A1200 4xEIDE'99 BlizKick

[bbond007]

I got my A1200 out of storage and initially had some problems with it.

My computer is an A1200 with Blizzard 1260 and Indivision MK2. 3.1 ROMS. Classic Workbench 3.1.

Its not been run in a while as after I moved I just never got around to setting it up again because I knew it was going to be a mission. It was behaving really flaky before I put it away, red screens on boot, disk checksum errors, random crashes, etc. but it would warm up and eventually work.

I was running a Fast ATA IV using a 4GB disk on module and 32GB SATA SSD but because was getting disk checksum errors and red screens (suggesting ROM issue) I removed the FastATA.

The issue probably has something with how I had the FastATA extended (to fit over the Indivision) with a stack of DIP sockets. The sockets I used had really thin flimsy flat pins and I think it could have worked better had I used ones with round pins.  

I see Amigakit has this but the comments rate it poorly say it won't fit in a desktop case

https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1295

In my process of troubleshooting I also tested the RAM with Advanced Amiga Analyser and found that my 64MB EDO SIMM consistently tested bad a the same address. I had a different much smaller SIMM and that worked fine, and now I've replaced both SIMMS with matching single-sided low-profile 64MB modules and the full 128mb all tests fine.

I did not see any signs of leaking caps, but I do have a cap kit ready to go...Just not sure if I'm the guy to do the soldering.

Anyway I'm not super crazy about the FastATA anyway. I just wish it had a more modern PCB.

I replaced it with my Elbox 4xEIDE so that I could have access all my drives. I realise it is much slower, but the Indivision is essential. I changed C:ATA3.Driver  to C:4xEIDE.driver in startup-sequence.

Between the RAM and getting rid of the FastATA, the A1200 is now running great which makes me happy, however, after much tinkering, I just could not get 4xEIDE driver to work reliably with Blizkick, so now I've commented out BlizKick which was doing a number of things for me... and I've forgotten what many those things are

Anyway, one symptom was phantom drives with no volume label in sysinfo. If I clicked on them, the computer would crash with Smartcrash reporting an issue with 4xEIDE.

Another problem was that the computer would cold boot, but any subsequent resets it would crash after or right before loading workbench and keep doing that cycle.

Disabling either Blizkick or 4xEIDE.driver makes the computer stable.. In fact, I've been successfully using ScummVM many hours lately which is super CPU intensive. I'm just really enjoying the MT32 support which is new to me.

Anyway, is there a way to make 4xIDE work correctly with BlizKick?

If not, is there maybe a different driver I could try? Perhaps IdeFix is better? Will it work with my adaptor?

Is IdeFix Express going to be produced again?

Thanks,

nate

[giZmo350]

I was running a Fast ATA IV using a 4GB disk on module and 32GB SATA SSD but because was getting disk checksum errors and red screens (suggesting ROM issue) I removed the FastATA.

The issue probably has something with how I had the FastATA extended (to fit over the Indivision) with a stack of DIP sockets. The sockets I used had really thin flimsy flat pins and I think it could have worked better had I used ones with round pins.  

I see Amigakit has this but the comments rate it poorly say it won't fit in a desktop case

https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1295

Hey Nate, I went down this exact same road with my FastATA MKIV not fitting correctly using a stack of sockets (rows tapered going towards the front to get the keyboard to fit) that had round pins. At the time I didn't see the harm in just mashing them down into the standard ROM sockets on the mobo but, it did do a bit of damage to the sockets and made them flakey. The AmigaKit sockets, yes, are way too thin and are flakey too. You may never go back to your FastATA but I loved mine and found that I need to replace my mobo sockets with round machined hole sockets (which I haven't done yet). I think I'm just gonna send it Acill as a couple of ceramic caps need to be replaced too. Just let him get the parts...

In my process of troubleshooting I also tested the RAM with Advanced Amiga Analyser and found that my 64MB EDO SIMM consistently tested bad a the same address. I had a different much smaller SIMM and that worked fine, and now I've replaced both SIMMS with matching single-sided low-profile 64MB modules and the full 128mb all tests fine.

