what do i need for amiga to detect bigger hd

[Darrin]

4gb is not a problem, problem is that boot partition cannot be over 2gb. It woun't be problem to have any size HD, to get bigger paritions you will need this http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/ffstd64 or OS3.5/3.9

I would go for retina, it supports Zorro 3 and PicassoII doesn't, at least theory you get faster bus speed with retina.

Strange, my boot partition is 40GB.

[Darrin]

you mean 40g in total or as a partition

It is 80GB, 2 x 40GB partitions.

Actually, it consists of 2 x 80GB HDs, 4 x 40GB Partitions, PFS3 on a FastATA4000.  All partitions boot happily and they all have over 4GB of info on them (ClassicWB 3.x installed, WHDLoad and just about every game you can think of).

[Darrin]

hi

I think i know what you mean i used winuae to install classic wb and first partion was 500 meg and second was 3.7g and so on and when i went to boot into os it changed from rdb to unk and would not boot

Perhaps I've been lucky so far and I'm on the edge of that 4GB of data on my main boot partition or does the FASTATA4000 allow a bigger boot partition than standard IDE/SCSI controllers on an Amiga?

[Darrin]

The 4GB limit is due to 32-bit addressing on:
-Commodore drivers (scsi.device)
-Commodore FFS

So if you have a 64-bit filesystem like PFS in the RDB and the drive is on a 64-bit controller (which I think the FastATA is), then you should be fine.

I think a custom kickstart ROM with scsi.device v43 and FFS v45 burned in would also be immune to 4GB issues, as would a system with those modules loaded into FlashROM (like Algor/Deneb). I do the latter, but I keep my boot partition within the 4GB limit in just in case I need to disable the Flash.

Thanks for that info.  I always thought I'd be safe with my 3rd party controller and SFS or PFS3.

I could always load SCSI.device v43 into my Deneb ROM too.

[Darrin]

So this brings up some questions.  How much faster is the FastATA 4000?  Looks like the MK-V should be in stock at Amigakit within 8 more days.  But is it really worth 166 bucks?

I think my A4000 could load a bit faster (right now it takes about 1minute 30 seconds before it's fully loaded up WB, and I have ClassicWB on it, with my mediator, radeon, and network card.  As well as an Indivision AGA).

Either that, or does a CF card adapter speed it up a whole lot?  I don't have a deneb yet, but was considering it.  I still have (hopefully) a second A4000 on the way, if DiscreetFX could get my address correct (some of which is probably my fault, but it should be sent to my parent's house...) So I'm wondering if I should set aside some cash for at least one of the FastATA 4000 MK-V, or CF card adapters, or what.  Decisions, decisions...

slaapliedje

I bought the MK4, but user upgraded it (replaced the ROM) to make it a MK5.

Yes, it is fast because you can select different speed modes for each device attached (PIO0 to PIO5), but you have to remember the size of the files we typically load as Amiga users.  I'm as happy with the Buddha in my A2000 as I am with the FastATA in my A4000.  Either way they are great pieces of kit and (IMHO) worth the money.

I wish I was at home because I'd time how fast it take me to load ClassicWB as I have a Mediator (With Radeon & SB) plus a Deneb.  I have a DVD ROM, CF Adapter and 2 x 80GB hard drives attached to the FastATA and I promise you that booting takes a hell of a lot less than 90 seconds.

I'll be home in 2 weeks.  If you're still interested then PM me and I'll time it for you.

Edit:  One thing you can do to speed up your A4000 is to terminate the IDE connector on the Motherboard.  The Deneb has a file to copy to the flash ROM, or you can use a physical terminator that just clips onto the IDE port.  Without it you have a delay in booting where the A4000 just sits there and does nothing.

[Darrin]

there is a myth that the first partition must be 2gb or lower
but it is not true at all...it's true for all filesystems except PFS3 DS
if you config the hardisk to use PFS3 DS (direct scsi) you can setup for example a 160gb hardisk as only boot partition
sincerely I don't know which is the limit of PFS3 ds but 160gb as boot partition works perfect
you do not need scsi v43 or v44 ...works perfect with scsi.device v39 or v40 in rom...there is no need to install new scsi.devices or reboots

EDIT:to make this works correctly ...first you must load resident scsi.device v43 and make all the hardisk setup....otherwise HDtoolbox will not recognize the drive correctly...hardisk size,numbers of cylinders ect

That sounds about right.

When I set up my first 80 GB hard drive I booted from a 2GB CF Card with Classic Workbench.  I then formatted them from there using PFS3-DS as 20 bootable 40GB partitions and copied the contents of the CF card over, added the WHDLoad games and other stuff before putting the CF Card away as an "Emergency boot disk".  I then prepped the other 80GB drive after booting from the first one.