A3000T doesn't boot up

[dbf_ss581]

Hello everyone.

I'd appreciate any help you can give me on this one.

Can you tell me, if I install WINUAE on my PC, can I somehow hook up my Amiga hard drive to the PC and carry on with the Amiga word processing program?

I don't know why the A3000T won't start.  The Hard Drive light flickers but no joy.

Thanks,  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Thanks for the information.

I've installed Amiga Forever 6.0 on the PC now.
A couple of null modem cables came with the disk but I suppose they won't do me much good without a working Amiga.

The monitor is a 17", model# SA-770, year 2000 vintage
I don't know if that's PAL or VGA
I haven't tried a different monitor but I think I have another one around here somewhere.

I'll be cracking the case on the A3000T later and checking for loose connections.  That seems the easiest thing to do right now.  While I have the case off I'll look for how the two (yes, two) hard drives are hooked up in the tower (IDE or SCSI?).

I'll turn the power on after and pay closer attention to any signs of life (HD flicking) and report back here.

I regret my lack of technical knowledge and am hoping to avoid using the "hammer test" method.  It's nice having a Forum to go to.

R/  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Here's an update.

I disconnected the "Seagate" 1Gb HD and turned on the computer.  The HD light comes on and stays on.  The monitor warms up for about 10 seconds then turns from blank to a dark gray.  No joy.  (The Seagate is at the end of the ribbon cable and is the 2nd HD.)

I reconnect the "Seagate" HD and disconnect the "Quantun Fireball" HD and turn on the computer. (The Quantum HD is also on the ribbon cable)  The CPU uses the "User-Startup file in S:" and works!  WB comes up and the SCSI window opens to tell me how my CD-ROM is "not ready" but the Seagate is (ready).  Fine.  One problem at a time.

(Note the Seagate is from a previous tower so its not surprising it has start-up files on it.  I was using it to back-up my files from the 1st or "primary" HD)

So apparently something is wrong with the other ("primary") HD.  Are my files lost forever?  Can I use the null-modem cable and transfer everything on the working HD to the PC?  Thanks.

R/  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Interesting!  I'll let her run today.

In the meantime I'm out the door to the local computer place looking for a null modem cable that'll fit into my Dell PC.  It appears the only way I have to transfer the data from the 3000T is by using "Amiga Explorer"  The cable that came with the "Amiga Forever" software has serial port plugs and my Dell only has USB.  Hopefully there is something that's not just an adapter but also a null modem cable serial port-to-USB.

Thanks again for taking an interest.

R/  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Cool beans.

I left the 3000T on for more than 24 hours and there's no change in the indications.  The HD drive light is still on solid and the screen is a dark gray.  I guess this means there's no hope of the HD validating.  I'm tempted to knock it about a bit with a hammer but have restrained myself so far.

Went to the computer hospital but the doctor was out.
I'm still in search of either:

 a) a null modem cable with serial port plug on one end and a USB on the other so I can hook up a running 3000T to my Dell, OR

b) an IDE cable to ATA serial cable so I can hook up just the hard drive to the Dell PC

I have a cousin in the non-Amiga computer biz so she may come through yet.

Thanks for standing up with me on this one.

R/  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Hey potis,

As I understand it, the ribbon cable attached to the Quantum HD in the Amiga is an IDE (aka ATA) cable.  The Dell PC does not have this type of cable/connector in it.  Instead the Dell PC has an SATA type connector.

So if I decide to hook-up the Quantum HD directly to the Dell PC I'll need an IDE-to-SATA adapter.  (I know I said IDE-to-ATA adapter in an earlier post but that was before I learned there's a difference.)

Also, the Dell PC hasn't any 9-pin serial connectors.  They're all USB 2.0  So if I decide to transfer data via a null-modem cable using "Amiga Explorer" I'm thinking that can be done with the null-modem cable I have (9 pin to 9 pin)and attach an adapter on the end (9 pin to USB).

I've ordered the adapters and I intend to try the IDE-to-SATA idea first.

R/ Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Hey wildstar,

I just tried to fire up the 3000T again.  There's no sound whatsoever from the Quantum.  I also had my hand on it and felt no pulse, clicking or popping.

If it is well and truly dead then when I hook it up to the PC's SATA port I'll rotate the Quantum by hand as you suggested.

This all seems like a long shot but a year from now I'll be able to say there was no stone left unturned.

R/  Ben

[dbf_ss581]

Hey TjLazer,

I'm assuming the flat ribbon cable is an IDE type cable.

I don't know what IDE controller I'm using but I would be happy to investigate if you tell me where to look.

R/  Ben