NICE!

I did not see any signs of leaking caps, but I do have a cap kit ready to go...Just not sure if I'm the guy to do the soldering.

My Indi AGA MKI was doing all kinds of weird stuff and would not init properly but would eventually start working after the machine warmed for about 45-60 minutes. Yup, cap replacement fixed it. You may want to get Acill to do the job for you - he knows what he's doing - he has a MAC board of mine right now.

I replaced it with my Elbox 4xEIDE so that I could have access all my drives. I realise it is much slower, but the Indivision is essential. I changed C:ATA3.Driver  to C:4xEIDE.driver in startup-sequence.

Between the RAM and getting rid of the FastATA, the A1200 is now running great which makes me happy, however, after much tinkering, I just could not get 4xEIDE driver to work reliably with Blizkick, so now I've commented out BlizKick which was doing a number of things for me... and I've forgotten what many those things are

Anyway, one symptom was phantom drives with no volume label in sysinfo. If I clicked on them, the computer would crash with Smartcrash reporting an issue with 4xEIDE.

Another problem was that the computer would cold boot, but any subsequent resets it would crash after or right before loading workbench and keep doing that cycle.

Disabling either Blizkick or 4xEIDE.driver makes the computer stable.. In fact, I've been successfully using ScummVM many hours lately which is super CPU intensive. I'm just really enjoying the MT32 support which is new to me.

Anyway, is there a way to make 4xIDE work correctly with BlizKick?

If not, is there maybe a different driver I could try? Perhaps IdeFix is better? Will it work with my adaptor?

Is IdeFix Express going to be produced again?

Thanks,

nate

Someone else will have to chime in here.... :laugh1:

[bbond007]

Thanks for the reply

Hey Nate, I went down this exact same road with my FastATA MKIV not fitting correctly using a stack of sockets (rows tapered going towards the front to get the keyboard to fit) that had round pins. At the time I didn't see the harm in just mashing them down into the standard ROM sockets on the mobo but, it did do a bit of damage to the sockets and made them flakey. The AmigaKit sockets, yes, are way too thin and are flakey too. You may never go back to your FastATA but I loved mine and found that I need to replace my mobo sockets with round machined hole sockets (which I haven't done yet). I think I'm just gonna send it Acill as a couple of ceramic caps need to be replaced too. Just let him get the parts...

I did not taper it. I made the FastATA sit flush. I used a dremel tool to grind down all of the prickly pins and solder joints on the back of the FastATA so it could sit closer.

Had a little slip and ended up ruining one trace going to the 44 pin connector doing that, but that was easy fixed because of how "retro" the FastATAs PCB is. If it was any more retro it would be using wire wrap and vacuum tubes.  

Then I very slightly bent the keyboard in an arc in the center so it would fit just barley clear and all fit together nice and snug. It worked really well for a number of years. I just think the issue was those flimsy legged sockets are designed to be soldered and eventually oxidised or something.

If that Amigakit thing uses those thin legged sockets, then I'll definitely stay away from that.

Maybe the best solution is to just solder longer pins on the FastATA. I can definitely do that. My main concern is screwing up the sockets on the MB like you said... not the FastATA..

I also an considering one of these SCSI to SD devices to use with the Blizzard 1260 SCSI:

https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1264

My Indi AGA MKI was doing all kinds of weird stuff and would not init properly but would eventually start working after the machine warmed for about 45-60 minutes. Yup, cap replacement fixed it. You may want to get Acill to do the job for you - he knows what he's doing - he has a MAC board of mine right now.

I have the Indy MK2 (but not the newest one) and I love it everything except  "Graffiti Mode" works flawlessly.

After you got yours caps replaced caps did "Graffiti Mode" start working?
 
