Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!mcvax!nikhefk!keeshu From: keeshu@nikhefk.UUCP (Kees Huyser) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: IBM/Apple disk interchange? Message-ID: <101@nikhefk.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Jan-87 19:57:59 EST Article-I.D.: nikhefk.101 Posted: Thu Jan 1 19:57:59 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Jan-87 02:38:00 EST References: <861231230522.075758@DOCKMASTER.ARPA> Reply-To: keeshu@nikhefk.UUCP (Kees Huyser) Organization: National Institute for Nuclear Physics; Netherlands Lines: 35 In article <861231230522.075758@DOCKMASTER.ARPA> TMPLee@dockmaster.arpa writes: >Does anyone know of any software that would run on an Apple II and allow >it to read and/or write IBM PC format (5.25") disks (with a regular >Apple drive) or which would run on an IBM PC and allow it to read and/or >write Apple-formatted disks? (I'm talking about software, not a >hardware card, for instance.) (either Apple DOS or ProDOS format) Seems >like it ought to be possible on the Apple since the Apple drive is >driven at a very low-level by the 6502. > I'm afraid you're out of luck; no such program exists, nor for the Apple, nor for the IBM-PC. The problem is that the Apple and the IBM diskcontrollers use a different encoding scheme to read/write. As you probably are aware the Apple has no 'diskcontroller', whereas the IBM has. Apple diskdrives use a clever 'software controller', hidden in DOS. The Woz thought up this scheme to avoid using a lot of chips when he implemented the first version of DOS. Since IBM *does* use a controller chip, and one with a different encoding scheme, it is not possible for Apple's to read IBM formatted disks (because DOS doesn't know about *that* encoding scheme), nor is it possible for IBM's to read Apple disks (because DOS uses a proprietary scheme). The only solution is to buy a hardware card which will read Apple disks in an IBM-PC. There are various manufacturers who produce them. Another -cheaper- solution is to connect the Apple and the IBM with an RS232C cable, and use a communication program to transfer whatever it is you want to transfer. -- Kees | Kees Huyser | UUCP : keeshu@nikhefk.uucp or : {[wherever]!seismo}!mcvax!nikhefk!keeshu | BITNET : U00212@hasara5.bitnet | FIDO via unix : {decvax}!vaxine!spark!500!11!kees_huyser | FIDO via fido : kees huyser at net 500 node 11