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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: redrumloa on June 25, 2003, 12:55:09 PM
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I have a A2000 i am sprucing up for eBay sale which has a rom switcher with 1.3 and 2.04 roms installed. I am trying to decide if it's better to leave it as is, or if i should install a toggle switch to the jumper location so the user could switch which rom was wanted before booting? I'm trying to remember, without a switch you would have to boot into the primary rom and then reboot holding left Amiga-key(??!??) to get into the second rom.
So should I install a switch to increase it's sellability? If so where? front or back?
What method was used to soft boot? reboot holding left-Amiga?
:-?
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If it was me, yes, I would prefer having a switch to use. It would eliminated the required (and unwanted in my opinion) to use the secondary ROM.
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Would you prefer the switch in the back out of sight or in the front easily accesible?
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Round the back, on one of the blanking plates in front of the zorro slots.
(I don't know much about A2000 anatomy, so i'm presuming the zorro slots have blanking plates)
That way you've not actually modified the case in anyway, thus preserving it's 'stock' status.
-Jar.
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That's a pretty good idea. I may do just that.
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Red,
You reminded me of my old "1320" (an A1000 with 1.3 and 2.0 ROMs). I had a switch installed on it. I could just flip the switch and reboot if I really wanted to use the 1.3 ROM. I eventually traded it for a 25 inch color TV, after having gotten my A1200.
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My 2000 (Which is currently sitting in a garage on the other side of the city from me) had a toggle switch at the back to switch between 1.3 and 2.04
From memory it was on the GFX expansion backplane thingy (on the right side ?)
Easy to reach and was not noticable from the front :)
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Keep in mind that anyone in their right mind these days will probably want to be finding a flickerfixer for that slot; the leftmost ISA cover would probably be the best idea, but also the most annoying in terms of wiring lengths.
If you had a graveyard's worth of 2000 parts, a thin slide switch dremelled into the front LED assembly could potentially come out looking nice, but unless you had a spare 'original' to send along, best to keep such things unmutilated, indeed.
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One thing I like to do when working on any 'rare' equipment is to fold up copies of any useful documentation (jumper diagrams that required 6 hours of searching, etc) in a ziploc bag, and tape it securely to the inside lid of the casing, or somewhere out of the way in the drive cage. (Not many good spots in a 2000, but maybe an unventilated side of the PS?) While maintaining a horde of flaky Windows boxes, I used to hide boot floppies with appropriate ATAPI/ASPI drivers in that manner, quite handy for Worst Case Scenarios. If you're transferring your Workbench license(s), might be a nice idea to tuck an extra set of install/recovery disks in there, if you can find room and avoid the risk of shorting anything out. (What the ol' Ziploc is for; I used to use a box of Maxell floppies with plastic doors- and thus less risk- but I don't think they ever made those in double-density.)
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A THREE-WAY Toggle Switch is the means to select from 3.1 to 2.05 or 1.3 on my A2000 - its on a tang in the unpopulated Zorro section.
This was the usual switching method for the Kickboard from Unitech Electronics.
I actually have OS' 1.3, 2.05, 3.1, and 3.5 but 1.3 can't run on the 060.
There is also a switch to change the CHIP to a lower value but I've never used it.
° Providing instructions, for the next user, is a good practise.
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The A1 -- Its a small step for a computer - a BIG step for AmigaKind!
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Jaruzel jotted:
Round the back, on one of the blanking plates in front of the zorro slots.
(I don't know much about A2000 anatomy, so i'm presuming the zorro slots have blanking plates)
;-) There are two other removable plates, between the Zorro backplates and the power supply. One is in line with the accellerator slot, but the other is not in line with anything. That would be the best place for modification, in my opinion.
(http://amiga.org/images/subject/icon3.gif)In fact, since it's just a flat strip of metal with two screw holes, you could remove the original and set it aside, then install your own. This way, the new owner could restore the setup to "mint" condition, if he wishes.