A600 Hard Drive Questions

Wingnut · 14 March 2006, 16:30

Hello... I apologise if my questions have already been answered elsewhere. I have had a look but could find anything specific to my questions or anything I was able to understand. If there is a link which will help me PLEASE point me in the right direction...

I've now got my A600 and installed the 37.350 Kickstart. I've also got myself a 6.01GB HD and the required cradle and cable. I've also got Workbench 2.xx + HD install disk.

My questions are:

1. What implications will the fact my HD is 6.01GB have? From what I understand the HD can't be bigger than 4GB. Can I just create partitions up to but not exceeding 4GB?

2. Can I do that with the WB HD install disk? How?

3. Once this is done, can I simply use that to install WB as the name suggests?

4. Once I have Workbench installed, by default will it attempt to run from the floppy first then the HD?

5. Once WB is installed and working, can I now use Amiga Explorer and the required cable to send ADF files to the Amiga HD and then back to DD floppy? Which application do people suggest as there are recommendation of several.

If anyone can help me with my questions and I would be very grateful and I apologise if any of these have been already answered elsewhere - just point me in the right direction!

Thanks again...

BippyM · 14 March 2006, 16:37

1.) Don't use more than 4gb TOTAL on the amiga.. it'll overwrite important data if you do

2). Use HD Toolbox. But remember 4gb

3). Yes

4). No HD.. put disks away

5). Yes use AMiga Explorer.. goto aminet and get an adf prog to write back to disk

thomas · 14 March 2006, 16:41

Quote:

can I now use Amiga Explorer and the required cable to send ADF files to the Amiga HD and then back to DD floppy? Which application do people suggest as there are recommendation of several.

You can use AmigaExplorer to write ADFs directly to disk, no HDD needed. Just drag & drop the ADF over the df0.adf icon in the AE window.

Wingnut · 14 March 2006, 18:31

Thanks for the feedback!

Well, I've made a 50MB partition for WB and managed to get it installed! Boot to it fine! Made a 500MB partition for Apps and a 1GB partition for games etc... Just have to wait the next 4 days for it to format!

...now to see if I can access it from Amiga Explorer!

Cheers again people!

thomas · 14 March 2006, 22:13

Quote:

Just have to wait the next 4 days for it to format!

Use quick format. You don't need full format, it does nothing but produce hot air.

Wingnut · 15 March 2006, 10:32

How do I do a quick format? I just selected the drive and clicked on Format from the Icons dropdown list...

AMIGAZ · 15 March 2006, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingnut

How do I do a quick format? I just selected the drive and clicked on Format from the Icons dropdown list...

After choosing FORMAT a window should appear with option like "trashcan" "fast filesystem" etc and "quick format"
A window with checkboxes

Wingnut · 15 March 2006, 11:16

No I didn't see any of those options! It just warned me that all the data would go and asked for confirmation...

...I'm using WB 2.05, should I see those options?

Thanks for the feedback...

Doc Mindie · 15 March 2006, 11:59

does anyone remember the layout of pins 41-42-43-44 ? which ones are 5V and 12V?

Project is to "hack" my 44 ->2*40 cable to use it in the PC

Wingnut · 15 March 2006, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMIGAZ

After choosing FORMAT a window should appear with option like "trashcan" "fast filesystem" etc and "quick format"
A window with checkboxes

I wasn't looking hard enough. When I say hard enough, I mean half an inch to the left. When I say half an ince to the left, I mean exactly where you said it would be!

AMIGAZ · 15 March 2006, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingnut

I wasn't looking hard enough. When I say hard enough, I mean half an inch to the left. When I say half an ince to the left, I mean exactly where you said it would be!

Maybe you should remove that blue scarf with two holes you have over your eyes

, refering to your Ninja Turtle avatar

Wingnut · 15 March 2006, 23:35

Wise man say: "Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."

adolescent · 16 March 2006, 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Mindie

does anyone remember the layout of pins 41-42-43-44 ? which ones are 5V and 12V?

