A600 HD Installation Problems

19 March 2007, 23:54

Hello all! I've followed the excellent guide posted by InTheSand about installing the Hard Disk.

Link here...
http://www.cdv.co.nz/support/amiga/001/

But I get stuck by point 41 here...
http://www.cdv.co.nz/support/amiga/001/09.php

Click the DH0, hold down the right mouse button, then go up to the "Icons" menu and choose the "Format Disk..." option. Briefly the message "Attempting to load program SYS:System/Format" appears in the black top bar of workbench whilst accessing the floppy (With the Workbench Install disk inserted!) drive. Then nothing happens!

Can anyone please show me what's going wrong? Help greatly appreciated.

Peter · 20 March 2007, 00:51

Dont you have to have your Workbench floppy disk rather than the install disk in your drive at this stage?

DDNI · 20 March 2007, 01:46

Welcome to EAB. What rom version do you see displayed when you first turn the machine on?

20 March 2007, 10:38

The ROM version is 37.300 and I tried the regular Workbench disk but no joy.

To get my laptop Hard Disk recognised I had to use the 3.1 install disc as 3.0 wouldn't register it properly!

Helps appreciated guys!

cane · 20 March 2007, 11:04

Version 37.300 is the first rom version that has hdd support (scsi.device in it). On many places it is stated that this version of rom supports only hard drives smaller than 40 MB. But I have the same rom in my A600 and I have normally installed hdds up to 1 Gb. Maybe you hdd is incompatible with this version of rom.
What kind of error do you get, did you start the format program (pic 42 from tutorial)?
You can also try and format it in WinUAE, after that put it in Amiga and see if it will work.

20 March 2007, 11:22

That's just the thing, it recognises the Hard Disk using 3.1 and does all the partition business but when it comes to format DH0 and DH1 it just does nothing. No error, nothing! I'm trying a little work around at the moment experimenting and all. Your advice is still appreciated, keep it coming.

mywetpants · 20 March 2007, 11:41

Does your icon say "DH0:NDOS" or "DH0:"?

Mad-Matt · 20 March 2007, 12:20

when you install using the install disk, it should be doing the format for you. so you endup with 2 drives, one called system/workbench and another called work .

20 March 2007, 12:47

Just like in the tutorial I end up with DH0: followed by some nonsense letters and the same goes for DH1:

Just tried something new, formatting both DH0 and DH1 using Workbench 2.0. So far DH0 is formatted and has been renamed Empty (Automated process, I had ne control over the name!), it opens up and has a Trashcan so I guess that worked! Doing the same for DH1 right now after which I'll attempt the Workbench installation and then try installing a HD game. I'll let you know what happens!

Thanks for all your help, fingers crossed this works!

mywetpants · 20 March 2007, 12:57

If you've got the trashcan, then you're there!

20 March 2007, 15:43

Okay here's the story so far....

Formatted both DH0 and DH1, rebooted the system with Workbench 2.0 in DF0 and everything looked fine. Installed Dune to DH0 and the game worked great. Rebooted without the Workbench disk and the system goes to AmigaDos where I typed DH0: (Yes I'm clueless with AmigaDos!) to see if it would boot somehow without Workbench. Anyway it asked to insert a volume in DH0 so I cancelled and rebooted with Workbench 2.0.

Now the DH0 has disappeared but DH1 is still there! So I installed Dune... again, with the path DH0. Now it installed it to my DH1 folder but I used the DH0: command! Weird or what? One other problem, tried installing Dreamweb but it won't work. Keeps trying to load 'IconX'. Interestingly Fate of Atlantis did the same but instead asked to insert Workbench 2.0 in DF0. After many changes of Atlantis and Workbench before and during installation the game is on the DH0 in my DH1 folder.

So what's going on? Any help appreciated. Also couldn't install workbench, it tells me I need Kickstart 3 for Workbench 3.0 and 3.1. Have no idea how to install the lower (2.0 for example) Workbenches! Thanks for your patience guys hopefully we'll get this cracked!

Mad-Matt · 20 March 2007, 16:08

do you have the wb 2 hd install disk ? this will setup everything .

