Difference between revisions of "Disc format"
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* '''Data''': 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &C1 to &C9. 64 directory entries. Can also be read by [[PCW]]s. The useable capacity is 178k. | * '''Data''': 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &C1 to &C9. 64 directory entries. Can also be read by [[PCW]]s. The useable capacity is 178k. | ||
* '''System''': 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &41 to &49. 64 directory entries. Two reserved tracks containing CP/M BIOS. The useable capacity is 169k. | * '''System''': 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &41 to &49. 64 directory entries. Two reserved tracks containing CP/M BIOS. The useable capacity is 169k. | ||
| − | * '''IBM''': 160k single-sided. 40 tracks of eight 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &01 to &08. Provided for compatibility with CP/M-86 ( | + | * '''IBM''': 160k single-sided. 40 tracks of eight 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &01 to &08. Provided for compatibility with CP/M-86 (and DR-DOS 1.0). Used by very few CPC purchasers, but Locomotive Software stated that this was invaluable for cross-assembly. The useable capacity is 158k. |
* '''Vendor''': Term used for System format discs with no software in the reserved tracks. The useable capacity is 169k. | * '''Vendor''': Term used for System format discs with no software in the reserved tracks. The useable capacity is 169k. | ||
| + | |||
| + | All these disc formats use a CP/M based filesystem. | ||
== Third-party CPC disc formats == | == Third-party CPC disc formats == | ||
| − | * [[FAT]] formats (invented by MS-DOS; supported by [[SymbOS]], [[DOS Copy]], [[ReadDSK]], [[ | + | * [[FAT]] formats [http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/firmware/fatgen.mspx] (invented by MS-DOS; supported by [[SymbOS]], [[DOS Copy]], [[ReadDSK]], [[DSK-CPC]]) |
* [[MS800]] formats | * [[MS800]] formats | ||
* [[Stream2#MoDOS|Prem]] format (supported by [[Stream2]]) | * [[Stream2#MoDOS|Prem]] format (supported by [[Stream2]]) | ||
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* [[ROMDOS]] formats (also supported by [[ParaDOS]]: D80 supported by [[S-DOS]] and [[400K/S]]) | * [[ROMDOS]] formats (also supported by [[ParaDOS]]: D80 supported by [[S-DOS]] and [[400K/S]]) | ||
* [[Ultraform]] | * [[Ultraform]] | ||
| + | * [[Vortex]] (80 tracks, 2 sides, 9 sectors of 512 bytes, 2 reserved tracks, 704 KB; supported by [[FutureOS]], [[ParaDOS]] / [[VaraDOS]], [[VDOS]] and [[X-DDOS]]) | ||
* [[Xexor]] formats (also supported by [[ParaDOS]]) | * [[Xexor]] formats (also supported by [[ParaDOS]]) | ||
| − | * | + | * [[X-DDOS]] (supports 0.7 MB Data-, System- and Vortex- formats) |
| + | * [[B360K]] (80 tracks, 1 side, 9 sectors of 512 bytes) | ||
| + | * etc.?? | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
| − | * http://www.seasip. | + | * http://www.seasip.info/Cpm/amsform.html |
* http://www.wacci.org.uk/magazine/138/138_08.html | * http://www.wacci.org.uk/magazine/138/138_08.html | ||
| + | * http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/firmware/fatgen.mspx | ||
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| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Software]][[Category:DATA Storage]][[Category:CPC Internal Components]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:16, 30 December 2022
CPCs could read discs formatted in three separate ways. Several high-capacity disc operating systems existed to add new formats to the three standard ones.
Standard CPC disc formats
- Data: 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &C1 to &C9. 64 directory entries. Can also be read by PCWs. The useable capacity is 178k.
- System: 180k single-sided. 40 tracks of nine 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &41 to &49. 64 directory entries. Two reserved tracks containing CP/M BIOS. The useable capacity is 169k.
- IBM: 160k single-sided. 40 tracks of eight 512-byte sectors each. Sectors numbered &01 to &08. Provided for compatibility with CP/M-86 (and DR-DOS 1.0). Used by very few CPC purchasers, but Locomotive Software stated that this was invaluable for cross-assembly. The useable capacity is 158k.
- Vendor: Term used for System format discs with no software in the reserved tracks. The useable capacity is 169k.
All these disc formats use a CP/M based filesystem.
Third-party CPC disc formats
- FAT formats [1] (invented by MS-DOS; supported by SymbOS, DOS Copy, ReadDSK, DSK-CPC)
- MS800 formats
- Prem format (supported by Stream2)
- RODOS formats
- ROMDOS formats (also supported by ParaDOS: D80 supported by S-DOS and 400K/S)
- Ultraform
- Vortex (80 tracks, 2 sides, 9 sectors of 512 bytes, 2 reserved tracks, 704 KB; supported by FutureOS, ParaDOS / VaraDOS, VDOS and X-DDOS)
- Xexor formats (also supported by ParaDOS)
- X-DDOS (supports 0.7 MB Data-, System- and Vortex- formats)
- B360K (80 tracks, 1 side, 9 sectors of 512 bytes)
- etc.??
