From: dmag@engin.umich.edu (Daniel Demaggio )
Subject: Frequently Asked Questions Post (2/2)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 20:51:47 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Summary: Everything you need to know when owning a II. ;) 

Topic:  What is an Apple II?
==========================================

      Excuse me while I wax a little philosophical, but the Apple II is one of
 the computer that started the computer revolution because it is so flexible
 and open--a pure hacker's machine, but also one that there is a lot of
 software to allow novices to use it too. The following are the various models
 of the Apple ][:

    Apple ][
    Apple ][+
    Multitech MPF-II
    Franklin Ace
    Apple /// (w/emulation software)
    ][ In A Mac emulator
    track emulator for IBM
    Apple ][ Emulator for Unix
    Apple ][e (Unenhanced)
E   Multitech MPF-III (if enhanced)
E+  Laser 128
E   Laser 128 EX/2
E+  Apple ][e Emulation card (and a Mac LC)
E   Apple ][e (Enhanced)
E+  Apple //e (Platinum w/numeric keypad)
E   Apple //c
E   Apple //c+
E   Apple IIGS (ROM 00/Woz edition.)
E   Apple IIGS (ROM 01 with 256K built-in)
E+  Apple IIGS (ROM 03 with 1 MB built-in)

 (E) = Emulates an Enhanced //e  (+) = Still in Production

      Apple ][+: Surprisingly, the ][+ can run some of today's software. For
 instance, Davex and FredWriter. You can even run AppleWorks if you have more
 than 128K and a program called PlusWorks. Recommended configuration: 16K
 language card (in slot 0 with a ribbon cable running to the RAM), an
 80-column video card (not the same as a //e 80-column card), shift key
 modification (a wire running from shift key to game port).
      Apple //e: The //e comes in two flavors: Enhanced and Unenhanced. The
 Enhancement kit allows an upgrade path by replacing 4 chips. Most current
 software requires an Enhanced //e, and sometimes 128K too. The current
 operating system is ProDos. The Apple //e is still useful for three major
 reasons: 1) It runs AppleWorks, a simple to use, yet sophisticated integrated
 program. 2) There are many Apples in schools, so there is a ton of
 educational software for it. 3) It is was and will always be a _Personal_
 computer. You can learn as little or as much as you want, and nothing stops
 you from learning about every nook and cranny in it. Ask any big name
 programmer in MS/DOS or Mac where they learned to program. Most of them
 taught themselves on a good ol' Apple //. Good programs for an Apple //e:
 AppleWorks (from Claris) with TimeOut (Beagle Brothers), Copy ][+ (Central
 Point), ProTerm (InSync), PrintShop (Broderbund). Recommended configuration:
 80 extended column card, 512K to 1MB RAM, Enhanced, Hard Drive is nice.
      //c and //c+: The //c and //c+ are 'luggable' versions of an Enhanced
 //e, with many built-in 'cards'. Included are 2 serial ports, a mouse port, a
 3.5" disk port and 128K of RAM. Even though they were supposed to be
 unexpandable, you can still add extra memory (there's room under the
 keyboard) and a hard drive (through the disk port--a bit slow by ordinary
 standards, but usable). Some software that uses the mouse may get confused on
 the //C+. The //C and //C+ cannot do AppleTalk or take any cards. Recommended
 configuration: Not much you can add to it, except maybe extra RAM and a 3.5"
 drive/Hard drive.
      The Laser 128EX is a cross between the //c and an Enhanced //e. It is as
 luggable as a //c and has built-in 'cards', but it also has a slot to expand.
 If you want to add card, you may have to disable the internal UDC (for 3.5"
 drives) or the internal 1MB memory expansion.
      The Apple IIGS represents a giant leap in the Apple // line. It can still
 run //e software, but has a better processor (16-bit), a new super-hires
 graphics mode, a toolbox in ROM (just like the Mac) and a 32 oscillator
 Ensoniq sound chip. It can not only run ProDos, but it can also run GS/OS, a
 sophisticated operating system very much like the Macintosh's OS. The
 original GS (I think they all have the Woz signature) must have a motherboard
 upgrade to run the current software. The ROM 01 had 256K on the motherboard,
 while the ROM 03 has 1 MB. Although there were a few ROM changes, the current
 system software will work patch the toolbox ROMs to look identical.
 Recommended configuration: 1.25 MB lets you boot up and launch programs. With
 2 MB, you will have room for Desk Accessories. Go for 4 MB if you want a RAM
 disk (useful if you don't have a hard drive) or do a lot of Graphics work.
 Adding a hard drive is highly recommended.
      The Apple ][e emulation card is a card that can only go into a Macintosh
 LC, and lets one run Apple //e software. It is actually more like a //c
 because it has no slots. Unfortunately, the emulation can be slower than a
 real //e because the LC is slow at updating the screen. There is a place on
 the back of the card to plug in a UniDisk 5.25" and a joystick.

Q: How do I get out of Basic (that little "]" prompt and flashing cursor?

A: Type the word "BYE" and press return. Now get out the Apple manual 'A Touch
 of BASIC' and read it.

Q: Can the Apple II connect to SCSI devices?

A: Yes. See the section on SCSI in this FAQ.

Q: Can my Apple read IBM/MAC disks? What about High Density disks?


