doug@svax.UUCP (07/29/86)
My sister has some surveying software that runs on a Northstar under CP/M, and she wants to know if it can run on an IBM PC. Any help much appreciated. Doug Campbell doug@svax.cs.cornell.edu
halloran@unirot.UUCP (Bob Halloran) (07/30/86)
In article <430@svax.cs.cornell.edu> doug@svax.cs.cornell.edu (Douglas Campbell) writes: >My sister has some surveying software that runs on a Northstar under CP/M, >and she wants to know if it can run on an IBM PC. Any help much appreciated. > > Doug Campbell > doug@svax.cs.cornell.edu If the machine is a real PC, i.e. 8088-based, then the answer is to swap out the 8088 CPU for the NEC V-20. This is a pin-compatible processor which has hardware emulation of the 8080 CPU. There are then packages available which will allow you to switch the V-20 into emulation mode and run under CP/M. Your best bet is to check recent issues of BYTE, etc. for packages such as 'RUN-CP/M'. The V-20 chip goes for $15-20. from numerous mail-order houses. Your two problems may be: since the Northstar uses the Z-80, the software in question may be written to take advantage of the Z-80's extended instructions. If so, the V-20 won't help you. The other problem is that the Northstar uses hard-sectored diskettes, as I recall. This means you will probably have to transfer object code, data file, etc. via serial transfer with something like Xmodem or Kermit, since the hard-sectored diskettes will be unreadable on a PC, even with one of the format translator programs such as Uniform. Bob Halloran, Consultant ========================================================================= UUCP: topaz!caip!unirot!halloran DDD: (201)251-7514 CSNet/ARPA: unirot!halloran@caip.rutgers.edu ATTmail: RHALLORAN USPS: 19 Culver Ct, Old Bridge NJ 08857 Disclaimer: I speak for myself. Quote: "History is made at night. Character is what you are in the Dark." - Dr. Lizardo/John Whorfin, "Buckaroo Banzai"
halloran@unirot.UUCP (Bob Halloran) (07/31/86)
In article <430@svax.cs.cornell.edu> doug@svax.cs.cornell.edu (Douglas Campbell) writes: >My sister has some surveying software that runs on a Northstar under CP/M, >and she wants to know if it can run on an IBM PC. Any help much appreciated. > > Doug Campbell > doug@svax.cs.cornell.edu Followup to earlier posting (the latest Micro Cornucopia arrived the day after): The following firms are advertising CP/M emulators for use on PC's running with the NEC V-20 chip substituted for the i8088. I have no vested interest in any of them. An earlier issue of Micro C reviewed some of these, and thought well of UniDOS with UniForm. CP/Mulator: Source Information, POB 2974, Warminster PA 18974 215-441-8178 $69. software only, $99. with V-20 UniDOS: Emerald Microware, POB 6118, Aloha OR 97007 503-642-1860 (they also offer a program UniForm for conversion between various soft-sector 5.25" formats of CP/M and MS-DOS). $65. each, $140 for both plus V-20 chip RP/M2: Micro Methods Inc, 118 SW First St Box G, Warrenton OR 97146 503-861-1765 $129. including V-20 chip. Ad makes mention of utilities for diskette format conversion and modem transfer from CP/M systems. RUN/CPM: SBC Mart, POB 1296, Ridgecrest CA 93555 619-375-5744 $79. software V-20 is $24. separately. Ad says that package includes disk conversion utility. For those offering software only, Microprocessors Unltd in OK 918-267-4961 was advertising the 8 MHz V-20 for $14. Bob Halloran, Consultant ========================================================================= UUCP: topaz!caip!unirot!halloran DDD: (201)251-7514 CSNet/ARPA: unirot!halloran@caip.rutgers.edu ATTmail: RHALLORAN USPS: 19 Culver Ct, Old Bridge NJ 08857 Disclaimer: I speak for myself. Quote: "History is made at night. Character is what you are in the Dark." - Dr. Lizardo/John Whorfin, "Buckaroo Banzai"
nobi@mtuxo.UUCP (m.juliar) (08/01/86)
Re: CP/M on a PC? Yes, if: 1) ...you have the source code. Move the source from your CP/M machine to your PC, recompile (or, reinterpret) and run; 2) ...you don't have the source and the object code is meant to run on an 8085 chip--not a Z80--then you can replace your 8088 in your PC with a NEC V-20 CPU, buy a piece of software (I don't have any names right now) to access the 8085 mode of the V-20, and run your program; 3) ...you don't have the source and the object code is meant to run on an 8085 chip or a Z80, or your 8088 is soldered on to your motherboard. Buy a piece of software to emulate CP/M on a PC running DOS. I found an ad on p.364 of the August BYTE: Source Information, P.O. Box 2974, Warminster, PA 18974, (215) 441-8178. Check 'em out. Good luck, Michael Juliar