Drive Updating

[Hyperspeed]

Well I think HDToolBox is limited to 1Gig partitions, depends on
version I suppose.

The upper limit is 4.2Gb so you'd be risking it going to that or 4.3Gb
- it'll overwrite the first 103Mb!

Get a patch and maybe the latest HDToolBox (or Phase5 SCSIconfig for
the Synch/Reselection bits).

Never mix HDToolBox with SCSIconfig though, use one or the other - NOT
BOTH. They use different RDB layouts and will cause funny errors.

I think Amiga SCSI-2 can utilise Ultra-Wide with an adaptor. The
interface just modes down. Also, SCSI interfaces will talk
intelligiently depending on cable length. If you want to make them use
SCSI-1 use a 4M long cable.

:-D

I'm not sure about backing up but if you're on SCSI why not plug both
drives onto the chain and just copy over with DOpus.

Just another thing, make sure your SCSI connectors are shiny and clean
(no RF reflection) and make sure everything is neat and tidy with the
SCSI ID and termination.

Passive termination for SCSI-1, Active Termination for SCSI-2.
Passive = big resistors, Active is an IC (SCSI-IV kit).

[Hyperspeed]

So you've filled up 250Gb on a PFS disk and you accidentally delete a
load of files and want to salvage them or unformat.

DiskSalv won't work on anything other than a classic Commodore file
system!

Aren't you leaving yourself open to one hell of a vulnerability if you
don't have a recovery program/undeleter?

Come to think about it, does AmigaOS4 have a DiskSalv program with it?
What about a ReOrg style defragger and MSDOS style CheckDisk prog. The
HDToolBox bad-block mapper is woefully inadequate.

[Hyperspeed]

You may have a new file system with PFS3 but it doesn't escape the way
the OS works.

Surely fragmentation is a big problem on a 250Gb disk and how do you
defrag that, let alone on a classic Amiga (with IDE interface).

It's an interesting concept but quickly switching the machine off if
you make a mistake is rarely thought of at the time. Personally I'd
feel more comfortable in knowing I could retrieve the file at any
time and even if it wasn't in some sort of `Recycle Bin'.

Maybe I should read up on it more, but anything not conforming to the
RDB standard may well not conform to other standards. Particularly
when burning a PFS3 partition to CD, putting one onto a solid state
disk or SCSI stuff.

Sounds a good setup for huge file serving machines but for day to day
work a small sub-1Gb disk would be much better. Just because a drive
is NEW doesn't mean it's more reliable...

Having said that though, Amiga owners are having to search on eBay for
drives these days so the chances of stumbling on a disk full of bad
blocks and worn out bearings is much higher.

I know there are adaptors to allow you to use IDE drives on SCSI, and
Ultra-Wide SCSI on SCSI-2 - it'd be nice to be able to walk into a PC
shop and buy a brand-new hard disk (with warranty, instructions)
instead of abandoned server disks floating about on auction sites.

:-)

[Hyperspeed]

It sounds excellent but DiskSalv has been an absolute life-saver over
the years.

I like the way FFS operates - it only invalidates if it's really
disturbed.

What does AmigaOS4 use, surely that is a benchmark of what the experts
think is best suited to the Amiga?

In the meantime, I will read up on PFS3 - I seem to remember reading a
review of PFS2 in Amiga Format and it didn't get a Gold Award.
Nevertheless I can't imagine running FFS on larger disks.

Come to think of it, a CD wouldn't use FFS would it. It's an
interesting area to explore.

I'm currently using DOpus 4.12 and that is incredibly slow with FFS,
maybe I should turn off verifying or something. It grinds the drive
head like a lathe.

:-D