Bootstrapping a CP/M system to usability :)

From: Gary Hildebrand <ghldbrd_at_ccp.com>
Date: Thu Jul 18 00:48:00 2002

Ross Archer wrote:
>
> Cameron Kaiser wrote:
> >
> > > I can boot CP/M+ on Commie, but the distribution
> > > is very minimal. It doesn't even include ED.
> >
> > Eh? I could have sworn that ED was on the disk, or at least somewhere in
> > the C128 distribution set.
>
> It's second-hand (or more).
> For all I know, the original
> owner accidentally deleted those files.
> It seemed strange to me too, that there was help
> for so many commands that just weren't there
> on the disk.
>
> > How many disks do you have?
>
> One CP/M disk.
>
> >
> > > It does have PIP, if this is useful,
> >
> > Oh, only slightly. :-)
>
> > > software to do the trick (but I don't think it can write MFM
> > > as needed by C128 CP/M mode.)
> >
> > The Commodore CP/M format is actually GCR -- the 1571 just can read MFM
> > formats as well, but it's natively GCR actually (so that the 1541 can be
> > used to boot C128 CP/M too).
>
> Hmm, are you sure that's not the C64 with CP/M
> cartridge only, and the C128 is actually true
> MFM-capable? That's what I've read on the web somewhere.
>
> My C128 manual recommends you purchase CP/M
> software formatted for various Kaypro and
> Osborne machines, which are obviously MFM.
> Since at least some of these programs have to
> write configuration files (pretty sure Wordstar
> had to run a "Winstall" (ironically) program).
>
> It would seem pretty useless if you could purchase
> software and then couldn't configure it.
>
> At least I didn't see anything in the C128 manual
> about converting your Kaypro disks before you
> installed the software. May have missed something
> though.
>
> Maybe I could DMA in the data for an XMODEM
> program with toggle switches. :)
>
> -- Ross

I do know that the 1571 will read an IBM 360k DSDD disk format. I was
going to try to copy my Osborne software off, but it is SSSD and the
1571 don't do those disks, only the double density Ozzie disks. NUTS!!

I'm looking for a working 360k IBM drive to copy stuff from the Linux PC
here to the 128 cp/m system. Serial transfers work too, and since the
files are pretty short as a rule it shouldn't take long.

That is a project that was put on the back burner here . . . . keep us
posted

Gary Hildebrand
St. Joseph, MO
Received on Thu Jul 18 2002 - 00:48:00 BST