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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 04:55:00 AM

Title: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 04:55:00 AM
I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Jose on January 07, 2004, 05:09:44 AM
Short answer:  Yes. If my memory doesn't fail me, you won't even be able to boot WB 2.0  cause the filesystem in WB2.0 is updated.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Ilwrath on January 07, 2004, 05:26:21 AM
Quote

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?


Correct that you can not run Workbench 2.x at all.  It checks for the ROM at startup.  The only way around this would be to softkick the 2.x ROM image, which will chew up some of your RAM, provided you have more than 1.5 meg total.  If you have only 1MB RAM, I don't think you can softkick.

As I remember it, for 1.x and 2.x, the major number matters.  
ie,
you can run Workbench 1.3 from a 1.2 ROM.  
or you can run Workbench 2.1 from a 2.04 ROM.  
but you can't run Workbench 2.04 from a 1.3 ROM.
This held true a bit into 3.0 series, as you can run Workbench 3.1 from a 3.0 ROM, as well.

Then it all went wacky with 3.5 requiring a 3.1 rom.  :-P
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 05:36:07 AM
Quote

Ilwrath wrote:
Quote

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?


Correct that you can not run Workbench 2.x at all.  It checks for the ROM at startup.  The only way around this would be to softkick the 2.x ROM image, which will chew up some of your RAM, provided you have more than 1.5 meg total.  If you have only 1MB RAM, I don't think you can softkick.

As I remember it, for 1.x and 2.x, the major number matters.  
ie,
you can run Workbench 1.3 from a 1.2 ROM.  
or you can run Workbench 2.1 from a 2.04 ROM.  
but you can't run Workbench 2.04 from a 1.3 ROM.
This held true a bit into 3.0 series, as you can run Workbench 3.1 from a 3.0 ROM, as well.

Then it all went wacky with 3.5 requiring a 3.1 rom.  :-P


Ok then, how would I "soft boot" the rom?

The reason I want to run 2.x is to be able to read pc formatted floppies. Or is it possible with workbench 1.3 that I just havn't found yet?
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: hnl_dk on January 07, 2004, 09:55:30 AM
Try this one:
http://aminet.net/misc/emu/multidos1_12.lzh (http://aminet.net/misc/emu/multidos1_12.lzh)
http://membres.lycos.fr/schaffner/amiga/multidos/readme.txt (http://membres.lycos.fr/schaffner/amiga/multidos/readme.txt)
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: xeron on January 07, 2004, 09:57:12 AM
MessyDOS from Aminet can read DOS floppies under 1.3.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 11:38:44 AM
Thanks guys, but to get these programs on, I'll require the amiga to be able to read dos disks in the first place. Yea, catch-22.

But it looks like I've sourced a rom chip from a local dealer here for a 2.04 rom for my amiga 500.

One more question on that though, if I install the 2.04 rom chip, will I still require workbench 2.1 to be able to read dos disks from, or will it work under workbench 1.3 as long as I have the 2.04 rom? EDIT: That's assuming that workbench 1.3 works with rom 2.04.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: xeron on January 07, 2004, 12:04:42 PM
You need workbench disks to use CrossDOS, since it is provided on the disks and not the ROM.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: bloodline on January 07, 2004, 12:06:35 PM
Quote

ami500 wrote:
Thanks guys, but to get these programs on, I'll require the amiga to be able to read dos disks in the first place. Yea, catch-22.

But it looks like I've sourced a rom chip from a local dealer here for a 2.04 rom for my amiga 500.

One more question on that though, if I install the 2.04 rom chip, will I still require workbench 2.1 to be able to read dos disks from, or will it work under workbench 1.3 as long as I have the 2.04 rom? EDIT: That's assuming that workbench 1.3 works with rom 2.04.

Thanks.


I should pont out it is not the ROM that has the DOS driver for 720K disks.

You can boot a 2.x machine with the 1.3 Workbench, but there is no point as the 720K disk software was park of Workbench.

 I have never used 720K disks on a 2.x system but, on a 3.x system you will find PC0 and PC1 device drivers on the storage disks.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 12:21:28 PM
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know. :)

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Thomas on January 07, 2004, 12:40:26 PM

You could use this to transfer files from PC to Amiga without floppy disks: http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/homepage/c725/c72578/amiga/

Bye,
Thomas
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: bloodline on January 07, 2004, 12:56:49 PM
Quote

ami500 wrote:
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know. :)

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.


You will need The "CrossDos" software. that will run on any version of Workbench, but it might come with WB2.x
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 07, 2004, 01:06:00 PM
Quote

bloodline wrote:
Quote

ami500 wrote:
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know. :)

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.


