Last Updated on: 9th November 2023, 04:52 pm
Web site: (not active)
Origin: United Kingdom
Category: workstation
Desktop environment: CLI
Architecture: CPS 464/664/6128
Based on: DOS-like
Wikipedia: AMSDOS
Media: Install
The last version | Released: unknown
AMSDOS (Amstrad Disk Operating System) – a DOS-like operating system for the 8-bit Amstrad CPC Computer 464, and then for the CPC 664 and CPC 6128. AMSDOS extends the AMSTRAD BASIC supplied with your computer, by the addition of a number of external commands, which are identified by the preceding | (bar) symbol. AMSDOS allows the user to change discs freely, as long as no files are in use – in which case an error message will be displayed and there could be a loss of data if the open file was being written to.
The Amstrad CPC 464 was one of the most successful computers in Europe.
A huge number of programs and peripherals were developed for this machine. It ran AmsDos (Amstrad’s Operating System). AmsDos was completely embedded in the Basic using so-called RSX commands starting with |, but it could not format disks, you needed a special application for that.
The 464 also could use CP/M 2.2 or 3.0 when used with an external Floppy disk unit (3″ Hitachi, 180 KB / face). A lot of great CP/M software was adapted for the Amstrad CPC.
About 42 KB RAM was available for the user, the video memory and the ROM were mapped on the same addresses with a dedicated chip to switch the memory banks automatically.
Notice that the first Amstrad CPC prototype (called “Arnold”, which gave the name ROLAND (Arnold acronym) to several CPC games) was built around a 6502 processor and then changed to a Z80 late in the computer’s development. A few months later, the CPC series would be completed with a computer which offered a built-in floppy disk unit: the CPC 664.
The first release of AMSDOS was made in 1984.
