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CP/M program to read and write between different disk formats.

StephenM

StephenM

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2016
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33
Location
Kiveton, Sheffield, UK
Hello all,

I have a Kaypro 1 which can format different CP/M disk formats for example Osborne and Superbrain disks.

My question is this, are there any CP/M utilities to read and write to those different formats? I'm currently using the Universal ROM but I will look into burning the Advent Turbo ROM if necessary.

Hope you can advise me in this endeavour.

StephenM

PS It maybe that I'm overlooking something obvious so please be kind :)
 
For the Kaypro there is a program named MFDISK. There is a version for the 2, 4, 10.

The Ampro Computer had ESET.COM (ESET.ASM).

The TRS-80 Model 4 had CONFIG.COM.

There may be other programs that are system specific.

For DOS there is 22DISK by SYDEX and Dave Dunfield's IMAGEDISK.

For Linux & Windows there are two programs that work well: CPMTOOLS & LIBDSK (cpmtools is built with or without libdsk).

What exactly are you wanting to do?


Larry
 
Commodore 128 CPM will natively read and write to other formats. That is, you could use PIP.

I would assume that that version of CPM is available for other systems.

If you've got a Kaypro and an Osborne and you want to transfer files betwixt the two, I find KERMIT to be the simplest option. But if you have a lot of files to transfer and aren't patient, that might be too slow.
 
Hello Larry,
You may remember that you helped me with a Superbrain problem many months ago. Well the Superbrain is almost complete just a missing 12v to the CRT and it should be done.

What I have will be a running machine with no CP/M disks. I have all the images from various sites across the internet to create a CP/M disk for this specific version, it all hangs on getting those images onto a floppy. This is where my lack of knowledge of CP/M grinds me to a halt. I have a cable to connect my Linux box to the RS 232 and I can use PIP to receive files and write them to the floppy. This is where I'm stuck as I can use the Kaypro to format a Superbrain QD disk using MFDISK but it won't write to it. This is probably a limitation of the Universal ROM as from what I have read it' limits interoperability with other Kaypro machines.

So breaking all that down, I want to produce a CP/M disk for a Superbrain using a Kaypro 1. Is it possible?

All the best
StephenM

My head has been well and truly scratched with this one
 
Hello Stephen,

I've just checked in the parameters file for my setup of 22DISK, and I note that it includes SuperBrain QD, defined with 35 cylinders, 10 @ 512 byte sectors per track.

So, I could create a disk for you. If it would help.

Just need the bits to put on it, if you can point me to an appropriate image?

Although I've had trouble in the past writing images, as my machines are just too 'fast' for the software. I can copy files OK, but creating a boot disk will prob need writing of system tracks?

Could tell more once I see image?

Geoff
 
You will need IMGDISK or TELEDISK to write most of these images to floppies. 22DISK is for reading & writing files to / from a disk that's already formatted.

I can probably do it (my transfer PC is a bit crotchety being a proper vintage machine itself), plus I'm in the UK. PM me.
 
GeoffB17 said:
Hello Stephen,

I've just checked in the parameters file for my setup of 22DISK, and I note that it includes SuperBrain QD, defined with 35 cylinders, 10 @ 512 byte sectors per track.

So, I could create a disk for you. If it would help.

Just need the bits to put on it, if you can point me to an appropriate image?

Although I've had trouble in the past writing images, as my machines are just too 'fast' for the software. I can copy files OK, but creating a boot disk will prob need writing of system tracks?

Could tell more once I see image?

Geoff
Click to expand...

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the offer of help.

I have an old Compaq Portable Plus which should produce the Superbrain boot disks using 22Disk. I was wondering if a CP/M program had been written to create and write image disks regardless of format.

I'll keep you in mind if all else fails.

Thanks again

StephenM
 
Actually, that's what most image systems do. The image data contains format data as well as file data, so the image file can be larger that the file data. The ImageDisk system works like that. I've got that system, and that does work OK (usually), and I've seen some files for the SuperBrain which are in .IMD format, so that should be OK. That will make it easier to do what you need to do with any system files which will be outside the DIR structure. I think the CBOOT.IMD file I've got is only 40T, can your machine boot from something like that even though it usually works 80T?

Geoff
 
Eeerm - I missed a bit of your question. You asked about a CP/M program.

Well, there is John Elliotts DU54 system, which does do that, but it's set up for the various possible formats for the Amstrad CPC/PCW systems only. BUT, as it covers a LOT of different format variants, and the structure is not a lot different to 22DISK (as per the parameters used) then it might be possible to do other things. I have a PCW with a 5.25" floppy attached, and it seems happy enough to work with that, but it's 40T only. I have 80T drives, but they're in other machines! I've used DU54 with an 80T 3.5" drive mind you, and that works fine too. So, the answer to your actual question is YES, maybe.

A lot easier to use Dunford's IMD prog on a PC if you can?

Geoff
 
Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the follow up , I'll have a look to see if any source is available for that program. If it is then possibly different formats can be added to it.

All the best
StephenM
 
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