You will need The "CrossDos" software. that will run on any version of Workbench, but it might come with WB2.x


Mmmmm... According to this:

http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-crossdos.shtml

It's in workbench 2.1 and above.

I'll pretty much need to buy workbench 2.1 then as I do want the ability to read straight from pc formatted floppies.

And Thomas, that looks very interesting. And while I do actually have the appropriate null modem cable, I might put that one in the "tinker with" Pile. But seriously, that does look very interesting how they did that.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: pjhutch on January 07, 2004, 01:17:16 PM
Unfortunately, its next to impossible getting WB 2.1 and 2.x ROMs. BUT you can get WB 3.1 and KS 3.1 ROMs from most Amiga suppliers. WB3.1 includes Crossdos.

Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Ilwrath on January 07, 2004, 09:48:46 PM
Quote
It's in workbench 2.1 and above.


Correct.  CrossDOS was NOT in Workbench 2.04.

WB2.1 will run on a 2.04 ROM, though.

However, unless you can source the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 ROM very cheaply, it might make more sense to take the plunge all the way to 3.1, just to be current.  Lots of stuff requires at least 3.0 or greater.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 08, 2004, 12:33:22 AM
Quote

Ilwrath wrote:
Quote
It's in workbench 2.1 and above.


Correct.  CrossDOS was NOT in Workbench 2.04.

WB2.1 will run on a 2.04 ROM, though.

However, unless you can source the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 ROM very cheaply, it might make more sense to take the plunge all the way to 3.1, just to be current.  Lots of stuff requires at least 3.0 or greater.


Ok, so it looks like a go with the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 rom for what I really want then.

I got a price of AUD$60 for the rom and workbench here locally.

I didn't know that the amiga 500 could take a 3.x rom.

EDIT: Can amiga OS 3.0/3.1/3.5/3.9 work on the 3.1 rom? That's assuming it will work with an amiga 500.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Neo on January 08, 2004, 01:11:54 AM
Checked the prices at GGS-DATA in Sweden for the Amiga 500 ROM's and
OS. Just for comparisation!

2.05 ROM cost 95SEK about AUD$18
3.1 ROM cost 265SEK about AUD$49
OS3.9 cost 395SEK about AUD$72
3.1 ROM + OS3.9 cost 639SEK about AUD$117

No price on OS 2.1 though. Negative with OS 3.9 is it's on CD. So if
you don't have a CD you have to use a PC to copy the files to the
Amiga.

I think you got a quite fair price if it's from a dealer otherwise
maybe a little high. But if you don't have a harddisk on your Amiga
there is no point aiming for any of the newer OS's since you wouldn't
be using the new features much anyway.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: ami500 on January 08, 2004, 02:32:46 AM
Quote

Neo wrote:
Checked the prices at GGS-DATA in Sweden for the Amiga 500 ROM's and
OS. Just for comparisation!

2.05 ROM cost 95SEK about AUD$18
3.1 ROM cost 265SEK about AUD$49
OS3.9 cost 395SEK about AUD$72
3.1 ROM + OS3.9 cost 639SEK about AUD$117

No price on OS 2.1 though. Negative with OS 3.9 is it's on CD. So if
you don't have a CD you have to use a PC to copy the files to the
Amiga.

I think you got a quite fair price if it's from a dealer otherwise
maybe a little high. But if you don't have a harddisk on your Amiga
there is no point aiming for any of the newer OS's since you wouldn't
be using the new features much anyway.


But by the time I paid postage, that would inflate the price too from sweden.

But yea, I did a little more reading, and it appears that I'll require a cpu upgrade if I wanted to use OS3.5 or higher, so it looks like os3.1 is it.

So it should work if I get a 3.1rom and OS3.1? Is there any special thing I'd have to do with the rom chip depending on my motherboard revision?

I'm waiting to hear back about a price on the 3.1rom, but I've seen a price of AUD$17.05 for the OS3.1. So in the end it may even out with the total price I was given for the 2.04rom and workbench 2.1 anyway.

I have an A590 HDD module, so that's no problem.
Title: Re: Workbench Question
Post by: Neo on January 08, 2004, 04:13:43 AM
Got these prices from German retailer Vesalia.
(www.vesalia.de)

OS 3.1 Disks   9.90 EUR
ROM 3.1       19.90 EUR

I'm not sure about the exchange rate but guess 1.6 or 1.7. That would
give the 16 or 17 Australian dollars for the OS disks.

But for orders this small it usually doesn't pay off to order from
abroad.

You may be right that 3.5 and 3.9 requires a 020 or better to work.
And even if the OS doesn't requires it, the third party add-ons
surely does.