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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: paul2010 on October 02, 2010, 03:00:15 PM

Title: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: paul2010 on October 02, 2010, 03:00:15 PM
I recently bought a GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive for my A500 but it didn't come with a floppy disk containing the installation software.

I've read that it's possible to get the software from the Internet to my Amiga but I haven't got any networking cables.

Is there a simple way I can transfer the file without cables?

I've got some floppy disks (1.44MB and 720k) and an external PC floppy drive to hand.  

I've also got Amiga Forever installed on my PC if that's any help.

Thanks.
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: rockape on October 02, 2010, 03:40:36 PM
Hi paul2010,

See  http://www.l8r.net/install/hdc.html

"gvp500hd8.dms GVP hd8 hd+ for the a500"


I downloaded this DMS and its only 373k in size.

So it will fit onto a 770k PC formatted disk.


If you have an Amiga with CrossDos you can transfer and unpack it to a floppy disk, or if not, maybe there is a CrossDos type prog you can use for your A500 to unpack it ?

Regards, Michael

aka rockape
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: paul2010 on October 03, 2010, 09:46:56 AM
I converted the DMS file to ADF using DMS2ADF and then copied this file onto a floppy formatted as 720k.

I then put the floppy into my Amiga in Workbench and the icon said 'DF0:BAD'.

Is this because I need to mount the floppy or it's in the wrong file format or something?  

I'm running Workbench 1.3.
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: scuzzb494 on October 03, 2010, 10:05:17 AM
I don`t use an emulator so have no idea how stuff is created on a PC but traditionally to see a PC disk you have to have CrossDOS running. This is an Amiga application which allows you to mount the drive as a PC drive. The icon in devs dosdrivers would normally be PC0 or PC1 and you mount by clicking or have it set to mount when you fire up the Amiga. When you insert the disk from the PC you will see two icons, one for a PC disk and one for an Amiga disk. If either has question marks or cant be accessed then its the other icon that is working. With CrossDOS mounted from the drive you can copy stuff from the disk just as a normal floppy disk.

As I say I have no idea about the emulator what so ever having never used one.

Was there nothing on the hard drive when you bought it. Also, I trust it came with the power supply as they don`t use the same power as the Amiga. Unusual cus everyone I have got the hard drive is working or else it would have to have been left disabled or something when the guy sold it you.

http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz48.htm

Scroll down the page for the power supply.
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: Buzzfuzz on October 03, 2010, 11:05:55 AM
Quote from: paul2010;582567
Is there a simple way I can transfer the file without cables?

Not really, unless you own a A1200 also or know someone who has a A1200.
What you need for this is a PC with CF reader, CF card, Amiga 1200 with a PCMCIA > CF adapter and the drivers, or get a transferkit from Amigakit.com
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: Thomas on October 03, 2010, 12:25:48 PM
Quote from: paul2010;582727
I converted the DMS file to ADF using DMS2ADF and then copied this file onto a floppy formatted as 720k.


How did you manage to fit a 880k file on a 720k disk??
Title: Re: GVP Impact II HD8 hard drive without installation disk
Post by: paul2010 on October 03, 2010, 12:59:43 PM
Quote from: Thomas;582740
How did you manage to fit a 880k file on a 720k disk??

I downloaded the DMS file and DMS to ADF program onto my desktop in Windows and then I went into DOS and typed:

dms2adf gvp500hd8.dms a:gvp500hd8.adf (file came out at 720k with 9216 bytes free)


An alterative way is to copy the DMS file to a floppy (file comes out at 382k) and then type:

dms2adf a:gvp500hd8.dms a:gvp500hd8.adf

This gave a 'file too big to fit on disk' error but in fact, the ADF came out at 344k and I just deleted the DMS file from the floppy, as not needed anymore.

I tested the disk by booting from it/loading it in Workbench in Amiga Forever and all was OK.


This shows the file sizes in DOS:

A:\>dir
 Volume in drive A has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 00D7-1213

 Directory of A:\

02/10/2010  23:17            382,418  gvp500hd8.dms
03/10/2010  13:11            344,064  gvp500hd8.adf
               2 File(s)         726,482 bytes
               0 Dir(s)             3,072 bytes free