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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: just4funuk on October 05, 2005, 08:09:02 PM

Title: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on October 05, 2005, 08:09:02 PM
Have decided to try and bring an Amiga 2000 back to life. Only problem is its not like the good old Amiga 4000 I use to have (Wish I had never sold it)It has no harddrive interface built onboard.My question are as follows.

1)The machine has a memory expansion and what looks to be a PC XT emulator card and an ISA harddrive controller (IDE) only had a quick look will double check this.Is there a way of using the controllers on this with the Amiga side or can the controllers only be used by the PC emulator board.


Thanks for any advice will post many more questions in the future that is almost certain.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: InTheSand on October 05, 2005, 10:42:21 PM
Hi,

Oh the regret of selling old Amiga stuff... Made that mistake myself with my first A500, but not with my original A1200 which still soldiers on to this day!

If I were you, I'd look for an A2000-compatible SCSI controller card. There are a couple on eBay at the moment, here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amiga-2000-3000-T-4000-T-2091-SCSI-Controller_W0QQitemZ8701802216QQcategoryZ8142QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) and here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amiga-2000-SCSI-Controller-Card-Supra-30-0059-2_W0QQitemZ8702993612QQcategoryZ4598QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) to give you an idea.

 - Ali
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: J-Golden on October 05, 2005, 11:26:54 PM
did you check the ISA card against tbe HD controller cards on the Big Book of Amiga Hardware??  It might just be fir the PC emu. card but maybe not.  IDE HD's are really cheap these days...

If you never been to the BBoAH page before ther eis a link under "other places" in the main menu catagory on the left side of every Amiga.ORG page. :idea:
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: FrankBrana on October 05, 2005, 11:39:40 PM
The 2000 is a quite amazing machine

I have a fully loaded, as the american buddies say, and its ultra stable, good expandable, fast...

My setup is

Phase 5 blizz2060 060 @ 64Mhz
Fast SCSI 2 with 8gb Quantum drive, UltraPlex 40x and yamaha 16x burner
Fujitsu MO 256 mb
Cv64 3D
BridgeBoard for ethernet
Oktagon IDE
Multi IO

The best you can do is to get a turboboard, which usually comes with SIMM ram banks ( except gvp ones, which you have to avoid ) and scsi interface. then a Z2 capable GFX card, and youre almost done

Regards
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: michaelB on October 06, 2005, 02:34:15 AM
Your question:  "Is their any way of using the ISA hard drive
controler on the PC bridgeboard to work with the Amiga side"
- the answer is *yes* there is.

It's the way I started out many years ago with a 2286 bridgeboard.
You need the bridgeboard Janus software, and jlink command as
I remember.  The sequence works like this:
You still have to start a minimul boot with a floppy to
transfer to the PC hard drive after it is mounted.  Just
setup the hard drive with two or more partitions, msdos FAT16
and another couuple for the Amiga which you format later.

if you need info send me a message, I believe I have all the
software and details for you.

BTW, is it an IDE/ATA interface (single 40 wire ribbon) or more often
an ST506 ("mfm") interface - two ribbon cables?

seeya

Michael

Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on October 07, 2005, 12:58:34 AM
MichaelB

Think the Harddrive controller was IDE as the connector looks like standard 40pin socket from what I remember. Will try to check this over the weekend. If this is correct would like to try the method you are suggesting.(untill I get a SCSI controller off ebay)

Thanks again to everyone has posted and to anyone who continues to post. Any idea or suggestions are welcome.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: motrucker on October 07, 2005, 06:25:42 AM
Quote

FrankBrana wrote:

The best you can do is to get a turboboard, which usually comes with SIMM ram banks ( except gvp ones, which you have to avoid ) and scsi interface. then a Z2 capable GFX card, and youre almost done

Regards


Even the GVP can be great, just make sure it is fully populted with RAM if you buy one.
Mine is much like yours, except I have a GVP 040/SCSI, a GVP Spectrum video card, and a megachip 2000. Having 2Mb of chip RAM helps, even with the graphics card.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on November 22, 2005, 07:36:23 PM
Have just purchased a ADSCSI 2080 Ram Upgrade For Amiga 1500 / 2000 and I have a Fusion 68040 card on the way.

