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Last revision of this page: December 1, 2024

Formatting a floppy disk is quite simple with the Kaypro. Nevertheless, in the course of the various Kaypro's there were several ways to achieve the goal.

Basically there are three programs to format a floppy disk on a Kaypro II.

1. FORMAT
2. COPY
3. INITDISK

FORMAT

I have a CP/M version with the serial number #960, which was sold under the company name Kay Computers. This CP/M is still the early two-line version. On this disk is the original FORMAT program (dated 13 July 1982). This version was still delivered with the Kaypro with the vertical floppy disk drives (since Jun 1982); the later ones had a horizontal orientation.

The FORMAT program is mentioned in the very early Kaypro II User's Guide (letter paper size, 8.5 by 11 inch).

Kaypro II
64K CP/M v 2.2
C> FORMAT

A diskette can only be formatted with FORMAT. To write the system tracks - for a boot disk - the SYSGEN program must then be executed. The diskette to be formatted must be inserted in drive B.

COPY

In the later CP/M versions the program COPY is used for formatting. With COPY a diskette can be formatted and SYSGENd in one go. The diskette to be formatted must be inserted in drive B.

INITDISK

If your CP/M version includes the COPY program, then the INITDISK program from Micro Solutions should also be on the diskette. INITDISK is a so-called Universal Disk Initializer. You can use it to format Kaypro II as well as Osborne I, Xerox 820 and TRS-80 disks.

You can use it to format Kaypro II as well as Osborne I, Xerox 820 and TRS-80 disks. INITDISK will later become the UNIFORM program. From around 1983 onwards, it is impossible to imagine the CP/M world without this program. UNIFORM and the later UNIFORM-PC are the authoritative programs for data and file exchange between the hundreds of CP/M floppy disk formats.

Kaypro IV

Kaypro 10

Here you will find all my gathered information about the CP/M Kaypro's.

[1]

1. (↑) The Kaypro 10 User's Guide, 1983, page 47

--> Go to Part 0 : Information
--> Go to Part 1 : Versions
--> Go to Part 2 : Hardware
--> Go to Part 3 : 8K EPROM Modification
--> Go to Part 4 : Formatting a Hard Disk
--> Go to Part 5 : USER areas
--> Go to Part 6 : MASMENU - Master Menu
--> Go to Part 7 : Terminal
--> Go to Part 8 : KayPLUS ROM
--> Go to Part 9 : Advent TurboROM
--> Go to Part 10: Multicopy Plu*Perfect
--> Go to Part 11: The Kay Family & Company
--> Go to Part 12: Kaypro Design Views
--> Go to Part 13: Micro Cornucopia
--> Go to Part 14: Repairing a Kaypro II
--> Go to Part 15: Kaypro Collections
--> Go to Part 16: Kaypro General
--> Go to Part 17: Kaypro Robie
--> Go to Part 18: MFM-Emulators
--> Go to Part 19: Roadrunner ROM
--> Go to Part 20: Software
--> Go to Part 21: FAQ
--> Go to Part 22: Kaypro Virtual
--> Go to Part 23: Formatting a Floppy Disk
--> Go to Part 24: ROM, EPROM
--> Go to Part 25: Kaycomp