I'm brand new to old Apple computers and I was wondering about an Apple II I have just brought. When I startup without a disk it just says Apple II no cursor or anything according to the original manual. Do I need a DOS 3.3 disk to install or? Also I've got a text card in the AUX slot but when I launch specific programs it says it requires 128KB ram but also according to the manual I've apparently got 128KB does this mean that the ram chips have failed? Thanks
Anonymous
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mikemike690,
Welcome!
Do you have a couple of pictures of your motherboard you can post?
Steven
Update: I just wanted to verify what kind of Motherboard it was: US or European.
You have the European.
Maybe you have the ram card that requires that jumper and the jumper is not there?
Hi, thanks, I've uploaded the photos to this link. Thanks.
http://imgur.com/a/NyGUG
Sorry but I know nothing about the different cards heres a link with some photos. Thanks.
http://imgur.com/a/NyGUG
It doesn't appear to be the 80 col./64K card. If I'm not mistaken, that's just an 80 column board.
Okay thanks for that, is there any point to owning a DOS 3.3 master disk then? Thanks
When starting without a disk, what happens if you press Ctrl-Reset?
As previously stated, you probably don't have a 64K/80 Column Card, so your II would only have 64K.
To correct the 128K issue, there are several 64K/80 Column cards on Ebay. Those will add 64K to the system for a total of 128K. Many DOS 3.3 programs only require 64K. It is my experience that many (most?) ProDOS programs require 128K.
Have you tried booting the DOS 3.3 System Disk?. If you have, what happens?
Unless you have self-booting DOS 3.3 disks, you will need the DOS 3.3 System master to load DOS before running DOS 3.3 programs.
Thanks control + reset does bring up the prompt! And no I currently don't have a DOS disk I have only just ordered it within the last couple days, also what do you mean self booting DOS disks? Thanks.
A self booting disk has a disk operating system on it and a boot loader. Those are the types of disks you put in the the drive, boot the computer, and usually runs a program.
Here are some links explaining that:
CREATING A SELF-STARTING PRODOS DISK
FORMATTING DOS 3.3 DISKS
You might also want to look into Apple Disk Transfer ProDOS (ADTPro). You can convert downloaded disk images to physical floppies, and a few other things. It has a minimum RAM requirement of 128K, but more is better.
Apple Disk Transfer ProDOS
Using ADTPro you can easily DL and convert hundreds of disks.
If you're not using disks, pull the disk controller card out oif the machine, or just hit CTRL RESET each time you start to get to the applesoft prompt
as others directed you. The reason it just "hangs" is it is waiting for a disk to be booted. If you don't have a floppy drive connected to the disk controller, it is still waiting for a disk to boot since the computer knows you have the disk controller plugged into the machine.
There are LOTS of things you can do even if you don't have any disks!
If you have a smartphone, MP3 player, etc. you can download audio files of thousands of programs to your audio device (phone, mp3 player etc) and then load those programs into the Apple II through the cassette port.
You'll need an 1/8" miniplug (3.5mm) plug to go from the headphone jack of your device to the cassette in port on your apple IIe.
Just CLICK ON THIS LINK to get started. No reason to wait for disks to have some fun!!
Zan