Bootstrapping an Apple II or III with ADTPro

[Armitage]

Hey all, here's a short tutorial video on using ADTPro to bootstrap your early Apple when you have no existing media.

https://youtu.be/5peRTdMCkrk

Enjoy!

 

[KD2IXL]

Nice! I just got a IIgs and my ADT disk I use in my IIplus stopped working

 

[SomeGuy]

It is good to see a tutorial out there. I had to use ADTPro recently. The terminology they use is confusing, I kept selecting the option to send an ADTPro client that requires PRODOS already loaded, instead of the small bootstrapper.

Also, they don't specify on their site, but the version of ADTPro they have posted requires at least Java 8. (Which in turn, requires at least Windows XP).

 

[KD2IXL]

Wait it requires at least Java 8. There goes my idea of using a PowerMac G5. That’s kind of upsetting.

 

[Trixter]

I'm struck by how coincidental this is for me personally: I was just about to do this for the first time tomorrow night. Excellent timing.

 

[resman]

If you don't want to use Java and go old skool ADT, the original versions that run under DOS, Win32, and some old version of MacOS can be found here: https://github.com/david-schmidt/adt

But ADTPro is *much* nicer. I use a VM to install Java in so it doesn't pollute my main OS. It isn't recommended to run ADTPro from a VM, but it has worked for me in the past.

 

[Armitage]

I'm struck by how coincidental this is for me personally: I was just about to do this for the first time tomorrow night. Excellent timing.

Haha perfect! Hope it went well

 

[Gary C]

ADT is brilliant and has got my disks working, but I am amazed at how fast http://asciiexpress.net/gameserver/ is. 17 seconds to load a game via audio from the online library is quite a feat and means I only use disks for some more 'serious' programs like diagnostics.

 

[Armitage]

ADT is brilliant and has got my disks working, but I am amazed at how fast http://asciiexpress.net/gameserver/ is. 17 seconds to load a game via audio from the online library is quite a feat and means I only use disks for some more 'serious' programs like diagnostics.

That is awesome, I didn't know about that site! There are mobile apps like tapDancer that do a similar thing, but there's no support for Apple as far as I know.

 

[Trixter]

What diagnostics do you recommend? I'll be using ADTPro to service drives of unknown functionality, and would like a diag to help verify them.

 

[Gary C]

I have been using dealer diagnostic disk downloaded from here https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ftp.apple.asimov.net/images/disk_utils/diagnostics/

 

[VERAULT]

What diagnostics do you recommend? I'll be using ADTPro to service drives of unknown functionality, and would like a diag to help verify them.

Trixter, I recommend the apple IIe diags ver 3.2 It runs on all versions of the IIe, the IIc, the IIc+ and the IIgs I think (might want to check on the iigs compatibility) It will only run on 128KB apple II's but it is thorough and can differentiate rom versions. For floppy drive tuning use locksmith 6.0 to check and set speed adjustment and datalife floppy drive tester does the same but with more utilities.

Edit: I have been using ADTPro a couple years now and it might just be the most impressive modern utility for vintage hardware I have come across. I have used it via the cassette interface as well (to appease the purist in me). Its finicky at first until you get the audio levels right but I highly recommend you guys try the audio option out as well. Bootstrapping over serial is impressive, but bootstrapping via audio?! Well that blows my mind.

 

[Trixter]

Thanks for the advice! I'm hoping the drives are fine and don't need too much adjustment, but just in case I have a repair manual.

 

[VERAULT]

Thanks for the advice! I'm hoping the drives are fine and don't need too much adjustment, but just in case I have a repair manual.

which model drives? I find the original A2M0003 drives to be the most forgiving to keep going.

 

[desiv]

I use a VM to install Java in so it doesn't pollute my main OS. It isn't recommended to run ADTPro from a VM, but it has worked for me in the past.

I might go the VM method...
Just setting this back up after not having used it in a while. Could NOT get it to work on my Win10 machine with the USB/Serial adapters I have.
After struggling for a bit, I grabbed an XP Netbook I have. I was having trouble finding Java 8 for XP, so I used ADTPro 1.3 which runs on Java 7.
But i then found Java 8 and am now using the newest ADTPro.
Same USB serial dongle and ADTPro software versions that don't work on Win10.
I am guessing it is probably a serial driver issue. Maybe 32/64 bit something...
But I got it working on that netbook, so not worth struggling with for now.

I was also really impressed with the speed of the Apple II Game Server Online for my //e. Wow, that is fast for audio. And works from my smartphone...
Unfortunately, no audio input for my //c, so he will be disk based.
That said, there is the Apple II Disk Server Online, which will also write floppies (as long as they have the floppy you need) via audio.
Haven't tried that one.

 

[desiv]

Just an update...
Got it working...
I had two issues...
One problem was java, and I fixed this with a slightly older Java version for Win10 to get it working with my USB serial port.
I also found out that my cables weren't quite right (specifically the 9-pin to 25-pin adapter - thought I had used that combination before, but apparently not when I actually checked the pinout).
Got the right cable and adapters and the right Java and now ADTPro works fine on my Win10 desktop as well.