find a handful of software that you can use
dos.launcher for that dos.master could not. But dont expect miracles.
Bill Buckels
>I tried using ciderpress to create a "games" directory on the main
>partition, and adding a .dsk file of a game...
I don't really know where to start... I feel so weary for you... so I'll
just give you an overview of what I do and leave it at that.
1. I use my CF card for mostly for bootable ProDOS partitions for my
Microdrive but find it darned convenient to store disk images upon to create
real floppies or to store and transfer disk images from real floppies back
to my PC.
2. Ciderpress is fabulous for copying and pasting between Microdrive Volumes
and files and directories in SHK archives and disk images stored on my PC.
Just open them simultaneously and paste between them.
3. To get familiar with Ciderpress which is a very very full featured tool,
try playing with many different disk images in a good emulator like
AppleWin. I did this for years... (and in several other emulators). I also
worked with alternate tools like Apple II Oasis just to get the feel of
things...
4. You got DSK2FILE and Diskmaker 8 bundled on your CF card with your
Microdrive. Those are your native diskimage tools:
This document (link below) has some background info for you as well:
http://www.aztecmuseum.ca/applecpm/AztecCPMToApple.pdf
In it I talk about my approach... and also a little about the Microdrive:
Converting back and forth from Disk Images to Real Apple II Disks
Two popular native Apple II utilities (DSK2FILE and DISKMAKER.8) can be used
to create real DOS 3.3 disks and Apple CP/M disks from disk images. DSK2FILE
requires
typing. DISKMAKER.8 is menu-driven to a greater extent and easier to use for
this reason. DISKMAKER.8 is used exclusively for creating disks from disk
images.
DSK2FILE can also be used to create disk images from disks. The disk images
created by DSK2FILE can be used in either.
DISMAKER.8
http://www.markpercival.net/DM8/
DSK2FILE
http://a2central.com/?p=131
The Microdrive
Historically a serial cable (called a "NULL Modem" cable) was used to
transfer files between the Apple II and other computers. In recent years the
use of memory cards to
transfer data between computers has become standard. One such card, the
Microdrive, allows a compact flash (CF) memory card to be plugged
into a Windows XP computer or an Apple II and comes with DISKMAKER.8 and
DSK2FILE. It also comes with the Ciderpress program which allows files to be
moved
back and forth between the Windows computer and the CF memory card. This
greatly simplifies moving files back and forth between the Apple II and the
Windows computer.
http://www.reactivemicro.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_29&products_id=31
5. Gonna leave this there. You need to wrok with all these things for
awhile. Have fun.
Regards,
Bill
savant42
>
> The Microdrive
>
> Historically a serial cable (called a "NULL Modem" cable) was used to
> transfer files between the Apple II and other computers. In recent years the
> use of memory cards to
> transfer data between computers has become standard. One such card, the
> Microdrive, allows a compact flash (CF) memory card to be plugged
> into a Windows XP computer or an Apple II and comes with DISKMAKER.8 and
> DSK2FILE. It also comes with the Ciderpress program which allows files to be
> moved
> back and forth between the Windows computer and the CF memory card. This
> greatly simplifies moving files back and forth between the Apple II and the
> Windows computer.
>
> http://www.reactivemicro.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_29&products_id=31
>
> 5. Gonna leave this there. You need to wrok with all these things for
> awhile. Have fun.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill
Bill, thanks for the links, but when you say "I don't really know
where to start... I feel so weary for you... " you sound like a real
jerk.
Don't worry, I'll stay off your lawn.
savant42
Sorry, that was half cocked of me, but it sure does seem like you're
condescending over someone who claimed from the get go I was a
complete newb at this nearly 30 year old hardware. I do appreciate the
links and will continue to try and learn more.
Bill Buckels
"savant42" <jbra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Don't worry, I'll stay off your lawn.
Josh, Josh, Josh... this is an off-leash park. You just need to remember to
use your pooper scooper BEFORE you hit the send button.
Get thee to a floppery... you ain't gonna be able to use your Apple II
properly without a floppery.
Must be someone close by who has a spare or for sale at a modest price.
Geez, kids these days!
Bill
savant42
> "savant42" <jbrash...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Don't worry, I'll stay off your lawn.
>
> Josh, Josh, Josh... this is an off-leash park. You just need to remember to
> use your pooper scooper BEFORE you hit the send button.
Point taken. cat egg > /dev/face
>
> Get thee to a floppery... you ain't gonna be able to use your Apple II
> properly without a floppery.
>
> Must be someone close by who has a spare or for sale at a modest price.
>
Yeah, I think I found a guy on the local CL who's selling a II+, a
IIe, a monochrome monitor, and a couple of floppy drives, all for $30.
Score!
> Geez, kids these days!
I know. I'll go stand in the corner.
I went through my box-o-crap and found the IIe user guide, and the
ProDos supplimental. The cobwebs are slowly but surely disappearing.
>
> Bill
JB
Michael J. Mahon
> On Nov 13, 3:42 pm, "Bill Buckels"<bbuck...@mts.net> wrote:
>> "savant42"<jbrash...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Don't worry, I'll stay off your lawn.
>>
>> Josh, Josh, Josh... this is an off-leash park. You just need to remember to
>> use your pooper scooper BEFORE you hit the send button.
>
> Point taken. cat egg> /dev/face
>
>>
>> Get thee to a floppery... you ain't gonna be able to use your Apple II
>> properly without a floppery.
>>
>> Must be someone close by who has a spare or for sale at a modest price.
>>
>
> Yeah, I think I found a guy on the local CL who's selling a II+, a
> IIe, a monochrome monitor, and a couple of floppy drives, all for $30.
> Score!
Right on!
>> Geez, kids these days!
>
> I know. I'll go stand in the corner.
>
> I went through my box-o-crap and found the IIe user guide, and the
> ProDos supplimental. The cobwebs are slowly but surely disappearing.
Excellent, Josh! I think you're going to have some fun. ;-)
-michael
NadaNet 3.1 for Apple II parallel computing!
Home page: http://home.comcast.net/~mjmahon/
"The wastebasket is our most important design
tool--and it's seriously underused."
Bill Buckels
"Michael J. Mahon" <mjm...@aol.com> wrote:
> Excellent, Josh! I think you're going to have some fun. ;-)
Hey Mike, Josh gave me a call last night. I know I had fun... I told him
there is a huge brain-trust in csa2 so you and some of the other lifers in
here can expect to have yours picked extensively I would think...
I also indicated that it does take about 2 or 3 years of playing in here to
really get up to speed to really talk properly with the rest of you guys...
some who selflessly dedicate huge chunks of their lives to preserving all
this.
It would be good if the secrets of csa2 do not follow us to the great apple
pie in the sky so guys Josh's age who remember the last of the apple II's in
the classroom will need to keep this going....
I'm just sayin'
Bill
savant42
Bill,
Great talk on Saturday, you gave me a lot of ideas I'm still chewing
on. Making an image of the CF to use with AppleWin has dramatically
increased my productivity; as opposed to popping the CF into Windows,
mounting it, putting back into the IIe, lather...rinse...repeat. I'm
not quite there yet but feeling much better about my progress. My hope
is to make a wiki when I'm all set up, detailing all of the process
for a complete newb (like myself).
Thanks again!
Josh