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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: straycat on February 20, 2008, 11:24:23 PM

Title: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: straycat on February 20, 2008, 11:24:23 PM

I'm attempting to use a 6GB Quantum SCSI disk(an old Apple Powermac pull) inside a GVP sidecar to replace an old 50MB drive with a problem (another issue for another thread!).

I know about the limitation (I'm only planning to partition the first 4MB) but I can't seem to get as far as booting the A500 into Workbench to partition & mount the drive. I'm starting the GVP with the top switch set to Autoboot and a bootable installation floppy is in DF0:

The GVP fires up ok but then I turn on the A500. The GVP HD+ "Hard Disk" light stays on solid, the screen stays black and DF0: doesn't engage.

Are there any SCSI drives that just won't work with the GVP units?

The A500 is upgraded to Kickstart 3.1 and I'm attempting to boot with the WB 3.1 Install disk.

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: tokyoracer on February 20, 2008, 11:28:44 PM

SCSI may be more fussy then IDE, I don't know but maybe it just doesn't like lage hard drives like that.

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: Bazzaq on February 20, 2008, 11:36:31 PM

Im sure some of the old mac scsi drives had custom firmwares on them, i have had problems using them in pc's before.

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: straycat on February 21, 2008, 10:09:02 AM

Thanks for the responses.

If anyone has experience of sizes / makes / models that have worked well with the GVP HD+ please do let me know.

As the old saying goes size isn't important. Reliability is and 1GB would be than adequate for my usage.

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: countzero on February 21, 2008, 02:49:26 PM

I used some 4 gb IBM drives with the GVP. It takes some time when there isn't any bootable drive in the SCSI chain, so be sure to give it a couple of minutes. Also make sure you terminate the chain correctly with an active terminator.

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: Robert17 on February 21, 2008, 06:14:10 PM

I think the maximum drive support depends on your Rom Revision (in the gvp box) I recenly fitted a 2.0gb seagate drive, however I was unable to get a 720mb IBM Drive to work.

Robert

Title: Re: A500 GVP HD+ problem
Post by: straycat on February 22, 2008, 09:43:35 AM

Quote

countzero wrote:
I used some 4 gb IBM drives with the GVP. It takes some time when there isn't any bootable drive in the SCSI chain, so be sure to give it a couple of minutes.

I don't think I left it on for more than a few seconds, so I'll try that.