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Apple IIe ...dos disk floppy needed ..

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:29 pm
by ViperSan
I recently pulled this unit from my loft ..and have never seen it work ...
It has been gathering dust for well over 25 years ..
So ..I set to and repaired it ..
Now it shows the promt at start up ..
I have 2 floppy drives with it ..
Both have been cleaned up ..but only one appears functional...but I have no software at all ..for this old lump...so to test it I need at least the DOS disk ..which I understand is automatically looked for then loaded by the Apple at power up.
Does anyone have this floppy ..and could make me a copy ?
I have no experience at all with Apple ..so am in the dark here..
..or indeed any software on floppy I could use to test the drives would be useful.
rgds
VS

Re: Apple IIe ...dos disk floppy needed ..

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:49 am
by ViperSan
So ..maybe the wrong forum for this but I figured I'd post anyway for posterity..
This Apple II I'm resurrecting ..
Well I've now repaired one of the Disk II drives ..and have obtained a copy of Dos 3.3 ..
Yes it boots up now ..but 50% of the keys on the keyboard do not function ..
No internal connections in the switches.
..and no I cant find anyone selling a complete keyboard for this vintage pre 83 machine ..
there are people selling replacement 'used' key switches ..wanting around 6 ukp per key ..and then postage ..
What to do ?
bin it or put the grey matter in gear..
Well fwiw ..my idea was to place the contacts outside the key body ..??
This will require a good press of the key but would work ..
using the return action of the internal spring ..just placing the contacts outside ..
Came up with a solution which you can see in the photo ...and whilst not perfect or pretty...does work ..
The 1 2 and 9 keys have already been done and refitted ...and they do work ..
the key in the photo I'm currently doing is the 'I' key.
Sadly ..unlike commodore keyboards ..these are not really serviceable by cleaning ..so end of life MEANS end of life...
but I hate to bin stuff..
cest la vie
VS