Shapeshifter on 1200 Mediator/Voodoo system

[Angus]

Hi,

I'm trying to sort out Shapeshifter on my 1200/060 Mediator/Voodoo system, and I'm having some issues.

I think there may be something goin on with PrepareEmul because I can start Shapeshifter once okay, but the second time I start it (and afterwards) I get this message:

A/ROSE prep init31 - Failed to open driver

This forces me to reset and I get no more success afterwards. Actually if I delete my prefs file and star again, then it will at least start up okay.



I've also tried to improve the display, and downloaded an external p96 driver from Aminet, but this produces a "Cannot open screen" requester.

Any advice gratefully received.  

[Flashlab]

Do you get the A/ROSE error from ShapeShifter or from within MacOS? You must untick A/ROSE when you install MacOS. It doesn't work with ShapeShifter.

What version of Workbench do you use? I thought that OS3.9 BB2 with the ROM update eliminates the need for PrepareEmul or FusionReserve. I don't need it on my setup.

I use CardTrickEVD; that has a guide that you should really read. After some configuring it works fine here.

[Angus]

Yes, I'm on OS3.9 and I have taken PrepareEmul out of my startup-sequence - thanks.

I've installed Cardtrick, it looks pretty good during the Mac's startup. Although the pointer is a bit slow with 800x600 in 15/16 bit.

The A/ROSE error comes up halfway through loading the MacOS and I'm taken back to Workbench where a Shapeshifter requester comes up telling me to restart, holding down the Shift key, but so far that hasn't made any difference.

I don't know what A/ROSE is, I'm just using an old hardfile I had. Is there a way I can access the A/ROSE setting, or am I locked out?

Thanks again.  

[Flashlab]

During booting of MacOS you need to press the Shift key. Problem is that you need to time that pretty precisely; just before the splash screen comes up. You may have to try a few times. If you succeed you can look for the A/ROSE extension and put it in the trashcan; it will be disabled when you reboot the Mac.

It would be easier if you have a bootable hardfile of the MacOS version you're using. Then you can boot from that (and also mount this hardfile!) and run the installer. The installer has the option of uninstalling parts. Tick A/ROSE and uninstall it.

There are other graphic drivers for ShapeShifter. Just search Aminet with "ShapeShifter" as search word for some. Test them and se which works best for you.

[Angus]

The splash screen is the 2 faces logo thing?

[Flashlab]

jep!

[Angus]

Okay, that worked - thanks.  


I have tried reducing the resolution, and 256 colours, but the mouse pointer is still very jumpy.

How does one put the the hardfile on to the hard drive. I already have a partition reserved for it?

[Angus]

Okay, that worked - thanks.  


I have tried reducing the resolution, and 256 colours, but the mouse pointer is still very jumpy.

How does one put the the hardfile on to the hard drive. I already have a partition reserved for it?

[Flashlab]

Hardfiles are just files that are images of Mac HDs. ShapShifter can make them or you can download them. Then you can select them in the ShapeShifter config. On the Mac side you can then format them just like real HDs.

See for more info on how to configure ShapeShifer:
http://maconamiga.amigaworld.net/

About graphics drivers:
I use CardTrick too and you should always try to use Direct video modes. These are the fastest; the mousepointer movement is smooth on my setup. The driver should ask you which mode you want to use when you start the emulation. If not then turn Caps Lock on; this forces the driver to ask when you start the emulation. Note that not all graphic modes support Direct mode from the driver! 8-bit and 15-bit mode do support Direct mode on my setup...

[Angus]

I've been looking around various websites and the Cardtrick EVD seems to be well thought of. I have got it going quite well now, though there seems to be a fair amount of conflicting information about the internet. If I select MMU (not MMU/Delta which is slow) I get quite a good result. If I select Direct, Shapeshifter is unable to open a screen.

At the moment I'm trying to migrate my hardfile to a proper Partition. I select the partition in the prefs, but when I try and format it on the Mac side, after a moment it says the hard drives is broken. The partition is 7 gigs - is that too big? Do I need to prep things somehow with harddisktools?

[Framiga]

2GB is the limit with SS

[Angus]

Ah... okay thanks for that. Is it safe to divide the partition up with HDtools or might that affect the other partitions on my Miggy?

I think Shapeshifter allows 2 partitions doesn't it? So 2 partitions of 2 gigs each?

[Flashlab]

If you only delete the existing partition and form new ones in that space your existing Miggy partitions will be fine.

You can use two partitions and two hardfiles at the same time.

I used to work with dedicated partitions too but after I read that hardfiles with SFS filesystem work better/faster I switched to that. Formatting a hardfiles in SS is really fast compared to formatting a partition. So I recommend an Amiga partition on which you store your hardfiles. I have several hardfiles that have different purpopes (backup/system install etc...).

Too bad that Direct video mode isn't workig with your setup; it's the fastest mode. Maybe someone knows a solution?