10 found our old apple 2 plus
20 plugged everything in
30 disk drive won't turn on
40 need a new disk drive or drive card
50 how do I know which one?
60 without the card I do get the basic prompt
RUN
MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.14
Here is also some information on how to troubleshoot Disk ][.
https://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-repair.htm
You are welcome! This is the perfect time to stay home and revisit some vintage Apple computers! During this time I have been attempting to teach myself Apple PASCAL as so I could develop an application for my Apple Lisa.
Hello,
It always makes me happy to hear that someone has dug out their old Apple II! There is a process called Bootstrapping that would allow you to use a more modern computer to startup the Apple II and would allow you to create an Apple-DOS boot disk.
You are very welcome! In the meantime you can press Control + Reset to enter BASIC which would allow you to write & run software in BASIC. BASIC does not have access to the disk drive. It is meant as a lightweight way to use the Apple. BASIC can however access the cassette interface for saving and loading software to a cassette tape.
http://www.hoist-point.com/applesoft_basic_tutorial.htm
If you have any questions regarding the Apple II then feel free to reach back out to us! I personally find great joy in using an Apple II. I still have my childhood Apple //e and lately I have completely upgraded it with a solid state disk, mouse, internet, 16-bit sound, more RAM, faster CPU, etc.. There is a project currently in development that took Apple’s ProDOS operating system source code for the Apple II and they are releasing updates which bring new features to the Apple II. With a proper RAM upgrade your Apple II+ would be able to run the more modern ProDOS operating system.
thank you much and yes I only remember a few minor things about basic. I did go to the website and i'm a little tired but glancing over it i think I am going to need some hand holding with this process. The 5 minute video demonstration link didn't work. is it just on youtube?
It is strange that the video on their website is not working however there are quite a few videos on YouTube that should show you how to get up and running. There are two ways to bootstrap, using serial or using audio (which connects to the cassette interface). Serial is much more stable however it would require you to have a Super Serial Card and a USB to Serial interface for your computer. Audio bootstrapping is more widely accessible however it can be unstable.
few questions. I have two drives and with the card in slot 6 both will have their red led go on when in the top pins on the card though I don't hear the usual clicking of the drive turning. I am concluding that I either have broken drives or a broken card.
is that an accurate conclusion?
I have a macbook pro running mojave so I need a USBC to what? in order to connect it to the apple 2 plus?
thank you for your time during this late covid conversation
nice! so game on?? I will check out the link thank you:)
Most likely the drive’s rubber belt (inside the disk drive motor) has degraded. Rubber can often disintegrate after nearly 40 years. Slot 6 is the appropriate slot for the Disk ][ card. If the Disk ][ card was not functioning you would not see any power indicators on the disk drives. Something else that can occur is a solder point on the Disk ][‘s controller board can break. This would require you to dissemble each drive and use a voltmeter to check the continuity of each trace. I’d be willing to bed that your drive’s belts have disintegrated.
Here is your wiring setup:
MacBook Pro <-> USB-C to USB-A Adapter <-> USB to Serial Adapter (see Amazon listing below) <-> DB9 to DB25 Adapter <-> DB26 to Super Serial Card on Apple II
You would need to also have the Super Serial Card inserted in Slot 2.
I also just remembered something else that you could use. There is a website that would allow you to connect a 3.5mm audio cable from an iPhone, iPad, your MacBook etc to the cassette interface on your Apple II and load software.
vintage question on the 1970's apple 2 plus
