Need boot disk for Mac Plus

[chrislperry]

Someone has given me a Macintosh Plus, but there are no disks with it. Among other things, I have IIgs with a Apple 3.5 Drive. It seems to me that I should be able to download a System 6.0.8 image and write it to a disk... but I can't seem to find clear instructions on how to do this. Even better, is there a way that can create a book disk on my MacBook?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[Nathanplus]

Sorry man this issue your having may not work out for you. The disks are 800k for Macintosh plus and there expensive and hard to find and you cant make them on a macbook even with a usb floppy it just doesn't work. I suggest getting a zip 100 drive for your self look up the first model with cords and a disk and then use your macbook. Getting these machines in 2019 is a big hassle.
 

 

[nglevin]

The Apple 3.5 drive should work for Macintosh Plus compatible 800k disks on an Apple IIgs, although you might find it easier to find a Floppy Emu second hand or the next time BMOW has one in stock to cross that bridge. The deluxe Floppy Emu package even has a System 6.0.8 image ready to go.

The IIgs also has a problem where the default HFS driver has a data corruption bug, and I don't believe that was fixed until unofficial updates to GS/OS System 6 started being made. Given what you have, I think the Floppy Emu is the easiest way to go.

 

[jessenator]

IF you have a "bridge machine," meaning an old-world ROM Macintosh (basically pre-iMac era hardware) with an internal floppy drive it's possible to write them, or even hack 800k floppies from standard HD 3.5 floppies by taping over the non-write-protect hole. You cannot write them from the last vestige USB floppy drives meant for iMacs and the like, unfortunately.
Edit; there is the floppy emu option as well.

I'm fairly positive you can't write mac disks from a IIgs either  :/
Edit: looks like that got answered above.

There might be a generous soul here who could write them on their mac and send them your way for a nominal fee. I could take a stab at it if you like. Shoot me a PM.

 

[jessenator]

Someone has given me a Macintosh Plus, but there are no disks with it. Among other things, I have IIgs with a Apple 3.5 Drive. It seems to me that I should be able to download a System 6.0.8 image and write it to a disk... but I can't seem to find clear instructions on how to do this. Even better, is there a way that can create a book disk on my MacBook?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

I actually have a homemade set of system 6.0.8 disks (4)-- if you're interested, send me a private message.

 

[dochilli]

When your location is in Europe, I can send you a boot disk.

 

[Nathanplus]

I would buy a floppy emu its awesome I love it and it never fails. it comes with free software too if you buy it as a package.

 

[chrislperry]

Thanks jessenator for the boot disks! I received them today and disk 1 booted up the Mac just fine. Very appreciated!

... unfortunately now the disk won't eject. I guess I can use the emergency eject hole. Is this a common problem with these old macs?

 

[jessenator]

Any noise at all attempting to eject on shutdown?

You're welcome!

 

[ClassicMac]

Prob needs some good lubin' 

 

[chrislperry]

Yeah, it sounds like something is spinning or working in there. Then it seems to give up, or it thinks I've reinserted it or something. I'll have to open up the case and lube it up, I guess.

 

[dochilli]

Old floppy drives must be lubricated.

Sometimes the gear is broken. You can replace it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-x-Gear-for-Macintosh-512k-Vintage-Floppy-Drive-eject-Mac-Sony-Apple-/263868282137

 

[Dog Cow]

Yeah, it sounds like something is spinning or working in there. Then it seems to give up, or it thinks I've reinserted it or something. I'll have to open up the case and lube it up, I guess.

More likely it's a gear with broken teeth. Take a look here: How to fix Mac 800K Disk Eject

 

[chrislperry]

More likely it's a gear with broken teeth. Take a look here: How to fix Mac 800K Disk Eject

Opened it up yesterday and the gear was in good shape. It even had a little bit of grease on it, so I wonder if it's something else entirely. I didn't have any more time to spend on it, but I'd like to try to power it up while it's open and see if I can observe what's going on. I couldn't turn the gears with it out of the drive, but I have a hunch that it won't turn unless it's powered. 

 

[Gsbtom]

I literally just tackled this problem this weekend in my Plus. In my case, the gears were fine, just like yours. The solution was to pop the gears off and lube the gear posts. To see if this is your issue, pop the gears off and try an eject and see if the eject motor spins up (you’ll hear it easily if it does).

Last picture in this post shows the gears I popped off to expose the motor: 

 

[chrislperry]

Yes, this looks promising. I think I might be performing a complete teardown and cleaning/lube of the unit like you have done.

Thank you!

I literally just tackled this problem this weekend in my Plus. In my case, the gears were fine, just like yours. The solution was to pop the gears off and lube the gear posts. To see if this is your issue, pop the gears off and try an eject and see if the eject motor spins up (you’ll hear it easily if it does).

Last picture in this post shows the gears I popped off to expose the motor: