Subject: comp.os.cpm Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
From: [email-masked] (Don Kirkpatrick)
Date: 14 Jan 1999 10:46:22 -0800
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,comp.answers,news.answers

Archive-name: CPM-faq
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-Modified: 12 January 1999

=========================================================================
Changes from the previous FAQ are marked with a "|" in the first
column, additions marked with a "+".  Corrections or additions to:

         <[email-masked]>

I wish to thank the following people for their contributions to this FAQ:

John D. Baker           <jdb8042@blkbox^com>
Axel Berger             <Axel_Berger@k2^maus^de>
Hal Bower               <HalBower@worldnet^att^net>
David I. Baldwin        <dibald@netcom^com>
Gene Buckle             <geneb@nwlink^com>
Frank Cringle           <fdc@cliwe^ping^de>
Ralph Becker-Szendy     <RALPH@SLAC^STANFORD^EDU>
Mike Finn               <mfinn@pacs^pha^pa^us>
Ramon Gandia            <rfg@nome^net>
Mike Gordillo           <S0621126@dominic^barry^edu>
Trevor Gowen            <Trevor^Gowen@src^bae^co^uk>
Stephen R. Griswold     <gelfling2@juno^com>
Howard Goldstein        <71435^1203@compuserve^COM>
Roger Hanscom           <rzh@dgs^dgsys^com>
Ulrich Hebecker         <du124@fim^uni-erlangen^de>
Gottfried Ira           <ira@iue^tuwien^ac^at>
Herb Johnson            <hjohnson@pluto^njcc^COM>
Jeffrey Jonas           <jeffj@panix^com>
Helmut Jungkunz         <jungkunz@vossnet^de>
Tom Karlsson            <tomk@Student^DoCS^UU^SE>
Kirk Lawrence           <kirk^lawrence@3rd1000^com>
Mark Litwack            <litwack@scotty^dccs^upenn^edu>
Mike Mallett            <mike^mallett@zetnet^co^uk>
William P. Maloney      <aq743@cleveland^Freenet^Edu>
Paul Martin             <pm@nowster^demon^co^uk>
Don Maslin              <donm@crash^cts^com>
Thomas J. Merritt       <tjm@cgt^COM>
Udo Munk                <udo@umunk^GUN^de>
Alan Ogden              <arog@BIX^com>
Tim Olmstead            <timolmst@cyberramp^net>
Keith Petersen          <w8sdz@Vela^ACS^Oakland^Edu>
Matthew Phillips        <chri0264@sable^ox^ac^uk>
Jay Sage                <sage@LL^MIT^EDU>
Curt Schroeder          <bpanther@netcom^com>
Peter A. Schuman        <schu0204@gold^tc^umn^edu>
Tim Shoppa              <shoppa@alph02^triumf^ca>
Scot Silverstein        <ScotSilv@worldnet^att^net>
Kevin Spears            <kspear@ss0^eng^wayne^edu>
Tom Sullivan            <tsullivan@mail^fwi^com>
Bill Roch               <broch@thegrid^net>
Tilmann Reh             <tilmann^reh@bigfoot^com>
Geir Tjoerhom           <geirt@nvg^unit^no>
Jack Velte              <velte@cdrom^com> 
Juergen Weber           <weberj@dia^informatik^uni-stuttgart^de>
Jeffrey J. Wieland      <wieland@ea^ecn^purdue^edu>
David Wilson            <david@cs^uow^edu^au>
Randy Winchester        <randy@tcm^mit^edu>
Frank Zsitvay           <frank^zsitvay@bytewarrior^altcit^eskimo^com>

NOTE:  All of the above addresses have had the periods replaced with ^
to foil spammers.

While this FAQ is not intended to be an advertisement for any product,
please note that some of the contributors have a financial interest in
some of the items mentioned.  Your editor has NO financial interest in
anything mentioned in this FAQ. The most recent copy of this FAQ can be
found at:

        ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.os.cpm
or:
        http://www.psyber.com/%7Etcj/

Another resource is the Z80 Support Home Page maintained by Thomas
Scherrer:

        http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Peaks/3938/z80_home.htm
        [email-masked]

=====================================================================

                Table Of Contents

Q1: I just became a proud owner of a cool old machine.....
Q2: I'd like to sell/find a home for my old computer. What is it worth?
Q3: Does CP/M stand for anything?
Q4: What ever happened to Digital Research and Gary Kildall?
Q5: Is CP/M in the Public Domain?
Q6: Where are the CP/M archives?
Q7: Can I subscribe to com.os.cpm via E-Mail?
Q8: What languages/compilers/databases/editors are still available?
Q9: Where can I find Z80 math routines?
Q10: What new CP/M computers are available?
Q11: What is this I hear about a CP/M CD ROM?
Q12: How can I transfer my CP/M files to DOS?
Q13: How can I convert an (insert name) disk to (insert name) format?
Q14: Can I read my 8" disks with my PC?
Q15: Where can I buy new diskettes?
Q16: Can I use the newer floppy drives on my old machine?
Q17: Can I run CP/M on my MSDOS/UNIX/68K machine?
Q18: Where can I get a boot disk for (insert system name)?
Q19: What terminal emulation programs are available?
Q20: How do you unpack a .ARK or .ARC file?
Q21: How do you unpack a .lbr file?
Q22: What are all these .xQx, .xYx, and .xZx file types?
Q23: Are any of these .ARK, .LBR, or CRUNCH utilities on MSDOS?
Q24: Why does my Kaypro drop characters above (insert baud rate)?
Q25: What is an Advent TurboROM?
Q26: How can I add a hard drive to my CP/M Machine?
Q27: What belongs in the unpopulated board area on a Kaypro?
Q28: What is The Computer Journal?
Q29: Are there other magazines supporting CP/M?
Q30: Does anybody support Amstrad machines?
Q31: Does anybody support Sharp Machines?
Q32: What is ZCPR and the Z System?
Q33: What ever happened to the Z800?
Q34: What is the status of the Z380?
Q35: What is the KC80?
Q36: What is the S-100 bus (also known as IEEE-696 bus)?
Q37: Anyone know a good source for cross assemblers?

=====================================================================

Q1: I just became a proud owner of a cool old machine.....
A: (Herb Johnson, Tim Shoppa)

   So you have aquired an old system, not one of the all-in-one systems
   like Kaypros or Osbornes, but rather one with lotsa cards in a
   cardcage. But...  no disks, no manuals, maybe even no hard or floppy
   drives.  "Hey, *I* remember these systems! I've always wanted one of
   these!" you say. And now you need some help to get it running.

   We hate to sound discouraging - we like to help owners of old
   equipment after all - but we also want to set people's expectations
   before they spend a lot of time and/or money.  We need be clear as
   to what it takes to "own" an older, pre-IBM PC system.

   You will need to have some degree of knowledge of digital
   electronics, and have some electronic test equipment.  Do not expect
   "the net" to instantly give you the knowledge to fix all your
   problems.  There is no consensus about the amount of knowledge or
   equipment: a VOM for sure, a scope is reasonable, a logic
   analyzer... probably not.  You will learn from the experience of
   debugging and maintaining an older system.

   You will discover that these systems may not be amenable to using
   IBM PC stuff, that they may need 8-inch floppy drives, that these
   systems may not support hard drives. In some cases, these systems
   may not even run all that well even with the original 8-inch drives
   or wierd hard disk controllers!  When you also discover you can't
   get the parts without spending more money, you may lose interest.

   To most people these days, a BIOS by definition is in ROM, so it
   automatically comes with the hardware.  You will learn that the CP/M
   BIOS gets loaded off the boot floppy and lives in RAM.  You'll need
   BIOS source code to do any tinkering, and you may have to
   disassemble it to obtain the source.  And other documentation like
   manuals may be hard to obtain.

   So we'll help you in your search for the original boot disks, the
   original type of floppy drives, and some software to run, but don't
   think you'll just add a hard drive and some (5.25-inch) floppy
   drives and off you'll go!

Q2: I'd like to sell/find a home for my old computer. What is it worth?
A: (Herb Johnson)

   Make a list of what you have to offer: computer types, features, and
   conditions. if it's a bus-based system, what cards are in it? Find
   all the docs and disks, particularly the boot disks. Check the
   system out if you can, and make *multiple copies* of the boot
   disks.  Put one in the disk drive, one with the docs. Take notes.

   Weigh the system, its floppy drives and its documents and disks
   (separately if they are heavy); decide if you want to ship or just
   want local pickup. If you ship, you will have to pack it carefully
   and take it to the shipper.  Figure 25 to 50 cents a pound
   shipping.

   Post a message in comp.os.cpm describing your system, its condition,
   and where you are located.  Disclose any special conditions the new
   owner should know:  "museum quality", "good for parts", "local
   pickup only", "cost of shipping", "will help you", whatever.  Owners
   often recount their history of use to add a human dimension to it
   and often makes negotiations smoother and faster.  You'll eventually
   end up working through all this anyway, so why not do it up front?

   You'll probably get some replies that will inform you on what you
   have and the level of interest in it. Use your common sense about
   all this.  One virtue of offering old computers is that their
   minimal value will not be of interest to scam artists!

   You can try to donate your computer to a school or charity but they
   will most likely refuse or junk it.  There is so much IBM-PC
   compatible stuff around that is considered preferable, and IT gets
   junked most of the time! If you put an ad in the newspaper be
   prepared for a lot of "will it run Windows?" phone calls. You can
   take it to a hamfest or flea market, but you may end up abandoning
   it at the end of the day.

   What is it worth? Generally, the answer is cost of shipping. Prices
   are based on the interest of the buyer and the (dis)interest of the
   seller.  There is no "blue book".  People will offer, and some even
   pay, hundreds of dollars for rare systems such as a MITS Altair
   8800.  Most likely, unless your system is very special, you are
   competing with people who will give away similar systems to a good
   home.  If you are trying to make money, do your homework and check
   for previous sales and requests across the Internet, and use your
   business judgement.

Q3: Does CP/M stand for anything?

A: (Don Kirkpatrick)

   There are at least three popular answers - Control Program for
   Microcomputers, Control Program for Microprocessors, and Control
   Program/Monitor.  The issue is clouded by authors of popular CP/M
   books giving different answers.  According to Gary Kildall (the
   author of CP/M), in response to a direct question on the PBS show
   "The Computer Chronicles" following Computer Bowl I, the answer is:
   Control Program for Microcomputers.  This is also consistent with
   DRI documentation.  See, for example, p. 4 of the DRI TEX manual.

Q4: What ever happened to Digital Research and Gary Kildall?

a: (Don Kirkpatrick)

   DRI was bought out by Novell and subsequently sold off to Caldera,
   which currently owns the copyright to all DRI software.

   Personal computer pioneer Gary Kildall, who but for a single failed
   business deal might have enjoyed the wealth and fame of Bill Gates,
   died July 11, 1994, in a Monterey hospital at age 52.

   Kildall was taken to the hospital after suffering a concussion in a
   fall.  Evidence indicates Kildall suffered a fatal heart attack.  It
   is unclear if the two conditions were related.

Q5: Is CP/M in the Public Domain?

A: (Jay Sage, Don Maslin, Tilmann Reh, Kirk Lawrence, Tim Olmstead)

   On Sept 10, 1996, Caldera, the company that bought all of the
   Digital Research assets from Novell. They have released all of the
   source code for DR products.  You can now go to the OFFICIAL CP/M
   web site at :

              http://www.caldera.com

   Go to the OpenDos page, then select CP/M downloads.

   The last source for new, legal copies of CP/M (with documentation,
   $9, plus shipping), is:

              California Digital, Inc.
              17700 Figueroa Street
              Gardena CA 90248
              310-217-0500
              310-217-1951   Fax
              http://www.cadigital.com

   There exists a privately maintained web site with many DRI programs
   and manuals. (Caldera is aware of this site and has given its
   permission to present the material.) Available for download are:

              CP/M 2.2 (binary, source, manuals)
              CP/M 3.0 (binary, source, manuals)
              CP/M-68K (binary for v1.2, and v1.3, no manuals yet)

   The software is licensed free to non-profit users. This includes
   individual users. Commercial licenses are available, but without any
   form of support.  The address of the site is:

              http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm

   Or its mirror:

              http://www.mathcs.emory.edu/~cfs/cpm

   On the other hand, there have been lots of greatly improved clones,
   including ZCPR3 for the command processor and several replacements
   for the BDOS.  Some of these are commercial (e.g., ZSDOS/ZDDOS), but
   many have been released to the public.  Most of the latter can be
   obtained from oak.oakland.edu and many BBSs.

   There is also a CP/M-Plus replacement named ZPM3, written by Simeon
   Cran. It offers much more performance and some additional features
   compared to CP/M-Plus. An extended CCP, the ZCCP, is also available.
   Unfortunately, it still seems to have some bugs.  ZPM3 and ZCCP are
   free! However no sources as Simeon won't give them away.

   New legal copies of CP/M-86 were still available, for $75, from:

              DISCUS Distribution Services, Inc.
              17607 Vierra Canyon road
              Salinas, CA 93907-3312
              (408) 663-6966

   And CP/M-68K is available from:

              James Knox
              TriSoft
              1825 East 38 1/2
              Austin, TX  78722
              (512)472-0744
              (800)531-5170
              (512)473-2122 (FAX)

Q6: Where are the CP/M archives?

A: (Don Maslin, Ralph Becker-Szendy, Paul Martin, Ulrich Hebecker)

   Simtel20 is no more.  Six sites that stock CP/M files are:

              oak.oakland.edu
              wuarchive.wustl.edu
              ftp.update.uu.se
              ftp.demon.co.uk
              reze-2.rz.rwth-aachen.de
              soltrans.cr.usgs.gov

   As of 25 March 1998, people have been reporting difficulty reaching
   the reze-2.rz.rwth-aachen.de site and it may be no longer.

   The main archive is oak.oakland.edu.  Assuming the availability of
   anonymous ftp, look into the subdirectories of /pub/cpm.  There is a
   *lot* there!  One of the first directories to check is starter-kit.
   It contains everything you need to get up and running.

   If you wish to submit material to oak.oakland.edu, contact:

              Jeff Marraccini
              Senior Computing Resource Administrator
              Oakland University
              Rochester, MI USA 48309-4401
              (810)370-4542
              [email-masked] <- Work
              [email-masked]

   He will send you instructions and passwords necessary to perform
   an ftp upload.

   Ftp.update.uu.se specializes on CP/M programs for the DEC Rainbow,
   but has also some generic CP/M software such as a Micro Emacs, the
   HI-TECH Z80 C compiler and a few games.  Questions about this site
   can be directed to Tom Karlsson, <[email-masked]>, the site
   administrator.

   There is a European file server group, named TRICKLE.  This group
   mirrors oak.oakland and other archives.  For more information, get
   in touch with your local TRICKLE operator.

   There is a longrunning CP/M file archive with a focus on Microbee
   computers at:

           http://www.omen.com.au/Files/hdisk/cpm.html

   and some DOS<->CP/M file utilities at:

           ftp.omen.com.au/pub/files_3/hardflop

Q7: Can I subscribe to com.os.cpm via E-Mail?

A:  (Keith Petersen)

    To join the CPM-L mailing list, which is gatewayed to and from
    comp.os.cpm, you must send email to the list server.  If you are on
    BITNET, send the following command:

          SUBSCRIBE CPM-L your full name

    to LISTSERV@RPITSVM.  You can send that in an interactive if your
    system supports them (e.g. the CMS TELL command), or in the body of
    a mail message (*not* the subject line).

    If you are not on BITNET, the Internet subscription address is
    [email-masked].  Send mail to that address with this text
    in the body of the message:

          SUBSCRIBE CPM-L your full name

Q8: What languages/compilers/databases/editors are still available?

A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, Ulrich  Hebecker, Jay Sage, Gene Buckle)

   Unfortunately, SLR sold out to Symantec and all products except for
   one DOS (or Windows) tool have been withdrawn from the market (what
   a shame).  However, The Computer Journal does carry the excellent
   ZMAC package including a macro relocatable assembler, linker, and
   librarian.  Except for the speed, ZMAC is better and cheaper than
   the standard SLR tools.

   MIX C and other MIX products are available from:

              Ed Grey
              P.O. Box #2186
              Inglewood, CA 90305
              (213)759-7406
              <[email-masked]>.

   Hi-Tech C V3.09 for CP/M is now freeware.  The authors are still
   maintaining their copyright, but are allowing free use for both
   private and commercial users without royalty.  The original is on
   their bbs in Australia, at +61 7 3300 5235.  Copies can be obtained
   from:

        ftp.update.uu.se: /pub/rainbow/cpm/c
        ftp.mcc.ac.uk: /pub/8051c/htc.zip
        oak.oakland.edu: /pub/cpm/hitech-c
        ftp://ftp.hitech.com.au/hitech/cpm
        http://www.hitech.com.au

   Hi-Tech also offers a Z80 cross compiler for DOS or Unix supports
   compilation of CP/M programs. The cross compiler is commercial
   software, but a working demo is available from their ftp and web
   servers.

   The Computer Journal still offers BDS C, in both the original,
   straight CP/M version and in a version that includes Z-System
   support.  The package, with both versions of the compiler and a very
   large manual, is only $25.

   Micro Emacs is available from:

        ftp.update.uu.se: /pub/rainbow/cpm/emacs

   Public domain CP/M programs are available via:

              Elliam Associates
              Box 2664
              Atascadero, CA 93423
              (805)466-8440

   In the past, Elliam has sold Turbo Pascal, Uniform, Nevada COBOL,
   SuperCalc, and much more.  Call for availability and price.

