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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: wonea on February 19, 2005, 01:07:18 AM

Title: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: wonea on February 19, 2005, 01:07:18 AM

Hello,

my 1200 hard disc doesn't seem to work?  Whats the best course of action?  My machine still boots by floppy, and hard drive seems to make some noise.  Is there any hope I can get my hard drive working again?  I have lots of old octamed mods to hear.


Thanks


Gareth

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: SpheriX on February 19, 2005, 02:57:59 AM

The first thing you should do is check the connections and cable integrity (using ohmmeter). Also check for bended pins on the drive 40 pin connector. If the cabling is OK, then regarding the HDD "makes some noise" (the motor is probably working) - easiest thing to try is to find another PCB from working drive that is exactly the same model, and swap the PCB's.
Then, if you're lucky, you can backup your data.

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: Merc on February 19, 2005, 03:09:58 AM

Do you have a Workbench disk you can boot from and then run HDToolbox (from the Install floppy)?  That should tell you if the drive is still being detected and whether the partition(s) is/are still intact...

Good luck!

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: Generale on February 19, 2005, 03:14:05 AM

what kind of hard drive is it?..brand I mean. Some brands have some odd bugs. Most notably Conner Paperweights.

And Western digital have this odd controller failure problem. Tyhe drives get to be slow to detect on startup, getting to the point where they just sit there whirring away oblivious to the world. Sometimes they sound like they are seeking data, but aren't.

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: wonea on February 19, 2005, 10:23:00 AM

Thanks for the advice, my hard drive is a seagate.  The computer turns on, the light occasionally seems to flash in tandem with hard disk light.  Would getting a new mother board be a good idea?

Ohh, the hard drive number model is ST9190AG

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: Tahoe on February 19, 2005, 12:17:21 PM

You're best bet would try a different drive instead of a new mainboard. The chances are higher that the drive is dead then the A1200.
Drives are a lot easier to come by nowadays, and shouldn't cost much, specially if you look around for a smaller (1GB) drive.

Title: Re: Amiga 1200 hard disc problem
Post by: amigakit on February 19, 2005, 12:23:26 PM

If the hard disk is making a louder than usual ticking/clicking noise then it is most likely on it's last legs.  In any case it is an unreliable medium to store data on.

Therefore it is time for a replacement which are available here for the A600 / A1200 (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=2.5)

If data is salvagable from the drive, then we use a USB->2.5" hard drive adapter (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=42) which is compatible with USB controllers such as the Spider (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=193) and Subway (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=137) and allows data transfer from the ailing minature drive to another hard disk.  Note that data can be salvaged in this way if the drive is still showing up a valid Amiga device.