**Need Setup HELP** with Classic Amiga 2000 HARD DISK (Bridgeboard)

[wbrejnia]

OH MY GOD!! The HARD DRIVE is Alive!

To get that Last Good Closeup Photo.

I took apart the Amiga, and removed the Hard Drive.

I looked closely at the drive and noticed the only Jumper there. I decided to carefully remove-and-put-back that DS1 jumper to ensure good contact before putting DRIVE back.

Then I decided to do more....

I also gave a wiggle push on those Power Connectors or whatever those connectors are on the drive.

During re-cabling of ribbon cables I wiped the contacts with some proper circuit board contact cleaner.

WHEN I POWERED UP THE AMIGA, my Heart Stopped when I noticed the DRIVE LED ON THE Drive Blinking during boot up (of Workbench Disk, during Janus Library Load).

Nice consistent pulses like something was happening.

I went Booted up the PC SIDE and booted the MS DOS DISK with the CONFIGS.SYS. More LED PULSES.

I tell you my hands were shaking as I typed in "ADISK" at the DOS PROMPT.

This is what I got When I hit



I just left the computer on after taking (Photo of Screen) above to write this post.

I need to Lie Down a bit, OR Go for a Walk Outside and think about next steps.

I'm still kind of shaky. Haven't peeked into OS on Amiga or PC.
 Things could be good.

This was a Amiga boot with one of my Hacked Workbench disks (One that I hacked over and over last night).

Oh my...

I can't believe this just happened!! (AFTER starting this Journey Over 2 years ago).

[wbrejnia]

close looks like you can still read the partition table. might just need to just mount the drive.

614 cylinders gives a clue. do you remember the capacity of the drive, therefore narrow down the model number.

You can use a size calculator to help narrow down capacity -

http://www.csgnetwork.com/mediasizecalc.html

If theres mainly 4 heads through out the product range, then 614 cylinders seems to give capacity of 21mb. So guessing might be KL-320 ? something close to that capacity

Heres a nice table of Kolak drives http://www.yjfy.com/Hardware/harddisk/Kalok.htm

Darkage, (Thanks for that Calculator, REALLY HANDY)

If you look at the KL330 specs.
http://www.mfarris.com/hard_drives/kalok/kalok_kl330.html

(and the FDISK Partitions from Amiga), 615 Cylinders (cyl 000-614)

It's the only Match. This must be the DL330

Using your calculator and the Specs:
Makes this Drive 33 Gigs

It's luck that it's the DL330 since it's the only one with all the Drive Specs Listed it means (if I wanted to), I could Low Level Format it using DEBUG and Controller BIOS .

HD Specs (Needed by WD Controller BIOS)
-------------------------------------------------
Cylinders:[ 615 ]
Heads: [ 4 ]
Sector/track: [ 26 ]
Precompensation: [ 65535 ]
Landing Zone [ 615 ]
Data transfer rate [0.938 MB/S int ]
Bytes/Sector [ 512 ]
-------------------------------------------------

I'm not formatting anything.

I'm actually not touching/changing anything right now.

Just doing ( x3) backups of everything that got me to this point.

I can't wait to see if I can Mount and boot those partitions, and what's on there, but would go Nuts if I screwed up a file and had to start guessing all over again.

Not jumping in right away, since I'll enjoy this progress for now, and rest my brain.

Next step might be a rat hole again. OR TWO (DOS & AMIGA).

[wbrejnia]

33 Megs you mean. I get 32.694272 Megs exactly. So KL330 (: makes sense since we were mainly discussing RLL instead of MFM.

Probably a good idea to make a note of the hdd parameters reported by the controller and label it on the drive.

Someone testing a KL330 using Nortons Disk Doctor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl8et6ppyDU

Congrats your drive is worth $495.. crazy http://www.harddrives-usa.com/KALOK-KL330-Hard-Drive.-90-DAYS-DEFECTIVE-WARRANTY-pr-5164.html

Yeah I meant to say 33 Megs. Hard to say Megs these days when you talk about Storage.


Funny. I knew a replacement WORKING test KL330 wouldn't be cheap.

I'm off better with the 8bit LO-Tech ISA/IDE Adapter and IDE/Flash Drive. And I am going to need it......(Glad I ordered it earlier).



I got all my backups done, on the youngest floppies I have.

