Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: DaNi on January 16, 2004, 04:25:09 PM

Title: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: DaNi on January 16, 2004, 04:25:09 PM
Hi, i think buy this expasion becouse i have Mediator Z-IV busboard but i have a few questions... if possible add to the flash the blizkick with all modules and the original rom 3.1? and the BB updates? i am crazy with my reebots :P
Thanks
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: lempkee on January 16, 2004, 04:42:56 PM
yes dani , the text on vesalia.de state this allready, thats the whole point os kickflash.


bye
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: haymiggan on January 23, 2004, 05:46:42 PM
I'm picking up my KickFlash OS4 from the postoffice on monday, I will let you know as i have Mediator ZIV too...
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: Madgun68 on January 23, 2004, 06:21:36 PM
It looks interestings.. I just don't understand why the producer of the card hasn't updated the kickflash information. (http://www.jschoenfeld.de/products/kickflash_e.htm)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: redrumloa on January 23, 2004, 06:52:10 PM
Quote

Madgun68 wrote:
It looks interestings.. I just don't understand why the producer of the card hasn't updated the kickflash information. (http://www.jschoenfeld.de/products/kickflash_e.htm)


These will be available in the US in 2 weeks. I will try to make as much information available at my website (http://www.anachronismindustries.com) as time permits.
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: x56h34 on January 23, 2004, 07:14:17 PM
What would be the special price for Amiga.org visitiors? :-)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: redrumloa on January 23, 2004, 07:23:22 PM
Quote

x56h34 wrote:
What would be the special price for Amiga.org visitiors? :-)


I haven't ironed out the price yet, but i suspect it should be $40 + shipping. Oh and to my knowlege I will be the only North American dealer carrying them:-D
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: x56h34 on January 23, 2004, 07:42:20 PM
It sounds like a pretty nice piece of hardware, however how does it manage to pull of the patch-o-rama without reboots? What's the catch?
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: Methuselas on January 23, 2004, 08:05:00 PM
Hmm.....I'm thinking screw the P4 box I need to build. Get one of those, one of Red's A500's, find a decent HDD controler and see if I can scam my old Derrigner '030/50, with the 32MBs of ram he never paid me for, back from my mate that doesn't use it anymore and I'm set.  :-D
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: redrumloa on January 23, 2004, 08:32:53 PM
Quote

Methuselas wrote:
Hmm.....I'm thinking screw the P4 box I need to build. Get one of those, one of Red's A500's, find a decent HDD controler and see if I can scam my old Derrigner '030/50, with the 32MBs of ram he never paid me for, back from my mate that doesn't use it anymore and I'm set.  :-D


 :-D Now that's the type of thinking I like to see :-D
I hope people are paying attention, because I have some fun stuff up my sleeves. The question will be is there enough people left who care :-? Dun't want to say too much, because then people will either not believe, or expect way too much, but there is some *neat* stuff on the way:-)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: x56h34 on January 23, 2004, 08:41:25 PM
I still keep that new Discovery A500 bundle sealed that I bought from you. :-)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: AJS on January 23, 2004, 08:48:04 PM
Received my  kickflashOS4( it's nice and small) middle of the week for my A4000 CyberstormPPC,  I won’t install it until I have had my friend  translate the instructions from German, and until OS4 is out, also received the Catweasel mk3 for my A1 as well, roll on the pre-release of OS4 for the A1 8-)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: haymiggan on January 23, 2004, 10:09:03 PM
Haven't heard any user-reports of it yet!
Wonder if it works!
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: Doobrey on January 23, 2004, 11:09:05 PM
Quote

x56h34 wrote:
It sounds like a pretty nice piece of hardware, however how does it manage to pull of the patch-o-rama without reboots? What's the catch?


 Simple... when autoconfig does it`s stuff, the KickFlash tells the Amiga it has a ROM. Then the autoconfig process scans the flash, looking for romtags, and adds its location to devices list (but only if it doesnt exist there, or has a higher version number).
 So when exec needs to open a device or library, it will open the newer versions from the flash instead of the kickstarts.
 I`m not 100% sure how exec gets replaced, as it must already be running to get this far..maybe it does reboot, and because the rom update doesnt have to be loaded from HD, it happens a lot quicker and earlier in the boot sequence.
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: haymiggan on January 26, 2004, 04:57:11 PM
Ok, got mine. now.. but the software package, coyoteflash.lha should be on the I.C webpage, but it's not.

Since my dd is defect atm, i can't extract it from the flash memory where it should be stored now.

Can anyone send it to me please?
Cheers,
Povl
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: redrumloa on January 26, 2004, 05:46:18 PM
@haymiggan

Have you tried contacting your dealer? The dealer should easily be able to provide this via email. I'd send you one, but my order is not in yet:-)
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: adolescent on January 26, 2004, 11:55:43 PM
Any insight to when the non-Zorro version will be available?  And, at what cost?
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: cgutjahr on January 27, 2004, 12:50:16 AM
@adolescent:

Currently, there's no other (non-Zorro-) version planned. On amiga-news.de, Jens Schönfeld explained that it is unlikely such a version will ever appear beacause...

1. The neccessery signals needed to reflash the ROM are not easily available on an A1200 motherboard. Hence the thing would be either expensive, not reflashable or complicated to install.

2. According to Jens, "most people have Zorro anyway".

IIRC, Elbox will offer some FlashROM on a PCMCIA card, but this will act like a RamDisk, not like a Kickstart expansion.
Title: Re: KickFlash OS4 questions
Post by: adolescent on January 28, 2004, 12:44:38 AM
Quote

cgutjahr wrote:
@adolescent:

Currently, there's no other (non-Zorro-) version planned. On amiga-news.de, Jens Schönfeld explained that it is unlikely such a version will ever appear beacause...

1. The neccessery signals needed to reflash the ROM are not easily available on an A1200 motherboard. Hence the thing would be either expensive, not reflashable or complicated to install.

2. According to Jens, "most people have Zorro anyway".

IIRC, Elbox will offer some FlashROM on a PCMCIA card, but this will act like a RamDisk, not like a Kickstart expansion.


That's bad news.  Jens should really update his webpage to remove all of the "vapor".  I've been waiting for this product for over two years and really got my hopes up when I saw the Zorro card out.