CP/M Boot Floppy

[zeke1312]

Short of buying one, can I make a boot disk? In 1571 or 1581?

[Mark Smith]

There are some D64, D71 and D81 images in the downloads section, get one of those and transfer it to a real C128 and you are away!

Mark

[zeke1312]

Mark:

I've got a D81 file download. My problem (lack of knowledge) is OK, how do I convert the file to C128 friendly? Is there a program that allows me to do that on a PC? If done on the C128, how do I accomplish it? I don't have any C128 manuals so at this point I'm at a loss. I've got Red Reader but if that's required how do I load it? I should have mentioned the only internet connnection I have is via my PC. I don't have a hard connection between my PC and C128.

[zeke1312]

OK, I've been fiddlin' around and got programs to list, load from my 1581. Still looking at launching a program but I'll get there.

[Guest]

On that CD I sent you, under the DOS\Disk Transfer folder is 64HDD.  In the root of 64HDD is 1581Copy which is a tool for writing D81 images directly to a DD disk.  You need to boot to real DOS, it will NOT work from Windows XP or Windows Vista at all.  1581Copy is actually small enough to fit on a boot floppy.  If you boot to a 1.44M floppy (HD) on your PC, you can put the D81 image and 1581Copy both on it and you don't have to worry about being able to read the HD or a CD-ROM.

[zeke1312]

plbyrd:

OK. I have your CD. Found 64DD/1581 copy. Booted to Dos using a diskette with Dos boot on it 1.44M. Loaded 1581 copy to diskette. Will not read on 1581 because 1681 on C= needs 720kb formatted disk? How to get boot file on 720kb? Then load 1581 copy to it? As you can see, I'm still lost and have not been able to create a CP/M boot disk on a 1581 diskette. Can you help? Thanks I need a step 1,2,3 etc to get me started in the right direction.

[Mark Smith]

Zeke1312:

Drop me a PM with your address and I'll post you a 880k disk with bootable CP/M on it ... but you have to pass the good deed along, cause that's what I'm doing .. had a good deed done to me on these forums, time to pass it along :-)

Mark

[zeke1312]

OK strandedinnz I will gratefully send you my address! I greatly appreciate your offer. My lack of understanding in this "project" primarily is determining where the different file(s) are to placed in order to make the boot diskette (1581). When booting on the PC in DOS, what program is used (loaded via Dos on the PC) in the process? Does that program further take a file (Dxx as an example) and convert it to a C+ usable format? Once I understand where each file is placed and what it does (example, load what file(s) to the C128 and Run, then what data file does the program use to create the diskette), I think I can be on my way. Here are some things I think:) I know. The diskette media needs to be DS/DD formatted 720kb and not HD 1.44 for the C= to accept. Certain files need to be executed under Dos on the PC. What are they and why? Do you "simply" load (what) files to the C= and what is done with these files? Which are programs and which are data files? I believe once I understand what is accomplished, where and how the lightbulb wil finally turn on!

Of course I need to know the relationship of these files to each other and what is accomplished by each file and how? This is a requirement for me to start understanding the C= "thing". I've been at the PC too long (and spoiled as the result)!

Hopefully I explained myself OK. My guess is most if not all you folks are an "old hand" at this and think I'm a dunce! Wow, I used to mess around with a C64 and a little Basic! Well that was 20+ years ago. :/