A1200 IDE HD Issues...

17 November 2004, 20:17

I put a 6GB Toshiba drive in my A1200, but it keeps developing errors. It seems like I can format the first few partitions just fine, but as soon as I start filling them up, it starts to flake out and even eats my first few partitions. I know the drive works, and it isn't the newest drive I've got (i.e. not SATA or anything).

Is this a common issue with a simple fix, is it likely this drive just won't work on the 1200, or is this not enough data to tell?

madenph · 17 November 2004, 20:58

The Amiga as standard can only address the first 4GB of a drive, anything above that gets 'wrapped around' so if a file is written at around the 5GB mark then it overwrites data stored at the 1GB mark.

Quick answer, make all of your partitions live within the first 4GB of the drive and you'll be fine.

Long answer... There are replacement file systems that can overcome this limit if used correctly. See http://amiga.emugaming.com/4gbplus.html for more info.

Personally I'd go for the "less than 4GB" option.

17 November 2004, 21:18

As I suspected, the problem was my own ignorance of the matter. Thank you for that quick and accurate answer

.

I guess I'll go with the 4GB option, as I still want to be able to use all of my old tools and such. Pity to lose 2.4GB of my drive, but it did come from a scrapped laptop to begin with.

18 November 2004, 17:48

Forgive me if i'm wrong but but i'm pretty sure OS3.9 can handle disks bigger than 4gb.

tin · 19 November 2004, 01:37

yes but as madenph alluded to, it's much less of a pain in the ass to just limit your usage to 4gig.

17 November 2004, 20:17	#1
Six Posts: n/a	A1200 IDE HD Issues... I put a 6GB Toshiba drive in my A1200, but it keeps developing errors. It seems like I can format the first few partitions just fine, but as soon as I start filling them up, it starts to flake out and even eats my first few partitions. I know the drive works, and it isn't the newest drive I've got (i.e. not SATA or anything). Is this a common issue with a simple fix, is it likely this drive just won't work on the 1200, or is this not enough data to tell?

17 November 2004, 21:18	#3
Six Posts: n/a	As I suspected, the problem was my own ignorance of the matter. Thank you for that quick and accurate answer. I guess I'll go with the 4GB option, as I still want to be able to use all of my old tools and such. Pity to lose 2.4GB of my drive, but it did come from a scrapped laptop to begin with.

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17 November 2004, 20:58	#2
madenph Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Burnley Age: 48 Posts: 21	The Amiga as standard can only address the first 4GB of a drive, anything above that gets 'wrapped around' so if a file is written at around the 5GB mark then it overwrites data stored at the 1GB mark. Quick answer, make all of your partitions live within the first 4GB of the drive and you'll be fine. Long answer... There are replacement file systems that can overcome this limit if used correctly. See http://amiga.emugaming.com/4gbplus.html for more info. Personally I'd go for the "less than 4GB" option.

18 November 2004, 17:48	#4
zx81 Posts: n/a	Forgive me if i'm wrong but but i'm pretty sure OS3.9 can handle disks bigger than 4gb.

19 November 2004, 01:37	#5
tin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chester Posts: 415	yes but as madenph alluded to, it's much less of a pain in the ass to just limit your usage to 4gig.

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