Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-dosadi!binder From: binder@dosadi.DEC Newsgroups: net.micro.apple Subject: Request for help with ProDOS Message-ID: <3915@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Mon, 15-Oct-84 10:59:33 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3915 Posted: Mon Oct 15 10:59:33 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 16-Oct-84 08:03:48 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 32 I purchased a copy of ProDOS this weekend, and I have a question for the net. Will ProDOS really work only on a real Apple ][+ or //x with a real Apple disk controller? It fails to boot on at least some other makers' "compatible" computers (mine among them). As nearly as I can test the failure, it is that ProDOS looks for something in the monitor ROM when it boots, and it hangs with its Apple copyright message on the screen if all isn't to its liking. There may also be other checks - I think I recall someone's having said something about the ROM in the disk controller, but mine is authentic. Now why would Apple display such a stupid turn of mind as to make ProDOS behave in this way? Sure, there have been copyright infringements on the Apple ][ series, but making ProDOS refuse to boot on competitive machines is the surest way to guarantee a loss of sales. With the easy availability of PROM blasters, it's nothing for a "compatible" owner to borrow an Apple monitor ROM and get it copied, which is what I did to solve the problem, but I'd venture a guess that a lot of owners will do so only if there is a FREE copy of ProDOS waiting, with the net result that Apple loses sales and causes ill will, too. The bottom line is, does anyone know of any patch I can make to ProDOS so that it will boot on a non-Apple machine? Cheers, Dick Binder (The Stainless Steel Rat) UUCP: { decvax, allegra, ucbvax... }!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-dosadi!binder ARPA: binder%dosadi.DEC@decwrl.ARPA Posted Monday 15th October 1984, 11:06 EDT by DOSADI::BINDER