Lost my partitions over the 4gb barrier

[lorddef]

Howdy peeps,

I've just recently got a new amiga, well actually an old one. It's got a 15 gig ide drive in it connected to a powerflyer and I just opened hdtoolbox and a requester saying my partitions hade changed since I last ran hdtoolbox did I want to upgrade settings. So I clicked yes like a dumbass and now I cant see any of the partitions over 4gig ish.

Any ideas as to how I can sort out my mess?

The fact I didn't set this amiga up myself & because my old amiga only had a 1 gig drive makes things even more confusing

[Brian Hoskins]

By default the powerflyer software manages a HD in "split-mode" which means that it splits the HardDrive up into a number of 4GB drives in order to keep compatability with older systems which don't support +4GB.  For example, if you put a 40GB drive in there and the PowerFlyer was  using the drive in "split-mode" you'd end up with 10 seperate drives all of 4GB in size, and you'd need to partition each of these seperate drives to suit your preference.

Alternatively you can use the PowerFlyer software in "no-split" mode so that in my example HDToolbox would then see just one drive of 40GB in size and that full 40GB would be available for you to partition or use as you please.  This is assuming that your system supports +4GB which as far as I'm aware mainly depends on which version of AmigaOS you're running.  I never experimented with large Hard Drives until I began to run OS3.9 so my knowledge on compatability with older versions of AmigaOS with +4GB drives is limited, perhaps someone else can clear up this area for us.

Going on the symptom you described, it seems to me that you've got your powerflyer running in split-mode because it sounds like HDToolbox has seen that extra drives have been added to the system (the split 4GB drives created by the PowerFlyer software) and you've gone along with it and clicked yes to add the drives.  You've probably got just one 4GB partition formatted and that's why you can only see one 4GB drive on your desktop.  The easy way to test if this is the case is to open HDToolbox and take a look at the added drives screen, which is the screen you see when you first start up the application.  If the PowerFlyer software is working in No-Split mode you should see entries for any CD or DVD drives you've got and one entry for each of the HardDrives you've got installed as well.  The HardDrives should, if everything is working properly, display their full capacity.  In your case you should have an entry for a 15GB HD.
If the PowerFlyer is working in Split-Mode, as I suspect it is with your system at the moment, then you'll probably see entries for your CD and DVD drives plus multiple entries for your HD drives which are all split up into 4GB capacities.  In this mode you need to install and partition each of these seperately as if they really were seperate HardDrives connected to your Amiga.

If you want to use the drive in No-Split mode so that you get the full 15GB as ONE HardDrive then you need to set this preference in the ata3 preferences program and then re-install/partition the drive whilst the powerfyer software is set in this mode.  Be aware that installing a HD effectively destroys all the information stored on it.

What version AmigaOS are you running, and what version of the PowerFlyer software do you have?

Brian

[lorddef]

In hdtoolbox my hard disk shows up as one disk of 14.2 Gig but I can only see my first 3 partitions; a 500mb workbench a 1.6 gig dh1 and a 1.8 gig dh2 and that takes up all the space on the slidy thing. Surely it should show my other partitions here?

[JaXanim]

The PowerFlyer software version seems to affect how easily you can 'revert' several 3.9Gb units (from the Split Mode) back to one or two larger units using Non-Split Mode.

The current version 7 makes it impossible (as far as I can fathom) to delete the RDB records for the small units even though you redo the routines in Non-Split Mode. In fact reformatting a 20Gb drive became a nightmare for me.

I have discussed this with Elbox who explained the v7 system (I didn't understand it anyway). It's certainly different from the earlier PF softare and needs an RDB editor to remove the spurious records seen by HDToolbox.

I now have around ten records for spurious devices which don't exist and I'm blowed if I know how to remove them. Elbox's suggested RDB editor (a Polish tool), as well as the RDB squisher in HDInstTools don't solve it).

The problem is if you pick the 'wrong' unit number in HDToolbox and attempt to work with it, it all crashes. You then have to start over repeating the process until you land on a 'proper' device. Very frustrating and not very helpful.

Anyone got the solution, other than downgrading the PF software?

Cheers,

JaX

[lorddef]

Could you not just install an older version JaX?

[Brian Hoskins]

I was unaware of this problem, infact I upgraded to Version 7 in order to avoid problems with the Split / No-Split preferences in older versions.

If you've trashed the RDB and it's upsetting the PowerFlyer software, then what if you stick the drive into a PC and format it there first? I know it's a real hassle but maybe that will bring you back to square 1 as far as setting the drive up on the Amiga goes?

If your drive is showing up as a full 15GB drive but then the partition screen only allows you to use a much lower amount then there's normally something wrong with the RDB information.  I don't pretend to understand how to determine the values for heads, cylinders and so on, but sometimes if you visit the HD manufacturer's website you can obtain the correct information.  If you input this information during the RDB setup then normally it'll work fine and you'll be able to allocate the full 15GB in the partition screen.

Brian

[lorddef]

Does that mean that I'd have to go through the "install drive"  setup from hdtoolbox in order to correct this? I.e am I going to have to back everything up onto another disk and then re-setup the drive?

Hmm, hassle.

[JaXanim]

@lorddef

Yes, you could use an earlier version of the PF software, but I'm interested to hear if anyone has resolved the v7 issue.

@All

Another thing to be aware of with v7 is that the 'Save' button on the ATAPrefs gui serves no practical purpose. If you select the 'No-Split' routine, you should click the 'Use' button to exit. This will allow you to continue under with HDToolbox the No-Split regime.

Unfortunately, this change to the documented instructions is not described anywhere in the v7 literature and was only mentioned in passing during my discussion with Elbox.

I managed to repartition the 'correct' unit under the No-Split regime more or less by trial and error. At least the 'correct' drive now appears at the top of the RDB list presented by HDToolbox. The other eight or nine logical (non-existant) drives are still there awaiting insight from anyone who can help.

Unfortunately, I've copied all my stuff onto this drive and reformatting on a pc is not an attractive proposition, nor should it be necessary.

Maybe if everyone running PF v7 software complained to Elbox about this illogical modification, they'll fix the problem in their next upgrade?

Cheers,

JaX

[JaXanim]

@lorddef

If you decide to go back to a single 15Gb drive and partition that as you want, you must backup the stuff already on the 3.9Gb logical drive created by the ATA3Prefs/Split mode.

If you are using v7 software, beware of the problems I've described. If it's an earlier version, you should be able to set ATA3Prefs to No-Split and get a single drive Unit number in HDToolbox. So, try using 'Save' to exit ATA3Prefs, but be aware of the v7 issue, it may be a carry-over I don't know. If in HDToolbox you still get a split drive (several 3.9Gb 'logical' drives), redo the ATA3Prefs bit and exit with the 'Use' button. You should then be able to do what you want.

Cheers,

JaX

[lorddef]

Well it seems I'm set to 'No Split' I must have just messed up the rdb parameters by clicking yes or something.

Luckily I don't have too much installed on this machine so I think I'll lha up the entire contents of the drive and ftp it over to my pc where I can burn it onto a cd.  then hopefully I can just setup the drive and not have to worry about the hard work needed to get my mediator etc all set up as it is now.

[keropi]

Send an e-mail to ELBOX and register with them the powerflyer.
Then aske nicely to get the new unreleased v8.1 drivers. If u r lucky and they send it to u, then all your troubles will go away... For my system, ONLY the 8.1 drivers worked OK. I am told I have the 1st generation of the 32bit FastATA1200 ... good luck! :-D