Amiga 4000D Hard disk problems

lopos2000 · 15 June 2005, 10:50

Amiga 4000D Hard disk problems

I am trying to install a new hard disk into my Amiga 4000D.
It's a Quantum Fireball lct10 5.1 GB. Install 3.1 won't reconise it. So, I put in the parameters myself and it only comes up 796MB. What is going on?

Any ideas. And, what hard drives can I use with the Amiga 4000D?
TIA
Lopos

manicx · 15 June 2005, 11:03

Read this topic as it might help

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=9910

lopos2000 · 15 June 2005, 11:19

Thanks manicx. Forgot to mention that I've installed kickstart 3.1.

lopos2000 · 15 June 2005, 15:35

I have tried what it says in the thread but it doesn't work.

Do I have to install OS 3.5 or 3.9 to use bigger HD?

thomas · 15 June 2005, 16:46

If the HDD is not recognised by HDToolbox, you have no chance to install OS 3.5+

First check if the jumpers (master / slave) are set correctly. Then start HDToolbox. The HDD should be shown as unknown. Go to "define drive type", select SCSI and click on "define new". Click on "read configuration". Check that the values are correct. The capacity is calculated wrong for everything above 2GB, so you have to calculate it yourself in order to check if the values are correct.

sectors per track * heads = sectors per cylinder
sectors per track * heads * cylinders = total number of blocks
total number of blocks * 512 = capacity of the drive.

Remember that 5.1 billion bytes (that's what manufacturers call "gigabytes") are actually only 4.7GB.

You should find the total number of blocks in the drive specs. This is the only value that matters, the others are only virtual. Select sectors per cylinder so that one cylinder is about 1MB in size (e.g. sectors per cylinder = 2016 or so).

Oh and a block is the same as a sector in this context.

If the geometry is ok, you should be able to partition the entire drive. However, again the partition sizes will be calculated wrong for everything above 2GB. So perhaps it is best to create several smaller partitions. And make sure that partitions do not overlap. I've heard that older versions of HDToolbox can create overlapping partitions.

The most important thing is that you can only access the first 4GB of the drive. So leave the remaining 0.7GB empty (without partitions). I think for 700MB it is not necessary to start the trouble of installing patches and accepting longer boot times etc.

lopos2000 · 15 June 2005, 16:57

Thanks Thomas. I came to same conclusion in the end. I left the last 700MB untouched. HD works now.

lopos2000 · 16 June 2005, 11:29

Just to keep you updated. Installed OS 3.9 and the HD works fine now. Just one problem. I tried to install the Blizzard 4030 Turboboard and I get a 'Yellow' flashing screen.
Any ideas.
TIA
lopos2000

thomas · 16 June 2005, 11:54

Probably you didn't set the jumpers on the motherboard correctly. For more information get the manual from here: http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/search....c#blizzard4030

lopos2000 · 16 June 2005, 11:57

I tried it and it still doesn't work.

15 June 2005, 10:50	#1
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	Amiga 4000D Hard disk problems Amiga 4000D Hard disk problems I am trying to install a new hard disk into my Amiga 4000D. It's a Quantum Fireball lct10 5.1 GB. Install 3.1 won't reconise it. So, I put in the parameters myself and it only comes up 796MB. What is going on? Any ideas. And, what hard drives can I use with the Amiga 4000D? TIA Lopos

15 June 2005, 15:35	#4
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	I have tried what it says in the thread but it doesn't work.Do I have to install OS 3.5 or 3.9 to use bigger HD?

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15 June 2005, 11:03	#2
manicx Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 991	Read this topic as it might help http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=9910

15 June 2005, 11:19	#3
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	Thanks manicx. Forgot to mention that I've installed kickstart 3.1.

15 June 2005, 16:46	#5
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 7,006	If the HDD is not recognised by HDToolbox, you have no chance to install OS 3.5+ First check if the jumpers (master / slave) are set correctly. Then start HDToolbox. The HDD should be shown as unknown. Go to "define drive type", select SCSI and click on "define new". Click on "read configuration". Check that the values are correct. The capacity is calculated wrong for everything above 2GB, so you have to calculate it yourself in order to check if the values are correct. sectors per track * heads = sectors per cylinder sectors per track * heads * cylinders = total number of blocks total number of blocks * 512 = capacity of the drive. Remember that 5.1 billion bytes (that's what manufacturers call "gigabytes") are actually only 4.7GB. You should find the total number of blocks in the drive specs. This is the only value that matters, the others are only virtual. Select sectors per cylinder so that one cylinder is about 1MB in size (e.g. sectors per cylinder = 2016 or so). Oh and a block is the same as a sector in this context. If the geometry is ok, you should be able to partition the entire drive. However, again the partition sizes will be calculated wrong for everything above 2GB. So perhaps it is best to create several smaller partitions. And make sure that partitions do not overlap. I've heard that older versions of HDToolbox can create overlapping partitions. The most important thing is that you can only access the first 4GB of the drive. So leave the remaining 0.7GB empty (without partitions). I think for 700MB it is not necessary to start the trouble of installing patches and accepting longer boot times etc.

15 June 2005, 16:57	#6
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	Thanks Thomas. I came to same conclusion in the end. I left the last 700MB untouched. HD works now.

16 June 2005, 11:29	#7
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	Just to keep you updated. Installed OS 3.9 and the HD works fine now. Just one problem. I tried to install the Blizzard 4030 Turboboard and I get a 'Yellow' flashing screen. Any ideas. TIA lopos2000

16 June 2005, 11:54	#8
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 7,006	Probably you didn't set the jumpers on the motherboard correctly. For more information get the manual from here: http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/search....c#blizzard4030

16 June 2005, 11:57	#9
lopos2000 Zone Friend Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cider is best In The West Posts: 1,238	I tried it and it still doesn't work.

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