A quick chart for 3.5" compatibility:
Disk type   |  //e          GS           Mac W/DD Drive    Mac W/HD drive
------------|------------------------------------------------------------
ProDos 800K | yes           yes              AFE              AFE
ProDos 1600K| HD 3.5        HD 3.5           no               AFE
HFS 800K    | A2FX          Sys 6            yes              yes
HFS 1440K   | not yet       HD 3.5 + Sys 6   no               yes
IBM 720K    | somewhat      somewhat         AFE?             AFE
IBM 1440K   | somewhat      somewhat         no               AFE

Key:  yes = no problem            no  = impossible
      not yet = possible, but no software available. Would need HD 3.5.
      somewhat = software was written, but with limitations.
      HD 3.5 = High Density Disk Drive _AND_ NEW 3.5" controller card
      A2FX (and HFSLink) = PD/SW programs for the Apple II.
      AFE = Apple File Exchange on the Macintosh.  Very S-L-O-W.
      [note: for those who don't know, HFS is the normal Macintosh format]
      For 5.25" disks, the encoding method is completely different between IBM
 and Apple. If you are really a glutton for punishment, you can get an Applied
 Engineering PC Transporter to read IBM 3.5" or 5.25" disks.
Q: How do I get stuff from my Apple // to IBM (or Mac)?

A: there are two parts to this question. Physically, you can use AFE (see
 above Q) or a null-modem cable. (a null-modem cable is really a printer
 cable. You connect the 2 serial ports, and poof, they can send files back and
 forth with any communications software) The other part to this question is
 data conversion. Once you copy your file to the IBM, you may find there is no
 software that can use it. Of course, converting an Apple program to IBM is
 out of the question.

      One helpful hint is that all computers can read text files. Most word
 processors can save as text and import as text. But with text files, you will
 loose all your formatting (font type, centering and so-forth). For
 spreadsheets, saving as DIF will make conversion a breeze. Databases can be
 saved as tab-delimited records. (Note that in AppleWorks, you have to go to
 Print to save in these formats).
      If you want to do better, there are several options available. For
 example, AFE can convert between some kinds of documents (For example
 AppleWorks Word Processor to MacWrite). The CrossWorks program can convert
 between many Apple and IBM formats, and even comes with a universal null
 modem cable. The program SuperWorks is an IBM clone of AppleWorks. It can
 import AppleWorks files directly. SuperConvert can convert between all
 Apple-specific graphics formats and many Mac, Amiga and IBM specific formats.
 It can also save as GIF, which is a universal standard.
Q: What's the scoop on the new HD 3.5" drive?

A: In order to do High Density on the Apple //, you will need both the High
 Density 3.5" drive and the new Apple 3.5" controller. If you don't have both,
 you will only be able to do regular density. Of course, you will also need
 High Density Disks.

      Once you have collected the above items, you are in for a pleasant
 surprise. ProDos 8 programs not only recognize it, but they can format HD
 disks just fine. GS/OS has no problems either. You can even boot off of it,
 giving extra room for Desk Accessories and such. Drawbacks: You cannot boot
 copy-protected software or boot some FTA demos. Also, it takes up a slot on
 the GS. If you are clever, you can get around this. You can put it in slot 5,
 but then you will not be able to use a RAM disk (/RAM5). If you have a ROM 03
 GS, you can put it in slot 4 and disable the mouse. Your GS/OS programs will
 work, but your ProDos 8 programs won't be able to find the mouse. If you use
 AppleTalk on a ROM 01, you may be able to put it in slot 1 (or 2), and use
 the drive in the same slot as AppleTalk.
Q: AppleWorks won't print to my printer. What gives?

A: AppleWorks will refuse to print to a slot that has a disk device. In the
 past, this worked well because if you try to print to a slot that has a disk
 controller in it, you will re-boot. But now, this can cause problems when a
 disk device is 'mapped' into your printer slot (due to a limitation in
 ProDos, you can only have 2 drives per slot. Extra partitions on your hard
 drive will be re-mapped to other slots). If you have a RamFast, you can
 re-map the drives to different slots. Otherwise, there is a patch available
 that will let you print anyway. (**I forget where this patch is located?**)

Q: Do third party 3.5" Macintosh disk drives work on the ][?

A: No. Apple's 3.5" drive has logic to sense which machine it is hooked up to
 (Apple II or Macintosh) and it works accordingly.

Q: Can I hook up a LaserWriter, DeskJet, etc to my Apple //e?

A: Yes, all the above connections have regular serial or parallel connections.
 The tricky part is getting them to do what you want. The DeskJet, for example
 will print very nice looking text with regular old "PR#1". But if you want to
 change the font or print graphics, you may have to purchase some software.
 One excellent program for these types of printers is PublishIt 4. You won't
 believe the output you can get from a //e. For AppleWorks fans, there is the
 program called SuperPatch. Among it's patches is a cool DeskJet 500 printer
 driver. You can print sideways, and change fonts with normal AppleWorks
 commands.

Q: Can I hook up a LaserWriter, DeskJet, etc to my Apple IIGS?

