> From: "Robert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I have a bunch of old 5.25 disks from when I was in college and worked on > old Apples.(II E 's I think) Anyway, I see external 5.25 drives on ebay and > I wonder if there is a way to connect to and read to one of my present > computers.( an i-Mac and a Performa 5200CD) Any thoughts > appreciated....Robert
No Mac can use external 5.25" disks. Do not try plugging them into the Macs with external floppy connectors, even thought it fits, it won't work, and I've heard it can damage the Mac's floppy controller. There is an Apple //e emulation card, that is basically an apple //e on an expansion card, that you can install in some Macs, that allows you to connect a 5.25" drive and run Apple II software. The easiest way to get your information is to find an Apple II class machine (or someone who has one you can borrow) that can read both 5.25" and 3.5" disks, such as the Apple IIgs or Apple IIc+. You can then use that machine to copy your data from the 5.25" disks to 3.5" (800K, double density double sided, ProDOS format) disks, which your Performa 5200 could read. What's on the disks, just word processing documents? Those can usually be translated into files that modern word processors can read with no problems. It's a little trickier if your disks have Apple II programs, or documents from programs that are more than just text-only, such as things with graphics, etc. I have an apple IIc+ that I am looking to sell soon, (hoping to get about $75 for it on eBay, since it has the original books and disks) or I would be willing to copy your files off of the old disks and email them to you, or mail you a Mac CD with the files on it, if the info on them isn't too private or sensitive. (Not that I'd read it all anyway, but I'd have to at least glance at a few files to see if they were transferred and translated correctly) I could also email or burn to CD "Disk Images" of your old floppies... virtual floppy disks to use with an Emulator, a virtual Apple II computer running inside your Mac. That way you wouldn't need to worry about translating the documents, you could run all the old Apple II programs on your Mac. Check out: http://www.emulation.net/ for information and programs for emulating just about any sort of old (or new) computer or video game system on your Mac. Contact me off-list if you'd like my help, or have any questions about the process, -John jdteffer@ -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
