Newbie

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 12:23

Hello all,

I have recently (last night) dug my old A500+ out of the loft in order to test and sell.

To my delight it worked first time after about 20 years of no use!

After many childhood memories came flooding back, I decided against parting with it and to refurb it instead! Yay!

Now, whilst the A500+ worked, I also have a GVP A530 Turbo that appears to be faulty.

I tried to boot to workbench and got an error message which I can't remember right now (I'm in work).

I'm probably going to replace the HD with a 4GB CF card (if possible). I'd also like to increase the RAM as I'm sure theres only 1MB in there.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to getting the A530 back to its former glory?

Dastardly · 09 November 2012, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogsy

After many childhood memories came flooding back, I decided against parting with it and to refurb it instead! Yay!

Good decision! You only would have regretted it

Welcome from me.

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 12:52

welcome,your first job will probably be to remove the onboard battery from the a500+

putting a cf card in the 530 may be a bit tricky due to it being scsi,and dependng on its firmware revision. the memory may also be a bit tricky to obtain.(also your drive might failed hense the errrors)

have you tried amibay?

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 12:57

Thanks for the welcomes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roy bates

welcome,your first job will probably be to remove the onboard battery from the a500+

putting a cf card in the 530 may be a bit tricky due to it being scsi,and dependong on its firmware revision the memory may also be a bit tricky to obtain.(also your drive might failed hense the errrors)

have you tried amibay?

Is there a need to remove the battery? I had the A500 open last night and it seemed to be in good nick. No signs of leaking.

That was my concern with the A530. I may just try to source a replacement HD if I can't get it running.

I'll check out amibay, thanks.

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 13:05

ah ok,if it aint leaking dont bother,just keep an eye on it ever now and then.as it might later on.

DonAmiga · 09 November 2012, 13:07

Hello and Welcome

great to read your keeping the Amiga and it will bring some joy

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 13:48

I've just got home a booted with the A530.

I get the following error:

Intuition Prefs daemon problem:
bad screenfont.prefs file

I click Give up and it loads into Workbench fine!

Happy days!

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 13:54

nice,got any pics we all love pics.

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by roy bates

nice,got any pics we all love pics.

I certainly do!

Its a shame about the yellowing, but nvm. At least its working.

Now to clean and mod!

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 14:22

have you had a look at whdload?

what size is the drive?

you can get the yellowing off the keyboard with h2o2.

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 14:23

I've had a brief scan around and I'm aware of whdload, but don't really know where to start.

I'm trying to take everything in, lol.

Sorry, forgot to add, I recall the drive being 80MB.

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 14:26

dont worry theres no rush

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 14:29

Any advice would be much appreciated regarding whdload. Can it just be installed and ran from the Workbench desktop from the A530?

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 14:38

yes and no.on yours you will also need the kickstart files for it to work properly,although your drive is only a small one at the moment

and you will probably have to try to upgrade the memory on the 530 at least,it takes 8mb doesent it?

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 14:43

Yes, 8MB max. (2 x 4MB chips). Rocking horse doo doo I assume.

Kickstart files?

Sysinfo reports Kickstart 37.175.

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 14:54

you need the kickstart files for a 500 and a 1200 (1.3 and 3.1)these are then placed in devs/kickstarts for whdload.

roy bates · 09 November 2012, 15:01

do you have any way to transfer files to your amiga?

this will be the hardest part.

a scsi zip drive maybe? or a scsi card in your pc and winuae?

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 15:06

Hmm, I have an Iomega zip drive somewhere, not sure if its still operational though.

On a side note, I've just discovered that the return key doesn't work properly

demolition · 09 November 2012, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogsy

Hmm, I have an Iomega zip drive somewhere, not sure if its still operational though.

On a side note, I've just discovered that the return key doesn't work properly

If it is only the return key it could probably be fixed by taking the keyboard apart and cleaning it. But at least you also have an Enter key on the numerical keypad.

Mogsy · 09 November 2012, 15:31

Hmm, its all going pear shaped now. The A530 has given up booting

At least I have the Enter key as you mentioned lol.

09 November 2012, 12:23	#1
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	Newbie Hello all, I have recently (last night) dug my old A500+ out of the loft in order to test and sell. To my delight it worked first time after about 20 years of no use! After many childhood memories came flooding back, I decided against parting with it and to refurb it instead! Yay! Now, whilst the A500+ worked, I also have a GVP A530 Turbo that appears to be faulty. I tried to boot to workbench and got an error message which I can't remember right now (I'm in work). I'm probably going to replace the HD with a 4GB CF card (if possible). I'd also like to increase the RAM as I'm sure theres only 1MB in there. Can anyone point me in the right direction to getting the A530 back to its former glory?

09 November 2012, 14:23	#11
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	I've had a brief scan around and I'm aware of whdload, but don't really know where to start. I'm trying to take everything in, lol. Sorry, forgot to add, I recall the drive being 80MB. Last edited by prowler; 09 November 2012 at 20:32. Reason: Back-to-back posts merged; please use the Edit button.

09 November 2012, 14:43	#15
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	Yes, 8MB max. (2 x 4MB chips). Rocking horse doo doo I assume. Kickstart files? Sysinfo reports Kickstart 37.175. Last edited by prowler; 09 November 2012 at 20:34. Reason: Back-to-back posts merged; please use the Edit button.

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09 November 2012, 12:52	#3
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	welcome,your first job will probably be to remove the onboard battery from the a500+ putting a cf card in the 530 may be a bit tricky due to it being scsi,and dependng on its firmware revision. the memory may also be a bit tricky to obtain.(also your drive might failed hense the errrors) have you tried amibay?

09 November 2012, 13:05	#5
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	ah ok,if it aint leaking dont bother,just keep an eye on it ever now and then.as it might later on.

09 November 2012, 13:07	#6
DonAmiga Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Scotland Posts: 523	Hello and Welcome great to read your keeping the Amiga and it will bring some joy

09 November 2012, 13:48	#7
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	I've just got home a booted with the A530. I get the following error: Intuition Prefs daemon problem: bad screenfont.prefs file I click Give up and it loads into Workbench fine! Happy days!

09 November 2012, 13:54	#8
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	nice,got any pics we all love pics.

09 November 2012, 14:22	#10
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	have you had a look at whdload? what size is the drive? you can get the yellowing off the keyboard with h2o2.

09 November 2012, 14:26	#12
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	dont worry theres no rush

09 November 2012, 14:29	#13
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	Any advice would be much appreciated regarding whdload. Can it just be installed and ran from the Workbench desktop from the A530?

09 November 2012, 14:38	#14
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	yes and no.on yours you will also need the kickstart files for it to work properly,although your drive is only a small one at the moment and you will probably have to try to upgrade the memory on the 530 at least,it takes 8mb doesent it?

09 November 2012, 14:54	#16
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	you need the kickstart files for a 500 and a 1200 (1.3 and 3.1)these are then placed in devs/kickstarts for whdload.

09 November 2012, 15:01	#17
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	do you have any way to transfer files to your amiga? this will be the hardest part. a scsi zip drive maybe? or a scsi card in your pc and winuae?

09 November 2012, 15:06	#18
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	Hmm, I have an Iomega zip drive somewhere, not sure if its still operational though. On a side note, I've just discovered that the return key doesn't work properly

09 November 2012, 15:31	#20
Mogsy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 68	Hmm, its all going pear shaped now. The A530 has given up booting At least I have the Enter key as you mentioned lol.

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