Building a MyZ80 Z-System with NZ-COM, ZS-DOS and Backgrounder ii

All necessary files have been imported into ZSYSINST.DSK, a MYZ80-format disk image which you will mount in Step I below. For information purposes, the contents of the disk image are as follows:

USER 0: contents of COMMON.ZIP
USER 1: contents of NZCOM.ZIP.
USER 2: contents of Z3PLUS.ZIP
USER 3: contents of ZSDOS1.ZIPZSDOS2.ZIPZSDOS3.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.

Note that everything above is already included in ZSYSINST.DSK, so there's no need to download the individual files.

Now fire up your favorite DOS environment and let's get started.

I. Install MYZ80

II. Install NZCOM

III. Install ZS-DOS

IV. Install clock driver and datestamping

V. Install Backgrounder ii

NOTE: My copy of BGii v1.34 was missing LOADBG.COM. I have substituted LOADBG.COM from v1.30, which Steven Hirsch was gracious enough to send me, and so far it seems to work with v1.34, though it hasn't been extensively tested. If there's any instability, go with BGii 1.30.

NOTE 2: B6: contains copies of SETBG.COM and LOADBGZ.COM that have been preconfigured for Kaypro 83/84 terminal type and screen driver, swap file on D:, and ^\ as the BGii SUSPEND key. If these settings are OK for you, simply follow the Quick Install below. If you wish different settings, choose the Manual Install instructions.

Quick Install

COPY B4:BG.REL
COPY B4:*.HLP A15:
COPY B4:SETBG.COM
COPY B4:LOADBG.COM
COPY B4:PUTBG.COM
PUTBG -d=D

Note that you will need to rerun this command at every cold boot, since the swap file is on a ramdrive.

LOADBGZ.COM

Manual Install

MLOAD LOADBGZ.COM=B4:LOADBG.COM,B3:BGPATCH.HEX
COPY B4:BG.REL
B4:PUTBG -d=a
LOADBGZ
D0:
COPY B4:SETTERM.COM
COPY B4:LOADBG.COM
COPY B4:SETBG.COM
COPY B4:TERMBASE.DAT
SETTERM

Get TERMBASE.DAT from drive? D
Enter the number of the terminal you wish to use.
To define a new terminal, enter just a . ==> 14
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 A
OK to update (y/n) Y
Select one: L LOADBG.
Get LOADBG.COM from drive A
OK to update (y/n) Y
Q to quit. Do another terminal (y/n) N

SETBG

OK to continue Y
SOURCE file (LOADBG.COM) ==> <CR>
Enter choice ==> 1
Enter choice ==> 1
Enter choice ==> 2
Install a screendriver (N) ==> Y
Enter drive, user number, colon of the driver file (A0:) ==> D0:
Enter choice ==> 3
Then select option 3, 3 again, then answer Y. Answer D0: again, then select option 1, option 0, option 2, then option 4. Type the letter of the drive you wish to set as the location of the BG swap file. Then option 7, type the drive/user location you wish for the help files. Then option 0, 0 again, then 2, then 1. Press <RETURN>. Finally, option 0, then 0 again to exit.

MLOAD LOADBGZ.COM=LOADBG.COM,B3:BGPATCH.HEX
A0:
COPY B4:BG.REL
COPY D0:SETBG.COM
COPY D0:LOADBGZ.COM
COPY B4:*.HLP x#:

For "x#:" substitute the location you chose for the .HLP files.

PUTBG -d=X

where X is the swap drive you chose. If you set it to a ramdrive you will need to rerun this command at every boot.

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!