Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: haywirepc on March 15, 2010, 10:46:14 PM
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I've got an amiga 1200 and bought a hard drive pre-installed with os3.9.
On bootup, it boots to workbench screen then the screen goes out of sync I beleive it may be set for a mode a stock 1200 can't handle.
If I push both mouse buttons and set it or original or enhanced video (Not best available) it works but then I only get 4, 16 or 32 colors.
I'd like to get 64, 128 or 256 colors for the workbench. Is there some file I can edit so that it does not go out of sync on bootup but still allows the aga workbench screenmodes?
I have no idea how to fix this and I'd really like to have workbench 3.9 instead of what I did have, 3.1 I'm working on getting a scandoubler, I'm hoping with a scandoubler it won't go out of synch and I can see the workbench to reset and save the video mode it boots to...
Any ideas?
Steven
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Delete ENVARC:sys/screenmode.prefs
Reboot.
Pick new screenmode - NTSC, PAL, or Euro36.
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For some reason now the video seems to go out of sync even when I choose pal, ntsc original or enhanced. This was just working yesterday but I don't remember which options worked, pal I think on original worked.
I'm beginning to think there is something wrong with the video in this 1200?
I'm so aggravated and beginning to think that emulators are the better road to go. All I wanted was os3.9 and decent colors. os 3.1 works great with this same machine. I'm aggravated.
It will only boot to the command line now without the video going crazy out of sync. Can you explain to me how to delete the screenmode prefs file from the command line? I'm having trouble finding it but then its been years since I had to do something like this from a CLI...
Thanks...
Steven
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found and deleted screenmode.prefs, same problem when booting up the screen goes out of sync badly...
This is strange, never saw this problem before... I am using a 1084, which should display any 1200 modes right, especially "original" or "enhanced" which are old modes...
Anyone every have this problem before or have any idea what I can try to fix this?
Steven
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Have you got a 3.1 disk?
If so you could try going back to the early startup menu and choose 'best available' available, then reboot with the 3.1 disk in the drive and it should boot into workbench (might look a bit funny though). Navigate to your screenmodes (under prefs) and choose a compatible AGA mode.
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No I don't have a 3.1 boot disk. I have a 3.9 boot disk which just prompts "Please insert volume os3.9 in any drive. When I cancel it goes to a blank wb screen where you can not do anything.
Now the os3.9 boots without the sync problems, SOMETIMES when I choose pal enhanced or orginal, but I have no idea why it does sometimes
and does not have the sync problem, seems to be no rhyme or reason.
Seems like it gets to the workbench screen, I get an error message popup
cannot open "atapi.device" unit 2, then the screen goes whacky.
When it works, I get that same error message, then idefix loads and its okay, but in ocs or ecs screenmodes only. Argh this is aggravating...
I don't see anything funky in wbstartup folder, but could there be something strange in the startup sequences causing these problems?
Since os3.1 works in aga modes on a cf card I have, I am thinking its got to be software problem... I think so anyway...
I think what may be happening is that its going to dblentsc or dbl pal modes, when I test those modes when its working, the 1084 screen goes whacky like when the bootup problem is happening...
Steven
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I deleted dblstsc, multiscan and dblpal from /devs/monitors
Rebooted and all is well. THANK GOD!
I'm so proud of myself for fixing the problem. I have been tearing my hair out for 4 hours trying to figure this out...
So now I am looking at 256 color desktop. The resolution sucks, but I think a scandoubler is what I'll work on next...
Can anyone tell me how to fix the " cannot open "atapi.device" unit 2" error on bootup?
Steven
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You bought the A1200 and the HD seperately, right? Someone else installed a generic OS 3.9?
I haven't installed 3.9 for years now and haven't tried it on 1200s yet (future project). IIRC, 3.9 has many eye-candy enhansements (a new demanding icon display engine, etc) aimed at fast processors, lots of ram, and especially retargetable graphics. AGA is a bit underpowered for all the abilities of 3.9
It might be easiest to re-install 3.9 for all your hardware married into one system before you get invested installing all your apps on top, if you have the 3.9 CD handy.
Something to think about.
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Yes I bought the 1200 seperately, with an os3.1 cf card, but having no cdrom and no way to install os3.9, I bought a hd preinstalled. Its working well right now. I also got the rgb to svideo converter from amigamaniac, then an svideo to vga converter.
80$ total scandoubler... Works okay but maybe its just my monitor... the dblpal and dbl ntsc modes don't work... not sure why but I don't think this vga monitor I'm using (a cheap dell) is multisync. If I had it to do over again I'd wait for an indivision.
640x512 interlaced looks good...
1280x512 works but text is a bit blurry and the way the icons look a bit too skinny or small gets on my nerves.
