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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: TheMagicM on March 13, 2017, 01:28:40 AM
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I was never good at understanding how to get a SCSI HD working in an Amiga. I always went IDE. IE..bought a Dataflyer IDE for my A3k, A2k, A500 had an AdIDE.
Now that I have an A2000 with a Microbotics Hard Frame SCSI controller and a bad Quantum HD of unknown size, what should I replace it with?
I also have a few 2091 controllers. Between these 2 controllers, which would be best to use?
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Depending on weather or not you have 1.3 (uses 6.6 roms o lower?)
or 2.x or higher (which needs 7.0 roms for the 2091)
The scsi can use the scsi to ide cf card (about $60) with a 4 gig card
perfect fit for a amiga!
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SCSI hard drives are getting pretty long in the tooth. Whichever controller you decide on (personally I'd pick the 2091 and look into the 14MHz hack), get one of the various SCSI-to-SD or SCSI-to-CF adapters.
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I just put a SCSI2SD (ver 5) in my A3000 and am very pleased with it. Ran like $60 and came with a 8GB card I used the software to split up across 2 devices.
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ok, you guys are talking about this:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1264
I'm assuming.. if yes, ok.. its on my shopping list with AmigaKit along with a few other things for my 1200.
I also have a "PC Emulator" board. Didnt take a good look at it, dont know if I have software for it, but its on my to-install list. Really sucks that the 2620 board is a no-go.
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Yes, link you provided is to SCSI2SD V5. Should be good on any SCSI-1 or SCSI-2 controller.
Not sure if you mean Commodore A2620, but if so, apparaently you can get ROM upgrades to V7 to use Kickstart 2 and above.
https://www.8bitclassics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=94
Pretty rare card this side of the pond, I think this one was in big demand in USA at the time and did not get exported much.
EDIT:
I would also give the Hard Frame a try - looks like more compatible than original CBM design, but does not like early revision A2000s, so maybe not best choice for you.
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/hardframe
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ok, you guys are talking about this:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1264
(http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1264)
That one or anything comparable, yes.
Really sucks that the 2620 board is a no-go.
Saw you mention something about that in another thread. How much testing have you done on it? Removed memory, checked jumpers, etc.? Assuming someone hasn't tried to overclock it those boards are usually pretty robust, I wouldn't write it off just yet! ;)
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I would also give the Hard Frame a try
No memory expansion option with this card. The A2091 supports up to 2MB and can be overclocked for pretty decent performance. Also better support in after-market (easier to get new ROM's, etc.). But whatever works, lol. :laughing:
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I was never good at understanding how to get a SCSI HD working in an Amiga. I always went IDE. IE..bought a Dataflyer IDE for my A3k, A2k, A500 had an AdIDE.
Now that I have an A2000 with a Microbotics Hard Frame SCSI controller and a bad Quantum HD of unknown size, what should I replace it with?
I also have a few 2091 controllers. Between these 2 controllers, which would be best to use?
68pin SCSI drives work fine with a 50pin converter.
Try here for New old stock:
http://www.scsishop.co.uk/acatalog/50-Pin-SCSI-Kits.html
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Saw you mention something about that in another thread. How much testing have you done on it? Removed memory, checked jumpers, etc.? Assuming someone hasn't tried to overclock it those boards are usually pretty robust, I wouldn't write it off just yet! ;)
Oh, more details on my A2k, 1.3 roms, rev 6 motherboard.
Well, Thor said it was a pnp board, so I plugged it in, powered it on and no color cycling on the A2k. If I remove it, A2k color cycles and works fine (other than bad HD). I've disabled the memory on the A2620 with the jumper on the board also.
I'm going to try reseating the chips that are removeable (just pressing down on them) and then run some air over it.
Also, I have a few A2091's, I'm just wondering which is "faster", the Hardframe or the A2091. If HardFrame, then I'll stick with it.
I'll just get the SCSI 2 MicroSD. Would be nice to use an actual hard drive, but this will do.
Thanks for all the replies folks!
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Yes, link you provided is to SCSI2SD V5. Should be good on any SCSI-1 or SCSI-2 controller.
Not sure if you mean Commodore A2620, but if so, apparaently you can get ROM upgrades to V7 to use Kickstart 2 and above.
If I get it working, I'll definitely do that. Thanks!
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If the fault is the EPROM has gone bad - you will need to replace it anyway... Autoconfig runs code in expansion ROMs as part of startup-process.
If you know somebody with an EPROM programmer (local Makerspace, Hackerspace or Fab Lab) they could scan the one you have and verify it still gives out data.
Sometimes old expansions need a file or two copying to the Expansions drawer on old systems or again, system won't startup (I don't think it is that, just a heads up).
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If the fault is the EPROM has gone bad - you will need to replace it anyway... Autoconfig runs code in expansion ROMs as part of startup-process.
True, but I dont know if the A2620 has actual EPROMS. But if it does, then I'll order new ones that you listed. It'll be great if that works.
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You probably already know about these people, but just in case you haven't heard of them (local to you);-
https://10bitworks.com/
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You probably already know about these people, but just in case you haven't heard of them (local to you);-
https://10bitworks.com/
Heard of them.. never been there before (too many hobbies, not enough time). There's also a guy up in Round Rock (about, oh, 60-70 miles from me) that has a group that gets together and messes with Commodore stuff. No BS'ing and drinking beer, reminiscing, but actual C= stuff, testing hardware, fixing hardware etc. I'm going to go up there maybe this Sunday and bring my board.
