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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 07:58:06 PM

Title: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 07:58:06 PM

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Jeff on March 13, 2005, 08:08:33 PM

There are (or used to be) lots of solutions, commercial and otherwise for this.

I hacked my own in my CDTV.  I soldered the second kickstart on top of the first with a couple pins bent up and put a switch on the select lines.  I can't remember where I found that hack but it is REALLY simple.

No doubt somebody else will follow up with lots of information.

Jeff

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 08:10:20 PM

Sounds useful for switching kickstarts but what I meant was either using the AGA kick 3.0/3.1 or the A3000 kick 1.4 rom chips on the ECS/ OCS Amigas.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Jeff on March 13, 2005, 08:20:31 PM

Sorry, I missed the "double" part. I don't think there is an off the shelf solution for what you want to do.  You can program your own eproms however if your needs are specific.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 08:23:09 PM

Somewhere on the web I found an adapter for the Amiga 500 that allowed you to install the kickstart 3.0 roms, would that adapter probably be compatible with the Kickstart 1.4 roms?

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: McTrinsic on March 13, 2005, 08:54:23 PM

Depends on the adapter... I am not sure I have fully understood you there.

There Adapters that allow you to switch between, lets say, KS1.3 and 3.x (3.0 or 3.1) ... but these ROMs need be made for the A500/2000.

If you mean that you found an adapter for putting the A1200 ROMs in an A500, well that sure is possible.

I am NOT sure about the 1.4 KS.

I would try to get a grip on the KS 1.4 as a ROM-file (like with grabkick or transrom), and test it out with either softkick or in UAE. If it works in UAE with an 68k-Emulation and full Chipset emulation, you might try to burn it to an Eprom. Commodore-compatible chips are rare, but available.

Remeber you need to switch high- and low-bit.

Have fun,
McTrinsic

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Azryl on March 13, 2005, 09:00:23 PM

I believe the kickstart 1.4 roms for the A3000 HAD to have a scsi harddrive connected with ID 6, with a special partition name as well. Also a folder on that partition had the bootrom image you wanted to load into 32bit expansion ram.

When these conditions were met, then you could boot :-)

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Matt_H on March 13, 2005, 09:46:47 PM

I don't think this is possible. The ROMs for different Amigas depend on the specific hardware found in that Amiga. This is why A1200 ROMs can't be used in an A4000. The A3000 softkick ROMs are definitely tied specifically to the architecture of the A3000. I don't even think they'll work in an A3000T, the closest match.

If you really need to experiment, the safest thing to do is probably to build the FlashROM adaptor from Aminet and Flash in the various images you want to try. Be prepared for disapointment, though.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 09:48:56 PM

What software is there for the Amiga to flash roms?

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Doobrey on March 13, 2005, 10:16:40 PM

Quote

AF-Domains.net wrote:
Are there any kickstart adapters that allow you to install the double roms onto an OCS or ECS Amiga?

Stupid question, but why ???

Why not just get the A500/600/2000 3.1 ROM and use it in a kickstart switcher?

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 10:26:40 PM

I have a pair of Kickstart 1.4 roms that I am trying to use in the older amigas not kickstart 3.1

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Matt_H on March 13, 2005, 10:46:08 PM

The Flash software is included with the adaptor plans.

Really, though, the odds of this working are zero or less. The 1.4 ROMs depend on the SCSI controller found in the A3000, the 68030's MMU, and various addressing schemes. Maybe, MAYBE you could get this to work with an A2000, 2630 board, and 2091 SCSI controller, but don't count on it.

Besides, you can only Kick in 1.3, 2.04, or a beta version of 3.1 (and not very cleanly, either) with the 1.4 chips. Might as well just do that with the Flash board.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 13, 2005, 10:50:01 PM

What are the differences, apart from the fact the A3000 uses a soft kicked rom, between the other OCS/ECS Amigas and the 3000?

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: leirbag28 on March 14, 2005, 04:15:48 AM

@AF-Domains.net


The A600 and A500plus (I think)  use the 2.04 ROMS

there is absolutely no reason on earth..........not a single one, for you to use 1.4 ROMS.............maybe 1.3 ROMS yes.  

What you really want is a Kickstart switcher with both KS 1.3 and KS 3.1 plugged in.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 14, 2005, 06:59:23 AM

At the moment I am currently running an A1000 offf kickstart 1.4 without any problems and seeing if I can get any of my other Amiga to run it.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: Doobrey on March 14, 2005, 10:37:13 PM

Did you manage to build an adapter in the end?

I`ve just scribbled a little (untested) idea that should work with 2 OR gates and an inverter, if you want I can make a legible schematic out of it.

Title: Re: Kickstart Rom Adapter
Post by: AF-Domains.net on March 14, 2005, 10:41:19 PM

Unfortunately I never got around to it.

If it would be possible to make legible schematics I wil be very grateful.

Thanks