Anyone know if there is a way to add more screenmodes if your using a scandoubler?
I would there there has to be some way to get a wb screen thats sort of between 640x512 and 1280x512. For now, I will be sticking with 640x512 interlaced since this 1200 will mostly be for games. 1280x512 works but the text is a bit blurry or hard to read at times and like I said, the skinny icons and just the aspect of that mode hurts my eyes. Also seems pretty slow.
Next time the indivision aga's come around I will be grabbing one. I'd be alot happier with 800x600 or 1024x768 provided its not horrible slow. Got plenty of games, now I need some paint programs and other applications...
Thanks for everyones help getting the 1200 going. It was a long time coming!
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I deleted dblstsc, multiscan and dblpal from /devs/monitors
Rebooted and all is well. THANK GOD!
I'm so proud of myself for fixing the problem. I have been tearing my hair out for 4 hours trying to figure this out...
So now I am looking at 256 color desktop. The resolution sucks, but I think a scandoubler is what I'll work on next...
Steven
You should not have deleted those monitor drivers, just move any you're not using to Devs/Storage/Monitors for safe keeping.
With you're setup you could try 640x480 using the MultiSync driver + the VGA Only monitor driver (they should both be in Devs/Storage/Monitors).
Basic idea:
1) copy them both from the storage draw to your Devs/Monitors draw
2) Restart
3) Got to your screenmodes prefs and select the Multisync 640x480 mode and then press 'test'.
If you can see the test image then all is well, otherwise your monitor doesn't support it.
I used to use VGA 640x480 in 256 colours before moving to HighGFX 1024x768 (you'll need that IndivisionAGA) for this kind of thing ;)
(http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/5682/1_laytex.jpg)
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I did copy them to a temp folder luckily...
I tried and the monitor I have won't support those modes. I guess I need to get a multisync monitor. I wanted to get a white flatscreen anyhow.
Anyone got any suggestions for a non widescreen multisync flatscreen that will work better for me?
Your screenshot looks great. That kind of setup would be ideal for me.
Steven
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I'd like one of these (http://www.superwarehouse.com/Samsung_SyncMaster_997MB_19_CRT_Monitor/997MB/p/623411)
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Thats nice, and there is one on ebay for 140$ including shipping.
Are you sure that would do 640x480 x256 with my scandoubler?
For now I think I'm cool, mostly just launching games with whdload and a big bunch of games. Its nice to be playing on a real amiga instead of an emulator again.
To get any serious work stuff done, I think I need am indivision or better monitor. To just play games, I think I'm probably all set.
I'm not sure its worth the extra money when I probably with stick with win/lin for most of my computing stuff, this amiga will remain in fun mode I suppose next to the work computers. Its awesome to have it sitting here with me. I'm glad I got one and restored it to working condition.
Steven
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Well done Haywire. Hope you enjouy your Amiga.
I get a buzz every time a classic is ressurrected to where it belongs.
Power to you.
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I'm just glad its finished and working...
Parts came for this 1200 from australia,england and china too.
Next I'd like to restore an amiga 2000. We'll see...
I'd still like to get this 1200 a network card and pcmcia cf reader first,
and figure out how to fix a few bootup bugs...
Steven
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Steve how's it going? Looks like your having some fun getting everything working. that was my shock recently going from the emulators back to my hardware i've had on the shelf for years, trying to figure out OS settings, etc. Btw, the CF card / adapter from amigakit.com works great! I put it in my laptop, copy a bunch of files, ADF's, etc and it just shows up on the A1200. Plus they give you the software to re-write the ADF's to the amiga floppies. It's a great way to xfer files for now.
I just upgraded my A500 with a 3.1 Rom and the GVP A530 with a 4.15 ROM and a 4GB flash card to boot from. It's amazing to turn it on, and it's completely silent. The original SCSI Drive could be heard from 1/2 block away.
I found a used Indivision AGA for the 1200 and will post when it arrives. I have a old Dell 19" CRT to use with it for work, I think 1024x768 will look good on this screen. My 1200 was my last amiga from the 90's, but the A1000 and 500 were the first in the 80's, so i'm having a bit of fun with them now. it's a blast to see the 500 boot up with an 030 and CF card, very fast!!
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Hello,
Yes restoring a real amiga and using it for awhile sure makes me appreciate amiga forever and especially AROS more.
Sheesh its a pain collecting all the parts and getting everything working.
I'm enjoying it very much though...
I have a 500 as well that could use upgrades like that! Its pretty stock but I decided to work on upgrading the 1200, parts easier to find for that I think.
Yes I think I will order that cf card thing from amigakit, that will make transferring files from my pc easy. Got plenty of games on this 1200, but now I need demos galore... :)
Steven