Can I use DOWNLOAD.COM for file transfer with CPM2.2 loaded with RomWBW

[David Lochlin]

Hi,  A while back I had questions about getting files from my PC on to the Classic II and solved it by using the Binary to CPM Package to convert the files and using ExtraPuTTY and DOWNLOAD.COM to transfer the files.

Now I have built a couple of other systems so I can use the RomWBW package and am having trouble moving files from my PC to CPM2.2 loaded with tthe RomWBW combo image. I have tried Xmodem(in ExtraPuTTY) and the transfer appears to start but stalls after a while and hangs. One of the solutions I've read on the group is to drop the terminal speed down but get an error when I try that. If I enter "MODE COM0: 57600 /P"  I get a "Invalid device configuration specified" error.

My question is, can I use the DOWNLOAD.COM method to transfer the files as this seems to work flawlessly on the Classic II, if so, how can I get DOWNLOAD.COM onto it in the first place?

Or is the solution to drop the terminal baudrate down to cure the Xmodem stalling. BTW I am using RTS/CTS and an FTDI unit that supports this.

Regards Dave

[Wayne Warthen]

On Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 7:39:26 AM UTC-7 David Lochlin wrote:

Hi,  A while back I had questions about getting files from my PC on to the Classic II and solved it by using the Binary to CPM Package to convert the files and using ExtraPuTTY and DOWNLOAD.COM to transfer the files.

Yes, DOWNLOAD.COM works fine on RomWBW.

Now I have built a couple of other systems so I can use the RomWBW package and am having trouble moving files from my PC to CPM2.2 loaded with tthe RomWBW combo image. I have tried Xmodem(in ExtraPuTTY) and the transfer appears to start but stalls after a while and hangs. One of the solutions I've read on the group is to drop the terminal speed down but get an error when I try that. If I enter "MODE COM0: 57600 /P"  I get a "Invalid device configuration specified" error.

Assuming you are using the typical RC2014 Dual SIO board for your serial ports, the baudrate is constrained by hardware.  Basically, RomWBW is trying to tell you that it is not possible to lower your baudrate using software.

My question is, can I use the DOWNLOAD.COM method to transfer the files as this seems to work flawlessly on the Classic II, if so, how can I get DOWNLOAD.COM onto it in the first place?

Yes, you can use it.  To get it on there in the first place, you will need to use one of the other RomWBW file transfer options.  They are documented in the RomWBW User Guide.  You can use a FAT32 partition, add the files to a disk image as part of the RomWBW build, or use XM.COM in RomWBW for a serial file transfer.

Or is the solution to drop the terminal baudrate down to cure the Xmodem stalling. BTW I am using RTS/CTS and an FTDI unit that supports this.

The XM.COM in RomWBW should work fine at 115,200 baud as long as RTS flow control is truly working.  Unfortunately, there are many ways the flow control can fail to work completely.  Any chance you have a fake FTDI unit?  They are common.

Thanks, Wayne 

[S P Dixon]

David, before I managed to get xm working on my romwbw machine (it was down to the usb-ftdi adaptor I was using - using a different type makes xm work but I have no idea why) the only way that I could transfer files was using one of the USB adaptors and a memory stick. I still find this easier than using xm. Just another option.

Wayne, I find download.com really easy to use but I didn't think that it worked - I tried using the application from my Pro CPM machine on the ROMWBW one but it didn't work. Maybe that particular build wasn't compatible. I'm glad to hear that it should work - could you point me to where I can find a suitable copy of download.com?

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[David Lochlin]

Thank you for your help. 

Yes,  using the Dual SIO board so that explains that error.

No I don't think my FTDI unit is fake. Works fine with the Classic II, Download.com method at 115200 which I assume needs RTS/CTS to manage the transfer. But I do have some alternate FTDI boards that I might experiment with.

I will play around some more. I found a copy of DOWNLOAD.COM(well download.asm so you can assemble it yourself) here http://searle.x10host.com/cpm/z80sbcFiles.zip

Dave

[David Lochlin]

With your suggestions I worked out how to 

1. Check and see the FAT16 partition on the CF card with DSK80 and format it with FAT.

2. Add my files (including DOWNLOAD.HEX to the partition and then copy them from the FAT partition to the CP/M filesystem using FAT.

3. Now I can use Grant Searles Binary to CPM converter to convert the files, copy and paste the output into a terminal window and voila, transfer done.

Tried several different FTDI boards and cables and could never get Xmodem to work so failed there. Have a couple on order so we'll see if they will do the job.

Anyhow thanks again.

Cheers Dave

[Wayne Warthen]

Well done David.

The best way to test flow control is to paste a few long lines of text into your terminal window at the CP/M command prompt.  CP/M will just respond with an error for each line, but you should not see any characters dropped.  Below is an example of a good test.

Thanks, Wayne

B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
No File
B>

[Wayne Warthen]

On Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 1:57:43 PM UTC-7 S P Dixon wrote:

Wayne, I find download.com really easy to use but I didn't think that it worked - I tried using the application from my Pro CPM machine on the ROMWBW one but it didn't work. Maybe that particular build wasn't compatible. I'm glad to hear that it should work - could you point me to where I can find a suitable copy of download.com?

Hi Shiela,

My first attempt to reply to you here was "auto deleted".  I hate when that happens.  Anyway, I double checked that DOWNLOAD.COM is working on RomWBW for me.  You can pick up the build I used from my public Google Drive folder at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2KC2lTGyZg1VW11cEJHdTBKQlU?resourcekey=0-TMBqpdNEBnKPMQL7YohgSQ.  It is in the download.zip file.

All the normal caveats about flow control and speed pacing apply.  I also find that Tera Term does not handle "pasting" of large quantities of text.  Alternatively, you can use its "Send file..." function.

Thanks, Wayne

[S P Dixon]

Thanks so much Wayne, having a build always makes things nice and easy. 

I'm well used to setting a character delay in the terminal emulator with the cpm version, so I assume this is the same. (minicom). 

Shiela

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