A: On the GS, you can hook up a LaserWriter via AppleTalk or direct serial
 connection. A GS program can typically print to a LaserWriter if it's
 connected to the GS via AppleTalk. If you get a DeskJet, or PaintJet, etc,
 you can hook them up via the serial port. But in order to use them
 effectively, you will want Harmony from Vitesse (better) or Independence
 (cheaper) from Seven Hills. They are new printer drivers for GS/OS programs
 only. If you want to print from an 8-bit program, see the previous question.

Q: Can I hook up a scanner up to my //e? Can it do OCR (Optical Character
     Recognition)?

A: Yes and Yes. Just pick up a Quickie scanner (by Vitesse) and InWords (by
 WestCode Software). You can scan 4" columns (you must have 512K to 1 Meg) and
 can even paste them together to make 8" scans. Then you can use InWords to
 "read" text and put it into a text file or AppleWorks Word Processor file.

Q: What version is my computer?

A: Apple //e: The major division is between the Enhanced and unenhanced
 models. Look at your computer while re-booting. If it says "APPLE ][", it is
 not enhanced. The enhanced computers will say "Apple //e". You can upgrade it
 yourself by getting the Apple //e Enhancement kit. (It contains 4 chips to
 replace on your motherboard.) Many newer programs will not work unless you
 have an Enhanced //e. If you have a //c or GS, or a Laser 128, you have
 Enhanced //e compatibility. There are also some older //e's that are not
 capable of double-hires. Check the serial number on the motherboard (in the
 back, by the power-on led). If it ends in -A, you may need a motherboard swap
 (unless you have the PAL version).

A: pple //GS: There are 3 major versions of the GS: Check the initial power-up
 screen. It will say ROM 01, ROM 03. If it does not say either, you have the
 Original (Woz Signature edition). You must upgrade it in order to run current
 system software. The ROM 01 has 256K on the motherboard, while the ROM 03 has
 1 MB on the motherboard. All the enhancements of the ROM 03 (except the 1MB,
 of course) can be added to the ROM 01 simply by booting up with current
 system software.

      Apple //c: Go into Basic and type "PRINT PEEK (64447)" and press return.
 If it says 255, you have a very old //c. See your dealer about getting an
 upgrade. If it says 0, you can do 3.5" drives, but you don't have the memory
 expansion connector. If it says 3 You have the memory expansion. If it says
 4, you have the latest model of the //c. If it says 5, you have a //c+.
Q: I have a ][+/Franklin. Where can I get tech support?

A: Send a Self Addressed, Stamped Envelope to: TEBR, RFD #1, North Salem, NY
 10560-9705 or call PH# (914)-669-5421

Q: My Applied Ingenuity drive died. Does anyone repair them?

A: Bill Heineman, Custom Software Inc, 7734 S. Broadway Rd, Whitter, CA 90606
 PH# (213)-695-3966. He also does other types of drives.

Q: Can I get replacement chips for my Apple //c?

A: Alltech Electronics carries all the //c chips for $9 to $39 each (depending
 on the chip). Pick up the latest A+ and look for their ad. You can them at
 (619) 721-7733.

Q: Where can I find oscillator crystals?

A: Digi-Key Corp (Phone: 800-344-4539). They charge $3.75 per crystal and $5
 for shipping an order. Here are the part #'s for a TransWarp GS: (TWGS speed
 in parens) 32MHz (8MHz) SE1101, 36MHz (9MHz) SE1103, 40MHz (10MHz) SE1104.

Q: What programming languages are available for the Apple ][?

A: well..


  Basic:    Applesoft (built-in to your computer!), which can be extended
            with several utilities in commercial and non-commercial form.
            To speed it up: Beagle Brother's Applesoft Compiler.
            TML Basic, Micol Basic, or Z-Basic, which are BASIC development
            packages.  Pecan Power System Basic.
            GS-Basic, available through APDA.
  Forth:    Purple Forth+, Q Forth+, Mad Apple Forth+, GS Forth, GraForth
  Full C:   Orca C, APW C, and Manx Aztec C.  The first 2 are GS only.  
  Small C:  Hyper-C+ and a Small C that comes as an add-on
            package with one of the assemblers.
  Pascal:   Complete (formerly TML) Pascal, Orca/Pascal, Apple UCSD Pascal
            and Quick Pascal (via APDA) and Pecan Power System's Pascal.
  Assembly: Orca/M, Orca/M GS, APW, Merlin 8/16 Plus, Lisa+,  EDASM.
  Other:    Pecan Power Systems Fortran. Lisp, Logo, Promal.  GS Scheme+
                       (+ = share/freeware [available via FTP])

Q: My GS control panel keeps resetting to the defaults and/or forgetting the
     date.

A: It's probably your battery. If you have a ROM 03 GS, you just pop it out an
 get another. On the ROM 01, you will need a Slide-On Battery Replacement Kit
 from Night Owl Productions. See address in 'Resources' section.

Q: I want a Y-adapter for my GS keyboard.

A: Redmond Cable has an ADB Y-connector cable for separating your mouse from
 the side of your keyboard (also can be used to work around a failing ADB port
 on the keyboard). See the 'Resources' section of this FAQ.

Q: What programs are there for conversion of graphic images?

