Why HDF for a Workbench setup?

Kodoichi · 28 February 2007, 09:11

Paul, in the Workbench 3.1 tutorial, why do you suggest creating a HDF with limited space? Creating folders in Windows, then assigning WinUAE to it is simple and doesn't limit space

Mad-Matt · 28 February 2007, 11:45

why not ? no risk of incompatible file names and locked files with a hdf file and dont need to much free space on a workbench drive anyway.

Marcuz · 28 February 2007, 14:07

i remember having had problem with hdir workbenches with earlier Winuae versions, specifically with Aiab and ClassicWB. so i switched to HDFs.
their downside is the possible loss of datas with some version of Winuae (it happened recently with betas); so it's smart to have backups.

however, in 5 years of use, i would say HDFs have become more reliable and they are the best solution for the main hard disk to me. they are also easily movable and archivable.

Mad-Matt · 28 February 2007, 14:23

did the betas destroy the hd file, or was it just unreadable for a while until fixed ?

Toni Wilen · 28 February 2007, 14:26

No data loss, first few betas only wrote incorrect hdf configuration when saving config file.

Marcuz · 28 February 2007, 16:11

yeah sorry, not exactly data loss: i don't remember the correct number of the beta, it was one of the firsts of the last month, i got a couple of unvalidated harddisk HDF when switching to it, solved by using the tools with ClassicWB
however no data loss really.

it's some year since winuae did break me hdfs.

Anubis · 02 March 2007, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodoichi

Paul, in the Workbench 3.1 tutorial, why do you suggest creating a HDF with limited space? Creating folders in Windows, then assigning WinUAE to it is simple and doesn't limit space

In some cases it is windows limitation as amiga install can include way to many files and widnows can have limit on number of files in direcotry if I remember correctly.

Also, amiga can have files without file name if I remember correctly. (or was it spaces instead of name?)

HDF is better IMHO.

Toni Wilen · 02 March 2007, 20:21

Neither is "better".

HDF: 100% compatible, works also with programs that need low level disk access.

Directories: "compatible enough" if not using FAT, very flexible, can be accessed easily from host side, "unlimited" size etc..

adolescent · 03 March 2007, 00:59

What about Amiga hard drive support? Where would that rank?

Toni Wilen · 03 March 2007, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by adolescent

What about Amiga hard drive support? Where would that rank?

Same as HDF. No difference.

StrategyGamer · 03 March 2007, 20:33

Which is better for programs and games which spool video or audio data from the HD with realtime playback?

In other words which is easier for the UAE virtual machine to deal with?

Or put another way: Which way burns less cpu cycles? A Hard Disk File or an NTFS dir?

andreas · 11 June 2007, 05:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodoichi

Paul, in the Workbench 3.1 tutorial, why do you suggest creating a HDF with limited space? Creating folders in Windows, then assigning WinUAE to it is simple and doesn't limit space

I hate to have 1000+ tiny files on my HDD, with some of them using illegal characters (in Windows terms), and have the thing fragmented as heck, too.

_ThEcRoW · 13 July 2007, 05:01

You always can use a real ffs/sfs partition on your hard disk for winuae.
It works very well

.

hamster · 05 August 2007, 22:49

I find myself using a .hdf file labelled as "system" with my programs/games. I also attached a windows folder with the any needed tools for amiga/whdload etc reinstalls or for dragging files across windows to the .hdf.

Hmmm, I feel like creating another .hdf tonight.

28 February 2007, 09:11	#1
Kodoichi Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: I'm the smiling face on your TV, I exploit you still you love me Posts: 515	Why HDF for a Workbench setup? Paul, in the Workbench 3.1 tutorial, why do you suggest creating a HDF with limited space? Creating folders in Windows, then assigning WinUAE to it is simple and doesn't limit space

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28 February 2007, 11:45	#2
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,846	why not ? no risk of incompatible file names and locked files with a hdf file and dont need to much free space on a workbench drive anyway.

28 February 2007, 14:07	#3
Marcuz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: . Age: 48 Posts: 5,562	i remember having had problem with hdir workbenches with earlier Winuae versions, specifically with Aiab and ClassicWB. so i switched to HDFs. their downside is the possible loss of datas with some version of Winuae (it happened recently with betas); so it's smart to have backups. however, in 5 years of use, i would say HDFs have become more reliable and they are the best solution for the main hard disk to me. they are also easily movable and archivable.

28 February 2007, 14:23	#4
Mad-Matt Longplayer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln / UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,846	did the betas destroy the hd file, or was it just unreadable for a while until fixed ?

28 February 2007, 14:26	#5
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,505	No data loss, first few betas only wrote incorrect hdf configuration when saving config file.

28 February 2007, 16:11	#6
Marcuz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: . Age: 48 Posts: 5,562	yeah sorry, not exactly data loss: i don't remember the correct number of the beta, it was one of the firsts of the last month, i got a couple of unvalidated harddisk HDF when switching to it, solved by using the tools with ClassicWB however no data loss really. it's some year since winuae did break me hdfs.

02 March 2007, 20:21	#8
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,505	Neither is "better". HDF: 100% compatible, works also with programs that need low level disk access. Directories: "compatible enough" if not using FAT, very flexible, can be accessed easily from host side, "unlimited" size etc..

03 March 2007, 00:59	#9
adolescent Powered by Motorola Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Age: 52 Posts: 1,065	What about Amiga hard drive support? Where would that rank?

03 March 2007, 20:33	#11
StrategyGamer Total Chaos AGA is fun! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA Posts: 873	Which is better for programs and games which spool video or audio data from the HD with realtime playback? In other words which is easier for the UAE virtual machine to deal with? Or put another way: Which way burns less cpu cycles? A Hard Disk File or an NTFS dir?

13 July 2007, 05:01	#13
_ThEcRoW Amiga NetRunner Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Spain Age: 45 Posts: 941	You always can use a real ffs/sfs partition on your hard disk for winuae. It works very well .

05 August 2007, 22:49	#14
hamster Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterford / Ireland Age: 49 Posts: 88	I find myself using a .hdf file labelled as "system" with my programs/games. I also attached a windows folder with the any needed tools for amiga/whdload etc reinstalls or for dragging files across windows to the .hdf. Hmmm, I feel like creating another .hdf tonight.

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