So once the Boards are installed hope to have spec Below

Amiga 2000 16MB
Fusion Forty 68040 Accelerator Card
ADSCSI 2080
Have a 1GB HD drive in it at the moment but hopefully will get a larger one.

Next will be a Graphics Card.

Thank you ebay




Quote

motrucker wrote:
Quote

FrankBrana wrote:

The best you can do is to get a turboboard, which usually comes with SIMM ram banks ( except gvp ones, which you have to avoid ) and scsi interface. then a Z2 capable GFX card, and youre almost done

Regards


Even the GVP can be great, just make sure it is fully populted with RAM if you buy one.
Mine is much like yours, except I have a GVP 040/SCSI, a GVP Spectrum video card, and a megachip 2000. Having 2Mb of chip RAM helps, even with the graphics card.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on December 10, 2005, 09:21:42 PM
A2000
Have installed SCSI Card and Fusion Forty.

Problems I have which need possible help.

Which OS would be more stable on machine WB2 or WB3.

Have little luck in getting WB2 installed and running.Have got WB3 to copied to Hd0: by using instructions in ADSCSI manual. copy DF0: Hd0: all

But due to scripts on disk have to insert floppy disk half way through install.Does work but would like to install the WB correctly is there any where I can get an install utility to setup the WB correctly. Must point out wouldnt work with either of the original WB disks 2 or 3 had and but had an old disk that could of been used on A1200 many years ago this is the one I am booting machine at the moment with then I assign in shell.(so HD is used)


thanks in advance for any help


 
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Argus on December 11, 2005, 12:08:58 AM
Silly question perhaps, but what ROM version is installed on the m/b?  You're going to need version 2.04 or better to install Workbench 2.1 or version 3.1 to install Workbench 3.1.  Check the 40 pin dip style chip to the right of the 68000 cpu on the m/b, if it reads 37.xx it's a 2.0x ROM while 40.68 would be a 3.1 ROM.

Also, there may be compatibility problems with the Fusion Forty and 3.1 ROM.  You need iirc the newer boot roms on the FF itself to autoboot a 3.1 bootable partition.  I don't have a FF but maybe someone else here can tell you.  There's also the BBoAH (big board of amiga hardware).
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on December 11, 2005, 08:15:43 PM
Running Kickstart Version 2.0 (37.175)

Have tried using WB 2.05
and WB 3.0 Disks

Am going to see if I can get SCSI CDROM drive to work.As have approx approx 20-30 Amiga CD cover Disks that I would like to Access .Instead of copying the Data across on 720K format PC disks which is not always possible.Also can burn Aminet data to disk on PC and use on Amiga.(Sorry for using the word PC)

Thanks For any advice


 

Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 13, 2006, 01:46:47 PM
have now got Workbench 2.05 installed on Harddisk but have to boot via floppy and re-assign as trying to boot from Harddrive causes machine power light to flash and machine to just re-boot.

1) So at present hold mouse to stop machine booting from Harddisk.Insert Workbench 2.05 Floppy in DF0: and IDSCSI in DF1:

2)Assign Devs and c to df1: ADSCSI Floppy Disk

3)run ICDmount (all drives come up and now re-assign to DH0:)

4)Works ok like this but cant install IDEFIX97 to get CDRom support as Floppy does not have enough space).Would also pref if it just booted of Harddrive would make life so much easier.

Poss solutions might try but need some advice before spend money I dont need to.

Method one is to play with Startup sequence to find what is causing machine to reboot in loop as seems to work off Floppy if Disabel auto-boot of garddisk.

Method two is remove Kickstart Rom chip from A500+ and put it in A2000 and then try re-installing Workbench 2.05.Will ADSCSI 2080 and Fusion Forty be ok under Kickstart 2.05.

