[net.micro.atari16] CP/M emulator - a query

fkc@warwick.UUCP (Frank K Carver) (06/19/86)

[ A> <sigh> ]

Hi,

An important question, this one. (quick answers appreciated)

Recently, I have picked up a copy of the PD CP/M emulator package (in
this case the `enhanced' package from Mikes Computer Store). In order
to work, the 3.5" disks must be formatted from TOS, then a program INIT
run from CP/M to make them usable. The problem is this:

a) The program INIT if run from drive A: as `INIT A:' will try to write
   to the utilities disk (bad idea I think)
b) I only have a single disk drive, and it does not prompt for swapping
   if I give it `INIT B:'
c) I have a few ramdisks, but none seem to be `INIT'able with eg.
   `INIT D:'

From the above, I am unable to init any disks, and can't even backup
the supplied utils disk. Therefore the emulator is useless.

Please help, What am I missing?

Any help appreciated.
Cheers,


-- 
Frank K Carver   "In space ... no one can hear your laser sound-effect"
		Join the Group Against Gratuitous Acronyms (GAGA) NOW !

Computer Systems Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
or "Magrathea", 5 Whitefields, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

UUCP:		..mcvax!ukc!warwick!fkc
ARPA:             'fraid-not@THE-MOMENT

gordon@sage.cs.reading.Ac.Uk (Simon Gordon) (06/21/86)

In article <543@snow.warwick.UUCP> fkc@snow.UUCP (Frank K Carver) writes:
>[ A> <sigh> ]
>
>a) The program INIT if run from drive A: as `INIT A:' will try to write
>   to the utilities disk (bad idea I think)
>b) I only have a single disk drive, and it does not prompt for swapping
>   if I give it `INIT B:'

thats write, despite what the documentation says, i only works properly
if you have a double disk system (like me) - and then you can init
both single or double sisded disks ok.

>c) I have a few ramdisks, but none seem to be `INIT'able with eg.
>   `INIT D:'

I had this problem too, using real disks the disk must be freshly formated
not just empty (ie all files deleted) otherwise init says 'not empty disk'.
It presumably does a check to see what is on the disk somewhere. In that
case, it should be possible to modify the source code of a ram disk to set
it self up as needed.

It would have been nice if the emulator set up all free mem as a ram disk
anyway - as it wont be needed for anything else.

By the way, if you got the bits from mikes, does that mean you live in
the southend area (i do).
My home address is 51 Chapel Lane, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 2PW
                   Tel 0702 557468
I am at Reading Univ doing a CS degree

If you do live near, perhaps you might like to drop in some time (after july
the 3rd when term ends) and we could swap PD software etc.

Simon Gordon

Gordon@sage@reading