Replacing the HD in an A590

13 September 2002, 14:14

Is it possible? An A590 with a 20mb harddisk sounds useless, is it possible to replace such HD with a modern, larger one? I'm planning to get one for one of my A500s

P-J · 13 September 2002, 14:38

Not sure of the size, since I would assume the AmigaOS has some kind of limit on the size of the drive it'll read, not to mention the controller on the A590 itself.

However, a quick search on google leads me to believe a DIP switch or jumper on the board lets you switch between an IDE and SCSI drive. Since a 540MB drive would cost about £5-10 at the average computer fair, you should go and buy one of those and test it.

I've read an article on a guy who was using a 3.5" 540MB Seagate IDE drive in an A590, but he may have modified or upgraded the ROM or IDE controller.

LUKas007 · 14 September 2002, 00:26

There are different versions of the ROMs for the A590.
Version 6 allow hard drives up to 512MB. Version 6.6 and 7.0 work successfully with drives up to 9GB but you will need at least OS3.5 to use drives over 4GB.
You have to use the SCSI connector of the A590. The MFM (XT) connector only allows up to 80MB hard disk drives.

14 September 2002, 00:44

These information are very valuable. Thanks.

Syko · 17 September 2002, 17:35

any one know if this applies to the A500-HD+ ? As the one I use with the A500+ is a 50MB Quantum drive and sounding old...

Antiriad · 17 September 2002, 20:50

Me too - got a GVP Impact Series II A500-HD+ which would be great if i could attach something bigger (and less worn out) than the 20MB (scsi?) hard drive inside

LUKas007 · 17 September 2002, 21:22

What's the problem ?

Just get a bigger hard disk drive (SCSI 50pin)...

Antiriad · 17 September 2002, 21:44

Is that for either?

So would one of these be ok?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2053829251

or these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054510795
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054511674
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054513036

or even this one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2053876420

Last one is quite tempting!

LUKas007 · 17 September 2002, 22:45

Yes, all of these should be fine.

Antiriad · 17 September 2002, 23:07

Bought the last one!

Ill tell you guys how it goes ok?

LUKas007 · 17 September 2002, 23:09

Ok

Antiriad · 21 September 2002, 13:34

The 2GB hard drive arrived. Ive opened up the A500HD+ , the connectors seem correct, but it appears to be a REV.6 board. Will this limit the HD capacity?

Ill keep you all posted on progress

LUKas007 · 21 September 2002, 20:40

AFIK rev 6 allows hard drives up to 512MB...

21 September 2002, 21:00

This is becoming exciting

Antiriad · 21 September 2002, 21:34

Oh crap! This might explain all the problems ive had today! Ive had inumberable read errors.

Perhaps i will try 4 x 500MB partitions as a way of circumventing the problem..

LUKas007 · 21 September 2002, 21:51

Yes, there's a chance this might help but I'm not sure if rev 6 would handle this...

Antiriad · 26 September 2002, 23:14

Faster than a PPC card! :hoo
Able to fix hard drive problems in a single bound!

Is it GVP? Is it Amiga Inc?

No, its....Retroman!

Yes folks, Retroman has rescued me from hard drive hell!

On EABs IRC channel he told me to do a small 20MB partition, do a quick format from WB and Install WB on it.

And THEN to create the next two partitions and format them!
So folks, now have a 20MB DH0, 1000MB DH1 and 986 DH2!!!

Once again the indomitable Amiga Community spirit has triumphed over dishonest hardware!
Only EAB can make this possible!

11 January 2003, 13:50

big book of Amiga hardware says:

Quote:

Whilst it uses the same 40pin IDE cable that modern IDE controllers use, you cannot use modern IDE drives with the XT-Controller because they are 16bit. You must use XT hard drives. These were only ever made up to about 80MB in size

I'll be recieving my a590+20mb hd next month. Do I need to worry?

Is this A590 PSU the same with common a500 psus?

AEV · 12 January 2003, 13:59

Hi Burseg, I recently got a A590 myself without the PSU (I thought it was gonna be included in the ebay auction for some reason) and it has a weird 4 pin din like connector (sort of like old PC keyboard connectors except with 4 holes).

I tried to rig up my own PSU and everything seemed OK (A590 power light was on)until I powered up the A500 an KABOOM.

HD died, so I took it apart and found a few chips blown (plastic exploded off some of them). Anyway I wouldn't try what I did.

But I found this page later (and proceeded to curse profusely)
http://www.starnet.com.au/davem/overclock/A500HD.html which details soldering a couple of wires so the A500 powers the HD itself without needing a PSU for the A590.

Hope you have better luck than I did

12 January 2003, 19:00

You powered both a590 and your a500 up with the same psu and your hd died because of this? Do you think seperate a500 psus will work?

