Writing a CP/M Disk Image

[Tech]

I want to make a CP/M boot disk for my CompuStar/SuperBrain II QD computer. I downloaded the raw boot disk image (.img) and confirmed it's valid using a utility called "mmcpm".

The 5.25" disk drives for this computer model (QD) has the following characteristics:

Code:

TRACKS 35
SECTOR_SIZE 512
SECTORS_PER_TRACK 10
SIDES 2 /*double sided*/
BYTES_PER_SIDE 179200
ALLOCATION_BLOCK_SIZE 2048
SECTOR_SKEW 2
SIDE_INTERLEAVE 0
SYSTEM_TRACKS 2
DIRECTORY_SIZE 2048
ONES_COMPLIMENT 1
BUFFER_SIZE 2000000

From the sources I found online, it seems the computer uses MFM.

I wrote the disk image using the SCP program on a DSDD 5.25" disk but it failed to boot the computer (it was not readable). Any help please on how to configure the SCP to correctly write the image?

Thank you!

[admin]

How are you converting the .img file to a .scp file?

[Tech]

I used "Load Raw Image" feature in HxCFloppyEmulator program then exported to .scp file. I also managed to get the same disk image in .imd format and it also contains 35 tracks with 10 512B sectors per track.

[Tech]

Am I out of luck using SCP with this one?

[admin]

No, as long as whatever is converting the image file to .scp format does it correctly. CP/M disks are not an issue. You need to load the image file (I don't think Load Raw Image is the correct option), and then export as the .scp file. The image type needs to be defined in the HxC software. The HxC forums have the information on the proper method for converting any disk type.

There are other programs that can also convert various image files, such as a8RawConv (Atari 8 bit/Apple) and SAMDisk (IBM PC, CP/M, Tandy, etc.).