CD ROM in an A4000D

[Olecranon]

Hey everyone!

Probably an easy question but this is my first A4000 so I'm not sure how to get started. I'm looking to install a CD-ROM in an A4000 desktop. What additional Hardware/Software do I need in order to get one running on a plain stock A4000? I've installed SCSI CD-ROMs in my A2000 desktop systems using amicdfs240, but I'm not sure if I can use this with the built in IDE controller on an A4000.

I do have an extra GVP HC+8 SCSI controller laying around but I think I would prefer to use some type of IDE option since I already have a drive.

Any suggestions?

[thomas]

I already have a drive

You should first check if the drive fits mechanically. There is very few space between the front and the power supply. If your drive is too long, perhaps it won't fit. Or it covers the fan leading to over-heat. Best are drives which are only 17cm (6.7 inch), for example from Liteon.

I've installed SCSI CD-ROMs in my A2000 desktop systems using amicdfs240, but I'm not sure if I can use this with the built in IDE controller on an A4000.

You could, if only the IDE driver would recodnise CD drives, but it doesn't. So you have to install a replacement IDE driver which does. Those replacement drivers usually come with CD filesystems which are better than AmiCDFS.

Alternatives are:

IDEfix97

- allows to use 4-way adapters for using four drives on the IDE bus
- has many tools for different devices, for example ZIP, JAZ and LS1200 drives as well as CD changers.
- comes with CacheCDFS
- allows to run CD32 games from the CD drive

negative: nags with registration requesters unless you register it (ca. 25 Eur)


AsimCDFS

- commercial product, probably not available any more.


AmigaOS 3.5 or 3.9

- latest Amiga operating system
- comes with CacheCDFS

negative:
- costs money
- comes on CD only, so you have to have a working CD driver (e.g. IDEfix demo) to install it.

Beta scsi.device V43 from http://os.amigaworld.de/index.php?lang=en&page=37

- free

negative

- complicated to install

What additional Hardware/Software do I need in order to get one running on a plain stock A4000?

You need an IDE cable with three plugs. It might be difficult to fit because the CD drive is on the opposite side of the HDD. I used the original cable which has one very short end and one quite long end. I connected it in the wrong direction, i.e. the "master" plug is connected to the motherboard, the "slave" plug to the HDD and the "controller" plug to the CD drive. This is only possible because the plugs don't have notches.

And you need some screws to fix the drive :-)

[laser]

I use AllegroCDFS
is the fastest ..and works very fine

[thomas]

Originally Posted by laser

I use AllegroCDFS
is the fastest ..and works very fine

... but not on the Amiga's internal IDE bus, unless you have installed one of the above alternatives.

And of course you need some Elbox hardware as a dongle, otherwise it won't work at all.

[laser]

Originally Posted by thomas

... but not on the Amiga's internal IDE bus, unless you have installed one of the above alternatives.

And of course you need some Elbox hardware as a dongle, otherwise it won't work at all.

yes it works on the internal IDE bus.....you don't need any strange adapter...I tested on my A1200

also it works very fine on winuae

PD...note that I have a cracked version by the group resistance

maybe the uncracked version checks for elbox hardware first ...but only "checks"