AmigaOS 2.1 updates/patches recomendations

[walkero]

These days I set up an A500+ that I had, with an A590 installed. Today I managed to make an external SCSI CDRom to work with it just fine, so I have a great way to copy stuff in it.

The AmigaOS v2.1 which is installed in the hard disk works great. The roms of the system are the 2.04. Also, I did all the chip upgrades of the A590 roms and the scsi chip, to the latest available. So it seems to work just great.

Until now I installed the following software:
- AmiCDFS 2.40 from aminet
- HDInstall the latest from aminet
- WHDLoad 16.9
and a few games.

So, I would like to ask, what patches/updates do you recommend to do. I am not talking about hardware upgrades, but only software. Which Filesystem do you recommend, and which FFS update can I perform on that? Also, should I use alternative icons or MagicWB?

Any ideas are more than welcome.

[mfilos]

Workbench 2.1 is really nice! I still have my localized Greek one on my stash
Pretty neat retr0 machine you got there.

Anywayz... Since you have a stock 68000, I'd strongly suggest MagicWB icons over anything else. Also the 8color palette of MWB is really nice and fast.
The 4 colors classic palette with stock icons is still faster, but not so pretty imho

For a filesystem and since you don't use an accelerator, I'd suggest PFS3 instead of FFS.
Latest version of FFS you can use is 45.16 and you can get that from latest BB3/BB4 installations.

[walkero]

@mfilos
Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure which FS should I use. I'm going to receive an other HD I bought recently, where I intend to do a few tests. I will try PFS3, SFS and FFS upd.

I'm also asking about software that fix bugs of AmigaOS 2.1 or enchance the usage, without consuming too much memory, because we are talking about a computer with 1MB Chip and 2MB Fast ram.

[Colani1200]

@mfilos
Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure which FS should I use. I'm going to receive an other HD I bought recently, where I intend to do a few tests. I will try PFS3, SFS and FFS upd.

SFS requires "68020 or better, AmigaOS 3.0 or better"

http://aminet.net/disk/misc/SFS.readme

[Crumb]

Also the 8color palette of MWB is really nice and fast.
The 4 colors classic palette with stock icons is still faster, but not so pretty imho

I guess I'm the only one who prefered Wb1.x icons over 2.x-3.1 ones :-) Some 4 colours 1.3-like icons for old 68000 classics would rock as 8 colours slows down refresh (it's ok although in 4 colours it really flyes). Unfortunately Windows&gadgets will look odd.

@walkero

Toni Willen made a PFS3 version compatible with KS1.3 & 68000. Colani1200 is right, SFS requires a 68020.

[walkero]

You are more than right about SFS. So, SFS is out of my tests. How about FFS? which version do you believe that would work on that? I will test the 43.20 in case it works. I believe that after this one I could perform extra patches.

@Crumb
I saw the PFS3 for 68k 1.3 only, but I have a 2.04 rom and I am thinking to use the full PFS3 version. It might increase the whdload game load too.

Today I got the 1GB hard disk and I intent to test it tonight. I am thinking to separate it in three partitions. System, Games and Programs (Music, Mods, DPaint etc).

I will make a few speed tests of the hard disk too. I let you know about the results of the tests.

[mfilos]

That's why I didn't suggest SFS man. SFS requires 020 as the other guys said
PFS3 works just fine for 68000 so you don't either need Toni's version.
Although, you can use it just fine as well as it has both the patch for 1.3 plus the other code for 2.x.
PFS3 is a lot better than FFS although you can test also the latest 45.16 that comes with the BB3/BB4 updates.

If you need any help keep us posted

[orcish75]

I agree with mfilos on PFS3. I've been using it for as long as I can remember and it has been rock solid and fast, certainly MUCH faster than the FFS in your 2.04 rom.

[paul1981]

These days I set up an A500+ that I had, with an A590 installed. Today I managed to make an external SCSI CDRom to work with it just fine, so I have a great way to copy stuff in it.

The AmigaOS v2.1 which is installed in the hard disk works great. The roms of the system are the 2.04. Also, I did all the chip upgrades of the A590 roms and the scsi chip, to the latest available. So it seems to work just great.

Until now I installed the following software:
- AmiCDFS 2.40 from aminet
- HDInstall the latest from aminet
- WHDLoad 16.9
and a few games.

So, I would like to ask, what patches/updates do you recommend to do. I am not talking about hardware upgrades, but only software. Which Filesystem do you recommend, and which FFS update can I perform on that? Also, should I use alternative icons or MagicWB?

Any ideas are more than welcome.

Hello walkero,
The first thing I'd get installed would be MultiCX2.8:
http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/MCX280

The Fuel Gauge part is disabled unless you're a registered user.
Registering is easy though, just look at a recent EAB thread to find out how.
It's just a matter of adding a particular tool type to the MultiCX icon.

If you feel guilty, there's always the 100% legal version here with all features enabled:
http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/mcx256
You won't notice any difference between the two versions in reality.

There's always WBGauge, which will add a fuel gauge as well, and do nothing else (incase for some reason you don't want MultiCX):
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/WBGauge12
Put into startup-sequence with a Run >NIL: WBGauge

I'd say get MUI installed or you'll be missing out on lots of MUI software:
http://aminet.net/package/util/libs/mui38usr
MUI doesn't slow your computer down or anything, it's just a set of libraries basically for which MUI programs require should you decide to use any.

I'd also get Magic Workbench installed as others have said:
http://aminet.net/package/util/wb/MagicWB21p
And use NickPrefs for nice animated pointers and the ability to add a nice picture to the back ground of your Workbench.

Try CycleToMenu which makes the cycle gadgets of Workbench usable:
http://aminet.net/package/util/cdity/CycleToMenu-21

For pretty looking file requesters I use Magic File Requester 1.3b (MFR).  It can be a bit buggy though, as it's a an early version.  I must have it on a floppy or something because this free version is not on aminet.

I also use KingCON:
http://aminet.net/package/util/shell/KingCON_1.3

I'd also have to recommend this in your startup-sequence:
http://aminet.net/package/util/sys/PatchRAM
PatchRAM PORTPATCH

Also try Quantum:
http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/QuantumX
Use a quantum setting of 1.
This can also go in your startup-sequence.

Also make sure you have the latest Setpatch installed in your c:
http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/SetPatch_43.6b

Truth is though with the 7MHz 68000, things start to slow down after running a few programs.
I have all of the above set up on an A600 2MB chip with Internal 2.5" HDD.  It's not the fastest of Amiga's in the world but it's still usable (it's what you get used to using really).

I tried PFS3 on the above setup and found it to be a tad slower than FFS 39.27 (that's what I had on my RDB at the time).  But with your SCSI setup, you may find PFS to be quicker.
:drink: