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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 07:34:19 PM

Title: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 07:34:19 PM
Hi amiga fans! I have a problem: i have buyed a 2.5 Hard disk for my AMIGA 1200. I have mounted it, and the LED of the Hard-disk turns on the first time! But this is not effective with the formatting and the partitioning. I'm trying to format the harddrive using the Workbenck 3.1 "Install Disk". But there are problems: when i use "HDSetup" tool, (Hard-disk type setted 0, IDE A1200HD) there exit a system request which advert me: "Not a DOS disk in device HD0". Why??? The hard-disk is formatted with use for a PC but i want format it for the AMIGA 1200.

The AMIGA 1200 is this:
68020 Processor
3,0 ROM, 39,106 Kickstart
2 MB RAM
AGA Chipset
And the hard-disk 6GB (Using HDToolbox it reveals 5869MB ca total)

CDE MusiX

 
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigakit on January 27, 2006, 07:40:46 PM
OS 3.1's filesystem can only address a maximum of 4GB, you will have to use another filesystem such as SmartFileSystem or upgrade to Amiga OS 3.5 (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=190) or AmigaOS 3.9 (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=153) but as you have a stock Amiga, the latter upgrades need extra memory and a CD drive too..
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 07:50:18 PM
and with this? i can partition it using HDToolbox. Or not? I guess the problem is also this: the AMIGA can't access to hard drive because it is formatted for the PC. Dosen't appear "DH0:NDOS". You thing if i use a hard disk of 1.4Gb i can resolve?

And, the LHA pack containing SmartFileSystem Autosetup the harddisk also if isn't prepared for archive? (i use workbench on floppy disk)
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: adolescent on January 27, 2006, 08:00:49 PM
Did you format the partitions?  After you create the partitions in HDToolBox, save changes and exit, you still have to format them.  Just chick on the DH0:NDOS icon and select Format Disk from the Icon menu.

Also, because of the problem mentioned above, make sure to keep the partitions below 4GB.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 08:07:32 PM
This is the problem: no before and no after executing this action appear the icon: "DH0:NDOS"
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: Erol on January 27, 2006, 08:17:40 PM
Partition the Drive into 2 partitions, 4GB for HD0 (or DH0) and 2GB for the second partition HD1 (or HD1)

Save changes using HDTOOLBOX, reboot using floppy disk, and boot from Floppy again.

In workbench, quick format the Drives using format.  They will be shown as NDOS drives until you format them.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigakit on January 27, 2006, 08:17:56 PM
Make a partition of 300MB (DH0) then make another 1.7GB (DH1) then another 1.9GB (DH2) with HDToolbox.  Leave the rest of the Hard Disk blank.

Make DH0 the bootable drive.  Save changes and reboot.

Full Format each partition in turn: DH0, DH1 and DH2

!!Do Not Low Level Format!!
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 08:25:14 PM
Nooo! I have low level formatted! (more times) But... for this i have mandate to mount* all my project to install harddrive? i should install a new hard disk now? Hmm.

mandate to mount = in sense of lose, the italian say is: "Mandato a monte".
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigakit on January 27, 2006, 08:30:43 PM
Low Level formatting an IDE drive can kill it sometimes, but some drives are OK.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: Tomas on January 27, 2006, 08:39:14 PM
No need to low level format, as normal format is enough and a low format can actually damage your hard disk. All you need to do is partition the HD into smaller partitions using hdtoolbox, then you format the partitions normally afterwards. I think the main problem here is that your parition is more than 4gig? I would follow the suggestion of amikit.

Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 27, 2006, 09:18:27 PM
in the process of partitioning the drive you have to install a file system to the disk first, without this the format has no meaning because you format to unknown this way...
Run the HDToolbox it will ask to install the disk press ok and after this go to install the file system, FastFileSystem from wb3,1 disk directory L or SmartFileSystem from aminet.Then you can determine the numbers of partitions etc...
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 27, 2006, 09:23:37 PM
I have esecuted the actions below descrived, but after the booting (on the same OS 3.1 install disk) The "DHx:NDOS" pseudoicons dosen't appear! Also, re-esecuting HDToolBox the my changes are gone! Why?
Quote

amigakit wrote:
Make a partition of 300MB (DH0) then make another 1.7GB (DH1) then another 1.9GB (DH2) with HDToolbox.  Leave the rest of the Hard Disk blank.

Make DH0 the bootable drive.  Save changes and reboot.

Full Format each partition in turn: DH0, DH1 and DH2

!!Do Not Low Level Format!!


