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Chapter 3 CP/M Primer
Operating with CP/M
Subjects covered in this chapter:
• Booting CP/M
• Configuration sector
• Direct console mode
• Transient programs
• Managing peripherals
CP/M is a disc operating system. It is a special program which gives you access to the
full power of your CPC464 disc system. Because CP/M is available for so many
different computers it means that there are thousands of applications packages
available for you to choose from and a whole wealth of knowledge and experience for
you to draw upon.
Full details of CP/M including information on how to write your own programs and
the information for the CPC464 implementation are contained in SOFT159 A Guide to
CP/M.
3.1 Introduction.
The CP/M operating system provides a user interface for disc hardware - a way for
you to communicate with the computer and manipulate files and peripherals.
The fundamental interface that is available is called the Direct Console Mode and is
identified by the A> or B> prompt. Certain built-in commands are available but the
majority of the functionality is obtained by loading and running 'Transient Programs'.
They are called 'transient' because they are only in the computer (rather than on the
disc) whilst you are using them, as opposed to being built-in.
As well as standard CP/M error messages the AMSTRAD disc system also generates a
number of specialised hardware error messages. Refer to section 2.7 of the AMSDOS
primer.
3.2 CP/M system tracks
The major part of CP/M resides on the outermost two tracks of the disc. The DDI-1
disc interface loads CP/M from these tracks into the CPC464 memory using a two
stage process.
Chapter 3.1 AMSTRAD Disc Drive & Interface DDI-1 Manual