Changes
* Amstrad CPC/Plus computer capable of running CP/M Plus.
* ROM box or other ROM expansion hardware if using the ROM.
* Optionaly a FAT aware DOS like M4 ROM, USIfAC ROM, [[UniDOS]]*, [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/applications/cubeios-fat16fat32-rom-for-the-cpc's-with-xmass/ CubeMDOS]* etc if using the binary.
* One of the following mass storage interfaces:
** [[Symbiface II]]*
Any CP/M 3.0 compatible system that loads the BDOS, BIOS, SCB to the default AMSTRAD CP/M addresses should work. HDCPM will be able (hopefully) to patch it on the fly.<br />
==CP/M Plus disk image files==
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 [https://hexed.it / 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 />
* If [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] is used, use your PC to copy HDCPM.BIN to your USB flash disk. Then insert it to your [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] power up your Amstrad and enable the USB disk with the |USB command.
* Execute the file from the floppy disk or from your mass storage device with RUN"HDCPM". HDCPM will detect your mass storage interface and you will see the initialization message: 'CP/M+ Hard Disk boot loader v1.04' Then it will mount any available hard disk images and boot CP/M Plus.
* [[M4 Board]] and [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] use their own FAT aware DOS so you can run HDCPM.BIN directly from their mass storage device. For all the other interfaces you will need to have a FAT aware DOS, like [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/applications/cubeios-fat16fat32-rom-for-the-cpc's-with-xmass/ CubeMDOS ] or UNIDOS[[UniDOS]], installed.<br />
==The MAKEIMG.BAS and MAKEIMG.EXE utilities==
MAKEIMG.BAS<br />
MAKEIMG.EXE<br />
This utility is a [[SymbOS]]* application.<br />
Use this utility to create your CP/M hard disk images from within [[SymbOS]]. It is a bit faster than its Basic counterpart. It takes between 25 and 60 (or more) minutes for your image file to be created, depending on the characteristics of your media. Disable your screen saver before using it in order to gain some speed.<br />MAKEIMG.EXE has been developed with [http://www.symbos.de/quigs.htm Quigs]* for [[SymbOS]].<br />
==The HDMGR.COM utility==
