Installing a SCSI HD on the A500/+

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 08:54

OK, I give up.

After much time (almost a full day!) trying to show up the SCSI HD on Workbench screen, running every disk install I can download to no avail, I come here.

To my shame, of course.

In favour of myself, I must admit that I never had an A500 with HD before.

So here is the description: I have a nice A500 rev6 (do you remember that brown keyboard? Yup, now it is almost white), A501 and an AddHard SCSI controller (kindly donated to me by Zetr0) and a multi-sync monitor. I keep the unit with the original 1.3 ROM.

Running Sysinfo shows a ADD_SCSI.device on the devices list, but that's all. No priority, no nothing.

Running HDInstTools (Aminet version) doesn't show the controller(!), and, obviously, nor the HD.

I've put a SCSI 50>68 adapter and a Quantum Viking 9.1Gb on it with the settings matching the needs: ID 0, SE (single ended), TP (termination power enabled). No terminators since is just one unit on a short 68 wires cable.

After cold boot, the HD led (on it only) lits, but not the controller LED(!). Also the Amiga shows the light grey screen (waiting for the SCSI controller) and... nada, niente, zilch, nothing, null. Catso!

After soft-reset, if a disk is in the floppy, the Amiga boots normally, without the HD icon, of course. Note too the HD is not Amiga formatted nor partitioned yet.

Can someone enlighten me on the right direction?

Do I need to buy another small 50 HD to further test? The smallest I found is a 2Gb unit, pretty cheap.

Have someone the AddHard install disk? Some program I need to run to make things happens?

alexh · 25 July 2008, 08:58

If the unit only supports SCSI(6) commands the maximum device it will support is 2^21 sectors or 1 GiB.

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 09:10

So even a 2Gb will not show up... Oh, phook!

Where can I find such small (for today's standards) drive?

BTW: HDInstTools is looking for Oktagon.device !!!

coze · 25 July 2008, 09:21

you should start hdinsttools with add_scsi as a parameter

what a noob !

Jope · 25 July 2008, 09:29

Lol, noob, device names are case sensitive.

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 09:33

Yes, but I try with add_scsi.device and ADD_SCSI.device (maybe I need to use "ADD SCSI.device" instead?).

The first does nothing, the second starts to look and freezes.

[EDIT]

Things goes strange...

HDInstTools freezes with "ADD_SCSI.device" even with nothing attached to SCSI bus...

coze · 25 July 2008, 10:23

maybe you should get a 3.1 rom. I had real nightmares when installing a 1.3 system on a a590 too, in the end I just gave up.

TheCorfiot · 25 July 2008, 10:32

@rkauer,

Dare I suggest connecting the HD to WinUAE via a PC SCSI controller & setting it up from there, Once you've got the RDB setup & functioning with WinUAE if it still does not work with your Miggy then as Alex says the Firmware maybe the issue.

I use a GVP HD+8 with My A500 / + & have used WinUAE many times to prep the HD's & transfer software then simply plugging it into my HD+8,

also BTW If the HD is the only device on the SCSI chain, terminate it regardless of cable length, I've found my HD+8 to be quite sensitive regarding this too.

Hope this helps mate

TC

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 10:36

Thanks TC.

I think I'll do what you suggest. First I need to install UAE in my pc machine. Sigh...

Things never goes fast on this side of the pond...

BTW: I think I need a new 68pin terminator... The last I had is broken beyond repair...

cosmicfrog · 25 July 2008, 10:49

yes you still need termination so go get terminated

alexh · 25 July 2008, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

BTW: I think I need a new 68pin terminator... The last I had is broken beyond repair...

50-pin surely?

TheCorfiot · 25 July 2008, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

Thanks TC.

I think I'll do what you suggest. First I need to install UAE in my pc machine. Sigh...

Things never goes fast on this side of the pond...

BTW: I think I need a new 68pin terminator... The last I had is broken beyond repair...

@rkauer

Does your Amiga SCSI adapter have a 25way ext port on the back,
If so just attatch ANY SCSI device to it & set that devices' termination to on, example CD or SCSI ZIP.
That should terminate the chain for now while you find a new terminator.