Method three is to Buy Kickstart 3.1 and install Workbench 3.0 (Will Fusion forty and ADSCSI work under this setup).

Any advice gratefully received  
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: glitch on April 13, 2006, 01:52:17 PM
I understand that you copied the OS from the Workbench floppy to the hard drive partition.  Do you not have the set of OS2.0x floppies?  Like ones labelled Install, Workbench, Extras, etc?  If so, I would try a proper install by booting off of the Install disk...

Good luck!
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: TjLaZer on April 13, 2006, 03:13:04 PM
Some SCSI cards do not function with the Fusion Forty, you can get the newer ROM update to fix that....

What version of the Fusion Forty Plug 'N Go ROMs do you have?  (Hit ESC on bootup and enter the F40 menu to see)  If you have older ROMs you cannot use Kick 3.1, you need V 3.4 of the PNG ROMs (I have them available see my site)
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 13, 2006, 09:13:23 PM
Glitch

Have to be honest didn't know there was an install disk as have two sets of Workbench 2.05 and both only have Workbench,Extras and Fonts.So thought I had a full set of  Workbench 2.05 disks.Thanks for the info.


TjLaZer

Hitting escape had no effect all I can say is I get a Fast kick loading screen when it boots.Holding right  mouse button while booting brings up a Fusion forty control menu SetFF operation NOFASTKICK or exit below this greyed out are the following options FastKick with a tick instpack no tick and diagnostic.Then below this is a cancel button which exits the menu.TjLazer thanks for the link to th eproms but dont have anyway at present of using them rom images.So with the infomation you have supplied think I will try to get either Workbench 2.05 or 2.1 installed on it corrcetly.

Title: Re: A2000
Post by: glitch on April 13, 2006, 10:34:17 PM
Hi,

     Yes, I believe it was either a four or five disk set  You should try to hunt down the 2.1 version rather than 2.05 if you can.

Good luck!
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: TjLaZer on April 13, 2006, 11:26:57 PM
Oh sorry it is indeed the right mouse button on bootup.  Is there an about or something pr other button that will tell you the version of the PNG ROMs?  I know on the V3.4 there is and it will tell you the version.  If you are using Kick 2.x you don't really need the latest version really.  Just get your WB upto 2.1 and you will be all set.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 27, 2006, 09:13:11 PM
Update

Problem was in startup-sequence and mountlist.
Copied Workbench 1.3 to machine and machine boots ok but shell causes machine to guru.

Copied Workbench 2.1 to machine wont boot so copied Workbench 1.3 startup-sequence and mountlist.

Machine now boots so far and have to type loadwb to finish startup-sequence as there is a reference in the startup-sequence to  run the command fastmemoryfirt which Workbench 2.1 does not seem to have in the c folder.
But it is present on Workbench 1.3 disk.

Have also managed to get my idefix97 install so also have access to CDrom's now.

Also how do I assign the paths to tools

so the machine knows where  iconx is in c

Have just been altering the infomation on each app to point to dh0:c/iconx but there must be a way to make a link between :iconx = dh0:c/iconx so one assignment is enough.

thanks again for any pointers.

Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Amiga4k on April 28, 2006, 05:27:12 AM
You really need to start over, and properly install just one version of Amiga DOS. Ideally, as a minimum you need 2.04 ROM with AmigaDOS 2.1. In a pinch, you could use 2.05 ROM, without  a problem.
The problems your experencing are all based on an improper install, which will cause you future glitches. Format the partition, and re-install a proper set of disks.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Oliver on April 28, 2006, 08:11:40 AM
At some point in future you will probably also want to get the 3.1 ROMs, so you can run the more recent OS versions.

I also think you should definitely work on getting a complete set of WB disks.  I don't think your method to date will yield satisfying results.

If you particularly want to run an older OS, you can also run kick switchers, or softkickers, to give you access to an older kickrom set on demand.

