Another big CF issue

[Retrofan]

Hi:
Well, I have my Sandisk 16GB CF working with the patched Idefix and using SFS. In that I used partitions under 4gb. One thing I must say is I didn't do the format using SMS but the quick Workbench one. I don't know if I should use it now, as it's running fine.
 
The thing is I've bought a Trascend 32Gb CF and have installed it using SFS format, patched Idefix and three partitions: the bootable with 512Mb, the second with 3Gb and the latest with 28GB.
 
If I turn on the Amiga I get the Install disk screen. If I do with the install one I see no partitions, if I use HDToolBox it shows the partitions (only the first two ones), but if I save the changes or not doesn't matter because yes, after a reboot I got all the system working fine with all the partitions, but after a cold reboot I get again the install disk screen.
 
I've tried to use the HDInstallTools, but even saving changes I get always the install disk screen after a cold reboot (not after a quick one).
 
What's wr:confused:ng?
 
Ah! Yes, Thomas you're always wellcome...

[Retrofan]

I've got a 4Gb Kingston elite pro CF that goes perfect. The 16GB Sandisk's one goes perfect too (after the nightmare with the Idefix problem). I believe I have no reason to format that one using SFS as I read, because at the instructions it says it's enough with a quick format, and it doesn't talk about using SFS format. Anyway, I've used it with the Trascend one.
 
I forgot to comment that the Sandisk Ultra CF I've got doubles the speed of the Sandisk Ultra II one (30MB/s against 15Mb/s). I thought Utra II should be better than "Ultra" alone, but it's the opposite.
 
Coudn't it be fixed changing something in the Startup sequence?

[Retrofan]

So do you think even if I make the partitions under 4Gb it won't work?
Yes... if you say it's a hardware problem, I can't do anything, but I don't give up so easily...:bitch:
 
About brains... I think I will taste yours...

[Retrofan]

Well, like always it seems Thomas is right... but it isn't really a big problem, if you turn on the Amiga you only have to use the Ctrl-A-A when it asks for the floppy as Thomas said and it starts right.
 
As I'm a little perfectionist I will sell it to someone that has to own OS3.9 and a Whdload license as it will have 1,6GB of games installed. It has a patched Idefix (you should own it too) and Sys4Aga. I believe 80 euros is a good price (look: http://computers.pricegrabber.com/flash-memory/Transcend-32GB-CompactFlash-Card/m61755784.html ).
It was installed for an A1200 with an internal Cd rom.
 
PM are wellcome!

[Retrofan]

The first hard disk related OS part which jumps in after a reset is the hardware driver (scsi.device).

Sorry to insist, but coudn't a patched scsi.device solve the problem?

[Retrofan]

Thanks. I've come to the conclusion that pressing three buttons at the same time isn't the greatest problem in the world, I think I can do it, or if I forget how, I can write a manual...
 
About why to use a 32Gb CF, I've just discovered KGWHD preinstalled Whdload Games, and it seems they will take up much room on it...

[Retrofan]

I'm going to copy 3,43 GB of KGWHD games using WinUAE. Before I had done drawers transfer using a PC with XP, but now I will use a Laptop with Vista. I didn't get the option of add Harddrive as I have in the XP and started to search in Google. I was going to try the -disablehardddrivesafetycheck, but I've discovered that if I make a shortcut of winuae.exe at the Desktop and simply make a right click on it and select Execute as Administrator I get the Add Harddrive option and I can read and write on it.
 
The question is: what do you need -disableharddrivesafetycheck for?

[Retrofan]

I don't know what happens. I've got two (well, I have three) CF: the 16Gb Sandisk and the 32 GB Transcend, and both have some problems. The Transcend has the cold boot one, but for the rest goes right, I've installed Boing Bag 3 and runs fine.
 
But the other, the Sandisk that was running fine crashes in the same Amiga when I try to install Boing Bag 2 with the Rom update. I've tried it twice with the same result. If I try it in WinUAE it runs Ok, but in the amiga only get a black screen. Why?

[Retrofan]

I used uaehf device in HDToolBox.
 
I'm gonna trying to do all in the PC with scsi.device.
 
I will make a copy of System (I have a copy of when it had BB1) to the PC and will reinstall the System drawers from the copy.
 
