FILE NOT FOUND
Apple Apple II
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
FILE NOT FOUND on the Apple II means the file you tried to LOAD, RUN, or BLOAD does not exist on the disk. Type CATALOG and press RETURN to list all files on the disk and check the exact filename.
Affected Models
- Apple II
- Apple II Plus
- Apple IIe
- Apple IIc
- Apple IIgs
- AppleWin emulator
Common Causes
- Filename typo — even one character wrong gives FILE NOT FOUND
- Wrong disk in the drive — the file is on a different disk
- File was deleted from the disk
- Trying to LOAD a binary file with a LOAD command instead of BLOAD
- Locking the wrong drive slot in the command (LOAD file,S6,D2 when the disk is in D1)
How to Fix It
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Type CATALOG and press RETURN to see all files on the disk.
CATALOG lists every file on the current disk with its type (A = Applesoft, B = Binary, T = Text) and size. Compare the exact filename in the catalog to what you typed in your LOAD command.
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Check for filename typos — Apple DOS filenames are case-sensitive.
HELLO and Hello are different filenames on DOS 3.3. The catalog shows the exact case used. Retype your LOAD command to match exactly.
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Make sure you have the correct disk in the drive.
Apple II software often comes on multiple disks. Check the disk label and insert the correct one before retrying the LOAD.
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Use BLOAD for binary files, not LOAD.
LOAD is for Applesoft BASIC programs (type A in CATALOG). BLOAD is for binary machine code files (type B). Using the wrong command gives FILE NOT FOUND even if the file exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I list all files on an Apple II disk?
Type CATALOG and press RETURN. For ProDOS disks, use the CAT command instead. Both list filenames, types, and sizes of all files on the current disk.
Can I recover a deleted file on an Apple II disk?
Sometimes. DOS 3.3 marks deleted files in the directory but does not immediately overwrite their data. Disk utility programs like Copy II Plus could undelete files if the sectors had not been reused.