Finally Ordered FastATA 1200 MK-IV IDE

[XDelusion]

I thought that was the idea of the risers...because thats what help them fit with other upgrades? (And we are talking about the A1200 here, where a s*&tload of aftermarket upgrades can be fitted to make a super souped-up system...on a system that is essentially nowhere near as easy to upgrade as a big box Amiga).

We'll see if it works when they come in, will see soonish!

[som99]

When you get it share pics! Good luck, I myself have a Indivision AGA MK2 and am thinking of getting the FastATA 1200 MK-IV also so I will appreciate all pictures you can share

[XDelusion]

OK, cutting the risers perfectly is a pain in the ass. After having everything installed, the IDE board does not sit flush, which means I have to order more risers, which means...

SCREW THIS!

I'm going to write Amigakit and see if they can install this crap for me. I don't want to break anything, the IDE interface was expensive enough as it is.

Red or Black boot screens is all I'm getting.

[NovaCoder]

OK, cutting the risers perfectly is a pain in the ass. After having everything installed, the IDE board does not sit flush, which means I have to order more risers, which means...

SCREW THIS!

I'm going to write Amigakit and see if they can install this crap for me. I don't want to break anything, the IDE interface was expensive enough as it is.

Red or Black boot screens is all I'm getting.

Is this where I can say 'I told ya it was a pain in the ass' or should I wait till later?

Seriously though, the only way to get this thing to work reliably is if you don't use the risers (which means ditching the Indivision AGA).   You also need to the think about the height of all that stuff, even without any risers the case only just closes.

If you can get your hands on an IdeFix Express you'll find it so much easier to install and you'll still get a pretty good transfer rate with that Apollo (4.5 MB/s+)

[XDelusion]

I'm hoping Amigakit will do it for me and save me the stress. I'd imagine they know how to do all this right. They sold me both expansions, so...

Anyhow, you were TOTALLY correct sir! I don't like it!

[delshay]

Everything fits here and I can close desktop A1200.

FastATA / Bvision / Indivision.

What makes a big difference is the motherboard socket which lowers the FastATA which in turn let's you close desktop without problems. (Stacked round pin sockets).

NOTE: using just one set of flat pin sockets with two round pin sockets is enough to stop keyboard lying flat in desktop which can stop desktop cover from closing.

[XDelusion]

Everything fits here and I can close desktop A1200.

FastATA / Bvision / Indivision.

What makes a big difference is the motherboard socket which lowers the FastATA which in turn let's you close desktop without problems. (Stacked round pin sockets).

NOTE: using just one set of flat pin sockets with two round pin sockets is enough to stop keyboard lying flat in desktop which can stop desktop cover from closing.

If I could find someone to cut me some risers that fit PERFECTLY , then maybe this would work. On my own, I can't seem to pull it off and I can't just keep ordering risers to experiment over and over again till I get it right.

Amigakit should provide pre-cut risers. This is annoying! THe pins are fragile, could break at any time, money down the drain, etc. Poor service!

[Retrofan]

Everything fits here and I can close desktop A1200.

FastATA / Bvision / Indivision.

What makes a big difference is the motherboard socket which lowers the FastATA which in turn let's you close desktop without problems. (Stacked round pin sockets).

NOTE: using just one set of flat pin sockets with two round pin sockets is enough to stop keyboard lying flat in desktop which can stop desktop cover from closing.

Could you please post a photo?

[delshay]

Could you please post a photo?

Not at this time.

You don't need photos, just desolder the old motherboard sockets & replace with round pin sockets.

De-soldering the motherboard sockets can be difficult without damaging the motherboard so I would strongly recommend someone with very good soldering.

Do not take any chances with your motherboard get a expert (strongly advice).

The FastATA already has a set of round pin sockets look carefully you can remove it, in-fact it has two sets of round pin sockets one above and one below.

[giZmo350]

This was actually a piece of cake to install! There is absolutely no reason to replace the sockets on the A1200 motherboard! I just used the instructions here http://eab.abime.net/support-hardware/64319-troubleshooting-fastata-indivision.html You can get risers here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turned-Pin-Wire-Wrap-DIL-IC-Sockets-0-6in-40-Pin-/300970245163?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item4613397c2b I measured the correct length on each end pin and drew a line with a thin marker across the row of pins - then I cut each pin with a pair of small side cutters - this created a knife edge & slightly elongated the sides of each pin to give a very snug fit. Pushed everything in and it works like a dream! I'll take some pics and post later. It's really easy - and I was half lit when I did mine! :pint:

[XDelusion]

I recut the pins, now the AMiga will boot and ask for a floppy, but it will not boot off the hard drive regardless if it is connected to the FastATA or directly onto the mother board.

[giZmo350]

Hold down the left mouse button at startup (or right - I can't remember) and set the PIO mode to PIO3 and it should boot. I can't remember exactly how I got the software installed but I think it was after I did that. The highest PIO mode I can achieve with a CF card is 3. You can probably get a higher PIO mode with a speedy REAL HDD. SysInfo V.4 reports a speed of 3,409,926 BYTES/SEC at PIO3 with my AmigaKit 4GB CF Card.

[adonay]

Everything fits here and I can close desktop A1200.

FastATA / Bvision / Indivision.

What makes a big difference is the motherboard socket which lowers the FastATA which in turn let's you close desktop without problems. (Stacked round pin sockets).

NOTE: using just one set of flat pin sockets with two round pin sockets is enough to stop keyboard lying flat in desktop which can stop desktop cover from closing.

I had the same setup before with out issues + delfina and a quad port + subway ... Just used ricers provided by elbox. Dont know if i used 2 or 4 cant remember ..

[XDelusion]

HOlding down both mouse buttons tells me there is no hard drive. I tested it in my other 1200 and it still detects it, which tells me that the FastATA is preventing it from detecting without drivers, and that I can not hook the hard drive directly to the board anymore with the FastATA attached.
 Surely I don't wish to remove it again and reseat the Kickstart roms. I nearly broke a couple legs putting all this together in the first place.

 I presume the installations instructions should have read "install software first?"

[giZmo350]

Nope, dont' install software 1st. I just checked and you have to hold down JUST the left mouse button at startup. It brings up the Elbox menu.

Holding down BOTH mouse buttons probably will show NO HDD 'cause you're going thru a new controller - you MUST get the PIO mode set - probably 3.

One time I set my PIO mode too high and could no longer boot from HDD so I just kept holding the left mouse button at startup and after about 15 times I got to the Elbox menu. If all is good with the install, be persistent with the left mouse button!

[XDelusion]

Nope, dont' install software 1st. I just checked and you have to hold down JUST the left mouse button at startup. It brings up the Elbox menu.

Holding down BOTH mouse buttons probably will show NO HDD 'cause you're going thru a new controller - you MUST get the PIO mode set - probably 3.

One time I set my PIO mode too high and could no longer boot from HDD so I just kept holding the left mouse button at startup and after about 15 times I got to the Elbox menu. If all is good with the install, be persistent with the left mouse button!

OK, I tried JUST the left mouse button.

Brings me to the screen asking for my WB3.1 disk.