EDIT:  No, I've remembered the last time I used the Amiga to make the partitions in this CF. Will try with WinUAE this time

[Retrofan]

I've just tried partitioning with WinUAE (HdTools as Uaehf), formating with SFS and have the BB2 crash again.
Before doing that I tried to see the partitions with HDTools setting it as scsi.device, but coudn't see the drive with it. I don't know much about WinUAE... how do I do it?

[Retrofan]

Ok, I've got WinUAE working with the right Kickstart and IDE0, and made the partitions, but I get a message when I try to format using SFSformat saying "error while initiating the drive, packet request type unknown".
So I've done a quick format without any format (no fast system, no other selected). The thing is I made a copy of SFSformat on one of the partitions and tried to SFSformat in the Amiga, but I get the same message.
Anyway I will go on with the installation, as I believe it isn't neccesary to use that kind of format, is it?

[Retrofan]

I don't understand what you say about formatting. I never make any complete format since you told me so. I only do a quickformat, as it's a must. In this case I tried with SFSformat that is a quick one too, and finally did a WB quickformat without filling any add.
 
I followed your fantastic "Quick Installation Guide for OS3.9 on WinUAE (with CD-Rom support)" at some points like create emergency disk and unprotect the df0, and I did with DH0 too, as it didn't write all when it tried to self-install os3.9 from the Sys4Aga I installed first.
 
Well, it's true that I coudn't make the OS3.9 start from the Emergency Disk, as it didn't find unit 0 (I tried with unit 1 and 2 too, although I only have one cdrom in the laptop), but I installed without it and OS telling I must do it from it, but (that's extrange) with the Emergency disk inside at the end it said as I was installing from the floppy, to press enter if it was inside, and I did so.
 
The thing is I could install BB1 and BB2, and it worked in the PC, but again it crashed in the Amiga. At least I know it has no relationship with Idefix, as it wasn't installed.
 
As I see it now, there must be some kind of problem with this Sandisk Ultra CF and the rom update, as I can't explain why the Transcend one works in the same Amiga doing the same.
 
I believe I will install it again with BB1, as I don't believe BB2 has to be so neccesary, or up to BB2 without rom update.

[Retrofan]

Hi again:
 
As it's been a long time I will resume the thing:
 
As you know I'm using my 32GB Transcend CF as HD, and I get a problem when I make a cold boot, as the Amiga asks for a floppy to start. Thomas said it hasn't solution, and the only I can do is pressing A+A+Ctrl, start from a warm boot.
 
That works right and that's what I was using. I have to say I only had installed a Hawk Ramboard.
 
The thing is that today I've received a fantastic Blizzard 1260 from Stachu and the first thing I see is that when I make the cold boot it starts right, no floppy demand and all perfect.
 
Thomas can you please tell me why, what has happened? I thought it didn't have any soluti:confused:n...
 
 
EDIT: I have to say I'm happy because I've seen a new Tron movie will be on Cinemas by december

[Retrofan]

Thanks, @broken. I didn't have idea of it .
 

I wonder how much magic you interpret into this partition thing. Partitions is a DOS feature. DOS is not even born when hard drives are recognised or not.
 
The first hard disk related OS part which jumps in after a reset is the hardware driver (scsi.device). It initialises the controller and checks which drives are connected. If your HDD is not recognised at this stage, it is completely ignored in all of the following steps. That's what happens in your Amiga.
The next step is that all recognised harddrives are checked for a valid partition table and a list of possible parttions is created.
Only now it is time for DOS to wake up. If no floppy disk is in the drives and if there are partitions in the list, then dos.library is initialised and the partitions are mounted, i.e. they are copied from the list created before in to the list of devices known to DOS.
 
You see, if the hardware driver does not recognise the HDD, then there is nothing in DOS or partitons or files which could change this.

That's what Thomas explained, which I find very interesting. What I don't understand is how the booting process can recognize or not the HD depending on the accelerator

[Retrofan]

That's more or less what I thought too. When I turn the Amiga on with the Blizzard some colors like a rainbow appear before it turns on, and takes a second or two more to start. By the way, is it normal?
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvrVf4mD4KI