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docs/1970s/1973/alto-os/contralto/index.md

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+---
+keywords: ["Alto OS", "Xerox", "Alto", "ContrAlto", 1970s, 1973]
+image: ./alto-os-contralto-7.webp
+description: "We can run Alto OS on ContrAlto emulator. First we need to download a disk image of Alto OS. You can download the Alto OS Non-programmer's disk image bitsavers:"
+sidebar_position: 1
+sidebar_label: "Alto OS on ContrAlto emulator"
+---
+
+# How to install Alto OS on ContrAlto emulator?
+
+![Alto OS running on ContrAlto emulator](./alto-os-contralto-7.webp)
+
+We can run [Alto OS](/1970s/1973/alto-os/) on ContrAlto emulator. First, we need to download a disk image of Alto OS.
+
+## Downloads
+
+You can download the Alto OS Non-programmer's disk image [bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/bits/Xerox/Alto/simulator/salto/disks/):
+
+- [Alto OS Non-programmer's disk image](http://bitsavers.org/bits/Xerox/Alto/simulator/salto/disks/nonprog.dsk.Z)
+
+If you are on Windows, you may need to install additional software such as [7-Zip](https://www.7-zip.org/) to extract the kit.
+
+## Setting Up
+
+:::tip
+
+If you have not already installed ContrAlto emulator, see [the VirtualHub Setup tutorial on how to do so](https://setup.virtualhub.eu.org/contralto/) on Linux and Windows.
+
+:::
+
+### Linux
+
+Extract the `nonprog.dsk.Z` you downloaded. Inside you will find the `nonprog.dsk` disk image file. Copy that file to where you have stored the files for ContrAlto emulator.
+
+Now open the file called `Contralto.cfg` in a text editor. Find the following line:
+
+```ini
+# Drive0Image =
+```
+
+and replace it with the following:
+
+```ini
+Drive0Image = nonprog.dsk
+```
+
+![Contralto.cfg](./alto-os-contralto-1.webp)
+
+Save and quit the file.
+
+Now open a terminal and move to the ContrAlto folder. Run the following command to start the emulator:
+
+```bash
+mono Contralto.exe
+```
+
+![mono Contralto.exe](./alto-os-contralto-2.webp)
+
+In the console window that appears, type `start` followed by enter. The main emulation window will turn white, and Alto OS will start.
+
+![start (console)](./alto-os-contralto-3.webp)
+
+![start (emulation)](./alto-os-contralto-4.webp)
+
+You can now continue with [installing Alto OS](#installing-alto-os).
+
+### Windows
+
+:::tip
+
+You should use Linux. If you don’t know how to install a Linux distro, see [our tutorials on how to install Kubuntu](https://setup.virtualhub.eu.org/tag/os/), a beginner-friendly distro.
+
+:::
+
+Start the ContrAlto emulator from Start menu. After it opens, click on `System` > `Drive 0` > `Load`. Choose the `nonprog.dsk` file. Now click on `System` > `Start`. The emulation will start. You can now continue with [installing Alto OS](#installing-alto-os).
+
+## Installing Alto OS
+
+:::tip
+
+To interact with Alto OS, you need to click on the emulation window. Doing so will lock your mouse and keyboard to inside the window. To free them again, press the `Alt` key.
+
+:::
+
+Run `install` in the emulation window to start the installation. When asked whether you want the long installation dialog, press `N`. Enter your username and the name you want to give to the disk.
+
+![Installation](./alto-os-contralto-5.webp)
+
+If you want to set up a password, press `Y` else press `N`. If you choose to set up a password, enter it. You will need the password every time you start Alto OS, so make sure to remember it.
+
+Afterward, Alto OS will restart. If you have set up a password, it will ask for it. Note that while the password is shown as you type when setting it, there is no feedback while you are entering your password now, similar to Unix systems, but the password is being entered.
+
+![Password](./alto-os-contralto-6.webp)
+
+After entering the password, Alto OS will start and display your username as well as the disk name you gave. You can type `?` to see the list of files:
+
+![List of files](./alto-os-contralto-7.webp)
+
+That's it! We installed Alto OS. See the [manuals section](/1970s/1973/alto-os/#manuals) on the [main Alto OS page](/1970s/1973/alto-os/) to learn how to use it.
+
+There are several preinstalled apps on the disk image. We cover them here:
+
+- [Preinstalled apps in Alto OS](/1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/)
+
+## Credits
+
+- The disk image and other files used above are from [bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/bits/Xerox/Alto/simulator/salto/disks/). They have disk images of many apps which run on Alto OS. You may want to try them.
+
+## Video tutorial
+
+Do you want to follow the tutorial by watching a video? We will post a video on our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@virtua1hub) soon.
+
+Archives of this tutorial are available on [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://virtualhub.eu.org1970s/1973/alto-os/contralto/).