So I got back to the Hard Drive. Decided to run "fdisk" to see what would happen now. Came back with a "Partion Read Error" just like always.
That didn't concern me at the time since at this point since "adisk" worked.

-> Then I ran "adisk" and first time it worked again.
-> Then 2nd time also got a Partion Read error.
-> Tried again but this time got something different.

I'm no expert in this stuff, but I think the Drive has degraded magnetically.
Might be good to get Disk Doctor, etc

However I've come up with a few ideas.
-> First whatever I do should be minimal Intrusive.
The less I use the drive the better chance of have of a recovery run of some sort (or a refresh). Again I'm no expert.

Perhaps "leofoe" or "Ferrellsl" can chime me if they have expertise.

But here are my ideas.

A) I wait for the ISA/IDE adapter Flash Drive arrives, and get some practice. (see if that works, and learn the Adisk, Fdisk steps, menus and messages)

Then I have some choices to see what can be done with the Octagon.

I've summarized my thinking below(I hope folks don't mind that I'm a visual presented, since not the best writer):.


And here I've summarize the SPECS to have handy.



I think best to wait for the Adapter and practice...

Anybody have any other ideas?

[wbrejnia]

Congrats your drive is worth $495.. crazy http://www.harddrives-usa.com/KALOK-KL330-Hard-Drive.-90-DAYS-DEFECTIVE-WARRANTY-pr-5164.html

I just thought of something.

Even if I don't get the data, but the drive is good and need a fresh reformat.

I can sell the WD controller with it, and then I can afford a GOTEK

[wbrejnia]

:laughing: :banana::juggler::drink:Congratulations.
[/COLOR]

Pat, Thanks. I deserve a bit of moving forward after all this work.

The Journey isn't over quite yet. Still much more to figure out and keep learning.

No matter what happens, I learned a TON !! and it was Fun (sometimes).

You and Darkage have stuck with me from the beginning.
Dandy you've rolled up your sleves and have given me ideas and motivation.

And I appreciate everyone's help Very much!

Thank you all.

[wbrejnia]

You cannot run an MFM-drive on the ISA/IDE adapter. MFM is not the same as IDE. Even if they have the same connector.

Leofole,

I am not going to use the (Octagon MFM drive) which is plugged into the (ISA MFM Western Digital Controller) in the ISA PC slot on the Amiga. That will be taken out carefully and put on a shelf till later.

I also ordered an IDE USB Drive. (On it's way from USA)
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/231881879210?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

To use with the ISA/IDE adapter that I order beforehand. (On it's way from POLAND)
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/282312406702?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The ISA/IDE adapter will go into the same SLOT on the PC side of the Amiga as the ISA-WD MFM Drive Controller.

Basically I'm replacing the Octagon MFM drive with a IDE-Flash Drive.

The 8080 Bridgeboard PC will pick up the C: Drive (hopefully, that is what the adapter is suppose to mimic, NO DRIVE NEEDED).

I'll Partition it, format it, mount drives, etc, etc, etc

Once I learn the steps, try THE IDEAS on WD/Otagon.
Pat gave me this idea.

I may need your guidance on those ideas if you have time, and/or the knowledge to give advice.

[wbrejnia]

have you tried djmount again since viewing the partitioning information on the drive ?

DJMOUNT should be running as Part of STARTUP-SEQUENCE, I think the HD LED activity I see happens during DJMOUNT executing.
(but I played with that Hack WB disk a lot, so need to confirm)

DJMOUNT runs in the background so I get no messages, and I'm not sure if the MOUNTLISTs are the correct ones.

Since I'm waiting for Parts to Arrive I'll go back to what I was doing originally:

-> build a NEW WB1.2 DISK
-> then run the BRIGEBOARD INSTALL DISK on top of it
-> then copy over the MOUNTLIST from my OLD ORIGINAL.

By the way, thanks for the VIDEO of Guy Running NORTON on a Octagon.

I looked into that FULLY loaded 486 PC that my friend lent me.

It has everything imaginable. All kinds of DOS Utilities.

Including a copy of NORTON


Since it's a DOS version each of the Tools are separate DOS programs, so I can copy whatever I need to the AMIGA PC. Might work (if enough memory) and might be very useful down the road.

[wbrejnia]

Does anyone know how to contact Admins on this Forum?
I created that "wbrejnia" ID a long time ago to check out this place.
I want to change my Alias or ID to something more meaningful.
An Alias that I used during my Early C64/Amiga Days.