And mate If you can find a KS2.04 ROM for the A500 I would really recomend that as a minimum (KS3.1 better of course) as SCSI installation is so much easier if you don't have a PC/WinUAE to hand and want to use the Miggy for prepping.

TC

Zetr0 · 25 July 2008, 11:01

@rkauer

my friend, shouldn't HDinstalTools bee looking for addSCSI.device or variant.

I had difficulty locating the AdSCSI for the A500, but i did find the A2000 variant for you to try luscious linkie best of luck my friend

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 20:36

Thank you people.

This is a place I can call home!

Plenty of good guys, no trolls at sight!

@Cosmic: Yeah, I notice...

Quote:

Alexh
50-pin surely?

@Alexh: no, 68pin. Like the cable, HD and adaptor I have. I have a 50pin active term, but not a second adapter to it. Nor another terminator with male pins. And neither a 50 pin cable with a male tip.

Hmm... It's me or last sentence sounds gay?

Quote:

TC
Does your Amiga SCSI adapter have a 25way ext port on the back,
If so just attatch ANY SCSI device to it & set that devices' termination to on, example CD or SCSI ZIP. That should terminate the chain for now while you find a new terminator.

The unit just have the traces on it. Not even the pins do solder a DB25. If I have an external SCSI unit @ home I surely use it.

Quote:

TC
And mate If you can find a KS2.04 ROM for the A500 I would really recomend that as a minimum (KS3.1 better of course) as SCSI installation is so much easier if you don't have a PC/WinUAE to hand and want to use the Miggy for prepping.

I have a spare 37300 ks. But I don't want to put my 40063 ROM into an A500. I wanted to make an "old-school" installation, but now the fun is over.

Quote:

Zetro
My friend, shouldn't HDinstalTools bee looking for addSCSI.device or variant.

I had difficulty locating the AdSCSI for the A500, but I did find the A2000 variant for you to try luscious linkie best of luck my friend.

Thanks, Z.

Now I need to give the A500 a last (for now) try before going to another hardware solution (giving the unit a DB25 on the back) or simply using another (smaller) HD. 50 pin, of course.

To all you guys, again:

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 22:04

Just a silly last question: can the terminator be used this way:

ActiveTerm--Controller--50>68 Adaptor--HD ?

coze · 25 July 2008, 22:47

no, it should be controller-HD-terminator.

hmm sorry I can't understand why you need a 68 pin adapter in there. The hd is 68 pin ? what is 68 pin ? you should all be set with 50 pin stuff.

rkauer · 25 July 2008, 23:27

Yeah, the HD is 68pin. Cable is 68 too. I only have 1 50(female) to 68(female) adaptor in here.

No other type of HD connector. It is it or a SCA unit (73Gb) I use on the SCSI+ on 1200T. No cable or adapter to use it on the 68pin HD.

alewis · 26 July 2008, 03:37

And you need to ensure the controller is terminated too. Both ends of the chain must be terminated. If you then add a device via the 25pin <spit> port, you will need to terminate that device (its now at the end of the chain) and un-terminate the controller (which is now in the middle of the chain).

Check the SCSI ID of the controller. Check it is terminated correctly (if you only have the one device) and that the device itself is also terminated. Ideally, if you can, get a 50pin SCSI-II drive (I possibly have one, its your for postage if I have and you want)

To see if the system is working, after checking the hardware is correctly installed.

Hammer down exactly what the device name is that the add-scsi is using; add-scsi.device, for example. have a gander on the net and see if this was presented in the controller ROM, or as a device driver, or possbly even in L: directory

Fire up a WB in the usual way. Insert your HDTools disk. In the tooltype (mentioned above) you need to ensure it says "device=add_scsi.device" (I'm rusty, been 18months since I owned an Amiga). Copy the device driver to devs:, and/or L:

reboot with this HDToolbox... it will scan looking for the add_scsi hardware.

rkauer · 26 July 2008, 04:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by alewis

And you need to ensure the controller is terminated too. Both ends of the chain must be terminated. If you then add a device via the 25pin <spit> port, you will need to terminate that device (its now at the end of the chain) and un-terminate the controller (which is now in the middle of the chain).

I know the theory, and also have some practice (I own a 1200 with a SCSI+ I hack on it). I think the controller is not terminated at all. So in need for 2 passive terms (one is the hd internal, another on the other side).

Quote:

Check the SCSI ID of the controller. Check it is terminated correctly (if you only have the one device) and that the device itself is also terminated. Ideally, if you can, get a 50pin SCSI-II drive (I possibly have one, its your for postage if I have and you want).

I always think every controller use ID7 for itself.

Quote:

To see if the system is working, after checking the hardware is correctly installed.

Hammer down exactly what the device name is that the add-scsi is using; add-scsi.device, for example. have a gander on the net and see if this was presented in the controller ROM, or as a device driver, or possibly even in L: directory.

The right name is ADD_SCSI.device. So tell me version and sysinfo. And the driver is already in memory due the auto-boot feature (the boot.rom throw it in there).

Quote:

Fire up a WB in the usual way. Insert your HDTools disk. In the tooltype (mentioned above) you need to ensure it says "device=add_scsi.device" (I'm rusty, been 18months since I owned an Amiga). Copy the device driver to devs:, and/or L:

No way to do this since the driver is resident in memory and in anywhere else (but the controller's ROM).

Quote:

reboot with this HDToolbox... it will scan looking for the add_scsi hardware.

When I try this the program freezes as it start scanning for devices...

I think I'll put ks37300 on the 500 to give it another chance...

rkauer · 26 July 2008, 05:03

Just to clarify, that's mine Add_SCSI:

Looking at the unit, you see the 50>68 pin gender converter, the round Adaptec cable and the SCSI HD (who is active terminated internally).

25 July 2008, 08:54	#1
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Installing a SCSI HD on the A500/+ OK, I give up. After much time (almost a full day!) trying to show up the SCSI HD on Workbench screen, running every disk install I can download to no avail, I come here. To my shame, of course. In favour of myself, I must admit that I never had an A500 with HD before. So here is the description: I have a nice A500 rev6 (do you remember that brown keyboard? Yup, now it is almost white), A501 and an AddHard SCSI controller (kindly donated to me by Zetr0) and a multi-sync monitor. I keep the unit with the original 1.3 ROM. Running Sysinfo shows a ADD_SCSI.device on the devices list, but that's all. No priority, no nothing. Running HDInstTools (Aminet version) doesn't show the controller(!), and, obviously, nor the HD. I've put a SCSI 50>68 adapter and a Quantum Viking 9.1Gb on it with the settings matching the needs: ID 0, SE (single ended), TP (termination power enabled). No terminators since is just one unit on a short 68 wires cable. After cold boot, the HD led (on it only) lits, but not the controller LED(!). Also the Amiga shows the light grey screen (waiting for the SCSI controller) and... nada, niente, zilch, nothing, null. Catso! After soft-reset, if a disk is in the floppy, the Amiga boots normally, without the HD icon, of course. Note too the HD is not Amiga formatted nor partitioned yet. Can someone enlighten me on the right direction? Do I need to buy another small 50 HD to further test? The smallest I found is a 2Gb unit, pretty cheap. Have someone the AddHard install disk? Some program I need to run to make things happens?

25 July 2008, 09:10	#3
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	So even a 2Gb will not show up... Oh, phook! Where can I find such small (for today's standards) drive? BTW: HDInstTools is looking for Oktagon.device !!! Last edited by rkauer; 25 July 2008 at 09:17.

25 July 2008, 09:33	#6
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Yes, but I try with add_scsi.device and ADD_SCSI.device (maybe I need to use "ADD SCSI.device" instead?). The first does nothing, the second starts to look and freezes. [EDIT] Things goes strange... HDInstTools freezes with "ADD_SCSI.device" even with nothing attached to SCSI bus... Last edited by rkauer; 25 July 2008 at 10:16.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need expert advice on installing KS 3.1 on A500 rev. 5	Benighted	support.Hardware	8	05 October 2009 22:22
Installing PFS3 on 8.5GB SCSI HD	lopos2000	support.Apps	26	27 March 2007 19:31
Installing OS3.9 on SCSI HD	lopos2000	support.Other	13	10 July 2006 12:34
Installing a SCSI CD Rom	r6stu	support.Hardware	4	30 November 2005 23:26
Installing an A500 512k Upgrade	Steve	support.Hardware	45	30 September 2004 12:01

25 July 2008, 08:58	#2
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,463	If the unit only supports SCSI(6) commands the maximum device it will support is 2^21 sectors or 1 GiB.