docs/1970s/1973/alto-os/index.md

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+---
+keywords: ["Alto OS", "Xerox", "Alto", 1970s, 1973]
+image: ./alto-os.webp
+description: "The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator."
+sidebar_position: 1
+---
+
+import DocCardList from '@theme/DocCardList';
+
+# Alto OS
+
+![Alto OS](./alto-os.webp)
+
+The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator.
+
+<DocCardList />
+
+## Manuals
+
+:::tip
+
+The manuals refer to the mouse buttons by their color. On a modern 3-button mouse, the colors map as the following:
+
+- Red = Left mouse button
+- Yellow = Middle mouse button
+- Blue = Right mouse button
+
+On most mouses, pressing the scroll-wheel simulates pressing the middle mouse button.
+
+:::
+
+You can download the Alto OS manuals from [bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/). These are the most useful ones:
+
+- [Alto User's Handbook](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_Users_Handbook_Sep79.pdf)
+- [Alto Subsystems Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSubsystems_Oct79.pdf)
+- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part1.pdf)
+- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part2.pdf)
+- [BCPL Reference Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/bcpl/AltoBCPLdoc.pdf)
+- [Bravo Course Outline](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/BravoCourse.pdf)
+
+You may also be interested in the Alto hardware manual:
+
+- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part1.pdf)
+- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part2.pdf)
+
+## Apps
+
+- [Preinstalled Apps](/1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/)
+
+## Related Pages
+
+- [VirtualHub Screenshots](https://screenshots.virtualhub.eu.org/1970s/1973/alto-os/)
+- [Run Alto OS in your browser: ContrAltoJS](https://archives.loomcom.com/contraltojs/)
+- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto#Software)
+- [Computer History Wiki Alto page](https://gunkies.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto)
+- [Toasty Tech Xerox Alto page](http://toastytech.com/guis/alto.html)
+- [Toasty Tech page on running Alto OS on the older `salto` emulator](http://toastytech.com/guis/salto.html)
+- [Computer History Museum: Xerox Alto Source Code Release](https://computerhistory.org/blog/xerox-alto-source-code/)
+
+## Credits
+
+- The manuals were taken from [Bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org).

docs/1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/index.md

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+---
+keywords: ["Neptune", "Draw", "Markup", "Laurel", "Bravo", "Alto OS", "Xerox", "Alto", "ContrAlto", 1970s, 1973]
+image: ./alto-os-pi-5.webp
+description: "There are quite a few preinstalled apps in Alto OS. It includes things from file manager to Word processing software. Let's start with the simplest, the file manager."
+sidebar_position: 2
+---
+
+# Preinstalled apps in Alto OS
+
+![Bravo Word Processor](./alto-os-pi-5.webp)
+
+:::tip
+
+To interact with Alto OS, you need to click on the emulation window. Doing so will lock your mouse and keyboard to inside the window. To free them again, press the `Alt` key.
+
+:::
+
+Now that we have [installed Alto OS](/1970s/1973/alto-os/contralto/), let's use some apps on it. There are quite a few preinstalled apps in Alto OS. It includes things from file manager to Word processing software. Let's start with the simplest, the file manager. First, start Alto OS.
+
+:::tip
+
+You can learn how to use all of these apps by referring to Alto OS [manuals](/1970s/1973/alto-os/#manuals) on the [main Alto OS page](/1970s/1973/alto-os/).
+
+:::
+
+## Neptune
+
+Neptune is the file manager of Alto OS. You can start it by running `neptune` in the Alto OS Executive.
+
+![Neptune File Manager](./alto-os-pi-1.webp)
+
+It can do things like copying, renaming and deleting files. To quit it, click on `Quit`.
+
+## Draw
+
+Draw is a vector based drawing program. To start it, run `draw`.
+
+![Draw](./alto-os-pi-2.webp)
+
+To quit it, press `Ctrl` + `Q`. Then press `Y` to confirm.
+
+## Markup
+
+Markup is a bitmap based drawing program. To start it, run `markup`. When asked for input file, press enter, unless you want to open an already existing file. When asked for output file, enter the name with which you want to save the file. If you don't want to save the file, just press enter.
+
+![Markup](./alto-os-pi-3.webp)
+
+To show its menu, press the middle mouse button, and then move the mouse around a little. To quit it, press the middle mouse button, and then move the mouse right until `quit` appears. Then, while keeping the middle mouse button pressed, move the pointer so that it is above `quit` and then release the mouse button.
+
+## Laurel
+
+Laurel is the email client of Alto. To start it, run `laurel`. It is not much useful now, as we don't have a mail server, but you can load a tutorial mail file. To do so, click on "Mail File" and then erase "Active" and instead type `tutorial.mail`.
+
+![Laurel](./alto-os-pi-4.webp)
+
+To quit it, click on `Quit` and then press `ESC` to confirm.
+
+## Bravo
+
+Bravo is a word processor software for Alto OS. Run `bravo` to start it.
+
+![Bravo](./alto-os-pi-5.webp)
+
+To quit it, type `q`. Then press enter to confirm. If you have not saved the file, you will be asked to confirm again if you really want to exit. Press `y` if you want to exit anyway.
+
+## More?
+
+- [Bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/bits/Xerox/Alto/simulator/salto/disks/) have disk images of many apps and games which run on Alto OS. You may want to try them.
+
+## Video tutorial
+
+Do you want to follow the tutorial by watching a video? We will post a video on our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@virtua1hub) soon.
+
+Archives of this tutorial are available on [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://virtualhub.eu.org1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/).