AMSTRAD PCW SERIAL COMMUNICATION WITH WINDOWS PC

 I still can't really believed that finally I've successfully cracked "Amstrad PCW Communication with Windows PC" case, taking me back from Jan 2007, that's the only Amstrad PCW serial communication with a PC link that I can find while researching on the Internet at the time but couldn't do anything, due to lack of space in 2nd floor small bedroom with very low ceiling plus don't know anyone who is willing to make one up nor not getting full understanding with limited knowledge at the time. So all I can do so far was taking some small notes with some pics (as shown below) back in Jan 2007 and keeping it for future reference when I've got more space or gaining more experience while trying to purchase more of retro computers and accessories.

Communicating with your CPC / PCW to PC via Serial

Connections from CPC / PCW to PC	Connections Numbers for RS232C Plug

Notes:

• The Connection Pin Numbers from Amstrad RS-232C Serial Interface for Amstrad CPC Series is exactly the same as Amstrad CPS8256 (Centronics Parallel Schnitstelle) Parallel/Serial Interface for Amstrad PCW Series - very useful for making a Null Modem cable for transferring data from either Amstrad CPC or PCW Series to PC and visa versa or transferring data back and forth between with Amstrad CPC series and Amstrad PCW series computers. Also, finding out that Amstrad RS-232C Serial Interface for CPC / PCW series is exactly the same for Amstrad PC series RS232C Asynchronous Serial Port as well, I'm guessing that it's Amstrad standard RS-232C Serial port for Amstrad PPC series too.
   

• This idea is originally taken from PCW Joyce Computer Club - PCW serial communication with a PC

Fast forward to present at this time... After I've managed to make some space in the small bedroom filled up with my huge stuff including my retro computer collection for Martin to gain access to the radiators, Power flushing my mum's boiler / central heating system. While researching on the Internet, finding out about Transfer files from PCW to PC in standard ASCII format web site and saw diagrama de conexiones del cable rs232, I've decided to preserving some of my PCW 8256 disks on my eMachines 320 PC via Windows XP Professional with spare full working 3.5" floppy drive using CPCDISKXP with the following options:

Floppy Drive:	A
Side:	Side A & B
Tracks:	80 Tracks

Honestly, I don't really remember how and when I've managed to transferred KERMPCW onto Amstrad PCW formatted 3.5" disc, probably in the same year 2007 but I'm extremely very pleased that these files are already stored on that disk, so I proceed to get my Amstrad PCW 8256 (PCW 8512 spec) out of the box stored in another small bedroom used as storage!

Then I realised about 40MB Cirtech GEM Hard Disk System on Amstrad PCW 8256 (PCW 8512 spec), after lots of trial and error attempts on Amstrad PCW communication with Windows PC, but I thought that I'll give it a last try resort with the same old approx. 2m / 6ft DB9 Female to DB25 Male Null Modem Serial Cable (crossover cable) and "borrowing" DB25 pin Female to Female Adaptor from MEMORY CARD STATION - PS2 CARD READER previously used from Amstrad PC Series Serial Communication, connected to 25-way RS232C Asynchronous Serial Port via SCA Systems Professional Series RS232C Serial/Centronics Parallel Interface containing battery backed up clock built-in as well Cirtech GEM Hard Disk System Interface with break through connector for connecting SCA Systems Professional Series RamPort 1.5MB Expansion RAM with Printer Port (as shown 2nd pic below) on Amstrad PCW side while connecting the other end of the cable to 9-pin DB9 RS 232 Serial port on e-Machines 320 PC side and guess what??? It works perfectly like a miracle while backing up all the files stored on the Cirtech GEM Hard Disk System!!

All I did was type: send *.* on Amstrad PCW and type: receive on Windows XP PC, that's where all the magic starts!! 

But before that, since after CP/M Plus startup, Amstrad PCW was already in A> prompt (Drive A:) as default setting, so I just put the 3.5" disc containing KERMPCW files in my Pinboard DataDual drive and type D: KERMPCW to load up Kermit-80 v4.08 [Amstrad PCW with SIO option] while loading up IBM-PC MS-Kermit: 3.00 16 Jan 1990 on same e-Machines 320 PC previously used in RM Nimbus RS422 Communication With Windows PC, running on Windows XP Professional with same edited MSKERMIT.INI file settings via NOTEPAD.

In order to get 0 Number of retries on both computers - see pics as shown below, go to Amstrad PCW keyboard first and type send *.* but don't press RETURN key just yet, when you're done, move on to Windows PC and type: receive but don't press RETURN key just yet again. While you're in the middle between both computers at the same time, get ready to put your left finger on top of Amstrad PCW RETURN key and put right finger on top of Windows PC RETURN key, then press both RETURN keys at the same time!! Amstrad PCW will make a single beep sound for letting you know when the whole file transferring process has fully completed.

To be honest with you. Since, the way with Kermit software goes, knowing that it's not the same as using FastLynx software on DOS based PC, in order to back up the entire Cirtech GEM Hard Disk System using CP/M Plus based Operating System, it's going to be very a repetitive task! But lucky for me, I'm very used to with doing very boring and tedious tasks. This one involves with retrieving and transferring all the contents from each User No stored on current default drive e.g. A: (PCW HDD) onto Windows PC HDD one by one e.g. type user 1, the cursor prompt will change to 1A> type dir to see the contents on that particular User / Group No, if there is some files stored there, then follow the 0 Number of retries on both computers step as shown above. But if there is no files stored, then move on to next User / Group No by typing user 2, it'll change the prompt to 2A>  and type dir to see if there are any files stored, keep on doing the same process over and over again until you've reached the end of User 15!

From there, when you're fully done at 15A>, then change to next current drive to B> prompt by typing B: and repeat the same process all over again until you've reached 15F. When you're done, you can type exit to take you back to current drive as before with F> prompt. You can now switch off your Amstrad PCW.