Commodore 1541-II - How to Use this Book; Basic Operating Steps

Another key advantage of the Commodore 1541 over disk drives for other computers
is its dynamic allocation of disk space. Many other disk drives make you think about
every program you save. Where can I store it on this diskette, and should I pack the disk
first? (Packing is the process of moving all the leftover work areas to the end of the
diskette's storage space.) All this is handled automatically on Commodore disk drives.
The 1541 disk drive always knows where the next program will go, and automatically fits
it into the best available spot.
Diskettes created on the 1541 may be read by several other Commodore disk
drives, including the former 1540, 2040, and 4040, and the 2031. It is usually possi
ble, though not recommended, to write data to any one of these drives from any of
the others.
The 1541 communicates with the computer and other devices over a cable and
interface known as the Commodore serial bus. It is patterned after the IEEE-488
bus used on Commodore's PET and CBM models, except that the serial version
only uses one wire for data. The two serial ports on the 1541 allow several devices
to be connected together at once, each plugged into the next in *'daisy chain" fash
ion. Up to 4 disk drives and 2 printers can be connected this way.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is divided into two main parts. The first part gives you the information you
need to use the 1541 effectively, even if you know little or nothing about programming.
This part of the book tells you how to set up the system, how to prepare diskettes for use,
how to read a directory, and how to load programs. Part two of the book is for advanced
users and those who would like to become advanced users. This part provides more
advanced commands, tells about the different files the 1541 uses, and how to manage
them, as well as giving a few hints for machine language programmers.
Both beginning and advanced users will find valuable information in the appendi
ces—a quick reference list of disk commands, a list of disk error messages and what they
mean, a glossary of words used in this manual, how to use two or more disk drives at
once, and explanations of some programs on the Test/Demo diskette packed with your
1541.
Since owners of four different Commodore computers use the 1541, we have
separated several explanations into two versions, depending on which Basic your com
puter uses. If you have a VIC 20 or Commodore 64, please read the pages marked Basic
2. Those with the Commodore 16 or the Plus/4 should read pages marked Basic 3.5. For
many commands, there will be an added page or two of further comments and advanced
techniques. Feel free to skip anything you don't understand on those pages now, and come
back later.
BASIC OPERATING STEPS
If you're like most people, you're anxious to start using your new disk drive (
right away. In view of that, we have outlined the basic steps you need to know in
order to get started.