Hardfile checksum error (WinUAE) ?!

[blakespot]

My recently setup OS 3.9 config under WinUAE has an issue -- the boot disk hardfile reports a checksum error on disk block 367760.  It complains repeatedly during startup, but will get up and running if I cancel the alert.

What can I do here?  I am handling my Work: partition as just a mounted windows directory.  Is that "safer" than a hardfile?  

Must I start again here?  I guess this will happen again, even if so.  :-(

Advice?  Thanks.



blakespot

[blakespot]

Note: This happened when I was installing MUI.  The installation did not finish as mid-way thru the install it said Volume AmigaOS is not validated.  If I try to repeat the installation, I get the same AmigaOS volume not validated error.


blakespot

[fishy_fiz]

Sounds like a filesystem problem... being that youre using hardfiles you'll also enokittyer the same issues that a "real" amiga harddrive has. Im assuming youre using ffs ? (horrible filesystem prone to easy corruption(I learned this the hardway)). Try using sfs or pfs3, both are much better.

[Ral-Clan]

No, the Original Poster is not using a hard-file...he's set up a Windows directory as an Amiga hard drive (which UAE can do).  In this case, then, the first thing I would try is to copy ALL files from the windows directory containing the emulated Amiga's "hard drive" into a new folder.  Do this on the Windows side, not through the emulated Amiga.  Then specify that new folder as your UAE hard drive and see if you still get the checksum error.

It's indeed weird that you would get a checksum error from a windows directory.

[ElPolloDiabl]

One of the files is corrupted and showing an improper size. You can move the files to a fresh hard drive section by section until it reports the same error, then you will know which file is responsible.

[blakespot]

Actually AmigaOS: (boot) is a hardfile and Work: is a Win dir.

I mounted a new Win dir and copied the AmigaOS: files to it with no issue and am running on that now.

Is it ok to just use it with mounted Win dirs rather than hardfiles?  Much more flexible.  It doesn't feel any slower (quad-core AMD Athlon II x4 2.8GHz, 7200 RPM HD, Win 7).




blakespot

[fishy_fiz]

Using a directory based "harddrive" is actually faster than using a hardfile. Some claim that it's not as compatible, but personally Ive not experienceed any issues using directory based drives/partitions.

[Ral-Clan]

I've been using a Windows directory as a hard drive in WinUAE for over a year now with no problems.  It's a much more flexible route, as you can easily manipulate the files from either Windows or AmigaOS, and even save a JPEG from an Amiga application and immediately use it in a Windows application without having to transfer in any way.

The ONLY problem I've had is with really long filenames created in Windows.  ImageFX wouldn't load a graphics file with a really long filename on one or two occasions.  Renaming it fixed this.

I too have heard it's faster to use a Windows directory as a hard drive.

Plus it is super easy to back up your entire Amiga UAE hard-drive onto CD-R or a USB stick if it's just a Windows directory.