Operation: Apple IIGS Revival

My MicroDrive arrived this afternoon, from ReactiveMicro.com, one of the last hardware makers for the Apple // series. The retro-computing bug has bitten me hard, and I’m determined to get my very first computer back up to snuff. Here’s what came in the package (the USB / CF card reader wasn’t something I expected to get with my order – a very pleasant surprise, indeed!)

Here’s the innards of my Apple IIGS. I have the top of the power supply available somewhere – probably at my parents’ place in Knoxville.

Here’s a photo of the MicroDrive card. This device allows Apple // computers the ability to use Flash drives as hard drives. No more SCSI! :D

I had some issues installing the card in Slot 5 and Slot 4 (both slots are dual purpose ports that drive the 3.5″ disk drive and mouse, respectively). When populating the card in Slot 4, the mouse would not function; and in Slot 5 the 3.5″ drive wouldn’t recognize. So, I wound up using Slot 1 instead.

The CMOS battery (last changed in 1992) that keeps the time, date, keyboard / mouse settings, and other parameters) needs to be replaced. I’ll be tackling that in the next week.

Stay ‘tooned,

-Krishna

Krishna August 9, 2008