Issues getting disk images to an Apple IIe [Error #8]

[Jinnai]

I've had a horrible time trying to get disk images from the internet to my Apple IIe. What I do is download the .dsk, .po, or .do file, boot my IIgs into ADTPro from 5.25" FDD, transfer it via serial to the IIgs and have ADTPro write the image, and then attempt to run it.

Some games will run on the IIgs but not the IIe, but in most cases it appears to be cracked software or software that displays a code error like this:

That's not so bad. But a multitude of written disks show "Error #8", like this:

And when one does that, it does the same thing on both the IIe and the IIgs. I've tried three different drives, numerous different disk, cleaned the drives, and reseated the chips on the IIe floppy drive board. And I've run the images in an emulator without any issue, so they're not corrupted. What is up with that?

Are there simply a lot of images on the internet that work in emulators, but ADTPro can't properly make a bootable disk from?

 

[Gorgonops]

An Error #8 is an I/O error, and it's usually caused by a bad disk. Are you 100% sure that you're using double density disk media, not high-density?

 

[Jinnai]

Yes, at least thats what the disks I'm using say:

If I transfer the image of ADTPro, it always boots with no problem. But for examples, I have not been able to run images of Galaxian, Tetris, or Dig Dug (which it seems to me, as someone totally unfamiliar with the matter, could be due to copy protection). I have tried some others that had the same issue though, here is an example file: https://www.myabandonware.com/game/alien-typhoon-7lf

 

[DistantStar001]

"Error # 8" is actually related to processor compatibility.  This usually means that the "Hello" or boot program was written for a 6502, and thus isn't compatible with the 65C02 processor in most later Apple 2s (including enhanced //e's).  The IIgs can sometimes boot these discs (as they have limited 6502 compatibility), but I've found that the programs tend to glitch, or otherwise run with minor errors.  Most of the time you can get around this by booting from a DOS System Master, and then loading from the program disc (this will work on both the //e and IIgs, it also works for my //c as well).  

As for your first error, I've run into this too.  Usually, this is the result of a ProDOS issue, however, this can also happen with a RAM issue as well.  I've only really had this problem on my //e, but occasionally my //c will do it as well.  I wish I could narrow that for you, but I'm still trying to figure that out for myself.

 

[Jinnai]

I do indeed have a IIe Enhanced. I've encountered few disks that run on the IIgs but not the IIe - that appear to be actually coded for the IIe - but one is Arkanoid. It worked great on the IIgs, but on the IIe the disk just spun forever and the screen displays "Apple IIe".

Perhaps someone can link me with an image of one of the games I mentioned that worked for them, so I can see if the issue is the system I have for writing disks, or is the IIe enhanced?

 

[DistantStar001]

Try writing the disc from the Apple Disc Server: http://asciiexpress.net/diskserver/   They should have most of those.  

It workes over the cassette ports.  You'll need an aux cable plugged into the port closest to the joystick port and to the headphone jack on whatever you're connected to the site on.  From there, the site has most of the instructions.  Just be sure that your floppy controller card is in Slot 6 on your //e, it won't work on any other.

 

[Jinnai]

Wow, that site is super cool! I tried it with my phone, it did nothing. Then I tried it with my laptop and it worked at first but then after about 10 seconds says "chksum error" every time. I recorded the output of the laptop through it's input and it sounded fine to me, so perhaps there is something wrong with the audio port ground  in my IIe. I tried a while back with ADTPro's audio function as well and it failed every time - and I tried that for hours and hours.

Thanks for mentioning the Slot 6 thing... my card was actually plugged into slot 7. That solved most of the issues where disks would run on the iigs but not the iie.

I will say, I found this site: https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ftp.apple.asimov.net/ and the files from it have worked better than what I was using, which were primarily from: http://www.apple2online.com/index.php?p=1_33_Games-Library I wonder what might be different between two images that would cause one to work in an emulator but not on real hardware?

 

[DistantStar001]

Your errors might be coming from your laptop.  If the system makes any noise, that can interfere with casette line.  Computers can be chatty little things, system alerts, emails, messaging and chat alerts should all be silenced when connected to your //e.  Another thing to do is adjust the volume.  If it's too loud, the //e might ignore it as interference, too quiet, and the //e won't "hear" it at all.  This might be why your phone didn't work.  Generally, on portable devices, when you plug something into the headphone jack, it turns the volume down to prevent hurting your ears.  You need to manually turn the volume all the way up for it for the //e.  just remember to turn it down again when you're done.  Apple devices will save the max volume as default the next time you plug in a set of earbuds.

As to why some disc images would work with an emulator and not your //e, this could also be a processor issue.  Most emulators are set up to emulate a 6502 (with standard ROMs) by default, where your enhanced //e has a 65C02.  A quick check would be if you boot up the emulator and get "Apple ][" (unenhanced) as opposed to "Apple //e" (enhanced).  Generally, you can change this in the setting for your emulator.