Archiving Apple II disks

[billdeg]

Is it possible with minimal effort to copy a 5 1/4 BASIC program file or disk image from a disk created in Apple DOS 3.3 to 3.5" disk using a Apple II GS (copy from 5 1/4" to 3.5 on the GS)...and THEN reading same disk with a newer MAC computer (or PC)?

Anyone here archive Apple II disks regularly?

Please don't feel obligated to research this for me, I am just curious if anyone had any 12,000 feet opinions on the subject.

My guess is no, you'll need special software on the GS or the MAC or both because nothing is easy. This kind of question comes up frequently in the Commodore world, as it is not easy.

The first thing I am going to try to find is a program that I can install on a 386 PC with both 3.5 and 5 1/4" drives to transfer files that way, and if not, go the Apple II GS route.

Lazy Bill

 

[Terry Yager]

Yes, but ya gotta do your own homework. There are several (free) softwares to assist in this endeavor. The oldmac page (I forget the url, and don't wanna search my bookmarks) is a good place to start. (And no, it ain't simple, requires more than one program to get from A to B).

--T ( Even lazier at the moment)

 

[david__schmidt]

Is it possible with minimal effort

Define "minimial?"

...to copy a 5 1/4 BASIC program file or disk image from a disk created in Apple DOS 3.3 to 3.5" disk using a Apple II GS (copy from 5 1/4" to 3.5 on the GS)...and THEN reading same disk with a newer MAC computer (or PC)?

Well, hmmm. We'd better talk about what hardware you have handy. I have pretty much all the steps in between Apple DOS 3.3 and modern Macs, but I still find the "minimal" path to be to transfer a whole-disk image via serial (or Ethernet!) connection out to the real world. I can then use modern tools like CiderPress (http://ciderpress.sourceforge.net) or AppleCommander (http://applecommander.sourceforge.net) to muck about with BASIC programs that reside on the resulting disk images. Full disclosure: I wrote ADTPro (http://adtpro.sourceforge.net).

Anyone here archive Apple II disks regularly?

[Quietly raises hand.]

This kind of question comes up frequently in the Commodore world, as it is not easy.

I've thought about this some. I think it has something to do with Petscii vs. ASCII. Apple stuck a little closer to what might be considered "standards," so it's marginally easier to transfer vintage Apple files to modern times than those from CBM.

 

[billdeg]

Thankyou. I will let you know how it goes
bd

 

[RichCini]

If you're just moving the file, there are several ways that I've used. I've used Ethernet (with an NT Server in the middle running Services for Macintosh) and I've used diskettes. You could use a null modem cable, too.

Using disks involves a lot of steps because of the changing formats. For example, you can use a GS to make the 5.25" to 3.5" conversion, then use an SE/30 or Powerbook 540 to make the conversion to 1.44mb 3.5" or to a ZIP disk. Then, you can bring this over to a modern Intel Mac.

You might even be able to use ADT to make an image of the disk and then run an Apple II emulator on the Intel Mac and extrac the file that way.