Project is to "hack" my 44 ->2*40 cable to use it in the PC

There is no 12V on a 44pin ATA. 41 and 42 are both 5V, 43 is ground.

Chain · 16 March 2006, 11:51

37.350/37.300 doez not have quickformat, there iznt any req for type of FS etc .)

try to use mformat or similar tool

Wingnut · 16 March 2006, 22:16

Now I've actually got my A600 with 2MB of RAM and a 4GB HD...what exactly can I do with it?

...I know I can install WB (as I have) and use programs like WHDload (I assume) but is there anything else I can do?

Can I install apps on it like Deluxe Paint III etc?

What do people tend to store on their HD's?

Thanks as always for the feedback...

Doc Mindie · 16 March 2006, 22:26

Anyways you can start from a diskette while in either Shell or Workbench..... like, PPaint, DPaint, Imagine4D, LightWave, Real3D, FinalWriter, WordWorth......

AFAIK, it's "only"games that would need the special software wo WHDLoad, or a crapload of diskettes

Doc Mindie · 20 March 2006, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by adolescent

There is no 12V on a 44pin ATA. 41 and 42 are both 5V, 43 is ground.

What would I connect pin 44 to?

here is a link with the pin-numbers and junk....... should it be okay to just "shortwire" the two +5V to a +5pin in the powersupplycable, and ground pin 43?

I'm horribly afraid I'll destroy the disk if I'm not careful.....and I don't wannt use the "try&error(tm)" routine with my only 2.5"

alexh · 21 March 2006, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by bippym

1.) Don't use more than 4gb TOTAL on the amiga.. it'll overwrite important data if you do

Is that true? I dont think it is. Not when using the A600/A1200 internal Amiga IDE interface.

The only limitation when using the internal IDE controller on the A600 is that the boot partition has to be less than 2Gb and located at the start of the drive.

Their are two reasons for this limitation.

The version of scsi.device contained within your kickstart ROM.
The version FFS on your workbench (install) disk.

Problem 2 can be overcome by adding some updated files to your workbench disk which you can download off the Aminet.

Problem 1 is more difficult. All classic Amiga's have to boot from ROM. Unless you can update your Kickstart ROM (which most of us cannot) then you have to comply with this 2gb limitation. But only on the boot partition.

After you have booted your Amiga you can then patch scsi.device with IDEFix97 and take advantage of the later version of FFS(44.5+) which supports bigger partitions using TD64 commands. Or use a different filesystem which also uses TD64 commands (I dont know if you can get a 68000 version of SFS or PFS?).

Some people recommend also using HDInstTool to create your other partitions.

http://www.aminet.net/package.php?pa...c/IDEfix97.lha
http://www.aminet.net/package.php?pa...sc/ffstd64.lha
http://www.aminet.net/package.php?pa...isc/hdinst.lha

I have never used a drive greater than 4gb on my A600 but I am almost sure this works and is safe for 2.04 and 3.x on A600's?

I'm going to be writing some guides for the forthcoming AHA and I will be researching the whole *MYTH* which surrounds Amiga hard drives and try to bust it open for as many SCSI / IDE controllers that I can.

Doc Mindie · 21 March 2006, 01:16

Just for being silly.... is there any good reason I would want to have a bootpartition larger than 100MB anyways? Only thing I personally add to the boot partition after an install, is MUI, libraries and fonts...... I never install anything else on default SYS: on my setups...... I use the WORK: partition for programs, GAMES:...... and STUFF: is where I save my files, downloads, pics, mods, etc.....

Charlie · 21 March 2006, 01:29

@ Alexh:
I've written reams on this very subject in other places in this forum.
You've managed to encapsulate the lot in one post.
So much for the efficiency of my prose.

I guess thomas knows as much about this as any.

Best of luck writing the guides.