A: There are quite a few:

 IIGIF is a freeware GIF converter for any Apple II (but there is a patch
     needed for the Apple //c). It reads in GIF and saves as hires or
     double-hires.
 MACDOWN is also freeware and lets you do the same with MacPaint pics.
 A ProDos 8 version of The Graphics Exchange (don't know much about it).
      [The following software only work on an Apple IIGS]
 The Graphics Exchange (with library disk 1 - and soon with library disk 2 and
     The RGB Exchange) converts between many formats of graphics.
 SuperConvert loads all GS formats, plus GIFS and other non-GS specific
     formats and saves in all GS formats (including Finder Icon files). It has
     more dithering options than most of the other programs, but you may have
     to play with it to find the best one.
 SHRConvert is the earlier, shareware, predecessor to SuperConvert. It does a
     pretty good job on the types of graphics it supports.
 Platinum Paint can import all GS formats (yes, even PrintShop) plus MacPaint.
     It can only save in SHR and Apple Preferred. It can view (but not
     make/edit) SHR animations.
 ShowPic 6 is a shareware NDA that can display most GS formats. You can also
     save the resulting graphic as a IIGS SHR painting.
 Dream Grafix supports all 3200 color picture types and also 16 color and 256
     color pictures. This is a very impressive paint program with its 3200
     color support.
      Note: 'All GS formats' includes Superhires (type $C1 and $C0), hires,
 double-hires and PrintShop/PrintShop GS.
Q: I have an old CPM / PASCAL / DOS 3.3 disk. How do I get it into ProDos?

A: The //e system software, the GS/OS system 6 DOS3.3 HFS FST, and Copy ][+
 can all convert Dos 3.3 files into ProDos. This is only helpful for text
 files, graphics, and some Basic programs. For ProDos, CPM, Pascal, Dos 3.3,
 try the program Chameleon. It's only drawback is that it does not recognize
 hard disks. (just have a ProDos floppy disk handy.)

Q: How do you copy from a 5.25" disk to 3.5" disk?

A: ProDos has no problems with this, as long as you copy by files. Note that
 ProDos can only have 51 files in the main directory. If you try to exceed
 that, it will give you a cryptic 'Disk Full' error. If there really is space
 left on the disk, you can copy all the files into a subdirectory to get
 around the 51-file limit. In theory, you can put an unlimited number of files
 in a Subdirectory, but in practice, you should limit them to 150 - 200 files
 (to avoid problems with certain programs).

Q: Why does my Apple II lose characters when I'm using the modem?

A: Check the following: 1) Your software may need interrupts enabled. Examine
 DIP Switch 2-6 on your Super Serial Card. 2) If you have an unenhanced //e,
 you need to enhance your //e. 3) If you have a //c, it may be one of the ones
 that had a serial port problem. Talk to your dealer about upgrading it for
 2400 baud support.

Q: What happened to Beagle Brothers?

A: Beagle Brothers is alive and well, but concentrating on the Macintosh with
 their BeagleWorks package. The Apple // distributing is being handled by
 Quality Computers. That does not mean that it is the end. QC is supporting
 current BB packages, and will be expanding the TimeOut line of AppleWorks
 enhancements.

Q: Is the Apple // dead?

A: Old computers never die, they just get upgraded. Ok, ok, maybe not. But as
 long as the computer is still useful to you, it is not dead. In fact, despite
 the lack of advertising, there are some people at Apple supporting the II.
 Consider that this year alone, we have a new GS/OS, an improved HyperCard, a
 new ProDos (Don't expect V2.0, they said), a High Density 3.5" drive and
 controller, and an announcement for an EitherTalk card. Hmmm...

Q: Yes, but isn't the Apple // wimpy? Isn't it old technology? Isn't 1 MHz
     slow in today's computer world?

A: You don't always need a 50 MHz computer to do word processing, or a 3-D
 relational spreadsheet to do checkbook balancing. Of course, I wouldn't use
 my Apple to run Mathmatica. Use the right tool for the job. The other part of
 it is that the Apple // is simple enough that one can take total control of
 it. Write directly to to screen. Re-write the operating system. Do cool
 hardware hacks with it. Write a simple basic 'guess-the-number' game.
 Whatever. The point is that many programmers write software for the Apple //
 because it is FUN as well as challenging.

      As for the 'old' bit: the IBM PC was released well over a decade ago too.
 The GS is to an Apple II+ as the IBM 486 is to the IBM XT. (Ok, so maybe
 that's stretching it a bit). As for speed, you can't directly compare those
 because the underlying processors are different. The Apple gets more done in
 1 clock cycle than the IBM processor. Really, the only speed that matters is
 REAL time. Windows and fancy graphics can really load a computer down. Even
 though hardware is getting faster and better, software is getting larger and
 slower. You can't win. Compare the time to start up the following word
 processors: FrameMaker on a Sun SparcStation (30 seconds), M.S. Word on a Mac
 (2 seconds) classic AppleWorks on my GS (instantly --I have a RamFast ;).


Topic:  System 6.0 mini-FAQ
==========================================


Subtopic:  Common Problems
------------------------------------------

      Some programs are incompatible with CloseView. Symptoms are the mouse
 wipes out everything it moves over. Remove CloseView or inactivate it in the
 system folder. May still cause troubles if active, but set to 'off'. See GS
 Technote #91.
      EasyAccess is also incompatible with some applications, (especially on
 ROM 01). Symptoms are a locked keyboard, and not being able to reboot. Remove
 it or make it inactive.
      Missing features of system 6? Perhaps you just used easy install, which
 doesn't install all the bells and whistles. Try clicking on customize and add
 the nifty things like Calculator, Find File, HFS FST, etc. You can also read
 the Shortcuts file on SystemTools2 for some great keyboard shortcuts.
      Finder icons that match by name and have a leading wildcard require
 uppercase letters. For example, a name like "*.txt" never matches, but
 "*.TXT" works fine (it matches regardless of a file's actual capitalization).
 (This was accidental; the 5.0.4 Finder did not care about capitalization in
 icon files.)
      Two misconceptions about System 6: The A2.RAMCARD is not for the GS's
 /RAM5. It only works with "slinky" (i.e. standard slot) cards. Also, the DOS
 3.3 FST has nothing to do with MS-DOS.

Subtopic:  Tips & Hints
------------------------------------------

      The AppleShare logon programs have always looked for a folder named
 "Mail" inside your user folder whenever you log onto a user volume. If
 there's any items in there, they present a dialog that says "You have mail."
 Under SSW 6.0, that also sends a SysBeep2 request so you can get the sound of
 your choice.
      If you don't want to see your icons on boot, set bit 1 (i.e. the 2nd LSB)
 of BRAM Location $5F. Be sure not to mess with the other bits. Use the
 toolbox calls!
      The FinderExtras folder goes in the same folder as the Finder (generally
 *:System).
      If you don't like yellow folders in the Finder you can change the byte at
 offset +65 in the Finder resource with type $C001 and ID 1. Change the $E0 to
 whatever you want (the first digit is the default folder foreground color,
 and the low nibble is for the outline color). Only folders that do *not*
 already have a color recorded in a Finder.Data file get the default color.

Subtopic:  If you have a RamFast
------------------------------------------

      The RamFast and ProDos 2.0.1 both try to do re-mapping of drives to
 unused slots. This can cause problems, mostly when launching and returning
 from ProDos 8 applications (crashes or wants you to insert disk). Solution:
 Configure the RamFast not to re-map. If you have a RamFAST with a ROM
 revision less than 2.01a, you need to get a newer ROM from CVT. Otherwise,
 V2.01c allows setting Slot Priority Allocations to 0 which will let ProDos
 deal with them. V3.0 allows you to choose between RamFast mapping (works now)
 and ProDos 8 mapping. If you can't wait, you can Patch ProDos 2.0 not to
 re-map slots. Look for "10 BF C9 A5 D0 07" and change the $A5 to $00 (should
 be byte $1A3 in the 5th block of the file). Hack at your own risk.

Subtopic:  If you have a Vulcan or AE High Density disk
------------------------------------------

      Due to problems with the Vulcan, when booting, it asks for your System
 Disk. Just put the Vulcan driver on your boot disk, boot it, and then launch
 the installer. Alternately, put the driver on the installer disk and boot it.
 (but you have to delete some of the installer scripts first) For the AE High
 Density Drive, be sure to remove Apple's 3.5" driver when putting on AE's.

Subtopic:  If you have ProSel
------------------------------------------

      Rename start to something else before running the installer, or else the
 Finder won't be installed. Believe me, you don't want to miss out on Finder
 6.0!

Subtopic:  If you have an AMR 3.5"
------------------------------------------

      If the computer hangs (mostly at the Standard File dialogue box) with no
 disk in the drive, try putting one in. What's happening is that GS is reading
 the status from the drive, and the drive won't return anything unless there
 is a disk in the drive. Just stick a disk in and all will be fine. If it
 really annoys you, either deactive the 3.5" driver (get IR so you can
 double-click to re-activate it) or simply keep a disk in the drive at all
 times. This is not a problem under ProDos 8.

Subtopic:  GSCII+ & HFS Note
------------------------------------------

      There is a problem with the HFS FST, but only GSCII seems to be affected.
 When de-binscii-ing files, put the output onto a ProDos volume, not an HFS
 one.
      [ Mega-thanks to Dave Lyons & friends for these. ]


Topic:  What to do with an Apple ][?
==========================================

Q: What can you hook up to an Apple ][?

A: Hard Drives, Scanners, Video Digitizers, Laser Printers, Video Overlay
 Cards, Tape backups, Inkjet Printers, 24 pin Dot Matrix Printers, EPROM
 Burners, AppleTalk Networks, High Density 3.5" drives, serial cards, parallel
 cards, audio Digitizers, CP/M boards (Z-80 processor), an IBM-on-a-card, 9600
 baud modems, D/A and A/D cards, joysticks, mice, graphics tablets, touch
 screens, extended keyboards, track balls, several Megabytes of RAM, Real-time
 clocks, and of course, Users!

      This list is by no means exhaustive: This is just what I personally have
 done. All of it is available NOW, and can be done on any Apple //e. In the
 very near future, you will be able to hook up:
      EitherTalk Networks, DSP boards, cheap IBM disk drives, and cheap FAX
 modems.
Q: What can you do with an Apple ][?

A: As if the above weren't impressive, how about: Optical Character
 recognition, Desktop publishing, Integrated Spread sheet, Database and Word
 Processing, Interactive fiction adventure games, Arcade quality games,
 Educational games, Programming, Telecommunications, Inventory, Accounting,
 Money Management, and that's not even scratching the surface.

