Microsoft softcard?

[hoach]

I am slowly going through my multitude of apple computers and letting some go via local craigslist. *SIDE NOTE, I have a few m0110a keyboards that I have been selling, probably too cheaply at 25.00 a piece. correct me if I am wrong here*
Most of the local pickups are paying me 100 to 150 for a working machine, or one that needs a little TLC. I have also been pulling out cards that I want to hold onto to try and setup a machine for later use.
I noticed the Microsoft Softcard (ultimate iie card that has a CP/M processor on it) will not fit into one of my more mint platinum IIs. Is this normal? Were the cases really that much different?
I have other IIe's that it will work on, but it sure would be nice if this fit in a platinum.
Thoughts?

 

[skate323k137]

Unfortunately I can't speak to the fit, but I had never had an issue with larger cards in certain cases. Do you have photos of your card, and perhaps a photo of it in the machine?

My Z80 Soft cards are both from GGlabs (one MSFT clone, one PCPI Applicard clone), so the footprint physically is not the same.

 

[hoach]

Well, I spoke (err wrote) too soon. I managed to get it to fit. I'll show you proof! It is a TIGHT squeeze.

 

[hoach]

But, it isn't lighting up and shows zero signs of life, so I am going to reset the chips to see if I get a spark out of it, hopefully! I do have original Microsoft disks, etc. Plus a copy of Apple Wordstar, not sure how I acquired it, but maybe dad had found it somehow.

 

[hoach]

No dice on any life out of this card so far, having reset half the board. I do worry that I am using the wrong disk controller for it. I have a 5.25" apple disk controller. Is this fine? Do I have to use a Disk II controller? I would assume that the red light would light if it at all times, but maybe it only lights up if the z80 processor is in use?

 

[skate323k137]

On my clone of the microsoft card, the LED only comes on for CPU activity I believe (that's how I remember it working with the lid off).

For boot disks I am using microsoft softcard boot disks, some zips at the bottom of this page might help:

Apple II software mirrors

A collection of past and current Apple II FTP sites. ftp.apple.asimov.net is synced daily.

mirrors.apple2.org.za

On my IIe, where I have a fancy Yellowstone disk controller, I have to set it to Disk II mode. however, I have used the Apple 5.25 card with a FloppyEMU successfully for both flavors of CP/M card (Microsoft or PCPI) so I can say that it -should- work as your disk controller.

I attached the disks that work for me on FloppyEMU for your convenience.

 

[hoach]

alright, I have got the light to "light up". I found some CP/M disks that are probably for a Trs-80, but didn't know as they were hand written, tried that out, and I get the card light to light up and then it boots to a curser screen that locks up the machine.
The 4 discs I do have don't seem to do anything. I am going to attempt to use my iigs to download some working files and boot from those. Now to find some blank disks.

 

[Volvo242GT]

Chip-wise, the later Apple 5.25 disk controller card is identical to the older 650-X104 disk ][ controller card. Only difference is the fact that the "DRIVE 1/2" headers are tied into the soldered-on ribbon cable with the DB-19 connector.