25 July 2008, 09:21	#4
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	you should start hdinsttools with add_scsi as a parameter what a noob !

25 July 2008, 09:29	#5
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,916	Lol, noob, device names are case sensitive.

25 July 2008, 10:23	#7
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	maybe you should get a 3.1 rom. I had real nightmares when installing a 1.3 system on a a590 too, in the end I just gave up.

25 July 2008, 10:32	#8
TheCorfiot Amibay Senior Staff Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cardiff / Wales Posts: 1,302	@rkauer, Dare I suggest connecting the HD to WinUAE via a PC SCSI controller & setting it up from there, Once you've got the RDB setup & functioning with WinUAE if it still does not work with your Miggy then as Alex says the Firmware maybe the issue. I use a GVP HD+8 with My A500 / + & have used WinUAE many times to prep the HD's & transfer software then simply plugging it into my HD+8, also BTW If the HD is the only device on the SCSI chain, terminate it regardless of cable length, I've found my HD+8 to be quite sensitive regarding this too. Hope this helps mate TC

25 July 2008, 10:36	#9
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Thanks TC. I think I'll do what you suggest. First I need to install UAE in my pc machine. Sigh... Things never goes fast on this side of the pond... BTW: I think I need a new 68pin terminator... The last I had is broken beyond repair...

25 July 2008, 10:49	#10
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	yes you still need termination so go get terminated

25 July 2008, 11:01	#13
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@rkauer my friend, shouldn't HDinstalTools bee looking for addSCSI.device or variant. I had difficulty locating the AdSCSI for the A500, but i did find the A2000 variant for you to try luscious linkie best of luck my friend

25 July 2008, 22:04	#15
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Just a silly last question: can the terminator be used this way: ActiveTerm--Controller--50>68 Adaptor--HD ?

25 July 2008, 22:47	#16
coze hastala vista winny vista Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mt fuji Age: 46 Posts: 1,335	no, it should be controller-HD-terminator. hmm sorry I can't understand why you need a 68 pin adapter in there. The hd is 68 pin ? what is 68 pin ? you should all be set with 50 pin stuff.

25 July 2008, 23:27	#17
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Yeah, the HD is 68pin. Cable is 68 too. I only have 1 50(female) to 68(female) adaptor in here. No other type of HD connector. It is it or a SCA unit (73Gb) I use on the SCSI+ on 1200T. No cable or adapter to use it on the 68pin HD.

26 July 2008, 03:37	#18
alewis Monochrome and 8 bit Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Underbarrow, Gods Country Age: 57 Posts: 600	And you need to ensure the controller is terminated too. Both ends of the chain must be terminated. If you then add a device via the 25pin <spit> port, you will need to terminate that device (its now at the end of the chain) and un-terminate the controller (which is now in the middle of the chain). Check the SCSI ID of the controller. Check it is terminated correctly (if you only have the one device) and that the device itself is also terminated. Ideally, if you can, get a 50pin SCSI-II drive (I possibly have one, its your for postage if I have and you want) To see if the system is working, after checking the hardware is correctly installed. Hammer down exactly what the device name is that the add-scsi is using; add-scsi.device, for example. have a gander on the net and see if this was presented in the controller ROM, or as a device driver, or possbly even in L: directory Fire up a WB in the usual way. Insert your HDTools disk. In the tooltype (mentioned above) you need to ensure it says "device=add_scsi.device" (I'm rusty, been 18months since I owned an Amiga). Copy the device driver to devs:, and/or L: reboot with this HDToolbox... it will scan looking for the add_scsi hardware.

26 July 2008, 05:03	#20
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 58 Posts: 3,482	Just to clarify, that's mine Add_SCSI: Looking at the unit, you see the 50>68 pin gender converter, the round Adaptec cable and the SCSI HD (who is active terminated internally).

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