Pfs3 issues

[Darrin]

I've set up a 80GB hard drive using WinUAE as 2 x 37GB partitions using ClassicWB3.x.  I prepped the partitions as PSF3, got everything working and then transferred the drive over to my A4000 where it booted up OK.

The first thing I did was to backup the first partition (ADH0) to a draw on the second partition (ADH1) and then went about adding additional software:

FastATA4000 drivers:  I'm using a FastATA card with a DVD-RW on the primary slave, ADH0/1 on the secondary master and a CF Card on the secondary slave (used as an emergency boot drive).  The Primary master is a removable bay for adding another hard drive).  Appears to install correctly and the prefs set the hard drive up in PIO4 mode and unsplit.

Deneb:  For some reason the install software folder refuses to appear with the jumper set, so I'm installing the software from backup copies.  After install the Deneb appears to function properly with a tested Flashdrive.  Also, Luciferin reports the ROM-OFF jumper is set when it isn't.

Unfortunately when using the A4000 I keep getting "ID" errors, errors copying files, errors updating files, claims that ADH0 is write protected, etc.

The errors come and go.  I can boot fine one minute, then the errors start and a reboot results in a failure with some DOS errors about files not found, then I get DOS boxes reporting the incorrect boot ID or PFS3+ unable to validate disk... and then after yet another reset it will boot again.

Anybody else having similar issues with PFS3?  I've even tried re-prepping the drive with PFS3 v5.3 and doing a full format to check for errors on the drive itself.

If this doesn't sort itself out then it is back to SFS.  ANy help would be apprecaited.

System specs:
A4000D in Elbox tower
Warp Engine 68040 installed with 68882 FPU & 64MB RAM (SCSI unused)
16MB RAM on mobo
Internal IDE deactivated
IndivisionAGA
Mediator 4000 busboard installed:
FastATA 4000 with items listed above (HD, DVD-RW, CF Card Reader)
Deneb USB
Radeon graphics card (driver not installed yet)
Soundblaster128 card (driver not installed yet)

[Darrin]

Go back to SFS much safer & more reliable...

I've got the hard drive back in the PC at the moment, completly re-prepped it and copying a bootable ClassicWB3.9 install onto both partitions (taking a while with all of the WHDLoad games).

If this one goes tits-up on the A4000 then SFS it is.  

[Darrin]

Riiiiiiiiight...

I've decided that it is a conflict between my Mediator board, the FastATA4000 and the Deneb card that is causing the problem.

Something is very wrong with my Deneb.  As I mentioned above, when set to RESCUE the software folder doesn't show up and in normal operation the Flash ROM is disabled and insists the jumper is set that way.  Also, even in Z3 mode (no jumpers set) the board is reported as being Z2 by SysInfo.

I attempted to do the latest ROM update to v11, but when I executed the command I got:

Found Deneb Rescue Card on 0x00EA0000 (serial number 0xE3BE0006)
Recognised command:  UPDATE
Check file:  File passed initial checks, Zorro image 3, file version 0x0B
Check file:  File passed checksum test.  Valid Deneb FPGA boot image found
UC:  All sectors are unprotected (0x1010)
WF:  Start address is 0x00020000
WF:  32kb chunk at 0x00000000 (0x0020 0x0020)
WF:  32kb chunk at 0x00008000 (0x0028 0x0028)
WF:  32kb chunk at 0x00010000 (0x0030 0x0030)
WF:  69908 bytes written
UC:  All sectors are protected (0x1C1C)
C:denebfirmupgrade failed return code 69908

I tried the card in my A2000 setup.  First of all it disabled my CV643D so I had to far around and get it to boot into a native mode.  Then, once again in RESCUE mode the software draw fails to show up.

It is back in the A4000 now running in Z2 mode.

[Darrin]

Ah F***!!!  As I was typing that an attempt to write a bunch of data from ADH0 to ADH1 produced:

PFS-3+ Error Requestor
Device ADH0:
ALERT:
Wrong Dirblock ID

Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks!  Now I know why I prefer FPGA Amigas more.