Workbench, Kickstart and ROM 3.1

[ernesttx]

Hi all,

I just recently purchased an Amiga 2000 Rev 6.2 computer. I am looking to upgrade it. At the moment, it has Workbench 1.3, 1.3 ROM and I'm guessing Kickstart 1.3?

I am wanting to upgrade to 3.1. My question is this:

1. Do I just need 3.1 ROM and Workbench 3.1 disks?

Or, am I needing Kickstart 3.1 or is that the same as the 3.1 ROM chip?

Also, if I do upgrade, how and where could I find information about partioning, repartioning or upgrading 1.3 OS that is currently on hard drive?

I have Fast Card Plus with possibly an 50 or 60 MB harddrive on it and it has autoboot function. The Amiga did not come with any Workbench disks, but, has 1.3 on harddrive.

Also, would anyone have any information about this card and how I would add a CD-ROM drive?

Thank you in advance. I used Amiga 1200 and 500 in past, but am coming back and am clueless again. hehe

[redrumloa]

Hello and welcome to Amiga.org!!

Kickstart 3.1 IS the same thing as the 3.1 ROM. So yes you need both the KS3.1 ROM and WB disks.

As for partitioning and repartitioning? You could just install the 3.1 as an update and leave everything in place or you could start from scratch. Partitioning and such on the Amiga is very easy. Just use the tool HDTOOLBOX that is on the INSTALL disk that comes with OS3.1. As a matter of fact BOOT the Amiga with the INSTALL floppy and then use the HDTOOLBOX on it.

Sorry but I am not familiarwith the FastCard Plus.

[Waccoon]

No matter how old, OS2+ is a huge upgrade.  Boy, was I mad when I found I couldn't use OS2 on my A1000.

Just don't backup your hard drive on floppies.  I did that with Amiback when my A1200 was new and lost a few files due to R/W errors.  Now I have a backup of my 1200 HD as a ZIP file on my PC.  :-)

[Effy]

Forget about kickstart 2.x !! Go for the 3.1 !!! 2.x  may be a dramatic improvement over 1.3 but 3.1 is way better !! I have used it for more than a year on my A500+ with 68020/14 turbocard.  Even used a scsi cdrom without problem with AsimCDFS software.. A while ago I had an A2000 with a Evolution scsi Zorro card and there was no way that I could detect a scsi cdrom, so it depends on your controller. If you would use a Xsurf ethernet card then you would also be able to use its on board IDE controller to connect a cdrom ... don´t worry, even on a so caled dated A2000 you still have got loads of options. Just plug in a 2060 turboboard and a gfx card like CV64/3D or Picasso IV and you´ll be lightyears faster then most A1200 users !!!!

[PMC]

"I just recently purchased an Amiga 2000 Rev 6.2 computer. I am looking to upgrade it. At the moment, it has Workbench 1.3, 1.3 ROM and I'm guessing Kickstart 1.3?"

Nice one!  The 2000 is a nice machine that opens up some interesting expansion possibilities to you.

"1. Do I just need 3.1 ROM and Workbench 3.1 disks?"

You'll need a B2000 specific 3.1 ROM (try contacting Eyetech or Power Computing if in the UK) which needs to be installed before you can install OS3.1

It's a lid-off job that requires some careful manouevering of a chip extraction tool (or a pair of small screwdrivers hehe).  I'm sure you know the drill by now

"Or, am I needing Kickstart 3.1 or is that the same as the 3.1 ROM chip? "

It's the same thing.  

"Also, if I do upgrade, how and where could I find information about partioning, repartioning or upgrading 1.3 OS that is currently on hard drive? "

If you buy the 3.1 ROM/s and OS 3.1 disks together then you'll be able to install the new OS on top.  I don't know much about the HDD card you're using, so I cannot comment on upgradeability or fitting of a CD ROM.

If you're fitting a CD ROM then you should really consider checking EBay or www.amibench.org for an upgraded CPU card.  The 7.14Mhz 68000 supplied with the B2000 isn't going to make the most out of OS3.1.  You'll be needing extra memory too as AFAIK the B2000 came with only one megabyte as standard.  

Good luck and don't forget to let us all know how you get on!

:-D

[Effy]

B2000  rom ?? Thought an A500 3.1 was the same as the A2000 3.1  :-?