   WordStar 4.0 is available from:

              Trio Company of Cheektowaga Limited
              3290 Genesee Street
              P. O. Box 594
              Cheektowaga, NY 14225-0594
              716-892-9630

   Dynacomp stills sell CP/M software (or to be accurate, they still
   had several dozen CP/M programs in the 1992 catalog.) It is the
   kind of programs which ought to be written in BASIC: Typing tutors,
   little engineering programs like calculation of the stiffness of
   beams, education math programs. Their address is:

              Dynacomp
              178 Phillips Road
              Webster, NY 14580
              (800)828-6772 orders
              (716)265-4040 support

   There is no known U.S. source to purchase the following programs:

        muMath/muSimp
        Any Microsoft product (M80, L80, F80, Pascal, BASIC)
        VEdit 

   Most have been "abandoned" by their makers, but not placed in the
   public domain. There is now a site specializing in making available
   commercial abandoned software. You may find a copy of what you seek
   at The Commercial CP/M Archive:

        http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/cpm

   For our European readers, much is available in Germany.  dBASE,
   WordStar 3.0, Multiplan 1.06, SuperCalc PCW, and Microsoft Basic
   (Interpreter and Compiler), M80, L80, CREF80 , and LIB80 can be
   ordered in either PCW format or C128 (also native 1571) format from:

              Wiedmann Unternehmensberatung & EDV-Handel
              Hauptstrasse 45
              73553 Alfdorf
              F.R.Germany
              Tel: +49-7172-3000-0 (Inside Germany use 0-7172...)
              Fax: +49-7172-3000-30

   They are marketed as "for the C128", however the disks are in KAYPRO
   IV format, and since the C128 uses the same screen codes as ADM-31
   or KAYPRO, it's probably interesting for people with other CP/M
   machines as well.  Everything is said to come with a German language
   manual and each one is offered for DM 149.50 , including sales tax
   of 16%, which you could probably somehow get a refund on if living
   outside the EC.

|  Also, for our European readers, Z3PLUS (for CP/M, DM 30.--), NZCOM
|  (for CP/M 2.2, DM 30.--), (both for package 50.--), Z-Systems come
   complete with Z3COMs and ZHELPs (another 14 Disks at 360K app. or
   equ.) and German manual(!), BDSC-Z, TURBO Tools, Turbolader, and
|  Juggler (used to be DM 50.--, now: free!) from:

              Helmut Jungkunz
              Spixstr. 12
              81539 Muenchen, Germany
              Tel.: +4989-69737382
              BBS : +49.8801.2453  (24 hours) "ZNODE 51"
              [email-masked]

+  Please don't miss the best German CP/M page:
 
+             www.gaby.de    
 
+  featuring her Computer Museum and lots of valuable information!
 
   You can get C128 CP/M Plus (DM 80.-) from:
 
              Schaltungsdienst Lange Berlin Tel.: 030/7036060

   VDE is a very popular free editor that uses WordStar key bindings.
   It can be obtained from

              http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/cpm/vdoedit.html

   for a plain vanilla CP/M system or

              http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/cpm/zsystem.html

   for those running a Z-system.

Q9: Where can I find Z80 math routines?

A: (Roger Hanscom, Hal Bower)

   Programmers looking for examples of commonly used Z80 assembler
   routines may want to look at "Z80 Assembly Language Subroutines" by
   Leventhal and Saville.  It was published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill in
   1983 (ISBN 0-931988-91-8), and it 497 pages long.  It also contains
   general programming information, as well as a summary of the Z80
   instruction set and reference data for the Z80 PIO.  Assembler
   routines given in the book fall into the following categories:

        - code conversion      -array manipulation and indexing
        - arithmetic           -bit manipulation and shifts
        - string manipulation  -array operations
        - I/O                  -interrupts

   For transcendental routines, it is generally better to use a high
   level language, such as Hi-Tech C, where they are built-in.

   Basic 16-bit four-function math (add, subtract, multiply and divide)
   are available in source code as modules within the SYSLIB collection
   of utilities (SMTHxx).  SYSLIB Version 3.6 is freely available, and
   Version 4.x was released in source and linkable (SYSLIB.REL) form
   for non-commercial use only.  Joe Wright still holds the copyright
   as Alpha Systems as far as I know, and Hal Bower has maintained the
   code since circa 1987.

Q10: What new CP/M computers are available?

A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, John D. Baker, Tilmann Reh, Ramon Gandia,
    Hal Bower)

   The YASBEC (uses a 64180, has  SCSI interface), written up in TCJ,
   issues #51 and #52.  It is important that the YASBEC uses a
   proprietary bus system.

   The CPU280 (uses a Z280, an IDE interface is available), also
   written up in TCJ, issues #52 and #53. Circuit boards are available
   from The Computer Journal.  CPU280 uses the ECB-bus which allows
   many other I/O cards to be connected.

   Ampro LittleBoard products are no longer available from Dean Davidge
   nor are the SB180/SB180FX from Micromint.

   Another CP/M machine is the PalmTech CPUZ180, designed and built in
   Australia. The complete SBC fits on a 6"x4" and runs at 18MHz.
   Included are floppy and IDE hard disk controllers, color/monichrome
   video controller, IBM PC/XT keyboard interface, printer parallel
   port, two serial ports, real time clock, 1 Meg ram, amd many other
   features.  Complete details can be found at:

               http://www.19th.com.au/member/ptech1.html

   and may be ordered from:

               Ramon Gandia <[email-masked]>       tel. 907-443-7199
               Anvil Technology                    or 907-443-2437
               Box 970, Nome, Alaska 99762-0970  fax. 907-443-2487

   And the P112 from D-X Designs Pty Ltd is a single board CP/M
   compatible computer with the footprint of a 3.5" floppy disk drive.
   It provides a Z80182 (Z-80 upgrade) CPU with up to 1 MB of memory,
   serial parallel and diskette IO, and realtime clock in a 3.5-inch
   drive form factor.  Powered solely from 5V, it draws 150mA
   (nominal:  not including disk drives) with a 16MHz CPU clock.
   Details can be found at:

               http://www.iinet.net.au/~daveb/

   and may be ordered from:

               Dave Brooks <[email-masked]>
               Australia

Q11: What is this I hear about a CP/M CD ROM?

A: (Jack Velte)

   The disk is no longer being offered by Walnut Creek. However, copies
   of it are available for $30.00 each, including shipping, from:

              Timer Saver
              521 Sycamore Dr
              Windsor, CO 80550

   or

              [email-masked]

   It contains over 19,000 files with executable programs, source code,
   documentation, and other materials.  Included are the the entire
   Simtel20 pub/cpm archives, the contents of some major bulletin
   boards, and the personal collections of several leaders in the CP/M
   community.  You'll find:

      Assemblers, compilers, code libraries, and programming tools
      Editors, word processors, spreadsheets, calculators
      Disk, printer, modem and other system utilities
      Archive and compression tools
      Telecommunication software for users and BBS operators
      Articles from user's group journals and other publications
      Games and educational software
      Help files

   You'll also find CP/M emulators and other tools for working with
   CP/M files under DOS, OS/2, and Unix.  Most programs include not
   only documentation but also complete source code.  Programs for all
   different computers are on the disc: Kaypro, Osborne, Commodore,
   Amstrad, Starlet, and others.  This disc comes with a MSDOS view
   program which allows you to view, decompress, or copy files to your
   disk.  It's fully BBS'd with description files compatible with
   popular MSDOS BBS programs.

   A spokesman for Walnut Creek said that it is just not feasible for
   them to have another run made.  When asked specifically about having
   a few made privately, the spokesman said the entire disk is public
   domain and freeware, and that Walnut Creek doesn't need to give
   permission to have anyone copy it.  They're not looking for a
   royalty or even acknowledgment.

Q12: How can I transfer my CP/M files to DOS?

A: (Don Maslin, Will Rose, Alan Ogden, Tilmann Reh, Herb Johnson,
    Trevor Gowen, Hal Bower)

   (Note: also see Q13 on "disk formats".)

   One solution is Sydex' excellent shareware program 22DISK which
   permits reading, writing, and formatting many CP/M format disks on a
   PC.  Version 1.44 is available at:

         http://www.sydex.com

   22DISK is shareware and should be registered.  It supports 8-inch
   drives on PC's, provided either a adaptor is wired to the PC's
   floppy controller or that a CompatiCard is installed. Sydex or Herb
   Johnson can provide assistance with using standard PC controllers.
   Sydex can be reached at:

              Sydex
              P.O. Box 5700
              Eugene, OR  97405
              Voice:  (541)  683-6033
              FAX:    (541)  683-1622
              Data:   (541)  683-1385

   MicroSoulutions used to make a program called Uniform and You might
   be able to locate a copy at a swap meet or from a distributor. There
   are versions for both the IBM-pc's and a lot of different cp/m
   machines.

   Some flavors of PC have a problem with both UniForm and 22disk and
   UniForm will not operate properly under DRDOS v6.0.  UniForm also
   fails if the machine clock exceeds ~20MHz.  This has been confirmed
   with MicroSolutions, and no fix is available.

   Another solution is the MSODBALL suite of programs by John Elliot.
   They work by using a format (the msodball format) that is
   convertible via the main program to become useable on either CP/M
   (3.x ?) or MSDOS. MSODBALL.COM has been written in such a way that
   the latest version will run directly under either CP/M or MSDOS.
   They can be found at:

        ftp.demon.co.uk: /pub/cpm/amstrad/mso210.arc

   You need not use the DOS machine - there are also at least three
   transfer programs running under CP/M: TRANSFER (for CP/M-2.2), of
   which a quick-hack CP/M-3 adaptation also exists; DOSDISK, and MSDOS
   for CP/M-Plus written by Tilmann Reh, latest version 2.1 of Oct 93.
   TRANSFER and MSDOS are freely available, DOSDISK is commercial.
   MSDOS has two related utilities:  MSFORM will create the DOS Boot
   Record, FAT and directory structure on a freshly formatted disk, and
   MSDIR will give you a quick look at the main directory of a DOS
   disk.