Q: What can the //e can "borrow" from other computers? (w/the right software)

A: GS bitmapped fonts, Mac Disks, MacPaint pictures, GIF pictures, just about
 any Mac SCSI device (Hard Drives, Tape backup), Mac sounds?, many archive
 formats (like uudecode), any serial device (EPROM burners, FAX modems,
 mega-fast modems w/ MNP5), etc.

Q: What can the GS can "borrow" from other computers? (w/the right software)

A: Mac bitmapped fonts, Mac Icons, Mac and Windows TrueType fonts, Mac Disks,
 Amiga Mod songs, MacPaint pictures, MacWrite documents, GIF pictures,
 WordPerfect documents, just about any Mac SCSI or ADB device (including Hard
 Drives, Pen Mice, etc), Mac sounds, Many archive formats (.uu, .zip, .arc,
 .sit, .hqx, etc), any serial device (EPROM burners, FAX modems, mega- fast
 modems w/hardware MNP-5), etc.

      If you are interested in doing any of the above, feel free to e-mail me
 (dmag@caen.engin.umich.edu). Someday, maybe I'll fill in the specific
 software or hardware you need to do any of the above. If you have any
 additions, let me know too!


Topic:  Resources for the Apple II:
==========================================

      Listed below are some places to get information about the Apple II.
      Be sure and check your local user group (and the user group library).
      There's also the FTP sites...
      To find the closest Apple II (or Macintosh) User Group near you, contact:

       The Apple User Group Connection      Phone:
       Apple Computer, Inc.                 (800) 538-9696, extension 500
       20525 Mariani Avenue, MS:36-AA
       Cupertino, CA 95014

      InCider/A+ is a monthly Apple II/Macintosh magazine. Although their Apple
 II coverage is shaky at best, you can find a lot of Apple II ads in there.

     InCider/A+
     P.O. Box 56818
     Boulder, CO 80322-8618

      A2-Central is a tiny monthly publication, but it is packed with
 information. It has technical discussions and philosophical discussions. It
 is also available on disk, with many PD/SW programs each month. They also
 publish many monthly disks, including ones for HyperStudio users, TimeOut
 users, HyperCard users, and probably others. All are on 3.5" disk only.

     A2-Central                             (913) 469-6502
     P.O. Box 11250                         (913) 469-6507 (FAX)
     Overland Park, KS  66207

     GEnie: A2-CENTRAL, UNCLE-DOS, or DENNIS.DOMS

      APDA (Apple Programmers and Developers) is the place to get the latest
 and greatest from Apple and third party vendors. They have many programming
 tools and debugging aids not available anywhere else. You can get their
 catalog for free just by calling. They sell the Tool 35 docs w/SynthLab, the
 Video Overlay Card Development Kit, GSBug and other debugging tools, d e v e
 l o p (The Apple Technical Journal with developers help on a CD-ROM), and
 many other wonderful products.

  APDA                                      (800) 282-2732 (U.S.)         
  Apple Computer, Inc.                      (800) 637-0029 (Canada)       
  20525 Mariani Avenue, Mail Stop 33G       (408) 562-3910 (International)
  Cupertino, California 95014-6299          (408) 562-3971 (FAX)          
                                            171-576 (Telex)               

 AppleLink: APDA   GEnie: A.DEVELOPER3   Compuserve: 76666,2405   MCI: POSTROM
 MacNet: APDA

      You can become an associate in the Apple Developer Program for $350 (for
 Mac and Apple II) or a mere $150 (for Apple II only) by calling
 1-408-974-4897. That gets you Develop magazine, Apple Technical notes, the
 Apple Developer CD, discounts on Apple products, and more! If you want to
 license Apple Software for distribution with your product you can get
 information by calling 1-408-974-4667. (Note: You need a license to
 distribute Apple System Software, including ProDOS, and the Installer.)
      Apple has a toll-free customer assistance line for handling sales
 questions and user concerns. This toll-free line is not designed to be a
 technical support hotline, but instead is an extension to the comprehensive
 Apple customer relations effort. The Customer Assistance Center is open
 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time by dialing
 1-800-776-2333.
      GS+ is published bi-monthly, as a magazine and as an accompanying disk.
 They are a great source for shareware and PD programs, some which are not
 available anywhere else. They also have reviews of new software. Of course,
 it's GS specific.

       GS+ Subscription Services            (800) 662-3634 (orders only)
       c/o EGO Systems                      (615) 870-4960
       P.O. Box 15366                       (913) 469-6507 (FAX)
       Chattanooga, Tennessee  37415-0366

       Email: JWANKERL@UTCVM.BITNET

      Hyperstudio Network is a quarterly newsletter about HyperStudio. They put
 out an annual 'Best of HyperStudio' disk of stacks, and have discounts on
 HyperStudio accessories. They even do some teacher-oriented stuff.

       HyperStudio Network                  Phone:
       Box 103                              (609) 446-3196
       Blawenburg, NJ 08504

      II Sysops is a bi-monthly newsletter for Bulletin Board System Operators.
 It explores every aspect of running a BBS, from the technical issues, to
 legal issues, to sysop policy. They even have board-by-board news on the
 major BBS's.
      
      II Sysops
      P.O. Box 720
      Eldersburg, MD 21784

      The Road Apple - An Apple // "End Users" Underground Newsletter.
 Published bi-monthly.

