SC794, CP/M (Z-System) - how to format a new compact flash card?

[Randy Merkel]

If this is addressed elsewhere, feel free to direct me there!

[Just completed the kit, booting into CP/M, Z-System successfully. No compact flash card.. yet]

Thanks,

-- Randy

[Wayne Warthen]

Probably start by looking at the RomWBW User Guide.  Look at the sections called Disk Preparation and Disk Images.  As a new user, I highly recommend starting with a disk image.

Thanks, Wayne

[Randy Merkel]

Yep, that helped but I had to dig to find info on FDISK80... but it's working. 

Thanks!

[Wayne Warthen]

On Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 6:01:36 PM UTC-7 slowyb...@gmail.com wrote:

Yep, that helped but I had to dig to find info on FDISK80... but it's working. 

Glad it is working.  If you used a disk image, you should not have needed FDISK80.  Not sure exactly which process you followed.

Thanks, Wayne 

[Randy Merkel]

It wasn't clear if I needed to use FDISK80 or not. Eventually figured out that I could just use dd. Tried with my Mac, but keep getting " dd: /dev/disk8: Resource busy" and switched to my Linux laptop, success!

Biggest issue was finding the right /dev/sd* ;)

[Wayne Warthen]

Glad you got it working.  Yes, dd can be a little painful depending on the OS and the specific scenario.

Thanks, Wayne