How to install WordStar 3.3 on CP/M-80 2.2?

In the last few tutorials we saw how to experience CP/M-80 2.2. But what use an OS is without some applications? In this tutorial we will see how to use WordStar 3.3 on CP/M-80 2.2 on Altair Z80 emulator. You can download the files required for this tutorial from here:

• WordStar 3.3 package for Altair Z80s CP/M-80 2.2

Installing WordStar 3.3

First, you need to install CP/M-80 2.2 using Altair Z80 emulator. If have not already done so, see our tutorial on how to experience CP/M-80 2.2. After you have installed CP/M-80 2.2, unzip the WordStar 3.3 package you downloaded from above. There are two files in that archive:

• ws33
• ws33.dsk

Copy those two files to the folder where you stored the files for CP/M-80 2.2. Now you can open a terminal/Command Prompt and enter the following command to start CP/M-80 2.2 with WordStar 3.3 diskette loaded:

./altairz80l64 ws33

Now type b: and press enter to switch to B drive. Enter the following command to start WordStar 3.3:

ws

We will now create shell/Batch scripts to start CP/M-80 2.2 with WordStar 3.3 diskette loaded in B drive.

On Linux

Create a file called ws33.sh in the folder where you stored everything related to the VM with the following contents:

#!/bin/bash
./altairz80l64 ws33

Save and close the file and make it executable by using this command:

chmod +x ./ws33.sh

You need to execute the above command in the folder where you created that script. Now you can right click on that file and click on Run as Program to open the emulator. Some DEs and distros may have other methods of running shell scripts.

On Windows

On windows create a file called ws33.bat in the folder where the emulator files are located with the following contents:

altairz80l64.exe ws33

Save and close that file. Now you can double click the file to open the emulator with the WordStar 3.3 diskette loaded.

That's it. We use WordStar 3.3, a software released in 1983.