I really don't think my 1200 is having issues because of caps (yet anyway) as they don't appear to be leaking, However my a1200 was one of the NOS Escom units that turned up maybe 10 years ago, not even any sigh of yellowing yet, but I will definitely keep Acill in mind though because the capacitors will obviously eventually need to be done.

Thanks,

nate

[giZmo350]

Thanks for the reply

I did not taper it. I made the FastATA sit flush. I used a dremel tool to grind down all of the prickly pins and solder joints on the back of the FastATA so it could sit closer.

Dang! That took ballz of steal! :lol:

Had a little slip and ended up ruining one trace going to the 44 pin connector doing that, but that was easy fixed because of how "retro" the FastATAs PCB is. If it was any more retro it would be using wire wrap and vacuum tubes.

Yea, those "no biggie" slips usually buff right out. Hmmm, I never really looked at my FastATA board... I'll have to check for these tiny vacuum tubes you speak of... maybe they're little GURU nixi tubes! :roflmao:

Then I very slightly bent the keyboard in an arc in the center so it would fit just barley clear and all fit together nice and snug. It worked really well for a number of years. I just think the issue was those flimsy legged sockets are designed to be soldered and eventually oxidised or something.

Bending? Also balzy.... ! My jammed together A1200 miggy worked great for a number years too (I miss her!).... I played CDs on it all the time using Song Player. Good times.

Maybe the best solution is to just solder longer pins on the FastATA. I can definitely do that. My main concern is screwing up the sockets on the MB like you said... not the FastATA..

If you're reconsidering your FastATA, Taper the pins for better keyboard fitment. And match the proper pins to the stock mobo sockets.

I also an considering one of these SCSI to SD devices to use with the Blizzard 1260 SCSI:

https://amigakit.amiga.store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1264

Can't speak to one of these as don't have one but I was considering one for my A590

I have the Indy MK2 (but not the newest one) and I love it everything except  "Graffiti Mode" works flawlessly.

After you got yours caps replaced caps did "Graffiti Mode" start working?

HMMM... i never tried the "Graffiti Mode"..... Don't know why? :confused: I'll have to check that out!
 

I really don't think my 1200 is having issues because of caps (yet anyway) as they don't appear to be leaking, However my a1200 was one of the NOS Escom units that turned up maybe 10 years ago, not even any sigh of yellowing yet, but I will definitely keep Acill in mind though because the capacitors will obviously eventually need to be done.

HA! I was gonna ask you if it was an Escom unit! I knew it! 'Cause the stock Escom ROM sockets are crap!:roflmao: Mine was an Escom unit too. That is (was) the machine in my sig (I have another A1200). The Escom got sent off for repair but when AH would check out all the subsystems on the mobo with a logic probe and a GURU ROM, they would check out good. But that Escom mobo would never boot up again... EVER! Weird, I know...

So the board I had recapped (from Italy) is gonna receive the FastATA in the future.... except I didn't think to ask AH to replace the ROM Sockets! DOH!!!

Thanks,

nate

[bbond007]

Dang! That took ballz of steal! :lol:

Well, possibly it compromised the fastATA's soldering doing what I did, but probably not as it did work really well for a long time.  

Can't speak to one of these as don't have one but I was considering one for my A590

Don't know if I'm still considering it. Concerned about the Maximum size it supports. For the A590 I think it would be ideal.  
 

HMMM... i never tried the "Graffiti Mode"..... Don't know why? :confused: I'll have to check that out!

http://wiki.icomp.de/wiki/Graffiti
It was supposed to be a mode which allowed for chunky pixel which would really for ports and emulators, however never happened for the Indivision MK2.

HA! I was gonna ask you if it was an Escom unit! I knew it!

The acual rom chips fit in OK, but you are correct the sockets were not so perfect for the FastATA. Then factor in the stack of extra sockets to allow for the Indivision...

Maybe the ultimate solution would be to replace the ROM sockets with long lead ones, mounted higher and tapered to match the keyboard.

I'm not giving up on the FastATA.