Large IDE Harddrives using 2.x

[EdKing]

Is it possible to use larger than 4gb IDE harddrives operating under KS/OS 2.x ?  My accellerator (FusionForty) will need upgrading to work with KS/OS 3.x and I'd rather not go through the hassle if possible.

[pjhutch]

Not unmodified. If you create partitions >4Gb then anything written after the 4Gb mark will overwrite the beginning of the drive (due to 32 bit limitations).

Try SFS from http://www.xs4all.nl/~hjohn/SFS/scsi.htm
and use the SCSI Direct version to overcome AmigaOS limitations.

[EdKing]

Thanks for the tip and link, I just got my Amiga back out of storage after 5 years, and I am trying to get it up and running again.

Ed King

[EdKing]

I am still having problems, so I want to make sure I have all my facts straight.

I am running a 2000 OS/KS 2.0 with a Buddha IDE controller, and a FusionForty accelerator.

Can I use a drive larger than 4Gb if I make the partions smaller than 2gb ?

I am having trouble getting the drives to read and write properly with the accelerator enabled. They seem to work alright if I boot with the accelerator disabled.

Any help, insights, or info would be greatly appreciated

Ed King

[blobrana]

Hum,
do you mean you get checksum errors?

if so, then it sounds like the data is being sent too fast for the drive to cope with....
slow down the data stream...

[ HDtoolbox will have an option to do this.
f`s in the `MaxTransfer` to slow it down...> ]

And while you at it, you could also change the default `buffers` from 30 to 120 or more....





Anyone else?

[Brian]

I belive SFS need a 020 or better CPU so for a bog standard A500/600/2000 it's not that stright forward (especialy not for the A600 users).

[Thomas]

Can I use a drive larger than 4Gb if I make the partions smaller than 2gb ?

No. The 4GB limit is an issue of the drive, not of partitons. You can create partitions above the 4GB border, but if you write to them, the position which is actually accessed will be wrapped down to below 4GB destroying data on other partitions. So don't even try it.

Bye,
Thomas

[EdKing]

So If I was to use a 4.3 gig drive, and just put 2 2 gig partitions, I should be alight ?

Ed King

[Brian]

That is correct.. actually the 4.3GB disks are actually just about 4GB so two 2GB partisions should fill it pritty good. If I may sugest then try get smaller partisions (1GB or so) to save time if(when) stuff mess upp as validation will take forever on 2GB partisions.

[EdKing]

do you mean you get checksum errors?

if so, then it sounds like the data is being sent too fast for the drive to cope with....
slow down the data stream...

Thanks for the tip, but it didn't help. I dropped the transfer rate to 1fff, and upped the buffers to 500.  The drive actually freezes up during a transfer, or if you delete a bunch of files.

[blobrana]

Hum,
Apart  from a failing power supply,
my only other suggestion is to keep the data cable as short as possible, and away from magnetic interference... (is there  a internal shield?)

Perhaps invest in a new cable?

[EdKing]

I don't think it's the power supply or cable, as the drive works without the accelerator. I am starting to wonder if the mother board is the problem, as it is a rev 4.? (I'd have to look at it).

Thanks for all the advice.

Ed King

[EdKing]

It ended up it was the mother board. I switched to a rev 6 board and the drive works fine. Only one small problem now, the mouse doesn't work right. Luckily I can use a pc mouse on the serial port.

Thanks for all the help.

Ed King

P.S. Does anyone have a working 2000 rev 6 computer or a 2000 rev 6 motherboard they want to sell ?