   DosDisk is a standard CP/M product.  As supplied, it runs only on
   the following specific hardware:

        all Kaypros equipped with a TurboROM
        all Kaypros equipped with a KayPLUS ROM and QP/M or CP/M
        Xerox 820-I equipped with a Puls-2 ROM and QP/M
        Ampro Little Board
        SB180 and SB180FX equipped with XBIOS
        Morrow MD3 and MD11
        Oneac On!
        Commodore C128 with CP/M-3 and 1571 drive

   DosDisk also runs on any of the configurations with B/P Bios
   (non-banked ZSDOS only), to include the Ampro Little Board, SB-180,
   SB180FX, YASBEC and P112.

   There is also a kit version for which the user can write his own
   driver, provided the BIOS implements a table-driven disk interface.
   Contact Jay Sage for details.  DosDisk and MSDOS both handle DOS
   subdirectories.

   You can also use a null modem or other serial link and terminal
   emulation programs running on each machine. For example, the CP/M
   machine could run KERMIT, IMP, or MEX and another program that
   supports the same file transfer protocol on the second machine, such
   as Procomm or Hyperterminal on a PC.  The usual problem is getting
   the terminal program onto the CP/M machine - having someone send you
   a disk is the easiest way, but you can also use a crude assembler or
   basic program to transfer the real program, or use pip to send
   across a hex version (pip can only transfer ascii files.)

   Remember, these conversion programs only move the data, as is, in
   its current binary form, from one disk format to another.  They do
   not reinterpret the data so that a different program can use the
   information.  However, there are some tools under DOS that will
   convert word processing file data among different word processors,
   such as WordStar, Word Perfect, and Microsoft Word.  If the CP/M
   computer that made the original disk is still running, you might
   want to try to generate a pure text (ASCII) version of your
   information (e.g., by "printing to disk") before moving it over to a
   DOS disk.  If the computer is not working but you still have the
   program, you might try copying it over to a DOS disk and running it
   under a CP/M emulator on the DOS machine to produce a text file.

Q13: How can I convert an (insert name) disk to (insert name) format?

A: (Jay Sage, Curt Schroeder, Mike Gordillo, Helmut Jungkunz, Tilmann Reh,
   Randy Winchester, Hal Bower, Scot Silverstein)

   Elliam Associates (see above) offer disk conversion services at
   modest prices that can convert from just about any format to just
   about any other format.

   If you have a Kaypro equipped with an Advent TurboROM, Plu*Perfect
   Systems offers a program called MULTICPY that can read/write about
   one hundred different 5 1/4 formats.

   The simplest way of converting *CP/M formats to a PC* is to use a PC
   with 22DISK - just copy the files from one CP/M disk to DOS, and
   then back to the other CP/M disk. (See Q12.) But a few older CP/M
   disks have what are called "hard sectors". These disks use several
   physical holes in the disk to mark divisions of data, instead of ONE
   hole which is used as a timing reference. These disks can only be
   read by a PC or a CP/M system with suitable hardware.  The problem
   is NOT the diskette drive, but the controller cabled to the drive:
   the drives are unmodified, it's all in the diskette controller. CP/M
   hard-sectored disks come from some older Vector Graphics,
   Heath/Zenith H89, NorthStar, IMSAI and other CP/M systems.

   Similarily, it is not possible to directly read/write Apple II CP/M
   disks on any other host machine because an Apple disk is recorded in
   GCR which is incompatible with FM/MFM *floppy* disk controllers.
   The only way to get files out of either kind of these disks is via a
   serial link with the original host system, or with special hardware
   on the PC compatible. (See Q12.)

   An example of PC hardware is a MicroSolutions device called the
   MatchPoint PC.  When used in conjunction with a MicroSolutions
   CompatiCard, files can be read from an Apple CP/M disk and transfer
   to another disk format with a special configuration of UniForm.  The
   CompatiCard is also able to directly read some hard-sectored disk
   formats.

   If your are *lucky* enough to have a *CP/M* B/P BIOS, it comes with
   a built-in disk format emulation capability, and a library of
   formats, including the source so that new formats may be added.

   There exists a program called "Jugg'ler" for the C128's CP/M that
   will read/write 140 different CP/M formats both 3.5 and 5.25 MFM
   (and some GCR) formats.  A demo version with 22 formats, and other
   C128 specific CP/M software, can be found at:

        ftp://ccnga.waterloo.ca/pub/cbm/os/cpm

   The creator/owner of Jugg'ler, Herne Data Systems, is still in
   business, but no longer sells it. Rather, Jugg'ler's creator, Mike
   Garamszeghy, has graciously placed it in the public domain. Copies
   can be obtained from his C128-CP/M web page at:

        http://www.herne.com

   His disk format data base and other CP/M related items are also
   available there.

   Montezuma Micro CP/M has a "config" utility that allows logical
   device reassignments, setting up of comm hardware parameters, etc.
   Option [f] "disk drive definitions" allows the user to set the
   logical format of any disk drive connected to the system.  There are
   about 100 different floppy formats provided, from A to Z.  Montezuma
   Micro often shipped software in Kaypro format, for example.  Using
   this redefinition utility, it is easy to read "alien" disks, format
   them, duplicate them to another's format via 'pip' to another
   drive.

   The CPU280 CP/M-3 implementation offers the AutoFormat feature which
   allows to format, read and write almost every disk format.

Q14: Can I read my 8" disks with my PC?

A: (John Baker, Tom Sullivan)

   With a program called 22disk, and an adaptor board that you can
   make, you can read those disks on your PC. All it takes is
   rearranging some of the lines on the 34 pin cable, and wiring them
   to the 50 pin cable, and you're in business.

   The interface on 8" drives and 5 1/4" drives are essentially the
   same.  The 34 lines on a typical 5 1/4" controller are sufficient to
   control most 8" disk drives using soft-sectored disks.  Here, is a
   diagram for a basic conversion cable to allow connection of an 8"
   drive to an IBM-compatible, AT-style (high density) controller.

                                                      8" disk drive
   PC-AT style controller                       Based on Shugart SA-851

   Grnd. Sig.  Sig. Name                             Sig Name  Sig Grnd
     1     2   Double/High Density ->>
                                    >>- Write Current Switch/    2    1
                                   Active Read Compensation
                                   User Customizable I/O pins    4    3
                                    "         "       "    "     6    5
    33    34 **Ready ---------------<<------------ True Ready    8    7
                                    <<-------------#Two Sided   10    9
    33    34 **Disk Change ---------<<----------- Disk Change   12   11
    31    32   Side 1 Select ------->>-----------#Side Select   14   13
     3     4   In Use/Open --------->>---------------- In Use   16   15
    15    16  *Motor On ------------>>------------- Head Load   18   17
     7     8   Index ---------------<<----------------- Index   20   19
    33    34 **Ready ---------------<<----------------- Ready   22   21
                                    <<---------------##Sector   24   23
     9    10   Drive Select 0 ------>>-------- Drive Select 1   26   25
    11    12   Drive Select 1 ------>>-------- Drive Select 2   28   27
    13    14   Drive Select 2 ------>>-------- Drive Select 3   30   29
     5     6   Drive Select 3 ------>>-------- Drive Select 4   32   31
    17    18   Direction Select ---->>------ Direction Select   34   33
    19    20   Step ---------------->>------------------ Step   36   35
    21    22   Write Data ---------->>------------ Write Data   38   37
    23    24   Write Gate ---------->>------------ Write Gate   40   39
    25    26   Track 00 ------------<<-------------- Track 00   42   41
    27    28   Write Protect -------<<--------- Write Protect   44   43
    29    30   Read Data -----------<<------------- Read Data   46   45
                                    <<------##Separation Data   48   47
                                    <<-----##Separation Clock   50   49

   This diagram also works in the other direction--that is, to attach
   high-density 5 1/4" drives to an 8" controller.

   Notes:

   * - It seems to be a logical substitution since the vast majority of
       8" drives have continuously running spindles and instead of
       MOTOR ON require a HEAD LOAD signal.  Also, a controller sends
       MOTOR ON before a DRIVE SELECT.

   **- Most 5 1/4" disk drives do not provide a READY signal but send a
       DISK CHANGE signal on line 34 of the interface.  An 8" drive has
       provisions for both signals.  Likewise, most AT-style
       controllers expect a DISK CHANGE signal on line 34, so lines 33
       and 34 should be connected to lines 11 and 12 of the 8" disk
       connector.  Also, some 8" drives provide a TRUE_READY signal
       which is more useful than the standard READY.

   # - Unused on single sided drives (SA-800/801).

   ##- Used only on hard-sector configured drives (SA-801/851).

   Some 5 1/4" disk drives have the option of providing _either_ DISK
   CHANGE _or_ READY on line 34 (in particular, the TEAC FD55R
   series).  Some 8" disk controllers do not care about the DISK CHANGE
   signal, but must have the READY signal.  If you are attaching a
   high-density 5 1/4" drive to an 8" controller, you may get away with
   making the drive always ready by shorting lines 21 and 22, but this
   may cause a few re-tries when switching sides.  If your drive offers
   a READY signal that your controller can deal with, by all means use
   it.

