What is wrong with my Apple IIe?
Posted by R-fire227@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Got this for free, but I've noticed that it won't read the floppy I put in, and that drive 2 won't light up, any ideas? I hear it hitting then nothing else. It could be user error to, sense I've never used one before but I doubt that.
Future-Side4440@reddit
You say you have a disk, but do you even know if it’s the right kind? It should have a label that says double density. It cannot work with high density disks.
Disks formatted for an IBM PC will not work in an Apple II.
The disk needs to be formatted for Apple DOS 3.3 or Apple ProDOS.
Additionally, for it to be bootable, it needs to have an operating system stored on it, typically taking up the first three tracks for DOS 3.3 or even more for ProDOS.
If you do not have a formatted bootable disk, you’re kind of stuck because you need one to make one. You would then need to get help from someone else who has an apple II to give you a formatted bootable disk.
Future-Side4440@reddit
If you at least have a double density disc, but it’s not bootable or apple II formatted, there is a possible way for you to still get going with it.
download the operating system over a serial cable connected to another computer, or via the cassette ports connected to the line out audio socket of another computer:
https://adtpro.com/
siliconlore@reddit
A really slick way to get a bootable disk on an Apple II, Apple II+ or Apple IIe is to use this web site:
https://asciiexpress.net/diskserver/
It has a program that knows how to write a disk as an audio file with a gap and once you load that program via the cassette input, it knows how to read the data in the following audio to write a disk. I have done it and it works super well. All you need is an adaptor for your phone or another computer that can pass analog audio into a male RCA jack on the Apple II.
All of this assumes that your drive controller and floppy drive don't have fried components that prevent writing and you have a good disk to write to.
This technique won't work on a IIc or IIgs because they don't have the audio cassette input interface.
The site has boot disks and tons of games including the two disk set for Oregon Trail.
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
I got the right disk, official Apple II Dos 3.3 system master for II,II+ and //e.
Future-Side4440@reddit
If an apple II / II+ / IIe can’t find a bootable disk, drive 1 will spin forever. Drive 2 is never normally accessed unless you’re already booted into an operating system.
The read only memory (ROM) is extremely tiny so all it knows to do is look for a boot sector signature, and keep trying forever .
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
Do you know why I can't find it?
mdgorelick@reddit
Main thing I see is that it seems like your monitor’s brightness is turned up to 11. The background should be black.
You can hit the reset button to stop it from trying to boot off drive 1 if you want to just type in some BASIC commands and see if it works otherwise.
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
Turned it down, but alas when I press reset nothing happens, still just says Apple ][ at the top
Future-Side4440@reddit
The reset button does not do anything by itself on an Apple IIe.
Press control-reset to break out of whatever it’s doing and (usually) go to the BASIC command prompt.
Press control open-Apple, reset to do a reboot. The outline Apple symbol to the left of the keyboard.
To do a system self test, press control closed-apple reset. The filled-in apple symbol to the right of the keyboard.
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
So I'm able to get to the command prompt, but from there, ctrl+open/closed apple dosent do anything.
Future-Side4440@reddit
You have to hold down control, the Apple key, and then press reset. Don’t try to slap them all at once it doesn’t work usually.
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
Ah kk, gave it a try, KERNAL OK, and I did a reset, but it still just spins when I try to run DOS 3.3
mdgorelick@reddit
Now that I think about it, I think you actually need to press control – reset.
ryguymcsly@reddit
However, judging from the screen, something is wonky with either your monitor or the video output, or it's hard freezing during the boot process.
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
Said KERNAL OK both times, but still when I put a disc in nothing. Just the screen text, light and the sound of it spinning. (Which I forgot to mention earlier)
Henchforhire@reddit
It's got dysentery.
QPC414@reddit
Swap the drives and see what happens. You may need to clean the heads, probably can get a cleaning floppy and some 90%+ IPA.
Also lower your brightness and play with contrast.
GezoutenMeer@reddit
Take a look at @adriansdigitalbasement on YouTube as he has many videos on this kind of hardware and their errors. Very instructing
R-fire227@reddit (OP)
Thx I'll give it a trya