A4000T IDE woes

Wrangler · 29 September 2015, 18:52

I recently got hold of an A4000T (AT version) and I'm having problems with the IDE interface: it's incredibly fussy about the devices attached.

Eg I went through 6 different CDROM/DVDROM drives (from different manufacturers) with two different hard drives to find a combination that would boot the OS4.1FE install disc. Some combinations wouldn't even allow the machine to boot!

(And before you ask, yes I did have the master/slave jumpers set correctly!

)

Has anyone got any experience with this? On a PC, IDE is just plug and play. Why is the A4000T so temperamental??

Xtal · 30 September 2015, 12:09

Don't use a high-spec 80 conductor IDE cable. Use a plain 40 conductor cable with no fuzzies such as punched conductors for master/slave autoselect. That was not invented when C= designed the IDE interface.

Just a plain 3 connector cable with 40 conductors.

The 80 conductor cables do a master/slave selection with an extension to the original standard, and is at least electricwise not destroying anything, but your Amiga just loves the old cabling when you have to set master/slave yourself and don't rely on Drive Select.

Wrangler · 30 September 2015, 19:40

Thanks Xtal. Problem is, I am using a 40 conductor cable! (And I avoided using cable select, just the master and slave jumpers.)

r.cade · 30 September 2015, 21:00

Most problems with CDROMs are because the Amiga IDE is not ATAPI. Most newer CD-ROMs were ATAPI and don't fall back gracefully.

Wrangler · 01 October 2015, 20:15

I reckon you must be right r.cade! Certainly the DVD ROMs I tried were no good. However, in checking this out, I have discovered I can't boot the OS4.1FE install CD at all, which is a whole new problem...

29 September 2015, 18:52	#1
Wrangler Registered User Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: London, UK Posts: 414	A4000T IDE woes I recently got hold of an A4000T (AT version) and I'm having problems with the IDE interface: it's incredibly fussy about the devices attached. Eg I went through 6 different CDROM/DVDROM drives (from different manufacturers) with two different hard drives to find a combination that would boot the OS4.1FE install disc. Some combinations wouldn't even allow the machine to boot! (And before you ask, yes I did have the master/slave jumpers set correctly! ) Has anyone got any experience with this? On a PC, IDE is just plug and play. Why is the A4000T so temperamental??

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30 September 2015, 12:09	#2
Xtal Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Mora, Sweden Posts: 36	Don't use a high-spec 80 conductor IDE cable. Use a plain 40 conductor cable with no fuzzies such as punched conductors for master/slave autoselect. That was not invented when C= designed the IDE interface. Just a plain 3 connector cable with 40 conductors. The 80 conductor cables do a master/slave selection with an extension to the original standard, and is at least electricwise not destroying anything, but your Amiga just loves the old cabling when you have to set master/slave yourself and don't rely on Drive Select.

30 September 2015, 19:40	#3
Wrangler Registered User Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: London, UK Posts: 414	Thanks Xtal. Problem is, I am using a 40 conductor cable! (And I avoided using cable select, just the master and slave jumpers.)

30 September 2015, 21:00	#4
r.cade Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA Posts: 550	Most problems with CDROMs are because the Amiga IDE is not ATAPI. Most newer CD-ROMs were ATAPI and don't fall back gracefully.

01 October 2015, 20:15	#5
Wrangler Registered User Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: London, UK Posts: 414	I reckon you must be right r.cade! Certainly the DVD ROMs I tried were no good. However, in checking this out, I have discovered I can't boot the OS4.1FE install CD at all, which is a whole new problem...

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