   The MOTOR ON/HEADLOAD dilemma may also have an alternate solution if
   you are connecting 5 1/4" drives to an 8" controller.  Some 5 1/4"
   drives permit motor turn-on by means other than the MOTOR ON
   signal.  For example, the TEAC FD55R series of drives may be
   configured to turn the motor on based on the state of the IN USE
   light.  The IN USE light can, in turn, be set to turn on only on
   drive select.  Thus selecting the drive automatically turns on the
   motor and neither a MOTOR ON or IN USE signal need be present.

   Another way to handle 8 inch drives on a PC is with a Microsolutions
   Compaticard IV, if you can find one. (MicroSolutions no longer
   offers this product.) It has the necessary software support to
   properly handle 8 inch drives, and in both SSSD and DSDD.  This
   controller can be set up as both a primary controller, or as a
   secondary. It can support 4 drives, of any type, including 2.8 meg.
   It supports two MSDOS 8 inch formats, SSSD (about 250k) and DSDD
   (1.2 meg). It works perfectly with 22disk, and can read and write
   almost any 8 inch CP/M format.

Q15: Where can I buy new diskettes?

A: (Don Maslin)

   California Digital still lists hard and soft sector diskettes - both
   10 and 16 sector at $9.95.  They also stock 8" drives and diskettes.

              California Digital, Inc.
              17700 Figueroa Street
              Gardena CA 90248
              310-217-0500
              310-217-1951   Fax
              http://www.cadigital.com

   One might also try:

              GLOBAL Computer Supplies
              2318 East Del Amo Blvd.
              Dept. RA
              Compton, CA 90220

Q16: Can I use the newer floppy drives on my old machine?

A: (Jeffery Jonas, Axel Berger, Dave Wilson)

   You can. 3.5" and 5.25" are fully hardware compatible and your
   computer will never notice the difference - unless the 5.25 are HD
   drives. As 3.5" drives are able to step faster and draw less
   current, this direction of swapping is totally uncritical. The other
   way round sometimes proves more tricky.

   Both 3.5" and 5.25" drives have the same 34 pin interface.  3.5"
   disks spin at 300 RPM thus the 250k/500k data rates.  5.25" disks
   spin at 300 RPM for all but the 1.2 Meg capacity, which is 360 RPM,
   thus the ratios:

        15 sectors per track / 18 sectors per track
                   = 300 RPM / 360 RPM
                   = 1.2 meg / 1.44 Meg

   All 8" floppy disks spin at 360 RPM too.

   Most old systems didn't use pin 2, 34.  That's GOOD NEWS since
   modern 3.5" floppy drives place signals there that the old
   controllers can't handle.  The ready/disk changed lines changed from
   the "XT" generation drives to the "AT" generation drives.  Older
   floppy drives had jumpers for drive select 0-3 and where to place
   the status signals The "AT" floppy drives assume the "AT" signals
   and usually allow only setting the middle 2 drive selects, thus the
   cable twist nonsense.  for completeness, here are the pinouts:

        Mini/Micro Floppy Interface

        Pin#  Description         Alternate Functions
        ----  -----------         -------------------
        1     GND                 Eject, Disk Change Reset
        3-33  Odd pins are GND
        2     High Density
        4     Head Load           In Use, Eject
        6     Drive Select 3
        8     Index Pulse +
        10    Drive Select 0      Motor On A    \  IBM twisted
        12    Drive Select 1      Drive Select B \ cable - both
        14    Drive Select 2      Drive Select A / drives are
        16    Motor On            Motor On B    /  strapped DS1
        18    Direction
        20    Step
        22    Write Data
        24    Write Enable
        26    Track Zero +
        28    Write Protect +
        30    Read Data +
        32    Select Head
        34    Disk Changed +      Ready +

              + signal from drive to controller

  The following table is extracted from the CompatiCard manual:

           Card        34   37              50   8 Inch Drive
     Signal Name       Pin  Pin  Direction  Pin  Signal Name
     ============================================================
     Programmable      2    3       --->    2    Low Current
     Index             8    6       <---    20   Index
     Drive Select 1/3  12   8       --->    28   Drive Select 2
     Motor Enable 1/3  16   10      --->    18   Head Load
     Step Direction    18   11      --->    34   Direction Select
     Step Pulse        20   12      --->    36   Step
     Write Data        22   13      --->    38   Write Data
     Write Enable      24   14      --->    40   Write Gate
     Track 0           26   15      <---    42   Track 0
     Write Protect     28   16      <---    44   Write Protect
     Read Data         30   17      <---    46   Read Data
     Select Head 1     32   18      --->    14   Side Select

   The odd pins of 34 pin connector to odds of 50 pin connector.
   Pins 21/37 of the DB-37 go to the odd pins on 50 pin connector.

Q17: Can I run CP/M on my MSDOS/UNIX/68K machine?

A: (Juergen Weber, Udo Munk, Paul Martin, John D. Baker,
   Mark Litwack, Tilmann Reh, Frank Cringle, Gottfried Ira,
   TJ Merritt)

   Available by anonymous ftp from the primary mirror site
   OAK.Oakland.Edu and its mirrors:

        simtel/msdos/emulator/zsim241.zip

   ZSIM is an (extremely accurate) Z80 emulator (80386/40 -8 MHz Z80)
   in conjunction with a CP/M 80 BIOS, i.e. it simulates a Z80 machine,
   that can run CP/M.  Together with the original CP/M operating system
   you have a full Z80-CP/M machine.

   If you don't have a CP/M system disk at hand, you can use the
   included public domain CP/M compatible operating system P2DOS.

   ZSIM uses CP/M format disks, a ram disk and a hard disk.  Supported
   disk formats are CP/M 86 single sided and double sided, but you can
   install any singled sided CP/M format PC drives can physically
   read.  So you can use ZSIM to transfer data to MS-Dos.  The ram disk
   can be saved to the PC hard disk.  The hard disk is in an MS-Dos
   file.  A sample hard disk containing the SMALL-C compiler is
   included.

   As ZSIM uses an original operating system and CP/M disks it should
   run every CP/M program that does not use special hardware.  ZSIM is
   free for personal use.  Sources of the CP/M BIOS are included.

   On silver.cstpl.com.au (formerly: raven.alaska.edu) you'll find:

        /pub/coherent/sources/z80pack.tar.Z.

   (Also available as z80pack.tgz at ftp.cs.uni-sb.de in the directory
   /pub/others.)

   This is a Z80 CPU emulation completely written in C, an I/O
   emulation for a typical CP/M system also is included. The package
   also comes with the BIOS source for the I/O emulation and a Z80
   cross-assembler.  It was developed it under COHERENT but it's known
   that it does work under Linux and SunOS too. You still need a CP/M
   license to get CP/M running or you might try to get one of the free
   available CP/M clones running on it. On a 486/66 DX2 running
   COHERENT it's like a 11Mhz Z80 CPU, so the emulation speed is
   acceptable.

   On sunsite.unc.edu you'll find:

        /pub/Linux/system/Emulators/cpm-0.2.tar.gz

   This package, written by Michael Bischoff, is well integrated into
   the host operating system.  It provides options to use either a
   container file for the CP/M disk for full BIOS compatibility, or to
   access the Linux file system through the included BDOS emulator.
   The Z80 emulator is written in 86 assembler and the rest is in C.  A
   pre-assembled ZDOS CCP is included with the package.  The emulation
   speed on a 486/66 is approximately a 22 Mhz Z80, and on a Pentium/90
   it is 50 Mhz.  Full source is included.

   On oak.oakland.edu you'll find:
 
        /pub/msdos/emulator/myz80111.zip

+  also to be found at:

+       http://student.uq.edu.au/~s373718/myz80.html
 
   MYZ80 is a Z80/64180 emulator package.  The new 80486, 80386 & 80286
   machines with the fast hard drives and the snazzy OS/2 operating
   systems are such a delight... but for many, the Z80 machines still
   have to be fired up from to time in order to develop code for CP/M
   and the Z80 chip. Well, not any more, thanks to MYZ80.
 
   Other emulators on the market are less than satisfactory solutions.
   Of the small number which can actually run without causing system
   errors under the later versions of DOS, apparently none is capable
   of running real CP/M. Instead they use an emulated version of CP/M
   which is only as accurate as the developers have bothered to make
   it.
 
   MYZ80 can run CP/M 3.0 and ZCPR (which is such a useful Z80
   developer's environment).  So if you suffer from less than perfect
   Z80 emulation and slow overall performance, give MYZ80 a try, and
   save the 'real' Z80  machines for those cold winter mornings when
   you really need the heat.  The author of MYZ80, Simon Cran, can be
   reached at:

              Simeon Cran P/L
              PO Box 5706
              West End, Queensland, AUstralia 4101
              [email-masked]
+             [email-masked]

   (One byte is wrong in the MyZ80 CPM 2.2 bios distributed with the
   registered version 1.20. Subsequent releases will be fixed, but
   everyone who has that version will have trouble accessing the ram
   disk unless the C: drive is accessed first.  To fix the problem
   change the byte at offset 16CE in MYZ80.SYS. It will be 03 but
   should be 04.)

