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To make such a disk bootable, all you need to do is copy the file
'PRODOS' from a working ProDOS boot disk to the root directory of the
disk you want to be able to boot from, assuming there is enough free
space to copy that file.

You will also want to copy at least one other system (type='SYS') to
the root directory of any disk you want to boot, as ProDOS scans the
root directory for the first SYS file with name ending in ".SYSTEM" to
execute, or it'll be unhappy. A good candidate for such a file is
Apple's "BASIC.SYSTEM", providing the Basic interpreter and command
line interface to ProDOS.

If you choose to use Macs and Disk Copy to download System 6.x, make
sure to use Double Sided/Double Density (DSDD - 720K or 800K) disks--
1.44MB (HD) disks will be written to as 1.44MB disks, which most GS
drives cannot deal with. Also, if your GS is refusing to boot off the
install disk (with an 'UNABLE TO LOAD PRODOS' message), and you have a
Quadra or Powermac, you may be a victim of Apple's costcutting in 3.5"
drives-- those drives may report disks as successfully written, but
GSs will be unable to read them. Switch to an older Mac with a usable
drive, or use a null modem program to transfer the files.

5.9 How do I switch drives/disks?

DOS 3.3 and also ProDOS allow you to specify which disk you want to
use by specifying its physical location when accessing it. This is
done with the slot-changing ',Sx' (1<=x<=7) and/or drive-changing
',Dy' (y=1 or y=2) parameters at the end of a command. Each slot may
have up to 2 drives connected to it. Slot 6 is normally used for 5.25"
drives, and slot 5 for 3.5" [or to a lesser degree, Slot 3 Drive 2 if
/RAM5 is used] disks, but system configurations may vary.

The slot/drive selections are 'sticky'-- they'll remain in effect
until you select another slot/drive to use.

Under ProDOS, you can also use the PREFIX command to change to a
slot/drive combination [PREFIX[,Sx][,Dy]] or to a volume by volume
name [PREFIX /volname].

5.10 I don't have an OS for my Apple II or want an update. Where do I get it
from?

Without an operating system, you can't run a comm program to download
the operating system, so you're in a bit of a quandry. One method is
to call 1-800-SOS-APPL and try and find an Apple II user group in your
area. They should be able copy things for you.

If you are unable to find a local user group, one of the next best
options is to contact Steve Cavanaugh (csa2 FAQ section 10.2), who is
licensed to copy ProDOS 8 [runs on pretty much all Apple IIs with at
least 64K of RAM], along with a 5.25" disk full of comm programs, etc.
The comm program disk costs only $3, which is a great deal. Ask him
for more details if interested.

The latest version of ProDOS that'll run on a 64K ][+ or unenhanced
//e is ProDOS 8 version 1.9. As far as I know, it appears to be
available in an 800K disk archive, unpackable by Shrinkit, at
ftp://ftp.apple.com/Apple.Support.Area/Apple.Software.Updates/US/Apple
_II/Apple_II_Supplemental/Apple_II_System_Disk_3.2.bxy [Note: have not
verified that this is ProDOS 1.9]