Filesystem & CF Initialization

[spacebiscuit]

A while back I followed a video tutorial detailing how to install the 68k WB to a Compact Flash.

During the initialization of the CF it was recommended to use the pfs3 file handler, as well as changing the DOS type to 0x50465303 and changing the max transfer rate.

Are these steps still required for the newer OS 3.2?

I am in the middle of setting up a 1GB CF. I have created to partitions, 490mb each. After rebooting I only see the 2nd (DH1) which I am able to format, but the first (DH0) does not have a workbench icon.

Any ideas?

[Hedeon]

Did you check the automount box? Can you format it through the shell/cli? Is it there in the startup menu?

[thomas]

PFS is a third-party file system which has its advantages. Most notably the higher speed compared to FFS. And it never needs to validate its structure.

FFS in OS 3.2 has been improved to support harddrives larger than 4GB and file names up to 107 characters.

Limiting MaxTransfer size is required for Kickstart 3.1. If you ever want to connect your CF card to an Amiga with Kick 3.1 you should set it to 0x1fe00. It does not hurt with Kick 3.2, even if it is not necessary any more.

Why DH0 does not show up can have many reasons. Most likely you made a typo when entering the DOS type.

[spacebiscuit]

Thanks - so I will not use fps3 - yes I eventually plan to boot my real amiga (A600) with this CF.

I didn't change or set a DOS version, I simply used the default FFS option which does not give an option to change the dos version. If I click to change it gives me 3 options:

- Standard
- Custom
- UNI\01

Do I need custom if I am going to set the DOS version to: 0x1fe00?

[spacebiscuit]

Ok I see both my drives now, must have been wrong DOS version. A couple of questions:

- if i go with pfs3 - presumably something is copied to the disk when this file handler is selected? Otherwise, when I plug the CF into a real Amiga and the pfs3aio.lha isn't mounted, how will it use pfs3?

- if I use the pfs3 file handler, do I have to use dos type 0x50465303. I don't believe for example I can use pfs3 with dos type 0x1fe00 - apologies if that is a really dumb suggestion

[alexh]

Originally Posted by spacebiscuit

- if i go with pfs3 - presumably something is copied to the disk when this file handler is selected?

AFAIK the PFS "driver" is installed into the RDB of the HDD.

Originally Posted by spacebiscuit

dos type 0x1fe00

Are you confusing dos type with MAX TRANSFER? The value "0x1FE00" is used as MAX TRANSFER to work around a "feature" in the KS3.1 scsi.device

[spacebiscuit]

Originally Posted by alexh

Are you confusing dos type with MAX TRANSFER? The value "0x1FE00" is used as MAX TRANSFER to work around a "feature" in the KS3.1 scsi.device

Yes of course, thanks for putting me straight!

[Hedeon]

Originally Posted by spacebiscuit

- if i go with pfs3 - presumably something is copied to the disk when this file handler is selected? Otherwise, when I plug the CF into a real Amiga and the pfs3aio.lha isn't mounted, how will it use pfs3?

Put L: pfs3aio into the RDB with HDToolBox. Then it is always there when needed.

[spacebiscuit]

Originally Posted by Hedeon

Put L: pfs3aio into the RDB with HDToolBox. Then it is always there when needed.

Thanks!