Did you buy the A2000 with a bunch of floppy disks (I must have hundreds)?  When I bought mine, I was also missing some of the original install disks, but there were badly labled backup copies within the pile of floppies, so I use some original disks and some backups when installing the OS.  You may possibly have a similar situation.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 28, 2006, 08:48:23 AM
Amiga 2000 :(
Well after not much luck getting the older OS stable I decided pos to look at going for a newer kickstart OS installation and Brought OS 3.5 with the next step to buy the Kickstart Roms.But found out that the Fusion Forty would need New roms as well. Which I dont know how easy they would be to get and at what cost.Then would I have problems with ICDSCSI 2080 with Kickstart 3.1.

So am I wrong in thinking Workbench 2 will not install onto a A2000 with Kickstart 2.0 (37.175) roms and I need to look at installing either  Workbench 1.3 on currant setup or see if I can find a Kickstart 2.05 Rom and then try installing Workbench 2+.

Trying to locate a Full workbench set.But which version do you suggest I should be installing on A2000 with Kickstart 2.0 37.175.

Was thinking if I can get Kickstart 2.X installed and then poss use SKICK to run KIckstart 3.1 to see if Fusion forty and ADSCSI 2080 would work.If they do would then buy 3.1 kickstart chips and then installing OS 3.5 .

But first need to walk before I run so would like a stable OS installation on current setup.

 
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Argus on April 28, 2006, 11:16:13 AM
Forget about SKick and the ICD 2080.  ICD used special memory buffering schemes to make their controllers faster. I just tried SKick with an ICD AdSCSI, no go.  Crashed on boot.  There are probably going to be problems with the Fusion Forty and SKick as well, because if it's an older FF, its own software will to a rom reboot, likely conflicting with SKick (though it may by a miracle work). I'd chuck the 2080 if it gives you any trouble and get instead a GVP HD+8 or even C=A2091.  These are true SCSI DMA controllers and *should* work fine with the FF (though you probably should upgrade the plug n' go roms with the latest version for compatibility with 3.1 system roms). Get the real 3.1 system roms for your 68040 boards.  See TjLazer for the latest FF roms.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: TjLaZer on April 30, 2006, 12:15:53 AM
Yes I can burn the ROMs for you, see my site...
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 30, 2006, 09:05:20 AM
Thanks for the offer to supply Fusion Forty roms email sent.



Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on April 30, 2006, 09:07:14 AM
Dreaming that maybe I might some day soon have


Amiga 2000 with Kickstart 3.1
OS 3.5 installed
1MB Chip
Fusion Forty with 18MB
ICDSCSI 2080
1GB HD
IBM CDrom

Running stable


Next step after above would be bigger harddrive.

Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on May 20, 2006, 06:43:50 PM
Amiga 2000 now has Kickstart 3.1 roms installed.But still  having problems installing OS.

Installing the KIckstart roms has stopped the Accelerator working which was pointed out before and new roms will soon be purchased from TjLaZer.

But have tried to install OS 3.1 with Accelerator disabled and still have problem with startup sequence machine restarts.This is using the 3.1 install disk to install OS.

eplace  Start-sequence  with 1.3 start-sequence and machine will boot and fail.At prompt if I then type loadWB Workbench loads but all Software eg Iconx,multiview are not assined.

Has anynone got a good working 3.1 startup-sequence that will work with the ICDSCSI2080 Harddrive controller please post it on here so I can try it or tell me how to assign tools such as more,Iconx etc.

Thanks
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on July 14, 2006, 10:50:49 PM
Sorry about the Delay tjlazer


Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on August 06, 2006, 03:06:53 PM
Ok the ongoing A2000 rebuild (I Wish I had never started)

Amiga 2000 already had
Amiga 2000 keyboard
ICDSCSI 2080  
Fusion Forty
Amiga 2000 Kickstrat 3.1 Roms
Fusion Forty Roms
Amiga Workbench 3.1
Amiga Workbench 3.5

Above purchased over last 9 months except actual amiga 2000 been sitting gathering dust for 2-3 years in bedroom.

