Building a MyZ80 Z-System with NZ-COM, ZS-DOS and Backgrounder ii
For the terminally lazy, simply download NZCOMBG.DSK, set it as your MYZ80 A drive, and start MYZ80. Otherwise, continue.
All necessary files have been imported into ZSYSINST.DSK, a MYZ80-format disk image which you will mount in Step I below. ZSYSINST.DSK is the only file you'll need to download, but for information purposes, the contents of the disk image are as follows:
USER 0: contents of COMMON.ZIP
USER 1: contents of NZCOM.ZIP plus ZEX.RSX.
USER 2: contents of Z3PLUS.ZIP
USER 3: contents of ZSDOS1.ZIP,
ZSDOS2.ZIP,
ZSDOS3.ZIP, and
ZSDOS4.ZIP
USER 4: Contents of
BGII-134.ZIP, suppl. w/add'ns (esp. LOADBG.COM) from bgii-130.tar.gz.
USER 6: MLOAD25.COM, and preconfigured SETBG.COM and LOADBGZ.COM.
USER 7: SUBMIT.COM and SUBMIT scripts for automating the install.
Now fire up your favorite DOS environment and let's get started.
I. Install MYZ80
- Make a directory, we'll call it MYZ80.
- Download MYZ80124.ZIP and unzip its contents into MYZ80/
- Download ZSYSINST.DSK and copy it to MYZ80/.
- Back up A.DSK:
COPY A.DSK A.BKP - Start MYZ80:
MYZ80 - Type the following commands:
CHGDSK B: ZSYSINST.DSK
B:COPY B7:*.*
II. Install NZCOM
Type the following command:
You'll see some files copied, then TCSELECT will run. Type . , N and Y to select "Kaypro 4 or 10".
NZCOM installation is complete.
III. Install ZS-DOS
Type the following command:
Type U , 7[RET] and S to set User's Memory Area to 7 records.
IV. Install clock driver and datestamping
Start up NZCOM and run setup:
SUBMIT CLOCK
Answer as follows:
1 - DateStamper (tm) (Note: Opt. 5 results in "Wrong operating system" error, since we're running ZSDOS, not ZDDOS)
Load as an RSX below the CCP? (Y[N]) : N
Install in NZ-COM User Space? (Y[N]) : Y
Location of STAMPS.DAT file [A0:] : B3:[RET]
Extract Clock from Library ([Y]/N) : N
Name of User-supplied .REL clock : B5:myz80clk.rel
Module will load NZ-COM User Space. Change? (Y[N]) : N
Opening Message: [Any text][RET]
Name of output file [Default = A0:LDTIM .COM] : [RET]
PUTDS will run automatically to prepare drive A for datestamping, but you will need to run it as follows on every disk you wish to initialize, changing "a" to the appropriate drive letter:
You will also need to run LDTIM each time you boot your system.
V. Install Backgrounder ii
SETTERM will run. Answer as follows:
Enter the number of the terminal you wish to use.
To define a new terminal, enter just a
Review or edit the terminal definition (y/n) N
Install the definition for: Kaypro 84 into utilities (y/n) Y
Select one: B for SETBG.
Get SETBG.COM from drive D
OK to update (y/n) Y
Select one: L LOADBG.
Get LOADBG.COM from drive D
OK to update (y/n) Y
Q to quit. Do another terminal (y/n) N
Next SETBG will run. Answer as follows:
SOURCE file (LOADBG.COM) ==> [RET]
Enter choice ==> 1
Enter choice ==> 1
Enter choice ==> 2
Install a screendriver (N) ==> Y
Enter drive, user number, colon of the driver file (A0:) ==> B4:[RET]
Enter file number to use (0 for none) ==> 3
Enter choice ==> 3
Install a function-key driver (N) ==> Y
Enter drive, user number, colon of the driver file (A0:) ==> B4:[RET]
Enter file number to use (0 for none) ==> 1
Enter choice ==> 0
Enter choice ==> 2
Enter choice ==> 4
Enter swap drive (A:) ==> A (or set to your preferred BGii swap drive)
Enter choice ==> 7
Enter drive, user number, and colon (A15:) ==> A15: (or set your preferred help file location)
Enter choice ==> 0
Enter choice ==> 0
Enter choice ==> 2
Enter choice ==> 1
Strike any key to continue. [RET]
Enter choice ==> 0
Enter choice ==> 0
Copy the help files to the location you chose above (probably A15):
To prepare your swap drive for BGii, run the following (where X is the swap drive you chose above). If it's D (the ramdrive), you will need to rerun this at every cold boot.
You will also need to load BGii at every system start:
VI. STARTZCM
NZCOM is configured to run the STARTZCM command at every boot; this is the equivalent of MS-DOS's AUTOEXEC.BAT, allowing you to automate certain commands at startup. We will now create STARTZCM.COM, and add some commands to it.
Type in the following:
LDTIM
If you designated your ram drive (D) as your Backgrounder swap drive, add these lines to initialize D at bootup. Note that this will cause a warning when you attempt to EXIT NZCOM:
PUTBG -d=D
Type ^KX to save and exit. The above commands will be run every time you start your system.
That's it -- you're done! You now have a fully configured NZCOM Z-System disk with ZS-DOS-style datestamping and Backgrounder ii. You'll have hours of fun exploring your system, so hop to it! To exit back to DOS now, type EXIT . When you restart your system, type NZCOM to load NZ-COM. Alternatively, to have NZ-COM load automatically, do:
COPY NZCOM.COM MYZ80GO.COM
Now here are some resources to help you get started.
The Z-System Users' Guide
The NZ-COM Users' Manual
Backgrounder ii Users' Manual