Instructions for newbies

Loading cassette software on a Amstrad

These instructions describe how to load software on a real Amstrad system.

To load a cassette program on a emulator you will need to follow a similar procedure.

Reset/restart the computer. The Amstrad will reset and the "Ready" prompt will be shown.
Insert the cassette into the cassette player.
On a CPC464 or CPC464+ system you must insert the cassette into the internal cassette player.
If you are using a CPC with a disc interface you will need to type:
```
|TAPE
```
and then press the large ENTER key (CPC464) or RETURN key (CPC6128, CPC464+,CPC6128+).
NOTE:
- the "|" symbol can be obtained by pressing SHIFT and "@" (at) together on the Amstrad keyboard.
- The CPC664, CPC6128 and CPC6128+ have a disc interface built in, and this command must be used to enter cassette mode.
- The CPC464 and CPC464+ have a cassette player built in. If you have a disc interface (Amstrad/Schneider DDI-1 or Vortex) connected you will need to type this command to enter cassette mode. If you do not have a disc interface, you do not need to type this command.
Now type:
```
RUN"
```
and then press the large ENTER key (CPC464) or RETURN key (CPC6128, CPC464+,CPC6128+).
OR:
- On a CPC464 system you can press SHIFT and the small ENTER key together.
- On a CPC464+, CPC6128, or CPC6128+ system you can press SHIFT and ENTER (on the keypad) together.
The following message will be displayed:
```
Press PLAY then any key:
```
Now press the PLAY button on the cassette player
Now press any key on the Amstrad keyboard, and the cassette will start to play.
After a short time you will see the following message:
```
Loading <filename> block x
```
where "<filename>" is the filename of the program found and "x" is the number of the block.
If you do not see this message:
- you could rewind the cassette to the start and wait. If you have done this more than once and the message does not appear, then you are unlikely to be able to load this program.
- the cassette is not made for the Amstrad and will not load
- the wrong side of the cassette has been inserted
For each block that is successfully read, the Amstrad will report the block number.
When all of the blocks of the file have been loaded, the program will start automatically.
If there is a error, a message will be displayed:
```
Read error a
```
or
```
Read error b
```
will be shown.
If this happens, you can rewind the cassette to the start of the block with the error and try again. If you have a external cassette recorder, then you can try to adjust the volume, this may make a difference.

Loading cassette software on a emulator

The information from a cassette is stored in a file with the ".tzx" or ".cdt" extension.

These files are called "tape-image"s and describes the sound from the cassette in a compact form.

(The TZX and CDT file-formats are identical. The CDT extension is used to identify cassettes for the Amstrad. The TZX extension is used to identify cassettes for the Sinclair Spectrum. CDT is a acronym for "CPC Digital Tape". TZX is a mangled acronym for "ZX Tape".)

(NOTE: A Sinclair Spectrum program will not work on the Amstrad. These systems are different and use a different sound-wave to store data on a cassette. If you attempt to use a Spectrum cassette then the Amstrad will not be able to recognise the Spectrum sound-wave and will either report an error, or will not load anything.)

To load cassette software on a emulator follow these steps:

Reset/restart the emulation. The CPC will restart and the "Ready" prompt will appear.
"Insert" or select the tape-image (this is the same as inserting a real cassette into a real cassette player)
Type:
```
|TAPE
```
and press RETURN.
Now type:
```
RUN"
```
and press RETURN key.
The following message will be displayed:
```
Press PLAY then any key:
```
Now press any key on the keyboard, and the cassette will start to play.
After a short time you will see the following message:
```
Loading <filename> block x
```
where "<filename>" is the filename of the program found and "x" is the number of the block.
If you do not see this message:
- you could rewind the cassette to the start and wait. If you have done this more than once and the message does not appear, then you are unlikely to be able to load this program.
- the cassette is not made for the Amstrad and will not load
- the wrong side of the cassette has been inserted
For each block that is successfully read, the Amstrad will report the block number.
When all of the blocks of the file have been loaded, the program will start automatically.

NOTE:

With some emulators, the mapping of the keys on your keyboard to the CPC key's will not be the same. e.g. You will not be able to press SHIFT and \ to get the | symbol. You will need to read the manual that comes with the emulator to find how the CPC key's are mapped to the keyboard, so you can find the correct key combinations to display the symbols you want.
With an emulator it is not possible to adjust the volume of the cassette signal. Therefore if there is an error, then you will not be able to use the tape-image.
Some emulators will run at 100% speed of a real CPC. This means a program will take the same time to load as it would on a real computer!!!! Be prepared to wait!

Loading cassette software using CPCE emulator

Follow these instructions to load tape-image software on CPCE.

Open the command-line window ("Command-line" in Windows 2000, "MS-DOS prompt" in Windows 95 and 98)
Go to the directory that CPCE is installed to.
type:
```
CPCE /r /z
```
and press RETURN
This will enable:
- tape-image to be used,
- real-speed (required for tape-images
Now type:
```
|TAPE
```
and press RETURN
Now type:
```
RUN"
```
and press RETURN
The message:
```
Press PLAY then any key
```
should appear.
Now press a key. (e.g. space bar)
Now press ALT+F3 and a window should appear called "Load Cassette".
Go to the directory with the tape-image files in it and select the name of the tape-image that you want to use
After a short time you will see the following message:
```
Loading xxxx block a
```
where "xxxx" is the file name of the program that is loading and "a" is the block number.
Now wait for the loading to complete.

During loading you will see a progress indicator showing the % of the program that has loaded so far.