Have now got

Amiga 2000
Kickstart 3.1 Roms
ICDSCSI 2080
Fusion Forty + 20MB Ram with new Roms (Workbench 3.1 now sees Fusion Forty again).(Thanks to TJlazer).

But still after trying to install clean installation of Workbench 3.1 I am still no nearer getting machine up and running. Have to laugh or would cry.

Wish I had just got an emulator (LOL)

Not had much free time to look at this at the moment.

Boots Ok from Floppy if stop ADSCSI auto booting (by holding mouse button on boot) .Can then mount the ADSCSI partitions after booting from floppy. But if try to boot from HD A2000 power light just flashes and machine just shows a guru message.

If anyone out there has a A2000 with ADSCSI card and FusionForty running Workbench 3.1 or 3.5 Please could you give me a copy of your startup-sequence as this is where mine is having the problem I suspect.




 
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Daedalus on August 06, 2006, 03:52:26 PM
Hmmm... Sounds like a bit of a mess in there... Install disks aren't normally part of the Workbench disk set for some machines, so you're not necessarily missing them. It is fairly simple to set up the OS by hand, and all you'll need to do is modify your startup-sequence to get it to look in the correct places after you've copied everything from the floppies. Then it shouldn't ask for the floppies when you're booting.

If the drive's working fine after you boot from floppy, it does mean your controller and accelerator are getting on ok, and so once any special commands/libraries from the floppy are also on the HD there's no reason it shouldn't work the same way. Which leads me to suspect a filesystem mismatch somewhere. If you have a newer version of the filesystem on the boot floppy than you have in the ROM or the RDB, and it was formatted with the newer version, the older version will crash when it tries to mount the new version drive. As they can be stored in different places, you should find out what version is in each location. Can't remember the version that's in the 3.1 ROMs, but if any partitions are formatted with a newer version you'll have to have that version in the RDB as well. You can find the RDB version with HDToolbox and the one on the floppy by typing "version df0:L/fastfilesystem" in a shell window.

Could be way off the mark, but that's what this issue sounds like to me...
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on August 07, 2006, 12:11:18 AM
If Use workbench 3.1 startup-sequence machine gets stuck in loop.

If remove startup-sequence from HD0:s/

Machine boots from internal harddrive type loadwb and wb is loaded if
replace startup-sequence with one off ADSCSI installation disk
startup-sequence.hd saved to HD0:s/startup-sequence
machine will boot and fail on Fastmemoryfirst (Workbench 3.1 does not have this) Hence why it fails.

If then type Loadwb
WB loads.

Really do need to look at startup-sequence and see what in the workbench 3.1 version is causing machine to fail once this is removed from startup-sequence suspect machine will boot correctly and wont need any more editing.

Could be wrong
Wouldn't be the first time.


Watch out for next installment.




 
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: Daedalus on August 07, 2006, 12:19:15 PM
What if you remove FastMemoryFirst? I'm not entirely sure you need that for it to work reliably - I think it's more of a performance thing in certain situations. You'll need to edit your startup-sequence or user-startup and comment out the FastMemoryFirst command by putting a semicolon at teh start of the line it's on.
Title: Re: A2000
Post by: just4funuk on August 10, 2006, 12:49:35 AM
Altered startup-sequence so fast mem first is disabled also deleted some scrip that checked if harddrive was present if so run another startup script.Also put loadwb at end of startup script.

Machine now boots from power up from hardrive and workbench is loaded.

just need help now configuring startup sequence to add assign commands. So amiga OS knows where to look for iconx and any other OS commands machine tries to run instead of error message saying cant find application bla bla bla.

Also get guru when run avail but this might be because avail command pos not 100% supported by Fusion Forty Accelerator memory setup as it does return results after error.

CPU command reports 68040.Have reinstalled IDEFIX 97 and CDrom drive is now available.

Have copied contents of boot partition to anoter partition just incase anything I do damages it can then reboot from floppy and copy back.(Saves time).

So once OS 3.1 is running resonably will try to install OS 3.5.

Any tips or links on assigning app paths in startup-sequence much appreciated.

bye for now