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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Iggy on February 01, 2013, 11:12:38 PM
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I took a risk and purchased an A2000 on Ebay for $45.
When powered up, the floppy drive lights come on (and stay on) and there is no composite video output.
I removed the battery (which had a small amount of corrosion under it), but other then that the unit seems OK.
Is it worth digging up a HAYNIE/FISHER motherboard as a replacement?
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Fiddled around with it and got it to work.
It is a FISHER/HAYNIE motherboard version 4.4 with a Fat Agnus.
I just ordered the parts to upgrade it to ECS and a 3.1 rom.
Now all I need is a decent accelerator.
What type of hard drive would you guys recommend?
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Sometimes when someone plugs the floppy cable wrong way around the activity light will stay on, so maybe you could remove the floppy cable and see if you could boot.
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Sometimes when someone plugs the floppy cable wrong way around the activity light will stay on, so maybe you could remove the floppy cable and see if you could boot.
Thank, that's how I got it working.
It didn't come with an A2090 or A2091 hard disk controller.
What would be the best option for adding a hard drive?
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Iggy, great find. I have the Mechy SCSI card reader in my A2000, and A500+ both. They work great and makes moving files from PC to the Amiga easy. If your PC doesn't have a reader, you can get one for $15. I think Mechy got some more of them in. From experience, I know they will work with the A2091. I think the GVP controllers are best, as they recognize LUNS almost instantly, which means you can plug a CF card directly in the CF slot, and not worry with the PCMCIA adapter, but it boots just as fast. If you use an A2091, it takes it about 30 seconds to scan the LUNS, before it boots. You can use the PCMCIA adapter, and disable LUNS, and it boots instantly, but lose the other slots in the reader. I use the SCSI controller on my GVP combo card, but also use one in my A500+ with a GVP A500 HD+8, which is essentially the same as the A2000 HC+8 for the A2000. I also use one with a GVP Impact A2000-HC, which is the same, without the memory. You don't have to worry about moving parts with this solution and can have multiple CF cards for any different OS you want to run. They mount perfectly in one of the floppy drive slots. Whichever route you go, good luck and have fun. I love modifying my A2000. My A500+ was originally an A500 Rev. 5, and I bought a + motherboard, and upgraded it. I really enjoy doing stuff like that. Glad you got the A2000 and everything is working.
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Iggy, great find. I have the Mechy SCSI card reader in my A2000, and A500+ both. They work great and makes moving files from PC to the Amiga easy. If your PC doesn't have a reader, you can get one for $15. I think Mechy got some more of them in. From experience, I know they will work with the A2091. I think the GVP controllers are best, as they recognize LUNS almost instantly, which means you can plug a CF card directly in the CF slot, and not worry with the PCMCIA adapter, but it boots just as fast. If you use an A2091, it takes it about 30 seconds to scan the LUNS, before it boots. You can use the PCMCIA adapter, and disable LUNS, and it boots instantly, but lose the other slots in the reader. I use the SCSI controller on my GVP combo card, but also use one in my A500+ with a GVP A500 HD+8, which is essentially the same as the A2000 HC+8 for the A2000. I also use one with a GVP Impact A2000-HC, which is the same, without the memory. You don't have to worry about moving parts with this solution and can have multiple CF cards for any different OS you want to run. They mount perfectly in one of the floppy drive slots. Whichever route you go, good luck and have fun. I love modifying my A2000. My A500+ was originally an A500 Rev. 5, and I bought a + motherboard, and upgraded it. I really enjoy doing stuff like that. Glad you got the A2000 and everything is working.
Thanks, very useful information. Looks like a really well made system.
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Thank, that's how I got it working.
It didn't come with an A2090 or A2091 hard disk controller.
What would be the best option for adding a hard drive?
Like the other poster said, the A2091 is the easiest and cheapest way to get HD in A2000. The A2091 cames also with 2MB RAM (fully populated), so you are partially covered in the RAM department
Also, in my opinion, try to get v3.1 ROMs for it, much easier to operate then v1.3, and if you want full backwards compatibility get the ROM switcher.
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Mechy is out of the basic unit (w/o pcmcia adapter).
I've asked for an update when he gets more.
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OK, so I can get a fast accelerator.
Hard drives are slow, but no slower then any other Amiga (I am definitely spoiled by the 10K 74MB WD Raptors I just put in my MorphOS system).
Except for the lack of third party PCI expansion and AGA graphics, its a really neat system (with a much more open case then an A3000).
So, most new software (like the Doom ports) seem to rely on AGA, yet AGA machines make up a small minority of the Amigas manufactured.
So, what good ECS titles would you guys recommend?
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Iggy, great find. I have the Mechy SCSI card reader in my A2000, and A500+ both. They work great and makes moving files from PC to the Amiga easy. If your PC doesn't have a reader, you can get one for $15. I think Mechy got some more of them in. From experience, I know they will work with the A2091. I think the GVP controllers are best, as they recognize LUNS almost instantly, which means you can plug a CF card directly in the CF slot, and not worry with the PCMCIA adapter, but it boots just as fast. If you use an A2091, it takes it about 30 seconds to scan the LUNS, before it boots. You can use the PCMCIA adapter, and disable LUNS, and it boots instantly, but lose the other slots in the reader. I use the SCSI controller on my GVP combo card, but also use one in my A500+ with a GVP A500 HD+8, which is essentially the same as the A2000 HC+8 for the A2000. I also use one with a GVP Impact A2000-HC, which is the same, without the memory. You don't have to worry about moving parts with this solution and can have multiple CF cards for any different OS you want to run. They mount perfectly in one of the floppy drive slots. Whichever route you go, good luck and have fun. I love modifying my A2000. My A500+ was originally an A500 Rev. 5, and I bought a + motherboard, and upgraded it. I really enjoy doing stuff like that. Glad you got the A2000 and everything is working.
I would like to know how your able to transfer files from PC to SD card and back into your Amiga. I tried putting my Amiga SD into my PC and my system didn't even recognize the card. I was unable to access it at all.
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I'm using Win UAE to put files on my Amiga memory cards, it will recognise it. It's even easier if your using your your memory card as a hard drive. Let me no if you need a walk through of the process. I'm currently setting up my A1200, but still learning:)
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Iggy, Check your PM's about the morphOS machines please!
Steven
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I would like to know how your able to transfer files from PC to SD card and back into your Amiga. I tried putting my Amiga SD into my PC and my system didn't even recognize the card. I was unable to access it at all.
Just put the files on the SD card under WinUAE. It recognizes the SD card as a drive, and I have a folder that I mount as a drive that contains any files that I want to transfer. I move them to the SD card with WinUAE, then unplug the card and stick it in the SD card slot on my Amiga. Works great.
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So, most new software (like the Doom ports) seem to rely on AGA, yet AGA machines make up a small minority of the Amigas manufactured.
So, what good ECS titles would you guys recommend?
How about Doom? It has an EHB mode... :smack:
Also supports graphics cards, so you could go down that route, but either way you'll need some CPU horsepower.
http://m68k.aminet.net/package/game/shoot/ADoom-1.4
Citadel too:
http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=1863
There's no end of superb OCS/ECS games. You're spoilt for choice!