14 March 2006, 16:30	#1
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	A600 Hard Drive Questions Hello... I apologise if my questions have already been answered elsewhere. I have had a look but could find anything specific to my questions or anything I was able to understand. If there is a link which will help me PLEASE point me in the right direction... I've now got my A600 and installed the 37.350 Kickstart. I've also got myself a 6.01GB HD and the required cradle and cable. I've also got Workbench 2.xx + HD install disk. My questions are: 1. What implications will the fact my HD is 6.01GB have? From what I understand the HD can't be bigger than 4GB. Can I just create partitions up to but not exceeding 4GB? 2. Can I do that with the WB HD install disk? How? 3. Once this is done, can I simply use that to install WB as the name suggests? 4. Once I have Workbench installed, by default will it attempt to run from the floppy first then the HD? 5. Once WB is installed and working, can I now use Amiga Explorer and the required cable to send ADF files to the Amiga HD and then back to DD floppy? Which application do people suggest as there are recommendation of several. If anyone can help me with my questions and I would be very grateful and I apologise if any of these have been already answered elsewhere - just point me in the right direction! Thanks again...

14 March 2006, 18:31	#4
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	Thanks for the feedback! Well, I've made a 50MB partition for WB and managed to get it installed! Boot to it fine! Made a 500MB partition for Apps and a 1GB partition for games etc... Just have to wait the next 4 days for it to format! ...now to see if I can access it from Amiga Explorer! Cheers again people! Last edited by Wingnut; 14 March 2006 at 19:48.

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14 March 2006, 16:37	#2
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	1.) Don't use more than 4gb TOTAL on the amiga.. it'll overwrite important data if you do 2). Use HD Toolbox. But remember 4gb 3). Yes 4). No HD.. put disks away 5). Yes use AMiga Explorer.. goto aminet and get an adf prog to write back to disk

15 March 2006, 10:32	#6
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	How do I do a quick format? I just selected the drive and clicked on Format from the Icons dropdown list...

15 March 2006, 11:16	#8
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	No I didn't see any of those options! It just warned me that all the data would go and asked for confirmation... ...I'm using WB 2.05, should I see those options? Thanks for the feedback...

15 March 2006, 11:59	#9
Doc Mindie In deep Trouble Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manchester, Made in Norway Age: 51 Posts: 841	does anyone remember the layout of pins 41-42-43-44 ? which ones are 5V and 12V? Project is to "hack" my 44 ->2*40 cable to use it in the PC

15 March 2006, 23:35	#12
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	Wise man say: "Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."

16 March 2006, 11:51	#14
Chain A-Collector, repairments Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Czech Rep. Age: 50 Posts: 1,536	37.350/37.300 doez not have quickformat, there iznt any req for type of FS etc .) try to use mformat or similar tool

16 March 2006, 22:16	#15
Wingnut Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich, UK Age: 42 Posts: 13	Now I've actually got my A600 with 2MB of RAM and a 4GB HD...what exactly can I do with it? ...I know I can install WB (as I have) and use programs like WHDload (I assume) but is there anything else I can do? Can I install apps on it like Deluxe Paint III etc? What do people tend to store on their HD's? Thanks as always for the feedback...

16 March 2006, 22:26	#16
Doc Mindie In deep Trouble Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manchester, Made in Norway Age: 51 Posts: 841	Anyways you can start from a diskette while in either Shell or Workbench..... like, PPaint, DPaint, Imagine4D, LightWave, Real3D, FinalWriter, WordWorth...... AFAIK, it's "only"games that would need the special software wo WHDLoad, or a crapload of diskettes

21 March 2006, 01:16	#19
Doc Mindie In deep Trouble Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manchester, Made in Norway Age: 51 Posts: 841	Just for being silly.... is there any good reason I would want to have a bootpartition larger than 100MB anyways? Only thing I personally add to the boot partition after an install, is MUI, libraries and fonts...... I never install anything else on default SYS: on my setups...... I use the WORK: partition for programs, GAMES:...... and STUFF: is where I save my files, downloads, pics, mods, etc.....

21 March 2006, 01:29	#20
Charlie . . Mouse . . Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 55 Posts: 1,792	@ Alexh: I've written reams on this very subject in other places in this forum. You've managed to encapsulate the lot in one post. So much for the efficiency of my prose. I guess thomas knows as much about this as any. Best of luck writing the guides.

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