And, i have esecuted also a "Verify hard-drive badblocks": no problems with this.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 27, 2006, 09:29:35 PM
after you do all the preperation with file system install and partitioning you press the ''save'' button and then you reboot the amiga as amigakit already said...
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 28, 2006, 03:14:17 PM
Now i write the log of ALL my actions:
HARD DISK LED ON
I have booted from Workbench 3.1 Install Disk for my AMIGA 1200 (My ROM is 3.0)
HARD DISK LED OFF
Now the Workbench screen appears without "DHx:NDOS" pseudoicons.
I go on the "Install 3.1" floppy disk
I go on the "HDTools" drawer (or directory)
I start "HDToolbox".
I select "modify hard drive" button.
I selected my Hard-disk (SCSI, not IDE, IDE is not available)
Now appears the "Harddisk:FUJITSU model xxxxxxxxx BC16 Address:0 LUN:0 Type:SCSI"
I click "partition hard disk"
i define these partitions "DH0 (bootable) at 300MB, DH1 at 1700MB, DH2 at 1700MB and the rest empty"
i define file system. (FFS, but i guess is already setted)
I click OK to close "Partition Hard-drive button"
I click "Save changes on hard-drive".
HARD DISK LED TURNS ON LIKE A FLASH
I reboot AMIGA without close HDToolBox.
When i boot the "DHx:NDOS" pseudoicons dosen't appear. AFF!!! I can't format this hard drive. My procedure loops on point 1. (Same if i select Smartfilesystem)


And please note: my harddisk is IDE but not SCSI.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigakit on January 28, 2006, 03:58:43 PM
Boot from the Install3.1 disk and not Workbench as the Install3.1 disk has the L:FastFileSystem on it.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: KThunder on January 28, 2006, 05:30:25 PM
you can not damage a hard drive by low level formatting because all modern >500meg harddrives ignore the low level format command and send a code indicating that they finished it even though they did nothing. the low level format command is a legacy command that isnt supported at all on really new hds and all you will get is an error code if you try it.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 28, 2006, 05:54:59 PM
i had a similar problem recently with a scsi hd from a3000. it didn't recognise all these actions and i connect it in the a1200 to the scsi of the bliz1260. the same situation happend and in the 1200 and i was ready to search for a pc with scsi to format it there but i connect it back to the a3000 for a last try and finaly it worked ok. the diference is that i install on it smart file system, but i don't thing that has something to do with this.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 28, 2006, 06:07:01 PM
Quote

amigakit wrote:
Boot from the Install3.1 disk and not Workbench as the Install3.1 disk has the L:FastFileSystem on it.


I booted from the Install Disk, because i not use (and have) Workbench disk.

Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 28, 2006, 06:17:11 PM
i hope that you use a copy of the install disk because if the   disk brake you will not have anithing to boot then...
always use copys of the original disks to do anything :roll:
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 28, 2006, 06:27:27 PM
LOL!!! I have the original ADF file!!! Ahhahahaha! I have passed to a real amiga disk. Thank for a mystery resolved, which is: have the necessary files of the CrossDOS on a real amiga disk.

Let's talk serious back now.
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 30, 2006, 08:16:49 PM
These isn't a solution about this problem? Possible the Hard-disk can read only? ( i'm trying to format after partitioned, but it blocks)
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 30, 2006, 08:23:22 PM
if you don't have any data to the disk and you have a pc or laptop, connect it to pc/or laptop, format it and reconnect it in amiga, and try from scratch. or try something else. connect it to a pc and run winuae, mount the disk in uae and partition/format it as amiga disk and then reconnect it to the a1200 and see if it works...
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on January 30, 2006, 08:36:16 PM
uhm,,, that's a good idea! Very good! But the problem is this: i haven't a box USB container of 2,5 harddisk, and no also for a laptop computer. But i should try at all costs!
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on January 30, 2006, 08:43:07 PM
try to find a converter of 2.5 to 3.5 ide cable it will be a cheaper solution to connect the disk to pc than to find a 2.5 usb box. after this you can use the converter to the 1200 ide port to connect a 3.5 disk on :-)
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on February 01, 2006, 03:08:04 PM
And the problem may is cause of the invalid ROM type? (I use AmigaOS 3.1 with Kickstart 40.xx, and i have ROM 3.0 and Kickstart 39.106)
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: CDE_MusiX on February 01, 2006, 03:09:42 PM
And i can get a photo or PDF file (better if is a video: DivX or 3GP) of the ROM substitution?
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: Thomas on February 01, 2006, 03:22:21 PM
Quote

