Getting large hard drive support into Workbench 3.0/1 without idefix

Bloodwych · 16 May 2009, 22:16

I'm trying to think of a way of getting large hard drive support into Workbench 3.0/1 packs without using the commercial idefix program.

Here is what I've come up with; but I'm not sure if it's all correct and I have questions. I spent about ten minutes researching this so I hope you guys can fill in the blacks.

I have downloaded some freely available programs:

SCSI_43_23.lha
SCSI_43_24.lha
patchstrip.lha
Loadmodule.lha
Loadmodule11.lha
check4GB.lha

Now from what I understand, patchstrip can be used to create a new scsi.device file for Amiga's from the SCSI_43_23.lha pack. This can then be loaded on boot using Loadmodule.
A replacement filesystem like SFS also has to be installed.
The check4GB utility can then be used to make sure everything is working as it should.

I told you I've only done a little research!

Can someone give a more detailed description? Or a better method?

I'm also confused over which versions to use above. Do I stick with the SCSI v43.23 (mentioned in the patchstrip instructions) or the newer 43.24?

Do I use the original Loadmodule or the newer v11 release?

The idea is to integrate this support for the next releases and combine it with the SFS file system.

Is this at all possible (to add large hard drive support using these files) or should users just stick to getting hold of the commercial idefix themselves?

thomas · 16 May 2009, 23:51

Do you understand German ?

http://thomas-rapp.homepage.t-online...hdd/index.html

Bloodwych · 17 May 2009, 00:19

I do now:

http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...hdd/index.html

I'll have a read through - very nice tutorial. Thanks.

Bloodwych · 30 May 2009, 14:11

Hi Thomas - been putting a few files together for the packs including patched scsi.device files.

I have a few questions. Patching FFS 43_20 - what does that achieve for A1200/A600 3.0/1 machines? And how do I get that Arexx script to work - it seems to have formatting issues (spaces) and I can't run it using the RX command (although it's probably me being stupid.)

What is the best program to use - Loadv43module (comes with SCSI packs), Loadmodule.lha or the newer Loadmodule11.lha?

Retro-Nerd · 30 May 2009, 18:07

@Bloodwych

I've attached an ADF with the patched files (A1200 only)+LoadModule.

thomas · 30 May 2009, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodwych

Patching FFS 43_20 - what does that achieve for A1200/A600 3.0/1 machines?

Only the combination of scsi.device V43 and FFS V43 gives support for big harddrives. Using only one of them does not work.

You can use IDEfix instead of scsi.device and SFS instead of FFS, any combination will do. But you need both, a new IDE driver and a new file system for big harddrive support. Patching only scsi.device and leaving FFS in place does not work.

Quote:

And how do I get that Arexx script to work - it seems to have formatting issues (spaces) and I can't run it using the RX command (although it's probably me being stupid.)

Should work as shown. Just cut & paste into a text editor. You should not use a Windows editor because it inserts unneeded carriage return characters which confuse the Amiga. Use CygnusED or GoldEd in WinUAE.

Quote:

What is the best program to use - Loadv43module (comes with SCSI packs), Loadmodule.lha or the newer Loadmodule11.lha?

LoadV43Module unnecessarily requires Kickstart 3.1, so it is out of question. Thor's LoadModule is probably the best and AFAIK it's still maintained.

Bloodwych · 30 May 2009, 19:53

Thanks to both of you. I'll get something up and running with these files; hopefully making it a little easier for people to get started with large hard drives and the ClassicWB packs.

What I meant about the FFS patch was, what does it actually do? I take it FFS v43.20 is already large hard drive friendly - does patching it allow it to run on lower systems than OS3.9 and 3.1 ROMS?

And I got the patch working - the Google translator had messed up the script! Went to your original page and it worked fine.

thomas · 30 May 2009, 21:03

The patch removes the yellow alert which appears before the boot process starts, telling you that the beta period has expired. The alert appears once for each partition which uses the new file system, thus it is very annoying if you have multiple partitions.

Bloodwych · 20 June 2009, 23:51

I've got all this sorted for the next release!

I'll include the necessary files, all the patches etc so people can finally enjoy >4GB hard drive support in lower end Workbenches. They will still of course need to install a replacement file system themselves, but the actual Workbench will have everything they need to set it up.

Thanks for your help.

frikilokooo · 21 June 2009, 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodwych

I've got all this sorted for the next release!

When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,

prowler · 21 June 2009, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by frikilokooo

When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,When?,

Hi frikilokooo,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodwych

I usually work on the ClassicWB packs at xmas while on my hols!

My guess would be Christmas.

Bloodwych · 21 June 2009, 12:37

Yeah, I'm very slow on releases. I tend to do bits to the configs throughout the year, then release a pack at xmas. I'm hoping the next release will have a more complete KGLoad with separate art files to download as an addon pack too, but that depends on how much time KG has this year. If we were all students again I'd get all this done in a few days!

