Formating Real 40GB Harddisk w/ WinUAE & OS3.9

robotriot · 23 December 2009, 18:29

I've got a 2.5" IDE 40GB harddisk installed in my PC, which I'd like to format and install OS3.9 to on WinUAE and later use in my A1200.

I'm using the latest WinUAE version and OS3.9 w/ BB1&2 (scsi.device 43.43). I set the harddisk controller to IDE0 and HDToolbox detects it correctly and shows the correct size. However, I am unable to create working partitions on the drive. I want a 2GB partition for the Workbench, and the remaining space for games and demos. If I'm using FFS or SFS, I'm getting the "Error 4 in drive description" message. If I use 2GB for the boot partition, and divide the remaining space into 8GB or smaller partitions and use FFS, I can Save the settings and get a bunch of uninitialized drives (doing the same thing with SFS gives me Error 4 again). However, I can't Quick Format any of them - after a while a message "Not a valid DOS disk" pops up. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong here? I'm really desperate right now, it cost me the whole afternoon already

thomas · 23 December 2009, 20:04

Is this on Vista or Seven by chance ? And was the disk mounted with a drive letter before you started ? These operating systems don't allow to write to non-empty disks. At least I got this problem several times with CF cards. You should first tell Windows that the drive is empty, then try to work with it in WinUAE.

Open Start -> Alle Programme -> Zubehör, right-click on Eingabeaufforderung and select "Als Administrator ausführen". In the DOS window enter

diskpart
list disk
select disk n
clean

replace "n" by the number of the disk you want to clean. Do not choose the wrong one !!

Now disconnect the drive safely and reconnect it (if it is connected to USB) or reboot the PC (if the drive is connected to the motherboard's IDE controller) and try again in WinUAE. You can run WinUAE without -disableharddrivesafetycheck.

"Error 4 in drive description" has nothing to do with the file system. It means "error on reread" which probably should tell us that the data was not properly written.

robotriot · 23 December 2009, 20:22

Thanks Thomas, I was indeed using Windows 7 and this seems to have solved my problem. You're a life saver ;)

clueless · 24 December 2009, 19:09

Thanks, had the same problem. All sorted now

1time · 10 August 2010, 11:46

This is an old thread. But i just want to say that this worked perfectly for me.

Thanks a lot.

23 December 2009, 18:29	#1
robotriot Tubby mechanical friend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Regensburg / Germany Posts: 107	Formating Real 40GB Harddisk w/ WinUAE & OS3.9 I've got a 2.5" IDE 40GB harddisk installed in my PC, which I'd like to format and install OS3.9 to on WinUAE and later use in my A1200. I'm using the latest WinUAE version and OS3.9 w/ BB1&2 (scsi.device 43.43). I set the harddisk controller to IDE0 and HDToolbox detects it correctly and shows the correct size. However, I am unable to create working partitions on the drive. I want a 2GB partition for the Workbench, and the remaining space for games and demos. If I'm using FFS or SFS, I'm getting the "Error 4 in drive description" message. If I use 2GB for the boot partition, and divide the remaining space into 8GB or smaller partitions and use FFS, I can Save the settings and get a bunch of uninitialized drives (doing the same thing with SFS gives me Error 4 again). However, I can't Quick Format any of them - after a while a message "Not a valid DOS disk" pops up. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong here? I'm really desperate right now, it cost me the whole afternoon already

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Formating a CF Card in WinUAE to Use in a real amiga	paulo_becas	support.WinUAE	32	02 July 2010 18:29
Configure OS3.1 in WinUAE HDF and transfer to real HD	protek	support.WinUAE	3	10 November 2009 15:32
harddisk Samsung 40GB - A1200T OS3.5 recognize only 7GB	huschel5	support.Hardware	10	09 September 2007 14:04
Mounting Native PC(formatted) harddisk as a Harddisk for WinUAE/E-UAE	Zetr0	support.Hardware	10	01 June 2006 14:04
preparing and formating a mfm harddisk in my amiga 2000	MadDonna	support.Hardware	6	13 August 2005 13:53

23 December 2009, 20:04	#2
thomas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 6,985	Is this on Vista or Seven by chance ? And was the disk mounted with a drive letter before you started ? These operating systems don't allow to write to non-empty disks. At least I got this problem several times with CF cards. You should first tell Windows that the drive is empty, then try to work with it in WinUAE. Open Start -> Alle Programme -> Zubehör, right-click on Eingabeaufforderung and select "Als Administrator ausführen". In the DOS window enter diskpart list disk select disk n clean replace "n" by the number of the disk you want to clean. Do not choose the wrong one !! Now disconnect the drive safely and reconnect it (if it is connected to USB) or reboot the PC (if the drive is connected to the motherboard's IDE controller) and try again in WinUAE. You can run WinUAE without -disableharddrivesafetycheck. "Error 4 in drive description" has nothing to do with the file system. It means "error on reread" which probably should tell us that the data was not properly written.

23 December 2009, 20:22	#3
robotriot Tubby mechanical friend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Regensburg / Germany Posts: 107	Thanks Thomas, I was indeed using Windows 7 and this seems to have solved my problem. You're a life saver ;)

24 December 2009, 19:09	#4
clueless Guessing my way round Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: England Posts: 159	Thanks, had the same problem. All sorted now

10 August 2010, 11:46	#5
1time Amiga Lover Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stockholm / Sweden Age: 46 Posts: 612	This is an old thread. But i just want to say that this worked perfectly for me. Thanks a lot.

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