Copying Files From Disc To Disc; A Basic Only Disc - AMSTRAD cpc 6128 User Instruction

When you have only one built-in drive, the bottom line will also display the message
'D
r i ve i
sA:'
or
'D
r i ve i
s B: '.
This is CP/M Plus allowing you to work
with one physical mechanism as if it was two. You will have two discs to alternate
between, and the bottom line of the screen will prompt you to insert the correct disc as
the program requires it. This mode of operation avoids the need to purchase a second
disc drive, but often requires considerable swapping of discs, which is
time-consuming and introduces the possibility of human error.
Copying files from disc to disc
A standard utility program called PIP (Peripheral Interchange Program)
IS
provided to copy files from one disc to another.
First load PIP from Side 1, by typing at the A
>
prompt:
PIP
.... then a new prompt
*
will show that PIP has loaded correctly. Normally, you will
copy files from a Source disc (in Drive
A:)
to a Destination disc (in Drive
B :).
We
have already seen that in a single drive system, Drives A: and B: are the same
mechanism.
To copy one file, for example SUB M IT. CO M, type after the
*
prompt:
B:=A:SUBMIT.COM
To copy all the files from the Source disc to the Destination disc use the command:
8:=*.*
To exit from PIP, press [RETURN] at the
*
prompt.
PIP is a very sophisticated program, and further details of its operation appear in
Chapter 5.
A BASIC only disc
As already described, a System disc is normally only used as the disc for starting up
CP/M Plus. Discs used,for BASIC can therefore be Data-Only discs, which have a
slightly greater capacity.
The disc must be formatted using the D I S C KIT 3 program. To copy programs onto
this type of disc, you must use PIP (loaded from Side 1), or LOA D and S A V E them
from BASIC.
Chapter 4 Page 4 Using Discs and Cassettes