Video Toaster 4000 card autoboot?

[DirectorSG]

I just installed a VT4000 card into my A4000. I read that this card is supposed to autoboot into the Switcher software, but it's not doing it. The seller told me that he tested the card before he sold it to me and it did boot into the switcher. I asked him why but he's not responding. What could be causing this? Is there a jumper setting?

[Matt_H]

It's a software option which I think was removed in later versions of the Toaster software. Neither my 3.5 nor 4.2 Toaster installations start the switcher automatically, nor was I given the option to do so during installation.

You can just drop Start_Toaster into WBStartup, though. I think that's exactly what the older versions did.

[DirectorSG]

OK, how do I find that file? I tried connecting an ATAPI CD-RW drive (Sony CRX120E) but the computer doesn't recognize it. I can't install the Toaster software as a result. Is there any way I can retreive it from the floppy? I have the Toaster/Flyer 4.2 software disk and CD.

EDIT: I was given the option to install so that it would boot into the switcher at startup, but like I said I couldn't finish installation because of the CD-ROM issue.

[spaceman88]

I just installed a VT4000 card into my A4000. I read that this card is supposed to autoboot into the Switcher software, but it's not doing it. The seller told me that he tested the card before he sold it to me and it did boot into the switcher. I asked him why but he's not responding. What could be causing this? Is there a jumper setting?

Hi,
When you install some versions of the software (the 45 disk Toaster 4000 and 14 disk system 2.0 for example) the first thing it asks you is it you want it to start from an Amiga icon or start automaticly.

[Matt_H]

OK, how do I find that file? I tried connecting an ATAPI CD-RW drive (Sony CRX120E) but the computer doesn't recognize it. I can't install the Toaster software as a result. Is there any way I can retreive it from the floppy? I have the Toaster/Flyer 4.2 software disk and CD.

EDIT: I was given the option to install so that it would boot into the switcher at startup, but like I said I couldn't finish installation because of the CD-ROM issue.

If you're using OS3.1 or below, Get IDEFix and use its included atapi.device instead of scsi.device to get your CD drive working.

The Toaster floppy only contains the install script and a few other files. Absolutely everything else is on the CD, so you need both.

Start_Toaster is what you use to (not surprisingly) start the Toaster and will get copied to your hard drive during the installation.

EDIT: It's a good sign that the install script asked you about autobooting. Once your CD drive issue is solved, you should be up and running as expected. The script never asked me, but that might be because I'm using 4.3 (which is a compilation of a slightly modified 3.5 and 4.2). I guess autostart is one of the modifications.

[DirectorSG]

If you're using OS3.1 or below, Get IDEFix and use its included atapi.device instead of scsi.device to get your CD drive working.

Hmm...OK, I found IDEFix on aminet, downloaded it on my Mac and surprisingly it was able to extract the LHarc file. I found the atapi.device file, now how do I get it over to the A4000? I have a couple of older PCs with floppy drives. Can a PC read/write an Amiga disk? Is there any software for that?

[T3000]

oh boy, I think you've got a lot of research to do.  

PC or macs woun't be able to read/write amiga floppies.
For the Amiga to read/write pc disks on the amiga, you'll need to install crossdos. For mac disks, crossmac. Otainable on Ebay from time to time.

...and I really hope you managed to get the manual with the VT card and software.

[Ami_GFX]

Cross DOS is part of OS 3.1 and your A4000 should be able to read DOS formatted disks. If you have a stock A4000, your floppy drive should read both DS and HD floppys. Try putting the files on a DOS formatted 1.4mb floppy. An Amiga with OS 3.1 or higher and a HD floppy drive should be able to read it.

[Matt_H]

atapi.device alone won't suffice. Install the entire package on the Amiga. I just meant that when you're configuring your CD0 mountfile, use atapi.device and not scsi.device. There are other tools in that package you need, too. Fortunately, the installer should guide you through everything.

And make sure you have the file 'Installer' in C: or SYS:Utilities before you begin. Hopefully you do, since the Toaster instal script started up, but it's possible the Toaster disk had a local copy. If that's the case, just copy that one to one of the above places on the hard drive.

[DirectorSG]

]Cross DOS is part of OS 3.1 and your A4000 should be able to read DOS formatted disks. If you have a stock A4000, your floppy drive should read both DS and HD floppys. Try putting the files on a DOS formatted 1.4mb floppy. An Amiga with OS 3.1 or higher and a HD floppy drive should be able to read it.

Thank you, this is exactly what I was hoping, and it is working.
 

atapi.device alone won't suffice. Install the entire package on the Amiga. I just meant that when you're configuring your CD0 mountfile, use atapi.device and not scsi.device. There are other tools in that package you need, too. Fortunately, the installer should guide you through everything.

And make sure you have the file 'Installer' in C: or SYS:Utilities before you begin. Hopefully you do, since the Toaster instal script started up, but it's possible the Toaster disk had a local copy. If that's the case, just copy that one to one of the above places on the hard drive.

Got it, thanks. I copied the files over on my PC then put the disk in the A4000. It's reading it, but VERY slow and all the file names are in the shortened DOS format, so now I have rename all the files.

[Ami_GFX]

Got it, thanks. I copied the files over on my PC then put the disk in the A4000. It's reading it, but VERY slow and all the file names are in the shortened DOS format, so now I have rename all the files.

You can get an Amiga version of Lharc on aminet and just copy the lharced file to the Amiga and unarchive it on the Amiga and this will preserve the file names. LHA is the most common program and there are lots of other Amiga utilities that extact lha and lzh files.

[Matt_H]

It's probably easier to extract it to Ram Disk from the Amiga itself - your files won't get truncated that way and you won't have to wait for the extra-slow floppy drive (Amigas read high-density floppies at half speed).

Other options: CrossDOS version 7 (a commercial product) supports long filenames; fat95 (Aminet) does as well, although I've never used it with floppies.

[DirectorSG]

It's probably easier to extract it to Ram Disk from the Amiga itself - your files won't get truncated that way and you won't have to wait for the extra-slow floppy drive (Amigas read high-density floppies at half speed).

I did exactly what you said. I installed it but it didn't recognize the CD-ROM, so I found another drive and connected it, but then I started getting a flashing yellow screen. I disconnected the CD-ROM and I still got a flashing yellow screen with just the hard drive connected. I tried doing a search on flashing yellow screens and the only thing that I could find was that it indicates something is loose. I reseated everything I could find to reseat: RAM, daughter card, the IDE and floppy cables...I even pulled the Toaster card out. It's still giving me a flashing yellow screen. Is there anything else it could possibly be?

[Matt_H]

The CPU card is the one that most commonly comes loose.

[DirectorSG]

The CPU card is the one that most commonly comes loose.

I tried that, no change. Also, the power light stays consistently lit but it keeps rapidly pulsating between light green and dark green.