hard drive set up problem

[banzai]

To calculate blocks per cylinder (BpC), just multiply the number of heads by the blocks per track. A cylinder is just the same track number of each disk platter (two heads per platter) stacked above one another (creating a "cylinder" of tracks). So, in your case, it'd be 1024 BpC (16 heads x 64 sectors - remember that computers start counting sectors at "0"!).

On laptop drives, it's unlikely you have 8 disk platters in there - it's using drive translation to be compatible with the BIOS settings of PCs.

Now, about that Microbotics disk...

That program is probably looking for the "mb_scsi.device", and since it can't find it, it's asking for you to punch in the numbers that it would've easily found if the drive/controller were actually in there. Since you're using the A1200's IDE controller, then you want to boot with a Workbench 3.x (or Install) disk, and use the HDToolbox instead. If you use the standard IDE/SCSI setup, you may notice the size reported in negative numbers - this is normal, as it's seeing the MSB as a signed integer. Newer versions of the HDToolbox have fixed this. Also, the first partition of the HD should be =<2.1GB to ensure compatibility and bootability.

banzai

[banzai]

Boy, you guys are fast - three posts before I could hit submit...

Anyway, the HDToolbox should be in the HDTools drawer on the Install disk. I don't remember if it was thrown on the WorkBench Extras disk or not (look in the Tools drawer).

If all you got was the WorkBench3.0 disk, then you're in trouble, and need to find someone who has a copy of the full set of disks.

banzai

[banzai]

Again, the Microbotics disk will work ONLY with Microbotics hardware. Unless you've got some kind of A1200 SCSI card in there, then that disk is useless to you.

If you don't have an Amiga-owning buddy, then you may have to spring for the OS3.1 ROM kit, which has floppies.

If you purchased this A1200 used from someone, then take the person to task for forgetting the disks.

I don't know if it's considered illegal for anyone to send you a copied set of 3.0 disks or not, seeing as you do own the hardware portion of it... Moderators?

banzai