20 March 2007, 16:18

I rather presumed there wasn't one being before the time of Hard Disks and all! Thanks for the advice, I'll try that ASAP. Hopefully be the end of my troubles

Mad-Matt · 20 March 2007, 16:34

yet your a600 came with wb2 and a hd cradle ?

the install disk was usualy sent with the hd when buying them instead of being packaged with the wb2 diskset strangely. I assume the actual A600HD came with the disk, but i dont know.

20 March 2007, 16:44

Ha strange huh!

Originally I had an A600 with Workbench 2.0. Then over the years I've had hand me downs because everyone knew I love this old technology. Anyway, I recently bought an A600HD unit. The 20MB Hard Disk just didn't cut it so that's why I'm upgrading! Although I need to buy another cradle as my new laptop Hard Disk needs a custom design. Implementing a hammer and chisel it should fit. I'm shocked the games I installed are actually working considering my amateur antics. Commodore certainly built a resiliant system. Just for the record I'm using a 3.25GB Hard Disk and Workbench recognises the space. Split straight down the middle 1550MB per partition.

Found the Workbench Install disk for 2.0, right under my nose all the time... doh!

Now to get that DH0 recognised properly.

20 March 2007, 18:36

That Workbench Installation disk worked a treat! Set it all up without any intervention from me!

One small niggle however. I read that going over 2 or 2.5GB put you at risk of losing data from the Hard Disk? Is this true and has anyone here had personal experience of this happening? Only ask because the installation disc setup my 'Work:' folder with 3GB of space! Probably more than I'll ever need but I don't want my games disappearing from the Hard Disk all the same.

Doc Mindie · 20 March 2007, 21:00

Unless I'm mistaken, If all your partitions are located within the first 4 GB, the HD will be fine. Reasn for 4GB is simple, 32 bit. which is 32^2=4GB.

If you hadn't found the install disk, a simple boot from the WB2 disk, open up a Shell and then type "copy df0: dh0: all" would have done the trick as far as WB installation goes. Done it a few times, though not in over ten years now....... and I still remember that trick

19 March 2007, 23:54	#1
Devin Posts: n/a	A600 HD Installation Problems Hello all! I've followed the excellent guide posted by InTheSand about installing the Hard Disk. Link here... http://www.cdv.co.nz/support/amiga/001/ But I get stuck by point 41 here... http://www.cdv.co.nz/support/amiga/001/09.php Click the DH0, hold down the right mouse button, then go up to the "Icons" menu and choose the "Format Disk..." option. Briefly the message "Attempting to load program SYS:System/Format" appears in the black top bar of workbench whilst accessing the floppy (With the Workbench Install disk inserted!) drive. Then nothing happens! Can anyone please show me what's going wrong? Help greatly appreciated.

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20 March 2007, 00:51	#2
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	Dont you have to have your Workbench floppy disk rather than the install disk in your drive at this stage?

20 March 2007, 01:46	#3
DDNI Targ Explorer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5,432	Welcome to EAB. What rom version do you see displayed when you first turn the machine on?

20 March 2007, 10:38	#4
Devin Posts: n/a	The ROM version is 37.300 and I tried the regular Workbench disk but no joy. To get my laptop Hard Disk recognised I had to use the 3.1 install disc as 3.0 wouldn't register it properly! Helps appreciated guys!

20 March 2007, 11:04	#5
cane Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: .hr Age: 45 Posts: 540	Version 37.300 is the first rom version that has hdd support (scsi.device in it). On many places it is stated that this version of rom supports only hard drives smaller than 40 MB. But I have the same rom in my A600 and I have normally installed hdds up to 1 Gb. Maybe you hdd is incompatible with this version of rom. What kind of error do you get, did you start the format program (pic 42 from tutorial)? You can also try and format it in WinUAE, after that put it in Amiga and see if it will work.

20 March 2007, 11:22	#6
Devin Posts: n/a	That's just the thing, it recognises the Hard Disk using 3.1 and does all the partition business but when it comes to format DH0 and DH1 it just does nothing. No error, nothing! I'm trying a little work around at the moment experimenting and all. Your advice is still appreciated, keep it coming.

20 March 2007, 11:41	#7
mywetpants Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 29	Does your icon say "DH0:NDOS" or "DH0:"?

20 March 2007, 12:20	#8
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,851	when you install using the install disk, it should be doing the format for you. so you endup with 2 drives, one called system/workbench and another called work .