[wbrejnia]

Thinking about possible issues with ( [ISA-IDE] [IDE-SD] Adapter Cards, and Memory CARD[Variants/Sizes] )

So the two card should arrive eventually, but I've been reading about that Lo-Tech-CompactFlash-IDE Adapter.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/282312406702?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The Ebay item description talks about it being Picky with Compact-Flash-Adpaters and even being Picky with the Particular Flash card.

I decided to go with the SecureDigital (SD not CF) adapter
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/231881879210?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
for a few reasons.
- I have more SD cards than I do CF cards
- Easier to put SD into PC, but I do have on PC with a CF reader.
- Say's it works with Amiga and PC (so flexible)

What worries me most is the I do have 1MB, 32MB, and 256MB CF cards, but smallest SD card is 1GB.

Will the size of a Memory CARD be an issue for the AMIGA 8080 PC for the FDISK, and Format (hoping Fdisk will allow to partition the SD into useable Chunks)?
Hope I won't be left wondering that things don't work because of the CF-Adapter, or something wrong with my Setup.

Worst case is for $10 I can always get this CF Adapter (or something Similar)
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Syba-IDE-to-CF-Adapter-with-Bracket-Connects-to-3-5-IDE-Host-Interface/400815453925?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140620091118%26meid%3D99c28153bacf46c3af75a8ff51a10e41%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D231881879210

I was thinking PLAN C would be use an IDE HD, but the only two I have are in the 486 and I won't touch those after Finding NORTON on there (plus more tools).

Another option is one of the [IDE-SATA] [IDE-PATA] Adpaters. ($4). I do have plenty of Both drives (but again, is size that the Bridgeboard PC support an issue), plus [it needs another power connector]
https://www.amazon.ca/HDE-Computer-Drive-Interface-Adapter/dp/B00JVUXMRI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486057124&sr=8-3&keywords=IDE+hard+drive


I'll just wait and try with what I ordered for now.

[wbrejnia]

Possible solution if there is a PHYSICAL DISK LIMIT SIZE on ISA-IDE (SD Card) Drive.

Basically I used a SD Formatting tool to re-format 32GB SD card down to 60 MB.

So if there is limit on the AMIGA PC (DOS) FDISK Partition Tool, this should fake things out.

I'll can basically BUILD ANY Size Drive I want, and then further Partition it up.

THIS IS THEORY, It May or may not work. (To be Clear, the ISA-IDE card plugs into the ISA slot on PC Side of Amiga)

[wbrejnia]

Already told you - 2GB initial boot partition, 2GB partition size for other partitions.
...
ISA picture you just posted on left is full size IDE. Adaptor on right is Amiga/laptop sized IDE.
...
I think SD cards rock compared to CF. For Amigas or whatever. Good choices, I think.

** FIRST, does this site get problems with something like COOKIES **
** I can log in, but can't post from my normal desk computer **

I tried at another computer and I'm posting right now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pat, I try to pay attention to every one of your info points. I missed the one about Physical Disk Size. I understand now that only limits are the Partition sizes.

If get 2GB per partitions, that will embarrass the current 60MB.

Plus I wouldn't want to hack my OS, it could VOID THE WARRANTY on my A2000.

Darn about the LAPTOP IDE connector. The Picture is a bit deceiving.

I specifically paid attention to the connectors (to be male-to-male) so that I could just pop on a ribbon cable. In hindsight I wish I got a different Card, the CF cards look Full Size IDE (100%).

I assume these small IDE connectors are meant to plug into a board Female. I can build a female coupler, or I might be able to use my School Wire wrapping tool directly wrap on the male posts. Maybe not due to size. All a headache I didn't except (Thank for pointing this out).

I assume there are no ready small-Full cables, and this conversion project might cost more than a Standard-FullSize CF adapter. Plus the voltage wire (Messy and a Headache!!)
 I read that CF Cards have signals that are Subset of IDE (if I understand correctly),  the converters are minimal Electronics.  

China sells CD-Adapters dirt cheap, but who has time to wait 8+ weeks. That's how long I usually wait for purchases on Aliexpress.

Glad the ISA-IDE adapter is ok, it's much more pricey. (Will look thru my Inventory, maybe I do have IDE HDs, might be easier)

[wbrejnia]

I switched to Firefox from IE and I can post again

Anyway I looked at my spare drives, have at least 5 ATA or PATA labeled drives (various sizes).