   22NICE is (like 22DISK) from Sydex. It emulates the application
   program while translating all BDOS and BIOS calls into the
   appropriate DOS calls.  This way, it's comparably fast and allows
   for free use of the DOS file system (including paths). You are able
   to map drive/user combinations to particular paths in the DOS file
   system. The emulator can be configured for different emulation modes
   (8080, Z80, and automatic detection) and different terminal
   emulations. There are two run-time options: First, you can create a
   small COM file which will then load both the emulator and the CP/M
   program (contained in a .CPM file to avoid confusions); Second, you
   can build the emulator and the application together to a single COM
   file (which is larger then but needs no run-time module).  You can
   obtain a demonstration copy from:

               http://www.sydex.com

   Yaze is another Z80 and CP/M emulator designed to run on Unix
   systems.  It is available via ftp and www at:

      ftp://ftp.ping.de/pub/misc/emulators/yaze-1.10.tar.gz

   The package consists of an instruction set simulator, a CP/M-2.2
   bios written in C which runs on the Unix host, a monitor which loads
   CP/M into the simulated processor's ram and makes Unix directories
   or files look like CP/M disks, and a separate program (cdm) which
   creates and manipulates CP/M disk images for use with yaze.

   Yaze emulates all documented and most undocumented Z80 instructions
   and flag bits.  A test program is included in the package which
   compares machine states before and after execution of every
   instruction against results from a real Z80.  Yaze is independent of
   the host machine architecture and instruction set, written in ANSI
   standard C, and is provided with full source code under the GNU
   General Public License.  It supports CP/M disk geometries as images
   in Unix files or as read-only disks constructed on-the-fly.  These
   disks are indistinguishable from real disks for even the most
   inquisitive, low-level CP/M programs and can be mounted and
   unmounted at will during emulation.

   Parag Patel provides a z80 and CP/M emulator at:

        ftp://ftp.cgt.com/pub/z80/z80.tgz 

   This archive includes complete sources and has been ported to a
   number of Unix systems as well as DOS and the Mac.  Executables for
   both are available in the same directory.  It run exceedingly fast
   on DEC Alphas.  It can use either PDOS or CP/M 2.2.  The PDOS image
   is included with the sources and the modified source for PDOS can be
   found in the same directory as well.

   There is a CP/M 2.2 Simulator that simulates an 8080 CPU and CP/M
   2.2 environment.  The heart of the simulator is written in 680x0
   assembly language for speed.  It has been tested under DNIX (a SVR2
   compatible with many SVR3, BSD, Xenix, and Sun extensions), on a
   68030 NeXT, and on a 68030 Amiga running SVR4.  One 'benchmark'
   shows that on machines of the 68020/68030 class the simulator
   performs about as well as a 7 MHz Z-80 would.  Other tests indicate
   that this is somewhat optimistic.  The simulator was posted to
   alt.sources and can be found at:

   ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk:/usenet/alt.sources/articles/09000-09999/
   http://wuarchive.wustl.edu:/usenet/alt.sources/articles/09000-09999/

   in files 9954 to 9959.

Q18: Where can I get a boot disk for (insert system name)?
   
A: (Don Maslin, Herb johnson)

   Getting a system disk is pretty easy - if Dina-SIG CP/M System Disk
   Archives has it.  However, some dialogue with the requester has
   usually been necessary to assure that we are talking about the same
   Jurassic inhabitant!  There are just too many variants in the CP/M
   world.  A request with specifics on the computer, an address to mail
   to, and some recompense is all it takes.  Since this is an unfunded
   effort on the part of the SIG, the costs of media, mailer, and
   postage  must be recouped.  In general, and there are variations,
   this runs $3 for the first disk and $2 or less for each additional.
   Eight inch disks are a bit more!  However, a swap can be arranged if
   the other party has disks that are not duplicative of ones already
   in the archive.  If you can help augment the archive, yours is
   free.

   The keeper of the archives can be reached at:

              Don Maslin
              7742 Via Capri
              La Jolla CA 92037
              619-454-7392

   or use the email address given above.

Q19: What terminal emulation programs are available?

A: (Peter A. Schuman, Howard Goldstein)

   The leading CP/M public domain or freeware (author kept copyright
   but distributed it for free) modem programs are:

        MDM740 - The last of the "MDMxxx" programs.

        IMP245 - This is nice, and works smoothly within what it does.
        What it does, it does very well.  IF you have slow floppy
        drives, there is a patch to cut down the receive buffer size.

        MEX114 - different from the above two, but minimally functional
        with just a MDM740 overlay.  To use all of its fine features,
        you need MEX overlay for your machine.

        ZMP15  -  This program includes ZMODEM file transfers.

        KERMIT - This program may have the widest implementation base
        because it uses only printable characters for its file
        transfers.  This is a plus because the MODEM7 family of
        protocols send binary characters that sometimes conflict with
        the underlying system use.  It is a minus because many more
        characters must be sent and thus is slower.  KERMIT may be
        found on watsun.cc.columbia.edu.

        QTERM43F - This is somewhat like using QMODEM on an MSDOS
        machine.  Qterm has VT100 emulation mode as well as XMODEM and
        KERMIT protocol.  If you can get (or write) a good overlay,
        this is a nice program. (Bug fixes to 43E were released in a
        separate library to bring it up to 43F.  The FIX library did
        not include a new binary; users had to do their own patching.)

   For high speed transfers, you will probably need interrupt-driven
   routines, which are available for some these.  The exact baud rate
   where it becomes necessary varies by system and program.

Q209: How do you unpack a .ARK or .ARC file?

A: (Gier Tjoerhom, Don Kirkpatrick)

    Archive files are a collection of related files packed together so
    they stay together.  They have somewhat been replaced by librarys,
    but are still encountered often.  The C or K at the end only
    differentiate the original packing program, they are otherwise
    identical.  Some archives are self extracting, just rename them
    with a .com ending and execute them.  Others must be unpacked with
    a program, unarc16.ark containing one of the most popular (in a
    self extracting archive). This archive can be found at:

         oak.oakland.edu: /pub2/cpm/arc-lbr/unarc16.ark

Q21: How do you unpack a .lbr file?

A: (William P. Maloney, Peter A. Schuman)

   A .lbr is a single file that contains a number of compressed files
   inside.  The files must be extracted from the .lbr before the can be
   used.

   One very good library extract program is called lbrext.com.  It's
   simple to use and uncrunches the files at the same time.  EXAMPLE:

        A>lbrext b:myfile.lbr c:*.* uo

   This takes the lbrext.com file on 'A' to extract all the files in
   myfile.lbr on 'B' and put them on 'C' uncrunched.  A simple 'lbrext'
   first will show you how to use the .com file.

   Other popular library maintenance programs are LUE, DELBR, and NULU,
   the latter being one of the best CP/M programs for handling LBRs.
   However, don't use NULU to extract and unsqueeze simultaneously.  It
   occasionally screws up doing this, and it can trash an entire disk
   when it does so.

   LT31 is also able to unpack libraries and also supports all
   current compression standards (including LZH 2.0!).  It is a very
   useful utility and can replace several single programs.

Q22: What are all these .xQx, .xYx, and .xZx file types?

A: (Don Kirkpatrick)

   These are compressed files, a.k.a. squeezed or crunched files.  They
   must be uncompressed before they can be used.  They differ in the
   compression algorithm; .?Q? was the first generation and .?Y? the
   newest.  There are many fine programs that uncompress files, but
   most handle only one or two compression types (e.g. SQ111.ARC and
   CRUNCH24.LBR).  One program that will uncompress all three types can
   be found in CRLZH20.LBR.

Q23: Are any of these .ARK, .LBR, or CRUNCH utilities on MSDOS?

A: (Geir Tjoerhom, Mike Finn)

   Yes, MSDOS versions do exist and can be located as follows:

        oak.oakland.edu:/pub/msdos/arcutil/lue220.zip           (.LBR)
        ftp.switch.ch:/mirror/simtel/msdos/archiver/arce41a.zip (.ARK)
        nic.funet.fi:/pub/msdos/simtel/compress/alusq.com       (.xQx)
        nic.funet.fi:/pub/msdos/simtel/compress/uncr233.zip     (.xZx)
        ftp.cts.com/pub/donm/cfx.zip          (.LBR, .xQx, .xYx, .xZx)

   Also check out the files in oak.oakland.edu: /pub/unix-c/cpm.

   CFX is the acronym for Cp/m File eXchange by Carson Wilson. As its
   name suggests, CFX is a tool intended to allow quick access to CP/M
   files.  While CFX will operate on standard ASCII files, its main
   strength is its ability to access files stored with the special
   archiving and compression methods native to the CP/M operating
   system.  Specifically, CFX can handle files compressed with Roger
   Warren's LZH utilities (.xYx), Steve Greenberg's CRUNCH utilities
   (.xZx), "squeezed" files (.xQx), and archives built using Gary
   Novosielski's Library definition (.LBR).

Q24: Why does my Kaypro drop characters above (insert baud rate)?

A: (Jeff Wieland, Stephen Griswold, Don Kirkpatrick)

   The basic problem is that updating the screen takes too long and some
   incoming characters are missed.  The exact baud rate where
   characters begin to disappear depends on the configuration of the
   Kaypro and the terminal program.  Generally, the older non-graphic
   Kaypros will run at a much higher baud rate before characters start
   to disappear.  Stock Kaypros are not interrupt driven and the BIOS
   ROM has several built-in delays, which demanded too much of a
   2x/4x/10's time.

