Hello!
Feeling a bit stupid but I cannot figure how to start a CPM program for example Infocom adventures with a M4 and no (!) disk drive.
The two CPM roms are in slot 2+3. When I try to start a program, i. e.
'ems,"lurkingh.com
I'll get a drive not ready error. No matter if I navigate into the dsk "folder" or extract the disk via |dskx.
Any ideas? Thank you!
- thomas
The M4 doesn't replicate the drive hardware, instead it patches the AMSDOS firmware to intercept file operations and provide the desired data.
CP/M has it's own BIOS routines that talk directly to the hardware. That means none of the trickery done for AMSDOS is available and instead it's as if the M4 doesn't exist.
Of course, that doesn't mean CP/M can't be patched to recognise the M4, it's just not been done yet. For example, that's how the Dk'Tronics Silicon Disk works with CP/M (see https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/cpm3semi.html).
thank you pelrun. That means it is not possible at the moment to run CP/M software from the M4 sd at the moment, but only from a real disk -- ok!
- thomas
That's why many of us have both the M4 and a Gotek (running FlashFloppy or HxC). Since the Gotek behaves as if it was real drive hardware, it has the benefit of nearly perfect compatibility with all CPC software, but isn't any faster than an original drive.
finally a reason to get a Gotek for my 6128! :-)
Or a USIfAC II ... Don't know about cp/m plus but 2.2 runs Fine ;D
I'm still waiting for ikonsgr getting a USIfAC II ready for me ... :D
And I would prefer not to modify the 6128, though a Gotek is reversible of course.
If somebody wants to adapt CPCs CP/M Plus for M4 I can provide the complete source code. But the source will not be released to the public.
Is it a copyright thing?
Yes. Parts are from Dobbertin (hard disc part and memory disc part), I'm not allowed to spread. But as long as just somebody gets a DSK it should be fine.
so is there a patch to run cpm from/with USIfAC II OR X-Mass?
As mentioned earlier, CP/M 2.2 Disk Images work fine with USIFAC II with no patching. This is the only version that will run on an unexpanded 464 anyway.
The best version for the 6128 is the Dobbertin 63K CPM 2.2, which uses the additional RAM to provide a 63K TPA, 2K more than CPM+. See this thread (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/applications/increasing-tpa-in-cpm-plus/) for details.
There isn't any CP/M version patched to use the USB Hardrive, so you are limited to the size of the disk image at the moment.
Well maybe this (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/applications/hdcpm-boot-and-run-cpm-plus-from-hard-disk/) suits your needs.
You can boot CP/M+ from the hard disk/SD card and run existing CP/M software from the hard disk/SD card or the standard CPC floppy drives, gotek, etc.
For now it supports SF2 and X-MASS but I'll soon release the new version that also supports the M4 board and I hope that I'll add USIfAC II support in the next version.
d_kef
Quote from: d_kef on 19:49, 17 March 22Well maybe this (https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/applications/hdcpm-boot-and-run-cpm-plus-from-hard-disk/) suits your needs.
You can boot CP/M+ from the hard disk/SD card and run existing CP/M software from the hard disk/SD card or the standard CPC floppy drives, gotek, etc.
For now it supports SF2 and X-MASS but I'll soon release the new version that also supports the M4 board and I hope that I'll add USIfAC II support in the next version.
d_kef
The great news is that HDCPM will now boot CP/M Plus on the USIFAC II and M4 from a simple binary file, with no ROM needed. It works and it is fast and simple.