I'm fine for a quick start with the ISA-IDE adapter.

[wbrejnia]

I ran NORTON TOOLS on the Amiga PC.  SysInfo and DISK-DOCTOR.

I Answered NO for all the options to Correct.


** THAT ScreenShot Bottom Right IS FROM the One Lucky good run of ADISK **
 
(Right now running ADISK gives no Partition, and offers to create first sector, and boot procedure, and partiontion table)
 



Should I run some HARD DISK SCANS to see  DATA?

Or let Norton do the Partition fixes.  (DANGEROUS, but might be needed for PARTITION 1 - DOS)

Norton has a REMOVE CHANGES made Option (but could this be permanent damage).

Whatever advice anyone wants to give.  You will not be held responsible.  The decision is mine.

[wbrejnia]

This is what I get when trying to boot from the IDE HDD on the ISA/IDE adapter:

Not too promising for me.  Thanks for showing this.

But if you boot from a DOS FLOPPY BOOT DISK, can you see the C: drive.  (Doesn't boot is one thing, but is the C: drive there)
Can you put Norton Disk Doctor or SYSINFO on the Floppy like I did, and see what shows up?

[wbrejnia]

Here are my thoughts (only thinking out loud for everyone's input).

1)  I will NOT make any changes to the Hard Disk at all (that could destroy things (ie partition info, data)

2a) I wait for the ISA-IDE card to arrive
2b) I remove the WD controller Card and MFM Drive
2c) I hook up the IDE Hardrive to the ISA-IDE card
2d) AND see what I can do.  Learn how the ADISK, FDISK, Norton behaves

That will help determine next possible steps with the MFM drive

-> What I want to mention is that right now (ADISK) doesn't pick up the partitions (anymore).   Only tried twice today.
-> It did only the one time. (Lucky I got that info on the two partitions)

-> I may try HARD rebooting the system a few times to see if I can get ADISK to pick up the PARTITIONS again.  

-> Based on what I learn from the ISA-IDE setup, I may be able to do more if ADISK picks up the PARTITIONS
-> Like RUN disk doctor for a READ ONLY VIEW (like photo's today)

When ADISK runs and it picks up the partitions, you get that two partition screen with info.

-> When ADISK doesn't pick up partitions, if offers to make one.
-> But as Pat mentioned, that is a NO-NO since Partition 1 is DOS, and letting ADISK make a AMIGA partition, would destroy the DOS parition.
-> If I get the ADISK to pick up partitions, I should exit and run FDISK (it might pick up the DOS Partition (#1) ), not sure what it would pick up for (#2) since not written for Amiga.

ADISK was written with Knowledge of AMIGA Partitions and DOS Partitions, so can identify both properly.  FDISK can't identify both.

-> And when the partitions are pick up, that drive could be in a Lucky State where disk doctor would see the Partition (#1), the DOS partition.

All theories (based on my near zero understanding)

As mentioned at the beginning, I must not be hasty and wait for the ISA-IDE adapter, and hope I learn more.

**** ONE more important fact, in case someone is thinking that the cables are flaky, thus the intermittent Partition pickup
**** My assumption yesterday was wrong.  Cleaning the contacts, and reseeding the HD jumper wasn't the actual Fix
*** Today when looking more closer (and comparing pictures, of recent and 2 years ago), I discover what the fix actually was (yesterday)
*** THE RIBBON CABLES were Marked with proper connection at the MFM drive (marked them two years ago)
*** I marked the ribbon cable near the 2nd connector, after the twist in the Ribbon cable for a 2nd Drive
*** That is where I have been hooking up the MFM Drive (for last 2 years)
*** Last night when I remove the drive for the Photo, I by luck connected to the FIRST Connector, before the TWIST
*** THat is what made the drive start working, and when the LED's started blinking, and When the ADISK picked up the Paritition

That cabling is Proper NOW. (What a big mistake done two years ago when labelling cables, but a thing of the past)

Time to move forward, carefully.

[wbrejnia]

The expert on Bridgeboards: BlindGerMan: http://www.a1k.org/forum/showthread.php?t=33435

Thank you Leofoe.  This is very good information on Bridgeboard.
EXCELLENT INFORMATION. and a Good Contact if I need more.

All German, but Google Can translate, and so can my wife.