* One not partitioned FAT16 or FAT32 formatted hard disk. You can place one to four CP/M disk image files in the root directory. Every disk image file is accessed as a separate hard disk by CP/M.
* One FAT16 or FAT32 and one to three CP/M formatted partitions. You can place one to four CP/M disk image files in the root directory of the FAT file system. Every disk image file is accessed as a separate hard disk by CP/M. CP/M disk images have priority over CP/M partitions so if you have three CP/M image files and three CP/M partitions then HDCPM will mount the three CP/M images and only the first CP/M partition. If the first partition on your hard disk is formatted to FAT16 or FAT32 then HDCPM expects to find the file CPMDSK01.IMG in the root directory. Failed to do so the system won't boot.
* For interfaces that use SD card or USB flash drive as a mass storage device ([[M4 Board]], [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/usifac-iimake-your-pc-or-usb-stick-an-hdd-for-amstrad-access-dsk-and-many-more!/ USIfAC II] or [http://www.tmtlogic.com/ Symbiface III]) the only supported configuration is one to four CP/M disk image files in the root directory of the FAT file system.
Currently only the master IDE device can be accessed by HDCPM. The slave device is available to be used by your favourite DOS.<br />
** [[M4 Board]]*
** [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/usifac-iimake-your-pc-or-usb-stick-an-hdd-for-amstrad-access-dsk-and-many-more!/ USIfAC II]*
** [[http://www.tmtlogic.com/ Symbiface III]]*
* and a compatible storage device with enough free space to accommodate the desirable CP/M hard disk configuration.
* Floppy disk drive for initialization of the file system.
A CP/M Plus disk image file is a raw binary image of a CP/M hard disk or partition. Its name must be in the form CPMDSK0x.IMG where x=1, 2, 3 or 4 in order to be recognized by HDCPM. The size of the file depends on the Disk Parameter Block of the virtual hard disk it represents and for the initial release of HDCPM it is fixed and equal to 1 reserved track * 256 sectors per track * 512 bytes per sector + 8MB data = 8519680 bytes. If possible create your CPMDSK01.IMG file in a modern computer and copy it in the root directory of your FAT formatted medium. You can use the free online hex editor hexed.it or any hex editor capable of creating binary files filled with a specific pattern.<br />
In case of hexed.it select 'New file' fill in 'Size of the new file = 8519680' and 'Fill Pattern = 0xE5' and press apply. Save the file as CPMDSK01.IMG If you have a FAT capable DOS installed in your AMSTRAD you can use the provided MAKEIMG.BAS utility to create your image file. Keep in mind that it takes more than 1.5 hour for a 8MB image file to be created that way.<br />
CP/M disk image files can be accessed by a modern computer with [[http://www.moria.de/~michael/cpmtools/ cpmtools]]*. Use the command |HDDEF to see the record you must insert in the diskdefs file.<br />
The HDCPM record for diskdefs is:
** (M4): [[M4 Board]]
** (US): [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/usifac-iimake-your-pc-or-usb-stick-an-hdd-for-amstrad-access-dsk-and-many-more!/ USIfAC II]
** (S3): [http://www.tmtlogic.com/ Symbiface III]<br />
In case a RTC is detected you will also see the RTC initialization message and the current date and time: 'RTC found: 2021/01/01 12:01'
* Use your original CP/M Plus system disk set to Boot CP/M Plus.