Workbench Question

[ami500]

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?

[ami500]

Ilwrath wrote:

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?

Correct that you can not run Workbench 2.x at all.  It checks for the ROM at startup.  The only way around this would be to softkick the 2.x ROM image, which will chew up some of your RAM, provided you have more than 1.5 meg total.  If you have only 1MB RAM, I don't think you can softkick.

As I remember it, for 1.x and 2.x, the major number matters.  
ie,
you can run Workbench 1.3 from a 1.2 ROM.  
or you can run Workbench 2.1 from a 2.04 ROM.  
but you can't run Workbench 2.04 from a 1.3 ROM.
This held true a bit into 3.0 series, as you can run Workbench 3.1 from a 3.0 ROM, as well.

Then it all went wacky with 3.5 requiring a 3.1 rom.  :-P

Ok then, how would I "soft boot" the rom?

The reason I want to run 2.x is to be able to read pc formatted floppies. Or is it possible with workbench 1.3 that I just havn't found yet?

[ami500]

Thanks guys, but to get these programs on, I'll require the amiga to be able to read dos disks in the first place. Yea, catch-22.

But it looks like I've sourced a rom chip from a local dealer here for a 2.04 rom for my amiga 500.

One more question on that though, if I install the 2.04 rom chip, will I still require workbench 2.1 to be able to read dos disks from, or will it work under workbench 1.3 as long as I have the 2.04 rom? EDIT: That's assuming that workbench 1.3 works with rom 2.04.

Thanks.

[ami500]

Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know.

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.

[ami500]

bloodline wrote:

ami500 wrote:
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know.

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.

You will need The "CrossDos" software. that will run on any version of Workbench, but it might come with WB2.x

Mmmmm... According to this:

http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-crossdos.shtml

It's in workbench 2.1 and above.

I'll pretty much need to buy workbench 2.1 then as I do want the ability to read straight from pc formatted floppies.

And Thomas, that looks very interesting. And while I do actually have the appropriate null modem cable, I might put that one in the "tinker with" Pile. But seriously, that does look very interesting how they did that.

[ami500]

Ilwrath wrote:

It's in workbench 2.1 and above.

Correct.  CrossDOS was NOT in Workbench 2.04.

WB2.1 will run on a 2.04 ROM, though.

However, unless you can source the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 ROM very cheaply, it might make more sense to take the plunge all the way to 3.1, just to be current.  Lots of stuff requires at least 3.0 or greater.

Ok, so it looks like a go with the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 rom for what I really want then.

I got a price of AUD$60 for the rom and workbench here locally.

I didn't know that the amiga 500 could take a 3.x rom.

EDIT: Can amiga OS 3.0/3.1/3.5/3.9 work on the 3.1 rom? That's assuming it will work with an amiga 500.

[ami500]

Neo wrote:
Checked the prices at GGS-DATA in Sweden for the Amiga 500 ROM's and
OS. Just for comparisation!

2.05 ROM cost 95SEK about AUD$18
3.1 ROM cost 265SEK about AUD$49
OS3.9 cost 395SEK about AUD$72
3.1 ROM + OS3.9 cost 639SEK about AUD$117

No price on OS 2.1 though. Negative with OS 3.9 is it's on CD. So if
you don't have a CD you have to use a PC to copy the files to the
Amiga.

I think you got a quite fair price if it's from a dealer otherwise
maybe a little high. But if you don't have a harddisk on your Amiga
there is no point aiming for any of the newer OS's since you wouldn't
be using the new features much anyway.

But by the time I paid postage, that would inflate the price too from sweden.

But yea, I did a little more reading, and it appears that I'll require a cpu upgrade if I wanted to use OS3.5 or higher, so it looks like os3.1 is it.

So it should work if I get a 3.1rom and OS3.1? Is there any special thing I'd have to do with the rom chip depending on my motherboard revision?

I'm waiting to hear back about a price on the 3.1rom, but I've seen a price of AUD$17.05 for the OS3.1. So in the end it may even out with the total price I was given for the 2.04rom and workbench 2.1 anyway.

I have an A590 HDD module, so that's no problem.