CF Card will boot in Winuae but not on real Amiga 4000

[Sandman]

Hello,

Subject says it all.  Connecting CF card to Amiga 4000 with IDE-to-CF Adapter and its not recognized at all even in boot menu but connects just fine with PCMCIA adapter on PC with WinUAE.

HELP! :-(

Thanks in advance....
Tim

[alexh]

Is it definitely formatted for the Amiga, using FFS or SFS or something? With a valid RDB? You cannot boot from cards formatted for Windows (FAT16/FAT32) with a REAL Amiga.

If it is all formatted correctly, it could be that the CF card you are using does not support ATA mode 0.

Try to use a genuine SANDISK card if you can.

[Sandman]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.  :-)

I set the 4gb CF card up in Winuae with 5 partitions using SFS file system, with the first partition set to 200megs and bootable.  Boots up just fine in Winuae but on the real Amiga the drive doesn't show up in workbench or on the boot menu (just df0: and df2: show up.)  

It is a AData 4gb CF Card which I believe that I read somewhere, is supposed to work in an amiga.

Adapter is IDE-to-CF using 40pin IDE (it has an option for using external power but it lights up just using 40pin IDE cable). Adapter is set to Master, 3.5v.

How can I tell if I have a valid RDB.  I haven't messed with an Amiga for about 10yrs so I am a little rusty and just getting back into it.  :lol:

Thanks for the help,
Tim

[alexh]

If the card is formatted in SFS and is booting in WinUAE I am pretty sure that meas the RDB is intact.

That means your adapter is faulty/installed incorrectly or the card is incompatible with the Amiga.

Try using the adapter in the PC?

Try connecting the power connector?

[TheGoose]

I have had the same trouble. In my case, I formatted a bootable ScanDisk CF (IDE) on an Amiga (FFS), works great.

But If I put it in WinUAE and 'add harddrive' without the safety mode, it sees the CF, but when I try to boot it - it doesn't work.

Straight to the ROM screen?

[Thomas]

it has an option for using external power but it lights up just using 40pin IDE cable

Same answer here: The 40pin IDE cable does not supply power. You need to connect the external power connector. This is not an option but a requirement. Only 44pin IDE cables supply power. Running an electronic device only through the data lines might even damage the electronics.

Bye,
Thomas

[Chain]

40pin IDE CAN suppy power, not much but enough for CF.
Must be supported by CF adapter (jumper for power selection)

dont know it its on pin 21 or 23, but its mentioned in manual for cf-ide when it can

[Sandman]

PROBLEM SOLVED!! :-D

Thanks to you ALL for the help! Indeed, the power connector on the card reader had to be hooked up also.  I was under the impression from the cf-ide instructions that power was supplied via the IDE but I was incorrect.

It boots up great now - and fast too! :lol:


Also, I was also having the common problem of the amiga case led not blinking with drive activity.  I followed the other threads about fixing this but my cd-ide adapter was a different style.  I fixed mine by running a wire from the negative side of the activity led on the card to pin 39 of the IDE on the card.. Worked great for me but don't hold me responsible as your mileage may vary.

Thanks again all!
Tim