mopo3ko

Q: Old Apple 5.25 floppies data transfer IIE OR IIC ASCI

Hi there!

Here is my story, I have several old floppies from 80ties - 5.24 dinosaurs floppies done on apple iie or iic containing some texts and writing. I need those file transferred to nova days file format and store it on CD / DVD or HDD


So, my question is how it can be done, details will be appreciated.

I googled same issue but didn't find any clear explanation, except to buy old apple on ebay and try to read it...

Thank you!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Apr 15, 2011 12:39 PM

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Q: Old Apple 5.25 floppies data transfer IIE OR IIC ASCI

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  • by JustSomeGuy,

    JustSomeGuy JustSomeGuy Apr 15, 2011 2:52 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 3 (586 points)
    Apr 15, 2011 2:52 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Hello, mopo3ko - I hope spring is treating you well in Denver!

    You need to get a hold of some old hardware to do the translation. It will involve (as you noticed) either an outlay of cash for said Apple hardware, or a friend that already has it. For example, there is a new-ish device that can be used to read 5-1/4" disks:
    http://www.deviceside.com/fc5025.html
    but it requires the device itself plus a 5-1/4" drive to run it with.

    Or, you could look up a service to do it for you: http://retrofloppy.com, or http://rich12345.tripod.com/disktransfer/index.html etc.

    Or, you could find a friend locally with the hardware already!
  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Apr 15, 2011 7:08 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Apr 15, 2011 7:08 PM in response to mopo3ko
    mopo3ko, welcome to Apple Discussions.

    Check with one or more of these Apple User Groups. It's quite likely that someone can assist you.
    http://appleusergroups.com/locator/find/locate.cgi?state=CO

     Cheers, Tom



    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")
  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 15, 2011 7:11 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 15, 2011 7:11 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Thanks for quick replay and references/___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png

    Ok, here is update, I just purchased vintage Apple IIC with 2 5.25 floppy drives and bunch of software floppies check images here:

    http://img684.imageshack.us/i/photorls.jpg/
    http://img828.imageshack.us/i/photo1yh.jpg/


    The good thing:

    1. Through system utilities I was able to see files on floppies /___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png
    2. All floppies are still readable /___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png

    The bad thing

    1. How can I transfer those files to modern MAC or PC, I guess system utilities allows me to copy files to same 5.25 diskette, and I do have PC with windows 95 and floppy drive, I guess its needs to be formatted to right way or...

    Anyway any advice will help/___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png
  • by JustSomeGuy,

    JustSomeGuy JustSomeGuy Apr 15, 2011 8:09 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 3 (586 points)
    Apr 15, 2011 8:09 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Here is what you need to know about transferring the disks to your Mac:
    http://adtpro.sourceforge.net
    You'll need a null modem cable and a USB to serial adapter, all are talked about on the serial connections page:
    http://adtpro.sourceforge.net/connectionsserial.html#DIN5
  • by Appaloosa mac man,

    Appaloosa mac man Appaloosa mac man Apr 17, 2011 9:26 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 5 (4,330 points)
    Apr 17, 2011 9:26 PM in response to mopo3ko

    The serial cable will be your better option but it is more complicated.  Just a note about the IIc.  We purchased a Uni-drive for our IIc back in the 80's but we also had to pay for a POM upgrade that allowed the computer to see more files.  I have forgotten the capacity of the 5 1/4 drives, I believe 128 k where the Uni-drive used 3 1/2 inch disks.  My recollection is that the IIc would store 700 k on the smaller floppy.  The nice thing about the Uni-drive is that a disk from a 1983 IIc will go right into the disk drive of a 1997 Platinum G3 desktop and the G3 will read the disk without any special translation software.  We did data entry on the IIc and moved the files to Filemaker running on an SE.  Finding the right hardware can make the job child's play.

     

    The platinum IIc came out later than the original white model.  If your IIc is grey, not white, it has the newer ROM chip and will see the full 700k of the Uni_disk.

     

    This site gives the full details on older disk drives:

     

    http://www.vintagemacworld.com/drives.html

     

    Bottom line, unless you find that magical selection of hardware, you will want to learn the serial cable/nulmodem cable process.

     

    Good luck,

     

    Jim~

  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 19, 2011 10:43 AM in response to JustSomeGuy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 10:43 AM in response to JustSomeGuy

    Thank you JustSomeGuy will try your scenraio...Null Modem to USB or Null Modem to Serial....which one should be purchased?

     

    Can I use Apple iic - Windows 98 or it musst be apple iic - apple...?

  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 19, 2011 10:48 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 10:48 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

    Appaloosa mac man - Thanks for replay and advice. Looks like I have Disk IIc (A2M4050) and its gray / yellow / white in some areas but more likely yellow, may be because of time

  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 19, 2011 3:54 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 3:54 PM in response to mopo3ko

    Ok. I got serial cable connected in between PC and APPLE IIC, Downloaded ADTpro and went through setup, APPLE IIC wont recognize key CONTROL + A or I - Syntax error. Here is footage, I hope it will help to see what I am dealing with equipment-wise.

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBGHkArOMIY

     

     

    I am still confused about ADTpro and cant understand the way how data will be transferred in between, cause I can only see how to send data from pc and there is no indication that is actually sending anything.

     

     

    I also found that with system utilities 2.0 for apple IIC I can format (DOS 3.3 / ProDOS / Pascal ) 5.25 floppies, convert and copy files in between external floppy and internal.

     

    Also, if there is any commands such as change drive view txt files from apple iic command prompt....I tried to open using apple works 2.0 but no luck...

     

    Based on previous notes I have to have 3.5 drive or its not necessary ....

  • by JustSomeGuy,Helpful

    JustSomeGuy JustSomeGuy Apr 19, 2011 5:27 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 3 (586 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 5:27 PM in response to mopo3ko

    mopo3ko wrote:

     

    Ok. I got serial cable connected in between PC and APPLE IIC, Downloaded ADTpro and went through setup, APPLE IIC wont recognize key CONTROL + A or I - Syntax error. Here is footage, I hope it will help to see what I am dealing with equipment-wise.

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBGHkArOMIY

     

    Thanks for taking that video.  It's worth a thousand words.  The first problem - you've got a serial cable connected from the PC to the joystick port of the IIc.  You need a cable like this:

    http://adtpro.sourceforge.net/connectionsserial.html#DIN5

    Pay close attention to the port it needs to be plugged into - the DIN5 port next to the joystick port (reference the pictures on the ADTPro site).

    I am still confused about ADTpro and cant understand the way how data will be transferred in between, cause I can only see how to send data from pc and there is no indication that is actually sending anything.

    Once you build or buy the correct cable, it will make much more sense!

     

    Also, if there is any commands such as change drive view txt files from apple iic command prompt....I tried to open using apple works 2.0 but no luck...

    The command CAT or CATALOG will show you the list of files on the disk.  There isn't a built-in command to dump a file to the screen the way TYPE in PC-DOS would.

     

    Based on previous notes I have to have 3.5 drive or its not necessary ....

    You're not missing anything if you don't hvae a 3.5" drive.

  • by JustSomeGuy,Helpful

    JustSomeGuy JustSomeGuy Apr 19, 2011 5:32 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 3 (586 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 5:32 PM in response to mopo3ko

    mopo3ko wrote:

     

    Thank you JustSomeGuy will try your scenraio...Null Modem to USB or Null Modem to Serial....which one should be purchased?

     

    Can I use Apple iic - Windows 98 or it musst be apple iic - apple...?

    It's unlikely ADTPro will run on Windows 98, unless they have Java 1.5 or higher... but based on your video, it looks like you've got something going.

  • by Appaloosa mac man,

    Appaloosa mac man Appaloosa mac man Apr 19, 2011 9:17 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 5 (4,330 points)
    Apr 19, 2011 9:17 PM in response to mopo3ko

    Having the 3.5" drive is not a necessity, it is a luxury.  In 1984 it was an expensive purchase and ROM upgrade.  Finding one today would be like finding a needle in a haystack, unless of course you had a big magnet.

     

    LapLink was a company that made software for connecting your PC to a laptop so you could share files without the expense of ethernet.  Now we take ethernet for granted.  Finding the right cable will be easier than finding the rare Uni drive.

     

    JustSomeGuy has you on the right path for an affordable solution.

  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 21, 2011 10:06 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2011 10:06 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

    Ok Gentlemen's! I am really appreciate all your input and detailed information, yesterday i finally was able to do transfer, did cable din5 and serial (found apple printer cable pinned with serial)

     

    So all transfer done

     

    Heres is small footages:

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5dw-fgY3IE

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpiCaTbCkJQ

     

    All flopies transfered to Windows XP machine as DSK images...

     

    Now trying to figure it out how to read txt files ....

     

     

     

  • by mopo3ko,

    mopo3ko mopo3ko Apr 22, 2011 1:54 PM in response to mopo3ko
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 1:54 PM in response to mopo3ko

    All done, Thank you so much Gentlemens for your input and help.

     

    AppleCommander worked like a charm to extract DSK images and transfer files to ASCII format!!!!

     

    Thanks again!