   Several things can be done to help the situation.  If your Kaypro
   came with the MITE software package, you can use it for high speed
   terminal emulation.  A Kaypro 2X using MITE can go as fast as 19200
   bps.  MITE uses interrupts to achieve this.

   Sometimes the problem can be ignored. A 2X will drop characters at
   300 baud using Kermit-80.  File transfers work fine at 19200 bps.
   It is always a good ides to run file transfers in the quiet mode if
   terminal mode is dropping characters as then the display update time
   is minimized.

   The graphic-equipped Kaypros can be significantly improved in
   terminal mode just by turning off the status line at the bottom of
   the screen.  As most terminal programs have an initialize sequence
   available, just send the no status line command to the Kaypro -
   <ESC>, C, 7 [1BH, 43H, 37H in hex].

   There are several hardware changes that can lessen or eliminate the
   problem.  There is a speed modification for the 1983 Kaypro-II's &
   IV's requiring changing some chips to faster versions and outfitting
   the back with a toggle switch.  Upgrading to a MicroCornucopia MAX-8
   or Advent TurboROM also helps.

   If your machine is equipped with the Advent TurboROM and you choose
   to run QTERM, Don Kirkpatrick can send you an interrupt driver that
   allows the graphic-enhanced Kaypros to work just fine to at least
   2400 baud.

Q25: What is an Advent TurboROM?

A: (Don Maslin)

   The Advent TurboROM is a firmware upgrade to the Kaypro.  It
   replaces the original Kaypro system ROM and provides flexible
   configurations, additional disk formats, greater speed, and bug
   fixes.  Contact point for this is:

              The Computer Journal
              P.O. Box 3900
              Citrus Heights, CA 95611-3900
              Voice: (800) 424-8825 or (916) 722-4970
              Fax:   (916) 722-7480
              Email        [email-masked]
              Web page     http://www.psyber.com/~tcj

Q26: How can I add a hard drive to my CP/M machine?

A: (Don Kirkpatrick, Herb Johnson)

   If you have a Kaypro, TCJ - The Computer Journal can sell you a hard
   drive conversion kit. (See Q20.) Emerald Microware no longer offers
   hardware support.

   Tilmann Reh, an engineer in Germany, has designed an IDE hard drive
   interface that plugs into a Z-80 socket, and described it in The
   Computer Journal magazine as the Generic IDE (GIDE). He has produced
   a number of kits that include the circuit board, parts, and even a
   time of day clock chip. Several people have bought these (as of Jan
   1996) and are beginning to write software to support these on
   various Z-80 based computers (including ADAM and TRS-80 as well as
   CP/M based systems).

   Europeans can contact Tilmann Reh directly. In the USA, Tilmann may
   refer you to a US distributor. The current US distributor is The
   Computer Journal which has a GIDE Web page (See Q23.)

Q27: What belongs in the unpopulated board area on a Kaypro?

A: (Don Maslin, Don Kirkpatrick, Peter A. Schuman)

   A clock and modem go there.  The modem is rather useless as it is
   only 300 baud.  The clock/calendar is useful.  The Computer Journal,
   issue 64, Nov./Dec. 1993, describes the installation procedure.
   There is also an area on a 2X for a hard drive interface.  

Q28: What is The Computer Journal?

A: (David Baldwin)

    The Computer Journal has had many articles on CP/M and Z-System and
    has all back issues available.  TCJ also sells software that was
    formerly from Sage MicroSystems East and Kaypro items from Chuck
    Stafford.

    The focus of The Computer Journal is source code and schematics for
    "do-it-yourself" software and hardware projects. We feature mostly
    low level projects in hardware, assembly language, 'C', and
    sometimes Forth. Our articles cover PC's, microcontrollers, and
    embedded and older systems.

    In general, we cover software and hardware that one person can work
    with, where you can "do it by yourself". This includes common
    programming languages and boards and systems where you can identify
    (and get) the parts and get code to make it work. Source code from
    the articles is posted on the TCJ Web pages and BBS so you can
    download it instead of typing it in.

    The subscription rate is $24 for 6 issues or $44 for 12.
    Subscriptions may be sent to:

              The Computer Journal
              P.O. Box 3900
              Citrus Heights, CA 95611-3900
              Voice: (800) 424-8825 or (916) 722-4970
              Fax:   (916) 722-7480

   The The Computer Journal has it's own mailing list.  To subscribe,
   send an email message to [email-masked]' with

             subscribe list-tcj <[email-masked]>
             end

   as the body of the message. 'list-tcj' is a digested mailing list -
   the messages are collected during the day and then sent out to
   subscribers in the middle of the night.  That way, you only get one
   email message from the list on any day.

   The Computer Journal (TCJ) is also on the Internet.

              Email        [email-masked]
              Web page     http://www.psyber.com/~tcj

Q29: Are there other magazines supporting CP/M?

A: (Jay Sage)

   The Z-Letter from David McGlone is no more.  Classic Computing
   (formerly Historically Brewed), edited by David Greelish is
   available at:

              Classic Computing Press
              5227 Seaspray Ave.
              Jacksonville, FL 32244

   These magazines may list other publications, support groups and CP/M
   supporting companies.

Q30: Does anybody support Amstrad machines?

A: (Matthew Phillips, Bill Roch, Howard Fisher)

   WACCI on http://users.ox.ac.uk/~chri0264/wowww.html includes:

      A directory of suppliers for Amstrad CPC and PCW machines
      An "email helpline" of contacts who are willing to give advice
      A listing of other Amstrad user groups and magazines
      Forthcoming events in the Amstrad world
      The WACCI PD Library listings - both Amstrad and CP/M stuff.

   There is also information on WACCI itself, the UK's biggest Amstrad 
   CPC user club, including details of subscription rates.

   Amstrad support is also available from Bill Roch. He offers
   software, hardware and does repairs on the PCW's - 8256, 8512 and
   9512. He may provide the most support for the wonderful Amstrad in
   the U.S.

              Bill Roch
              4067 Arizona Avenue
              Atascadero, CA  93422
              (805) 466-8440 - phone
              (805) 461-1666 - fax
              [email-masked] - email

   The descendant of Locomotive Software, a developer of software on
   the PCW (and CPCs) for Amstrad, are now with LocoScript Software.
   Their web page is mainly concerned with proprietary word processing
   software, but has some CP/M related stuff and has links to other
   useful PCW CP/M related sites. Try:

              Howard Fisher
              LocoScript Software
              10 Vincent Works
              Dorking, Surrey H4 3HJ, UK
              Tel 01306 747757
              Fax 01306 885529
              [email-masked]
              http://www.locomotive.com

Q31: Does anybody support Sharp Machines?

A: (Maurice Hawes, Mike Mallett)

   The SHARP USERS CLUB, based in the U.K. but with members in Europe,
   South Africa, and Australia. The SUC started in 1980 and its quality
   Magazine, published 3 times a year, covers ALL Sharp computers,
   including the latest PC laptops. The SUC has a large library of PD
   software for all the older Sharp machines such as:

   Z80 machines (Sharp Basic Tape/Disk OS or CP/M programs):  MZ-80K,
   MZ-80B, MZ-80A, MZ-700, MZ-800, MZ-3500, and PC-3201 (The PC-3201
   was known as the ZY-3200 in the USA).

   Also Z80 machines that were sold mainly or exclusively in Japan
   e.g.  X1, MZ-2500.

   Early 8086 machines (CP/M-86 or non-IBM Sharp MS-DOS programs):
   MZ-5500, MZ-5600, 'SHARPWRITER', PC-5000 'Bubble' machine.

   The SUC can supply hardware upgrades and documentation for many of
   the above machines. Contact :

              Maurice Hawes
              Sharp Users Club
              6 Belle Vue
              The Esplanade
              Weymouth
              Dorset DT4 8DR United Kingdom
              phone: +44 1305 783518

   Email enquiries may be sent via [email-masked].

Q32: What is ZCPR and the Z System?

A: (Jay Sage, Mike Finn, Don Kirkpatrick, Dave Baldwin)

   The original ZCPR was written in Z80 code and was called the "Z80
   Command Processor Replacement".  It was a drop-in replacement for
   the Digital Research CCP (Console Command Processor) and adhered to
   the 800H space restriction.  ZCPR2 (February 14, 1983) was the first
   experiment in greatly extending the power of the command processor.
   It added additional memory modules for supporting such things as
   multiple commands on a line, a dynamically reconfigurable command
   search path, and directory names associated with drive/user areas.
   The ideas and implementation in ZCPR2 were only half-baked, and they
   came to logical fruition in ZCPR3 (Richard Conn's 3.0 and Jay Sage's
   3.3 and 3.4).

   ZCPR3 gives you UNIX-like flexibility.  Features implemented include
   shells, aliases, I/O redirection, flow control, named directories,
   search paths, custom menus, passwords, on line help, and greater
   command flexibility.  ZCPR3 can be found on many BBS and SIMTEL
   mirrors.  The Z System commercial version is available for a nominal
   fee from The Computer Journal.  Further details can be found in the
   text "ZCPR3, The Manual", by Richard Conn, ISBN 0-918432-59-6.

   You can find a detailed history of the development of ZCPR and the Z
   System in Jay Sage's column in issue #54 of The Computer Journal.
   This article celebrated the 10th anniversary of ZCPR, which was
   first released on February 2, 1982.  His "ZCPR33 User's Guide" also
   has a section on the history.

