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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: FedGizmo on November 02, 2025, 10:26:29 PM

Title: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: FedGizmo on November 02, 2025, 10:26:29 PM
Hello,

I used to have a towered Amiga, sadly that died some ago so I now have an A1200 with compact flash hd. However I still have the spinning rust drives from the tower. I have also found a drive that is probably Amiga based but may not be.  :-\

I would like to try and recover the data of these drives, but am running into some issues.

I'm using a Linux (mint 21.3) with an usb adaptor to pull the data off the drives. Linux has Affs baked into its kernel (the OS' guts) and you can use a command to grab the raw data of a hard drive into a file. Sometimes the image produced behave nicely and you get

Code: [Select]
sudo parted 3gb1.img
GNU Parted 3.4
Using 3gb1.img
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) p                                                               
Model:  (file)
Disk 3gb1.img: 1622MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number  Start  End     Size    File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  1622MB  1622MB  affs1

This can be mounted in Linux and read.

However often I am getting
Code: [Select]
NU Parted 3.4
Using AmigaDisk.img
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) p                                                               
Model:  (file)
Disk AmigaDisk.img: 40.0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: amiga
Disk Flags:

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name  Flags
 1      1280kB  8591MB  8590MB               DH40  boot
 2      8591MB  17.2GB  8590MB               DH41
 3      17.2GB  25.8GB  8590MB               DH42
 4      25.8GB  34.4GB  8590MB               DH43
 5      34.4GB  40.0GB  5638MB               DH43

Which cannot as Linux cannot recognise the file system.

I have been trying, without any success, to get the above AmigaDisk.img recognised by Amiberry - a fork of UAE - as I am guessing that the fs is either Smart File System. Professional File System or maybe fro  OS 3.9 - which might not be compatible with the kernel. It could also be Affs, but patched using ide-fix97

If I just use the image as a hard drive on Amiberry I get 4 drives displayed, but they are just garbage.

So any suggestions as to how I might be able to recover this drive?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: F0LLETT on November 03, 2025, 09:17:01 AM
Hi,

Have you tried fsuae?
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: FedGizmo on November 03, 2025, 10:03:24 AM
Hi,

Yes and no. For some reason the fsuae launcher is not part of the mint packaging system. fsuae is, but without any way of configuring it I am somewhat stuck.

I have no idea why it was removed as it was part of previous versions.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: F0LLETT on November 03, 2025, 10:20:37 AM
Hi,

Yes and no. For some reason the fsuae launcher is not part of the mint packaging system. fsuae is, but without any way of configuring it I am somewhat stuck.

I have no idea why it was removed as it was part of previous versions.

Are you able to use a windows PC with winuae, as it has a option in menu to copy entire (real) drive to image file.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: Boing-ball on November 03, 2025, 01:55:33 PM
Are you able to use a windows PC with winuae, as it has a option in menu to copy entire (real) drive to image file.

Maybe use WINE in Linux to run WINUAE?
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: F0LLETT on November 03, 2025, 02:18:13 PM
Maybe use WINE in Linux to run WINUAE?

Never thought about wine, never use it.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: AmigaPete on November 03, 2025, 04:38:26 PM
Are you able to use a windows PC with winuae, as it has a option in menu to copy entire (real) drive to image file.

Or you can choose the option to mount the drive on startup and then copy files via DOpus (or whatever file management software you prefer).
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: Boing-ball on November 03, 2025, 07:55:46 PM
Never thought about wine, never use it.

Check out the YouTube channel “Explaining Computers” with Chris Barnat 😉

There are other options in Linux for running Windows Programs. You can thank Microsoft for a lot us not wanting to move to Windows 11 🤣 And choosing LINUX.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: F0LLETT on November 04, 2025, 09:46:19 AM
Or you can choose the option to mount the drive on startup and then copy files via DOpus (or whatever file management software you prefer).

Did you read thread? They can mount drive in linux, but data is all messed up.

@boing Ball
I do know about things, don't need a history lesson. I know of wine, just never use it.
I also know a fair amount about linux. However, for all the hassel (read OP's first post). Its 100% easier to plug drive into a windows machine and launch winuae, click image drive and done.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: AmigaPete on November 04, 2025, 03:19:16 PM
Did you read thread? They can mount drive in linux, but data is all messed up.
I was replying to your own post where you suggested using a Windows PC with WinUAE. No Linux required.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: F0LLETT on November 04, 2025, 03:57:48 PM
I was replying to your own post where you suggested using a Windows PC with WinUAE. No Linux required.

Sorry, thought you were talking about linux and using linux dopus.
I think your reply is worded in a way it can be taken both ways.
Title: Re: Help needed recovering data off an Amiga hard drive but not using an Amiga :/
Post by: Fats on November 07, 2025, 09:35:14 AM
Quote
I have been trying, without any success, to get the above AmigaDisk.img recognised by Amiberry - a fork of UAE - as I am guessing that the fs is either Smart File System. Professional File System or maybe fro  OS 3.9 - which might not be compatible with the kernel. It could also be Affs, but patched using ide-fix97

Have you tried to look at the drive in Amiberry with HDToolbox. I guess that should give you the file system. Also I think you should be able add file system to the boot record of the drive.