Interesting you said that about the EEPROM on the A2620. I looked at the chips on the board..didnt want to peel off the sticker to see if it was an EEPROM, but if so, I can almost bet its probably shot. I'd be as happy as a pig in shi* if thats what fixes it.
I also have an actual replacement SCSI hard drive that I can use in the meantime. Now I need to dig up docs on how to use the Gotek USB floppy. I completely forgot how to use it and I dont think I have docs. :-/ Thats what I get for putting this stuff in my drawer and not messing with it. Also have a A1200 that needs to be put together.
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Fixed the A2620...by replacing it with a A2630!!! LOL! Have a spare Quantum Fireball HD that I'm using also with a A2091.
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Wow! An old drive made before 2001! I hope it holds up for a few more years for you! I thought my 68-pin SCSI drives were old technology!!!
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Wow! An old drive made before 2001! I hope it holds up for a few more years for you! I thought my 68-pin SCSI drives were old technology!!!
Well..I dont think its holding out. I'm able to create a DH0: partition, DH1 gets an error formatting. Also, when I created the DH0 partition with HDToolBox (I think..in 1.3), named it Workbench, it created an icon for Workbench and DH0:DOS(with a weird character after it). I think the hard drive is bad.
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Could perhaps try this, although it says 2.0 +
Have you tried the Low Level Format in HDToolbox first? If no go try this:
http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat (http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat)
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Could perhaps try this, although it says 2.0 +
Have you tried the Low Level Format in HDToolbox first? If no go try this:
http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat (http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat)
I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk. I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?
I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same? If yes, I'll give it a shot. The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.
I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.
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I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk. I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?
Quoting Jope 10 years ago:
If your disk accrues bad sectors, a low level format will attempt to mask those out.
For an IDE disk, the HD vendors provide the software for this (bootable floppy/cd image for a PC). Do not do it with hdtoolbox. For a SCSI disk, the hdtoolbox will start the lowlevel format, but most modern drives will probably ignore the command anyway.
But if you get visible bad sectors on a modern drive, it's too late already! The drive has run out of spare sectors to do on-the-fly remapping. If you have some bad sectors, the number will just increase over time, so it's best to back it up immediately and then use a hammer to smash the failing drive into little pieces (or return it if it has some warranty left :-).
So: don't lowlevel format modern drives, you will only get a short term benefit and this benefit will come ONLY when done with the correct tools.
If you decide to disregard all this advice and do it anyway, be prepared to wait for several hours (5-10 or more!) for it to complete.
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A cheap SCSI drive option are SCA server drives with a 50 pin adapter board. I've got a few of the Seagate Savvio 2.5" drives in old Macs, the advantage of the 2.5" being they're much quieter than typical server drives. I think I paid $7 each for the drives and around $3 for the adapter. 72GB but I'm only using 2GB partitions on most.
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I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk. I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?
I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same? If yes, I'll give it a shot. The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.
I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.
Zipper may be correct about the HDToolBox not issuing a correct low level format command for a more recent drive (post CBM), I don't know, but to try the other tool won't hurt either. I'm assuming there's no data you need from the drive in which case you have nothing to lose. The Low Level Format should re-assign any bad disk blocks on to good spare portions of the disk so that the Amiga only sees a whole good disk (in essence all blocks will look good to the Amiga).
Edit: If the software doesn't work under 1.3, you could always softkick 2.0 or 3.1.
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I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk. I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?
I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same? If yes, I'll give it a shot. The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.
I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.
I'm in the process of restoring an A2000 I bought off of Amibay. It is a Revision 6.3 motherboard with 1MB chip ram and ECS chipset (one of the later ones). It is actually labeled A2500 on the front. It has a C= 2630 and C= 2091. I've bought some 7.0 ROMS for the 2091 (so I can use drives >1GB) and I am using an ACard SCSI to IDE adapter. I works fine.
It also came with a Microway Flicker Fixer (which works pretty well) and a Firecracker 24bit card. I didn't test that yet. I had an Emplant card and I installed that too (but it's not set up yet).
First thing I did was remove the battery (there was small leakage). Nothing was damaged. I cleaned up the area and ordered a coin-type holder which I will install when it arrives from AmigaKit.
Anyway, having fun with it! Also some guy on http://www.a1k.org has made a new A2000 motherboard and is assembling it. Also another guy on Amibay as well. Two independent projects for a new A2000 motherboard!
Anyway I like the A2000 for the room and I like the keyboard and mouse ports at the front :)
I also ordered a Prisma music card (Zorro II) for the A2000! Looking forward to trying that out.
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Where did you buy the acard from?
Edit: damn.. If I'm looking at the right board, it's expensive. Scsi2sd is $60.
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damn.. If I'm looking at the right board, it's expensive. Scsi2sd is $60.
I hear ya talkin! I'm fixin to buy one shortly. I have GOT to get some sort of a reliable HDD solution going for my A2K!!! I've tried everything... Old SCSI drives, Buddha/TruIDE, you name it. Nuthin's workin out. Next stop, SD-ville :pissed:
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Where did you buy the acard from?
Edit: damn.. If I'm looking at the right board, it's expensive. Scsi2sd is $60.
I bought several years ago from ACard's website (when they still had online sales). Back then they were only about $80 or so. Prices now are crazy so I wouldn't recommend getting an ACard.
The SCSI-to-SD adapter from AmigaKit seems like a good bet for today. At least it's not HUNDREDS of dollars....so semi reasonable price. Still, I think a gadget like that should be more like 30 bucks. Oh well :-/