20 March 2007, 12:47	#9
Devin Posts: n/a	Just like in the tutorial I end up with DH0: followed by some nonsense letters and the same goes for DH1: Just tried something new, formatting both DH0 and DH1 using Workbench 2.0. So far DH0 is formatted and has been renamed Empty (Automated process, I had ne control over the name!), it opens up and has a Trashcan so I guess that worked! Doing the same for DH1 right now after which I'll attempt the Workbench installation and then try installing a HD game. I'll let you know what happens! Thanks for all your help, fingers crossed this works!

20 March 2007, 12:57	#10
mywetpants Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 29	If you've got the trashcan, then you're there!

20 March 2007, 15:43	#11
Devin Posts: n/a	Okay here's the story so far.... Formatted both DH0 and DH1, rebooted the system with Workbench 2.0 in DF0 and everything looked fine. Installed Dune to DH0 and the game worked great. Rebooted without the Workbench disk and the system goes to AmigaDos where I typed DH0: (Yes I'm clueless with AmigaDos!) to see if it would boot somehow without Workbench. Anyway it asked to insert a volume in DH0 so I cancelled and rebooted with Workbench 2.0. Now the DH0 has disappeared but DH1 is still there! So I installed Dune... again, with the path DH0. Now it installed it to my DH1 folder but I used the DH0: command! Weird or what? One other problem, tried installing Dreamweb but it won't work. Keeps trying to load 'IconX'. Interestingly Fate of Atlantis did the same but instead asked to insert Workbench 2.0 in DF0. After many changes of Atlantis and Workbench before and during installation the game is on the DH0 in my DH1 folder. So what's going on? Any help appreciated. Also couldn't install workbench, it tells me I need Kickstart 3 for Workbench 3.0 and 3.1. Have no idea how to install the lower (2.0 for example) Workbenches! Thanks for your patience guys hopefully we'll get this cracked!

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20 March 2007, 16:08	#12
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,851	do you have the wb 2 hd install disk ? this will setup everything .

20 March 2007, 16:18	#13
Devin Posts: n/a	I rather presumed there wasn't one being before the time of Hard Disks and all! Thanks for the advice, I'll try that ASAP. Hopefully be the end of my troubles

20 March 2007, 16:34	#14
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,851	yet your a600 came with wb2 and a hd cradle ? the install disk was usualy sent with the hd when buying them instead of being packaged with the wb2 diskset strangely. I assume the actual A600HD came with the disk, but i dont know.

20 March 2007, 16:44	#15
Devin Posts: n/a	Ha strange huh! Originally I had an A600 with Workbench 2.0. Then over the years I've had hand me downs because everyone knew I love this old technology. Anyway, I recently bought an A600HD unit. The 20MB Hard Disk just didn't cut it so that's why I'm upgrading! Although I need to buy another cradle as my new laptop Hard Disk needs a custom design. Implementing a hammer and chisel it should fit. I'm shocked the games I installed are actually working considering my amateur antics. Commodore certainly built a resiliant system. Just for the record I'm using a 3.25GB Hard Disk and Workbench recognises the space. Split straight down the middle 1550MB per partition. Found the Workbench Install disk for 2.0, right under my nose all the time... doh! Now to get that DH0 recognised properly.

20 March 2007, 18:36	#16
Devin Posts: n/a	That Workbench Installation disk worked a treat! Set it all up without any intervention from me! One small niggle however. I read that going over 2 or 2.5GB put you at risk of losing data from the Hard Disk? Is this true and has anyone here had personal experience of this happening? Only ask because the installation disc setup my 'Work:' folder with 3GB of space! Probably more than I'll ever need but I don't want my games disappearing from the Hard Disk all the same.

20 March 2007, 21:00	#17
Doc Mindie In deep Trouble Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manchester, Made in Norway Age: 51 Posts: 841	Unless I'm mistaken, If all your partitions are located within the first 4 GB, the HD will be fine. Reasn for 4GB is simple, 32 bit. which is 32^2=4GB. If you hadn't found the install disk, a simple boot from the WB2 disk, open up a Shell and then type "copy df0: dh0: all" would have done the trick as far as WB installation goes. Done it a few times, though not in over ten years now....... and I still remember that trick