Problem installing a Hard Disk on my A600

Hello, I'm compleatly new to the Amiga, and like most people I'm starting my first post with a noobe question.

Can I install a Hard Disk on my A600 with the software that I have?

I have added a 2Gb IDE HD Drive to my A600, and it seems to have power (can feel it spinning), but I can’t get it to be recognised by my Amiga.

I have the 'Workbench Version 2.05', 'Extras Version 2.05', and 'Fonts Version 2.05' disks, but not the ‘Workbench 2.05 Install disk’. Apparently this only came with the HD version of the A600.
I also have the 'AMIGA 500 Workbench 1.2', AMIGA 500/2000 Amiga Extras 1.2 Amiga Basic 1.2', and 'AMIGA 500 The Very First English Version' disks.
So I don’t have the HDToolbox program.
I downloaded the HDbackup program as an alternative to HDToolbox from the net, and saved it onto a DD Floppy. But don’t know if I have the correct Workbench software to get CrossDos to read the disk on my Amiga.
Can anyone let me know if I can get the hard Disk set up with the software I currently have?

[thomas]

First run the Amiga without a floppy disk so that the "inser disk" animation appears. On the left you'll see the ROM version. If it says ROM 2.0 version 37.299 then no, you cannot use a harddisk. You need a ROM upgrade first.

If it says 37.300 then you may or may not be able to use a harddisk. Usually HDDs up to 40 MB should work. Bigger ones work with some luck.

If it says 37.350 then it should work.

HDBackup is surely not an alternative to HDToolbox. Try HDInstTools instead.

You might want to connect the HDD to a PC via an IDE-USB adapter and use WinUAE to install it. Might be easier than to fiddle around with CrossDOS and the like.

Originally Posted by thomas

HDBackup is surely not an alternative to HDToolbox. Try HDInstTools instead.

Woops, typed the wrong filename. Should have been HDInstTools, that's what I've downloaded


So will the CrossDos thing work with my 'Workbench Version 2.05' disk?

[zipper]

Yes, CrossDos needs kickstart 2.x.

OK, I got a Workbench v2.04 install disk and setup my Hard Disk; ran initialise then format.

This then made a copy of the Workbench stuff on my hard Disk.

I put in a 2Gb HD. How do I find out what size my HD is formated to.
I think I read that it will only format to 40MB or something by default.

If it's done that that's OK as long as I can partition/format the ramaning as another drive.
I still can't get it to read a DOS disk ether, I've done: MOUNT PC0:
But it just says PC0: isn't recognised!?

I know these are all probably very stupid questions, but any help is appreciated!

[thomas]

ran initialise then format.

This then made a copy of the Workbench stuff on my hard Disk.

I put in a 2Gb HD. How do I find out what size my HD is formated to.

Don't know what you mean by "initialise". Usually you would use HDToolbox to initialise the disk and usually you would know how big the partitions are that you create.

I got a Workbench v2.04 install disk
I still can't get it to read a DOS disk ether, I've done: MOUNT PC0:
But it just says PC0: isn't recognised!?

CrossDOS is only included with 2.1 and above, not with 2.0. And it's on the Workbench disk, not on the Install disk.

[extralife]

umm did u consider the 2 different floppy formats even if u do use crossdos, you can not use a 1.44mb formatted floppy in your miggi dude (as far as i remember), dunno if that is what happens