13 September 2002, 14:14	#1
oldpx Posts: n/a	Replacing the HD in an A590 Is it possible? An A590 with a 20mb harddisk sounds useless, is it possible to replace such HD with a modern, larger one? I'm planning to get one for one of my A500s

14 September 2002, 00:44	#4
oldpx Posts: n/a	These information are very valuable. Thanks. Last edited by Burseg; 14 September 2002 at 01:34.

17 September 2002, 21:44	#8
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	Is that for either? So would one of these be ok? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2053829251 or these? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054510795 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054511674 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2054513036 or even this one? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=2053876420 Last one is quite tempting! Last edited by Antiriad; 17 September 2002 at 21:55.

26 September 2002, 23:14	#17
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	Faster than a PPC card! :hoo Able to fix hard drive problems in a single bound! Is it GVP? Is it Amiga Inc? No, its....Retroman! Yes folks, Retroman has rescued me from hard drive hell! On EABs IRC channel he told me to do a small 20MB partition, do a quick format from WB and Install WB on it. And THEN to create the next two partitions and format them! So folks, now have a 20MB DH0, 1000MB DH1 and 986 DH2!!! Once again the indomitable Amiga Community spirit has triumphed over dishonest hardware! Only EAB can make this possible! Last edited by Antiriad; 26 September 2002 at 23:22.

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13 September 2002, 14:38	#2
P-J Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Moorpark, California Age: 44 Posts: 1,153	Not sure of the size, since I would assume the AmigaOS has some kind of limit on the size of the drive it'll read, not to mention the controller on the A590 itself. However, a quick search on google leads me to believe a DIP switch or jumper on the board lets you switch between an IDE and SCSI drive. Since a 540MB drive would cost about £5-10 at the average computer fair, you should go and buy one of those and test it. I've read an article on a guy who was using a 3.5" 540MB Seagate IDE drive in an A590, but he may have modified or upgraded the ROM or IDE controller.

14 September 2002, 00:26	#3
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	There are different versions of the ROMs for the A590. Version 6 allow hard drives up to 512MB. Version 6.6 and 7.0 work successfully with drives up to 9GB but you will need at least OS3.5 to use drives over 4GB. You have to use the SCSI connector of the A590. The MFM (XT) connector only allows up to 80MB hard disk drives.

17 September 2002, 17:35	#5
Syko Now got GSX750F :)) Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Halifax UK Age: 60 Posts: 584	any one know if this applies to the A500-HD+ ? As the one I use with the A500+ is a 50MB Quantum drive and sounding old...

17 September 2002, 20:50	#6
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	Me too - got a GVP Impact Series II A500-HD+ which would be great if i could attach something bigger (and less worn out) than the 20MB (scsi?) hard drive inside

17 September 2002, 21:22	#7
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	What's the problem ? Just get a bigger hard disk drive (SCSI 50pin)...

17 September 2002, 22:45	#9
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	Yes, all of these should be fine.

17 September 2002, 23:07	#10
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	Bought the last one! Ill tell you guys how it goes ok?

17 September 2002, 23:09	#11
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	Ok

21 September 2002, 13:34	#12
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	The 2GB hard drive arrived. Ive opened up the A500HD+ , the connectors seem correct, but it appears to be a REV.6 board. Will this limit the HD capacity? Ill keep you all posted on progress

21 September 2002, 20:40	#13
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	AFIK rev 6 allows hard drives up to 512MB...

21 September 2002, 21:00	#14
oldpx Posts: n/a	This is becoming exciting

21 September 2002, 21:34	#15
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 45 Posts: 1,141	Oh crap! This might explain all the problems ive had today! Ive had inumberable read errors. Perhaps i will try 4 x 500MB partitions as a way of circumventing the problem..

21 September 2002, 21:51	#16
LUKas007 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: England Age: 45 Posts: 159	Yes, there's a chance this might help but I'm not sure if rev 6 would handle this...

12 January 2003, 13:59	#19
AEV Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 57	Hi Burseg, I recently got a A590 myself without the PSU (I thought it was gonna be included in the ebay auction for some reason) and it has a weird 4 pin din like connector (sort of like old PC keyboard connectors except with 4 holes). I tried to rig up my own PSU and everything seemed OK (A590 power light was on)until I powered up the A500 an KABOOM. HD died, so I took it apart and found a few chips blown (plastic exploded off some of them). Anyway I wouldn't try what I did. But I found this page later (and proceeded to curse profusely) http://www.starnet.com.au/davem/overclock/A500HD.html which details soldering a couple of wires so the A500 powers the HD itself without needing a PSU for the A590. Hope you have better luck than I did

12 January 2003, 19:00	#20
oldpx Posts: n/a	You powered both a590 and your a500 up with the same psu and your hd died because of this? Do you think seperate a500 psus will work?

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