      1121 NE 177th, Suite B                Phone:
      Portland, OR 97230                    (503) 254-3874.

      Computist is a publication devoted to gathering and distributing
 information on removing copy protection from Apple II software.

      P.O. Box 110846
      Tacoma, WA  98411

      Softdisk and Softdisk GS - monthly disk magazines containing a variety of
 software (PD/SW, clip art, reviews, etc). Softdisk is available on 5.25" or
 3.5" disks. Softdisk GS is available only on 3.5" disks.

       Softdisk Publishing                  Phone:
       P.O. Box 30008                       (800) 831-2694
       Shreveport, LA 71130-0008            (318) 221-8718


      USUS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting
 and influencing software standards to aid in the development of portable
 software. They have a large software library including a lot of source code
 (for almost every language or computer).

       Keith Frederick (Secretary), USUS Inc.,
       P.O. Box 1148
       La Jolla, CA 92038

      Night Owl makes a slide-on battery for ROM 01 GS's.

  Nite Owl Productions                      Phone:
  Slide-On Battery Dept.                    (913) 362-9898
  5734 Lamar Street
  Mission, KS 66202

      Redmond cable makes and sells all sorts of custom cables.

  Redmond Cable Corporation                 Phone:
  17371-A1 NE 67th Ct                       (206) 882-2009.
  Redmond, WA 98052,

      Quality Computers not only sells Apple II products, but maintains a list
 of user groups and publishes an informative newsletter geared towards
 educators (called Enhance). To get a QC catalog and a free subscription to
 Enhance, just call or write.

    Quality Computers                       (800) 777-ENHAnce
    20200 E. 9 Mile Road                    (313) 774-7200 (International)
    Box 665                                 (313) 774-2698 (FAX)
    St. Clair Shores, MI  48080             (313) 774-7740 (Technical Support)

      NAUG, the National AppleWorks Users Group is a group devoted to that
 wonder program, AppleWorks. You can get info by calling 313-454-1115
 (Michigan). Anybody know their address?
     (More resources to be added as I think of them. Email suggestions to
 dmag@caen.engin.umich.edu. as always, let me know of any mistakes, updates,
 corrections, additions, etc.)


Topic:  General guidelines on How To Troubleshoot
==========================================

 First, resist the temptation to install all your new toys at once. Take it
     one step at a time and test everything after adding each item.
 Leave the computer plugged in, but turned off when installing cards. Touch
     the power supply before and often during your work. Better yet, use a
     wrist strap tied to ground through a 1 Megaohm resistor.
 When asking others for help, it is essential to know the EXACT error message
     you are getting. Also, be as specific as possible. Saying "It did not
     work" or "I could not get any farther" is not helpful. Exactly which
     screen did it stop at? Does it respond to any input at all? What had you
     done up to that point? Is it reproducible any other way?
 Make sure you have the required components for the program. Does it require
     an Enhanced //e? More RAM? A separate boot disk?
 Never use your original disks. Make a backups and store the write-protected
     originals in a safe place.
 Be sure to keep your disks away from stray magnetic fields emanating from
     phones, monitors and speakers.
 If you have an accelerator, try to disable it or take it out entirely. It may
     not be compatible with the new item.
 Is the problem re-producible? If so, what are the MINIMUM actions to
     reproduce it?
 Check all your cable connections. Do not disconnect or connect any cables
     with the computer on.
 Try pulling out other cards and disconnect your joystick. If you have a lot
     of cards, you might consider a Heavy-Duty Power Supply from A.E. It
     supplies 6 Amps instead of a measly 2.5 Amps. Test the power supply with
     a voltmeter while the computer is on.
 Call the manufacturer to see if there is an upgrade or a fix.

Subtopic:  Trouble shooting and good maintenance
------------------------------------------

 Try the system test: hold down the Control key, the Open Apple key, and the
     Option (or Solid Apple) key. Then press and release Reset. Lastly, let up
     on the other keys. Sit back and 'Watchen Der Blinken Lighten.'
 Most RAM cards come with a memory tester. Try running it in continuous mode
     for several hours, even if your RAM seems to be working.
 Write down your configuration when you have it working (for future
     reference).
 Verify your disk(s) with Copy ][+ or the Finder to see if you have any bad
     blocks.

Subtopic:  GS Trouble shooting
------------------------------------------

 Check your control panel settings: What is the startup slot set to? Is the
     slot set to "Your Card"? Check your RAM disk setting. Is it taking up all
     your memory? Try setting the speed to normal if it's a non-GS program.
 Take out or disable your INITS, CDAs, NDAs, and CDEVS. (With System 6, just
     hold down Shift while booting).
 If you have a hard disk, try booting from a System Disk and/or re-install the
     latest system software. Many random problems can be traced to corrupted
     or improperly installed system software.
 Never connect/disconnect an ADB device when the computer is on.
 AppleWorks GS comes with a memory tester (try it).
 The TransWarp GS has a continuous test on the CDA (try it too).


