help to make OWN "ram:" device

[Ilwrath]

Why is everyone making this so tough for the poor guy?  All he wants is more free RAM at boot-up.

I suggest:

1) make a backup of your workbench disk.
2) go to the backup, and delete s:startup-sequence
3) boot from backup
4) about a half second later, you'll be greeted with a command prompt, along with as much free RAM as you possibly can have on your configuration.

Granted, you'll be missing the nice workbench interface, shell-seg, setpatch, and a few other nicities, but it's a command prompt, with a heap of free RAM, which IS the goal here.  (note, RAM: disk may not function with no startup-sequence, at all.  I forget.  If this is the case, you may need a startup-sequence that contains the command "binddrivers" -- I'd try it without, first.)

[Ilwrath]

That "ram:" probably wouldnt work without startup-sequence was my very guess.
And no, I dont need a GUI, just 960k+ ram with its handler.

nope... Noster confirmed what I suspected...  All you need is the handler in your L: directory.  code in your kickstart ROM takes care of the rest.  Don't need a startup-sequence, at all.  That make your job easier?  :-)  I'd use a copy of a workbench disk for this, rather than the blank initialized disk he suggests, though.  That way you don't have to hassle yourself with copying things like CD, DIR, LIST, etc...

[Ilwrath]

You're welcome... Let us know how it works out for you.  We really should write this up into a FULL tutorial, as the topic of writing ADFs for Amiga 500's comes up every few months.  (And we've kinda given inconsistant answers over time, because it is such an in-depth procedure...)

ps: hey where do you usually buy your amiga devices ? just curious ! (as always :-) )

I'm in the US...  I've worked with our own "redrumloa" and his Anachronism Industries, as well as the old stand-by of Software Hut, and been quite satisfied.  Mostly, lately, though, I just pick up odds and ends here and there that add to my collection.  (random finds, saving Amigas from scrapheaps, etc...)  Heck, I'VE probably got as much inventory as some dealers...  ;-)

[Ilwrath]

Hmm....  Why not try add21k or add36k?  They free up extra chip ram by stripping the extra screen bitplane (reducing you to two colors).  Also, delete "L:system-configuration" from your boot floppy.

I found an aminet link to add36k under util/misc.
description link

Maybe it'll put you over the top!

[Ilwrath]

Are lzh-files extracted with lha ? in that case lets see what the baby can give me ?

"lha" should be able to extract the older lzh files.  If not, "lharc" can.   Wacky old WB1.3 programs.  :-)  

You know, I was also wondering if I could remove 1 or 2 dos-librarys that are in the RAM and who do not get accessed unless called from specific dos-commands, I thought if it would be possible to do it by calling the FreeMem-routine in exec.library or are these libs untouchable ?

If you're not running a s:startup-sequence, the only libs in ram should be things in use.  Most likely, the libs you're seeing are part of your kickstart ROM, and can't really be freed.  ;-)

[Ilwrath]

[Ilwrath]

HD disks could well be the problem.  I've had various amounts of luck with them.  Some have worked fine, others appear to work, and then develop read errors within minutes, and others refuse to even format....  You really need to find some DS/DD 3.5 floppies....

As for the cleaning disk, any type should work.  For Amiga, it should have both the top and bottom read areas open.  (Double sided)  Almost all cleaning disks are like this.  (As almost all drives are, as well.  Not many 3.5 single sided drives out there!)  I've heard of various techniques to making the Amiga drive spin for the cleaning.  Personally, for my A500, I just turned it on, waited for the insert Workbench screen, and inserted the cleaning disk.   oooops, it couldn't boot workbench :lol:   etc, for a couple minutes.  

[Ilwrath]

So where in hell could I get DD disks then ? Is there NEW DD disks sold anywhere ?

Not that I know of.  Some places probably still sell new/old stock DS/DD disks.  Some might also sell recycled/used 3.5" DS/DD.  (They run on eBay sometimes....)  But, AFAIK, there are no companies that make DS/DD 3.5" floppies, anymore.

[Ilwrath]

Well, I couldn't find prices on the Athana site.  As for xdr2, a box of 50 for $12.95 seems pretty cheap, to me.  Not much worse than the prices for buying in that quantity back in the day...  (Seems like I remember about $18-$20 for 100 disks being the going rate...  Considering how scarce they are nowadays, $26 for 100 seems pretty reasonable.)

Thanks for the link.  I didn't know anywhere still sold them.  Learn something new every day...