   There still are active Z-nodes supporting Z-system and many RCP/M's
   supporting CP/M as well as some special interests.  As of November
   7, 1995, the known BBS's supporting the Z-System are:

    Z-Node  Sysop                 Telephone      Type of BBS
      3    Jay Sage             617 965 7046    PC    33,600 baud
      5    Ian Cottrell         613 829 2530  Z-Syst   2,400 baud
      6    Finn, Morgen, Isaac  215 535 0344  Z-Syst   2,400 baud
      9    Don Maslin           619 454 8412    PC    14,400 baud
     33    Jim Sands            405 237 9282  Z-Syst   2,400 baud
     36    Richard Mead         626 799 1632    PC    28,800 baud
     45    Richard Reid (Ken)   713 937 8886    PC      ?    baud
           Michael McCarrey     509 489 5835  Z-Syst   2,400 baud
           Wil Schuemann        702 887 0408    PC    28,800 baud
           Wil Schuemann        702 887 0507  Z-Syst   9,600 baud (Soon)
     TCJ   Dave Baldwin         916 722 5799    PC    14,400 baud
 
   There is also a Z-node in Munich, Germany,
     51    Helmut Jungkunz      +49.8801.2453         28,800 baud
   and one in Perth, Australia.
     62                         +61 9 450 0200

Q33: What ever happened to the Z800?

A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, Frank Zsitvay)

   The Z800 was planned to be NMOS, and was finally implemented as the
   Z280 in CMOS, five years late.  And it does have a 4kB/8kB paged
   MMU, and separate I/D space, and cache. There are small differences
   between the Z800 preliminary spec and the final Z280 specification.
   The call for Z280 end-of-life last time buys went out in December,
   1995.

   The Z180 was not an outgrowth of the Z800.  It was a joint effort
   between Zilog and Hitachi.  The first two versions of the HD64180
   were slightly different from the current Z180.  The current HD64180
   and Z180 are identical, and both have flags in one of the control
   registers to emulate the earlier versions.  The changes are mostly
   bus timing, as the HD64180 was designed to interface with Motorola
   6800 style peripherals as well as Intel and Zilog, which wasn't too
   strange since Hitachi second sources some Motorola 6800 series
   products.

Q34: What is the status of the Z380?

A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy)

   The Z380 is a 32-bit version binary-compatible upgrade of the
   HD180.  The 18MHz part in the 100-pin QFP package is shipping.  The
   plan for a PGA-package for the Z380 has been scrapped.  Zilog is
   working on a 25MHz part, but it isn't quite ready yet.  The
   "Preliminary Product Specfication", Zilog part number DC6003-02,
   documents the part.  According to the manual, the plans include a
   40MHz part, but the time frame is uncertain.

Q35: What is the KC80?

A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy)

   There was an announcement in the trade press about a deal between
   Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Zilog. Kawasaki has developed
   something called the KC80, which is a Z80 (no MMU, extended address
   space, or 32-bit enhancements), but speeded up to execute most
   instructions in one or two cycles, and running at 20MHz.  Zilog has
   the rights to the design. The catch is that Zilog is currently not
   planning to sell it as a chip.

Q36: What is the S-100 bus (also known as IEEE-696 bus)?

A: (Herb Johnson)

   Among the earliest microcomputers offered to electronic hobbyists in
   the mid-1970's was the Altair 8800 by MITS. It was offered as a $400
   kit in an article in the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics
   magazine.  Each functional block of the computer, such as the
   processor, memory, or I/O required at that time many logic or memory
   chips each. So a card was designed for each function, connected
   together by plugging into a common bus of parallel connections or
   "motherboard". The function and timing of signals on the 100 pins of
   that bus became known as the "S-100 bus". The Altair was distinctive
   for its "front panel" which displayed binary address and data on
   LED's and which provided toggle switches to control the processor,
   much like minicomputers of the era.

   While not the first microcomputer or microcontroller to be offered
   for public sale, the Altair 8800 is often cited as the "first
   personal computer" as it was a widely accepted and visually
   recognized product; it recieved a lot of press coverage inside and
   outside the electronics industry; and it set a manufacturing
   standard for a new industry. It and its successors were certainly
   early yet enduring leaders in affordable personal, business, and
   industrial computers. Only the IMSAI 8080 compares in recognition
   value among hobbyists, but the Altair is often cited by the popular
   press.

   At first, MITS (and almost immediately others) produced cards which
   were compatible to the Altair bus. Soon, IMSAI and others followed
   with the production of competitive yet (somewhat) compatible
   systems.  The S-100 bus evolved as other manufacturers, notibly
   IMSAI, made slight changes to the Altair bus signals and improved
   the front panel. Yet other manufacturers used digital designs that
   either depended on special signals from their own cards, or had
   signal timing requirements that varied between manufacturers. Over
   time, these differences and the limits of the original Altair/IMSAI
   produced a number of manufacturer-specific bus variations for
   extended addressing, bus operations, memory refresh and so on. MITS,
   IMSAI, Cromenco, Compupro, Ithica Intersystems and Northstar were
   among the major S-100 systems manufacturers of the time. Card
   manufacturers are too numerous to list. Most S-100 systems used the
   8080, Z80, or 8085 processors, but some companies produced cards
   with almost any available 8 or 16-bit processor.

   Bus signal differences were finally addressed in 1983 with the
   publication of the IEEE-696 standard by the Institute of Electrical
   and Electronic Engineers.  The standard was previously in use
   primarily by Compupro and Ithica. As CP/M personal systems went to
   single-board designs with no bus at all, the introduction of new
   S-100 designs peaked. Further competition, price pressures, and
   finally the IBM PC caused new S-100 system designs for business and
   personal use to drop in the mid-1980's. A notible system of the era
   was the Heath\Zenith Z-100, a dual processor 8085/8088 system that
   could run CP/M 80, CP/M 86 and MS-DOS: and *very* similar to the
   popular Compupro 8\16 system. Zenith sold thousands of Z-100's to
   the military.  Incidently, many systems of the mid-1980s began to
   run other operating systems, such as CP/M-compatible Turbodos, ZCPR
   and Z-system; and various UNIX-compatible OS's on 68000's, 80286's,
   and other processors.

   New IEEE-696 systems were subsequently developed through the end of
   the 1980's, primarily for industrial and/or development (non-CP/M)
   applications, particularly where multiprocessing or speed were
   important. Up to at least 1993, Compupro and Cromemco still
   supported these systems at commercial prices, but apparently they
   did not support their prior CP/M systems except as cards and
   documentation for sale. New S-100 cards were also introduced
   throughout the 1980's, but declining through the end of the decade.
   Zenith's Z-100 system is supported by some active user groups and
   on-line maillists such as Usenet's comp.sys.zenith.z100. Northstar
   systems owners correspond occasionally on comp.sys.northstar.

   One person who provides S-100 cards, documention, and some support
   is Herb Johnson. As "Dr. S-100" he wrote (1994-96) a regular column
   in The Computer Journal (www.psyber.com/~tcj/) and corresponds with
   S-100 and IEEE-696 owners. As of 1996 he can be reached via The
   Computer Journal or:

              Herbert R. Johnson
              Dr. S-100
              59 Main Blvd
              Ewing NJ 08618
              (609) 771-1503
              Email: [email-masked]
              Web page: http://pluto.njcc.com/~hjohnson/

Q37: Anyone know a good source for cross assemblers?

A: (Roger Hanscom, Mike Morris)

   There are a variety of sources for cross platform development tools.

   The C Users' Group (1601 W. 23rd St., Suite 200, Lawrence, KS
   66046-2700) has a library of software that includes all kinds of
   development tools.  Source code is distributed with many of them.
   They charge $4/disk and $3.50 s&h per order, and can supply 3.5" or
   5.25" DOS formats.  Those of you seeking assemblers or disassemblers
   will be particularly interested in volumes number 398, 363 (2
   disks), 348, 346 (2 disks), 338 (2 disks), 335 (4 disks), 316, 303,
   and 292(4 disks).  They also market a CD-ROM of volumes 100 through
   364 for $49.95 list (it can usually be found at computer shows for
   $25 to $35).  They can be reached at 913/841-1631 FAX: 913/841-2624.

   The Circuit Cellar BBS is on-line 24 hours per day with some cross
   development tools, particularly for CPU's that are commonly used as
   controllers.  They have a Courier HST running 2400/9600 bps at
   203/871-0549, and another line that will do up to 14.4k bps (8N1) at
   203/871-1988.  Both of these numbers are in Connecticut.

   The Motorola BBS is in Austin, Texas, on 512/440-3733.  They have
   downloadable cross development products mostly for the 68xx and
   68xxx architectures.  Like the Circuit Cellar BBS, this BBS seems to
   specialize in micro-controller development.  Many of these files can
   also be accessed over the network on bode.ee.ualberta.ca
   (129.128.16.96).

   2500AD software lists a Z80 assembler, a Z80 C compiler (that
   includes the assembler in the package), a Z280 assembler, a Z280 C
   compiler (that includes the assembler), and a Z380 assembler.

   Don't forget to look in the old familiar places, such as
   oak.oakland.edu and wuarchive.wustl.edu.

   The Walnut Creek CDROM has some tools from some of the sources
   listed above on the CP/M CDROM.

=====================================================================
                            End of FAQ