Topic:  SCSI
==========================================

      SCSI is a protocol (kind of like serial or parallel) that lets you hook
 up several devices (up to 8) on a SCSI bus (a bus is just a series of wires).
 You must give each device it's own unique ID number from 0-7. The SCSI card
 is usually set to 7. There are two types of SCSI cables: the 50 pin
 Centronics-type (like on parallel printers) or the 25-pin "D" connector. The
 50-pin is the SCSI standard, the 25-pin is the Apple standard. On a SCSI
 chain, there must be a Terminator at each end. A Terminator is just a bunch
 of resistors. Some drives have internal terminators (3 small yellow-orange
 packs), and some drives come with an external terminator (a "plug" to put on
 the back of the drive). Also, somebody on the bus must supply terminator
 power (one of the SCSI lines). If There are any problems (multiple things
 with the same ID, too much termination or not enough, or no terminator
 power), you may be able to use the drive, but your data will get corrupted.
 Most of the time, the computer will refuse to recognize the drive.
      At first, there was the Apple Rev 'C' SCSI card (named after the final
 ROM version--all previous versions MUST be upgraded to work with current
 software). There were several clones from the likes of CMS and Chinook. Then
 Apple came out with it's High Speed DMA SCSI card. This has the ability to do
 Direct Memory Access to the RAM in your computer, which speeds things up.
 This created a lot of problems with cards that were not DMA compatible. CV
 Technologies also has a DMA SCSI card called the RamFast. This card has 256K
 or 1MB of on-board RAM to make it even faster than Apple's card. It can also
 supply terminator power if you drive does not supply it. Both of the new
 cards support things like SCSI tape backup units, removable SCSI drives, SCSI
 CD-ROM, and of course SCSI hard drives. Both the new cards also require an
 Enhanced //e.

Subtopic:  Tips on setting up a SCSI system:
------------------------------------------

 You can have multiple drives on one SCSI card, just make sure you remove the
     termination on all the drives but the last one. This is because the newer
     SCSI cards are terminated (and they count as a SCSI device).
 Always check that the cords are plugged in properly. Never connect/disconnect
     anything when the computer is on.
 The computer will boot the hard drive with the highest SCSI ID, which should
     be ID 6.
 Try letting the drive 'warm up' for 15 seconds before turning the computer
     on. The SCSI cards look for drives only at startup, and may ignore any
     drives that are not ready.
 Try turning off DMA. If this helps, you may have a non-DMA compatible card,
     such as the early versions of the TransWarp, early versions of the GS
     RAM, or any 8-bit accelerator.
 Check that each device has a unique ID. Most drives have a thumbwheel on the
     back to set the ID. Your SCSI card (yes, it counts too) is probably ID 7.
     Number your drives from 6 downwards for best compatibility. The IDs have
     nothing to do with what slot the card is in.
 Is there a terminator at each end of the SCSI bus? (the DMA cards are
     terminated, and some drives are internally terminated.)
 Try the software that came with the card. It may give helpful diagnostic
     messages (I.E. the Apple DMA SCSI utilities-- Does it say "No Apple SCSI
     card found" or "No SCSI devices found"?)
 Do you get the message "Unable to Load ProDos"? If so, it's booting your
     drive but you have no system software on it. Try hitting Control-Reset,
     then PR#5 (or PR#6) to boot a floppy. Then install the system software
     (i.e. ProDos or GS/OS).
 In extreme cases, try reformatting the drive, repartitioning, and
     re-installing the System software.
 If the drive access light blinks in a regular pattern before the computer is
     turned on, it is telling you that it has a hardware malfunction. It needs
     to be serviced.
 Did you try re-installing the System software? Many times, the data on a
     drive will get corrupted if you run the drive with improper terminators
     or conflicting SCSI ID's. Sometimes you will not notice the corrupted
     data until after you fix the problem. If re-installing the System
     software helps, it was probably a software problem, not a hardware
     problem.
 The Apple HS DMA SCSI card requires an Enhanced //e. It will not work on the
     older //e without an Enhancement Kit.
 To really put a drive through it's paces, copy a LOT of stuff from one
     partition to another (copy the entire partition if you can). If there is
     a problem with DMA or SCSI ID's, it will probably show up as a strange
     GS/OS error. (GS only)
 Make sure you do not have the Apple SCSI drivers installed if you have a
     RamFast. It may cause random problems (they leave an interrupt handler
     dangling if they can't find their card.) (GS only)
 Make sure you are booting the right slot. If the card is in slot 7, you can
     set the startup slot to Scan or 7. (GS only)
 If you boot up and only 1 partition shows up, you need to install the SCSI
     drivers. (GS only)
 If you boot up and it says "Drive XXX is already on the desktop" over and
     over: Probably a SCSI ID problem. (GS only)


======================================================================
[note: the umich archive is down now. Don't know how long tho.]
This FAQ will be available on-line at apple2.archive.umich.edu and via
AFS (in /afs/umich.edu/group/itd/archive/apple2). Permission granted to
copy portions into non-profit User Group newsletters.

This FAQ is also in transition. Any additions/corrections/suggestions
would be appreciated.  Also, if this FAQ has helped you, e-mail me
and let me know!

FAQ Revised July 17,1992 by Dan DeMaggio (dmag@caen.engin.umich.edu)
-- 
      -=- Dan DeMaggio -=- dmag@caen.engin.umich.edu -=-
"That is really incredible. That is truly incredible.  That is so
incredibly incredible that I think I'd like to steal it." -Zaphod
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,from.socal.com