hard drive set up problem

[pudwink]

Hi all
I have just put a hitachi 4.1gb hard drive in my amiga 1200 and i am trying to set it up with a program called microbotics hardframe utility that i got with the amiga.
My problem is when setting up the hard drive i get an error in the standard mode so have to set it up in complex mode the error is i have to enter the number of usable blocks in a cylinder (1 to 1).
Bytes per block is 512
Blocks per track is 63
Heads is 16
Cylinders are 7944
Total blocks are 8007552
Can someone tell me how to work out the cylinder blocks so i can continue and get this hard drive set up.
many thanks in advance.

[adonay]

cant you just use HDtoolbox that comes with every workbench to set it up its easy too use and as far as i can tell reliable.

i am sorry i cant help you with microbotics hardframe have no xperience from that app...

adonay :-D

[pudwink]

Where do i find hd toolbox i have put in the workbench disk and can not find it which section is it in.

[adonay]

look inside hdtools folder on the install workbench disk(the one you boot from)

adonay :-D

*edit* or just run hd setup this will do the trick too

[pudwink]

I have put my work bench 3.0 disk in and it boots up.
but the options i have is:
prefs,utilities,wbstartup,expansion,system,devs,t,c,l,rexxc,classes,libs and s.

[banzai]

To calculate blocks per cylinder (BpC), just multiply the number of heads by the blocks per track. A cylinder is just the same track number of each disk platter (two heads per platter) stacked above one another (creating a "cylinder" of tracks). So, in your case, it'd be 1024 BpC (16 heads x 64 sectors - remember that computers start counting sectors at "0"!).

On laptop drives, it's unlikely you have 8 disk platters in there - it's using drive translation to be compatible with the BIOS settings of PCs.

Now, about that Microbotics disk...

That program is probably looking for the "mb_scsi.device", and since it can't find it, it's asking for you to punch in the numbers that it would've easily found if the drive/controller were actually in there. Since you're using the A1200's IDE controller, then you want to boot with a Workbench 3.x (or Install) disk, and use the HDToolbox instead. If you use the standard IDE/SCSI setup, you may notice the size reported in negative numbers - this is normal, as it's seeing the MSB as a signed integer. Newer versions of the HDToolbox have fixed this. Also, the first partition of the HD should be =<2.1GB to ensure compatibility and bootability.

banzai

[pudwink]

As of my previous reply i have put in my workbench disk but can not find hd toolbox i would love to get this hard drive set up but at the moment not having much luck.

[banzai]

Boy, you guys are fast - three posts before I could hit submit...

Anyway, the HDToolbox should be in the HDTools drawer on the Install disk. I don't remember if it was thrown on the WorkBench Extras disk or not (look in the Tools drawer).

If all you got was the WorkBench3.0 disk, then you're in trouble, and need to find someone who has a copy of the full set of disks.

banzai

[pudwink]

Looks like i have not got the work bench install disk anyone got any ideas where i can get one from or an answer to my problem with the microbotics hardframe utility disc i have got,tried a early answer but still would not work.

[banzai]

Again, the Microbotics disk will work ONLY with Microbotics hardware. Unless you've got some kind of A1200 SCSI card in there, then that disk is useless to you.

If you don't have an Amiga-owning buddy, then you may have to spring for the OS3.1 ROM kit, which has floppies.

If you purchased this A1200 used from someone, then take the person to task for forgetting the disks.

I don't know if it's considered illegal for anyone to send you a copied set of 3.0 disks or not, seeing as you do own the hardware portion of it... Moderators?

banzai

[Thomas]

If you purchased this A1200 used from someone, then take the person to task for forgetting the disks.

If only the install disk is missing, then he probably didn't foreget it but didn't own it either. Amigas without HDD came without an install disk.

Bye,
Thomas

[naffgorr]

Hmm, isnt a 4.1gb a bit too big?
What kickstart version have you got? Im not sure, but i think kickstarts 3.1 and below doesnt support disks with sizes over 4 gb.. or something like that..

[Munchkin]

naffgorr wrote:
Hmm, isnt a 4.1gb a bit too big?
What kickstart version have you got? Im not sure, but i think kickstarts 3.1 and below doesnt support disks with sizes over 4 gb.. or something like that..

No kickstart supports larger than 4GB. You have to get the 3.1 rom and then install either WB3.5 or 3.9 which fixes this issue with a patch at boottime, OR get the utility that makes it possible to use larger ones.. I can't remember what it was called now I'm afraid, it might be on aminet.

Hmm.. never had any 3.0 disks so I don't know where HDTooolbox is on those.. but it should be somewhere.