Retro-Nerd has a pack with some of the files linked in this thread for standard A1200's. Thomas has all the info how to add support here:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showpost...5&postcount=27

Kyon · 21 June 2009, 15:50

new version is coming soon ?

Eclipse · 07 July 2009, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyon

new version is coming soon ?

If Xmas is soon, then yes.
Great news anyway

Maybe you could point to KG's guide he did about installing a filesystem?

16 May 2009, 22:16	#1
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	Getting large hard drive support into Workbench 3.0/1 without idefix I'm trying to think of a way of getting large hard drive support into Workbench 3.0/1 packs without using the commercial idefix program. Here is what I've come up with; but I'm not sure if it's all correct and I have questions. I spent about ten minutes researching this so I hope you guys can fill in the blacks. I have downloaded some freely available programs: SCSI_43_23.lha SCSI_43_24.lha patchstrip.lha Loadmodule.lha Loadmodule11.lha check4GB.lha Now from what I understand, patchstrip can be used to create a new scsi.device file for Amiga's from the SCSI_43_23.lha pack. This can then be loaded on boot using Loadmodule. A replacement filesystem like SFS also has to be installed. The check4GB utility can then be used to make sure everything is working as it should. I told you I've only done a little research! Can someone give a more detailed description? Or a better method? I'm also confused over which versions to use above. Do I stick with the SCSI v43.23 (mentioned in the patchstrip instructions) or the newer 43.24? Do I use the original Loadmodule or the newer v11 release? The idea is to integrate this support for the next releases and combine it with the SFS file system. Is this at all possible (to add large hard drive support using these files) or should users just stick to getting hold of the commercial idefix themselves?

30 May 2009, 19:53	#7
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	Thanks to both of you. I'll get something up and running with these files; hopefully making it a little easier for people to get started with large hard drives and the ClassicWB packs. What I meant about the FFS patch was, what does it actually do? I take it FFS v43.20 is already large hard drive friendly - does patching it allow it to run on lower systems than OS3.9 and 3.1 ROMS? And I got the patch working - the Google translator had messed up the script! Went to your original page and it worked fine. Last edited by Bloodwych; 30 May 2009 at 20:56.

21 June 2009, 12:37	#12
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	Yeah, I'm very slow on releases. I tend to do bits to the configs throughout the year, then release a pack at xmas. I'm hoping the next release will have a more complete KGLoad with separate art files to download as an addon pack too, but that depends on how much time KG has this year. If we were all students again I'd get all this done in a few days! Retro-Nerd has a pack with some of the files linked in this thread for standard A1200's. Thomas has all the info how to add support here: http://www.amiga.org/forums/showpost...5&postcount=27 Last edited by Bloodwych; 21 June 2009 at 12:49.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Performance Issue - ClassicWB Large Hard Drive Support (> 4GB)	dabone	project.ClassicWB	10	13 May 2010 21:15
Brand new guide to large hard drive support	Bloodwych	project.ClassicWB	4	17 February 2010 15:45
Clearing up the best files for Large Hard Drive support	Bloodwych	project.ClassicWB	19	30 November 2009 21:38
Large Hard Drive issues...	Info-Seeker	support.Hardware	2	08 September 2009 12:07
ClassicWB Large Hard Drive Support (> 4GB)	Bloodwych	project.ClassicWB	2	22 September 2007 13:54

16 May 2009, 23:51	#2
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 6,985	Do you understand German ? http://thomas-rapp.homepage.t-online...hdd/index.html

17 May 2009, 00:19	#3
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	I do now: http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...hdd/index.html I'll have a read through - very nice tutorial. Thanks.

30 May 2009, 14:11	#4
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	Hi Thomas - been putting a few files together for the packs including patched scsi.device files. I have a few questions. Patching FFS 43_20 - what does that achieve for A1200/A600 3.0/1 machines? And how do I get that Arexx script to work - it seems to have formatting issues (spaces) and I can't run it using the RX command (although it's probably me being stupid.) What is the best program to use - Loadv43module (comes with SCSI packs), Loadmodule.lha or the newer Loadmodule11.lha?

30 May 2009, 21:03	#8
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 6,985	The patch removes the yellow alert which appears before the boot process starts, telling you that the beta period has expired. The alert appears once for each partition which uses the new file system, thus it is very annoying if you have multiple partitions.

20 June 2009, 23:51	#9
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	I've got all this sorted for the next release! I'll include the necessary files, all the patches etc so people can finally enjoy >4GB hard drive support in lower end Workbenches. They will still of course need to install a replacement file system themselves, but the actual Workbench will have everything they need to set it up. Thanks for your help.

21 June 2009, 15:50	#13
Kyon Banned Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SOS Brigade Age: 32 Posts: 696	new version is coming soon ?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)