CDE_MusiX wrote:
Now i write the log of ALL my actions:
HARD DISK LED ON
I have booted from Workbench 3.1 Install Disk for my AMIGA 1200 (My ROM is 3.0)
HARD DISK LED OFF
Now the Workbench screen appears without "DHx:NDOS" pseudoicons.
I go on the "Install 3.1" floppy disk
I go on the "HDTools" drawer (or directory)
I start "HDToolbox".
I select "modify hard drive" button.
I selected my Hard-disk (SCSI, not IDE, IDE is not available)
Now appears the "Harddisk:FUJITSU model xxxxxxxxx BC16 Address:0 LUN:0 Type:SCSI"
I click "partition hard disk"
i define these partitions "DH0 (bootable) at 300MB, DH1 at 1700MB, DH2 at 1700MB and the rest empty"
i define file system. (FFS, but i guess is already setted)
I click OK to close "Partition Hard-drive button"
I click "Save changes on hard-drive".
HARD DISK LED TURNS ON LIKE A FLASH
I reboot AMIGA without close HDToolBox.
When i boot the "DHx:NDOS" pseudoicons dosen't appear. AFF!!! I can't format this hard drive. My procedure loops on point 1. (Same if i select Smartfilesystem)



Please run HDToobox again, do *not* "modify drive type", but go to "partition drive" immediately and check if the partitions are still there.

If they are there, open an AmigaDOS (Shell) window and enter Info. If they are listed there too, enter

format drive dh0: name Workbench noicons quick

Repeat the same with the other partitions.

If the partitions don't appear in HDToolbox, you have a serious problem with your HDD and you should try another one.

If the partitions appear in HDToolbox but are not listed by the Info command, you probably have the problem that the drive does not come up again fast enough after a reset. This can be solved by cutting the reset line on the IDE cable.

Quote
And please note: my harddisk is IDE but not SCSI.

 
The IDE driver of the A1200 is called scsi.device and therefore HDToolbox recognises it as SCSI drive, although it is IDE. This is not a problem, but rather standard on all Amiga models.

Bye,
Thomas
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on February 01, 2006, 04:31:43 PM
Quote

CDE_MusiX wrote:
And the problem may is cause of the invalid ROM type? (I use AmigaOS 3.1 with Kickstart 40.xx, and i have ROM 3.0 and Kickstart 39.106)



that's something really strange, how can you ''use'' os3.0 but you ''have'' os3.1 both wb and roms? i'm trying hard to understand to help but can't see the light this way...


@Thomas: as you can see it's ''dificult to cure''
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: Thomas on February 01, 2006, 04:58:16 PM
Quote

that's something really strange, how can you ''use'' os3.0 but you ''have'' os3.1 both wb and roms? i'm trying hard to understand to help but can't see the light this way...


He probably means that he runs Workbench 3.1 on Kickstart 3.0.

Quote
@Thomas: as you can see it's ''dificult to cure''


It's not difficult. It's just a matter of afford and/or investment.

Obviously the current combination of this Amiga, this HDD, this ROM version and this Workbench version does not work. You can try the same procedure over and over again, it won't work unless you replace any of the above.

I have mentioned the only possible "cheap" solutions above:

1. If the partitions don't appear on the desktop, they can still be recognised by AmigaDOS and can be formatted from the shell. After that they will appear on the Workbench.

2. If they are not recognised by AmigaDOS, you can try the cut of the reset line.

From here on, it becomes expensive, you have to replace one of the components.

A new Amiga might help, but I doubt it unless it is a different revision and (more important) a different ROM version.

A new HDD (one which has been tested on Amiga before) *will* help.

A new ROM might help, but there is a good chance that it won't (at least if the cut-the-reset-line operation does not help either).

A new Workbench will most likely not help. (There is no newer than 3.1 if you don't even get your HDD set up).

Finally there is always an 80% chance that the problem is sitting in front of the keyboard.  :-D

Bye,
Thomas
Title: Re: Problems with a A1200 2.5 Hard-disk
Post by: amigagr on February 01, 2006, 05:13:28 PM
Finally there is always an 80% chance that the problem is sitting in front of the keyboard. Thomas


yes i agree with you, i had a similar problem with my a3000 and i wrote it to CDE_MusiX exactly because i believe that he can solve the problem, but... finaly i think that his low level of amiga know how from one side and the difficulties in the language level as he is italian, these 2 things together made this ''difficult to cure'' situation, that's all...