Author Topic: Advanced Amiga Analyzer found in storage (Read 2161 times)

LoadWB · « **on:** October 20, 2006, 06:53:35 AM »

So while I was home-ward on business I decided to break the rusty seal on a storage room which hasn't seen the light of day in several years. In it I found a treasure trove of Amiga and Commodore items. Of particular interest is a box chock full of Amiga World and a few other Amiga magazines.

But most interesting is the Advanced Amiga Analyzer I found, which I must have come across right before storing everything and moving to Tallahassee. At first glance it does not appear to be of any real use, just voltage indicators for all of the major ports. So, what good is it, really? How good is it at diagnosing problems with an Amiga system?

As an aside, I have brought home several other interesting items. As I unpack, catalog, and repack items which I have accumulated in Tally for the past seven years, I will begin to bring more out of storage. If I have anything to part with, I will post it here first. One thing I will be getting rid of is a MicroBiotics expansion for the 1000 which has 2MB RAM, and the optional SCSI and FPU cards. Sorry, I'm keeping the two MSD-2 drives :crazy:

Tesral · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2006, 08:31:22 AM »

I would be intrested in the SCSI for my A 1000. It would be fun.

ShawnDude · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2006, 01:11:13 PM »

If you decide to part with the Amiga World magazines, I would like a chance at them. Why did I sell mine several years ago?

LoadWB · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2006, 02:11:12 PM »

I think I'm going to work on scanning the Amiga Worlds into PDFs. ISTR that someone was working on such a project already, but he has to keep the mags...

Matt_H · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2006, 02:55:07 PM »

Never seen one in person, but the Amiga Analyzer is supposed to be able to check most components of a machine via interfacing with the ports. It's supposed to be able to tell you what's wrong with a machine, especially if that machine won't even boot up.

It was probably built as a quick diagnostic tool for dealers/repair shops to use before breaking out the multimeter.

Agafaster · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2006, 03:55:27 PM »

I remember a similar thing for the Speccy - it cost about 50 quid about 20 years ago...

ltstanfo · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2006, 04:18:00 PM »

Quote

LoadWB wrote:
But most interesting is the Advanced Amiga Analyzer I found, which I must have come across right before storing everything and moving to Tallahassee. At first glance it does not appear to be of any real use, just voltage indicators for all of the major ports. So, what good is it, really? How good is it at diagnosing problems with an Amiga system?

The Advanced Amiga Analyzer (AA2) was released to the public just as C= was going out of business. It was designed to provide hardware and software diagnosis for all Amigas from the A1000 - A3000 (limited support for A4000 series due to AGA and last generation chips).

The AA2 was a complete diagnostic harware and software analyzer. The analyzer cables plug into all AMIGA ports simultaneously and through software the AA2 displays eight screens to work with. The AA2 shows status of data ports, memory checker, system configuration and auto tests. Software tells you what errors are found and the chips/components responsible.

A picture of the item is here. I used to have one and it was worth the cost back then. IIRC it has issues running (software) properly under WB3.5 and 3.9 due to change in FFS and drive partition size. The port / hardware connections work just fine.

Regards,
Ltstanfo

EDIT: The driver disk for AA2 can be found here. PLEASE NOTE! - I do not know the legal status of these drivers being posted on the net. I do not advocate piracy so please be sure that the software in question is indeed "abandonware" before you download / use it. Software Piracy is against Amiga.org policy!

Amiga4k · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2006, 06:44:01 PM »

Matt H,

The AA2 is an excellent device. The hardware device only lets you know if the proper voltages are present on the ports. The software has to be booted to analyze the ports. The tests can not be "run" on a non-bootable machine.

Matt_H · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2006, 06:51:13 PM »

Quote

The AA2 is an excellent device. The hardware device only lets you know if the proper voltages are present on the ports. The software has to be booted to analyze the ports. The tests can not be "run" on a non-bootable machine.

I was under the impression that you'd run the software from another machine (serial link to the Analyzer) to diagnose the dead one?

« **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2006, 07:55:32 PM »

Jesus I am getting sick of this pussyfooting around because of the (possible) piracy issues and this site's policies. You are good to offer some help but have to keep looking over your shoulder about years old software. It's the same thing as the guy offering to burn 3.9 roms for no more than the price of chip & post. You try to help and then get flamed as a pirate or worry that you may be.

I say keep the Amiga alive by any means, even if it means piracy to keep the buggers going. Lets face it, there is not going to be much (if any) new 68k software in 10 years time as the Amiga.Com OS/5 will either take off, bomb or just never happen, and by then it will all be over.

To end this rant just enjoy your miggy and do what you have to do. Live long and prosper.

P.S. So that this does not get edited/deleted please note that I do not, have not and never ever, ever (cross my heart and hope to die) have supported piracy of any kind. Well, except for M$ who get everything they deserve. Oh and the recording industry, and Film Studios and, and etc....

:-D :-D :-D :-D

LoadWB · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2006, 08:06:39 PM »

Can I close this thread? Look, I agree and disagree altogether. But I absolutely refuse to have this informative discussion thread-jacked. If you don't like something said in a thread, start a new one and don't screw it up for everyone else.

Bubble, I'm not pointing at you specifically. I'm making a generalized comment on the lack of courtesy that some exercise in these forums.

Hey, Wayne, how about making a special forum just for copyright {bleep}ing?

« **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2006, 08:15:33 PM »

Sure LoadWB, it was wrong posted in here, I will repost in new thread. I just blew my stack
(CLI: STACK 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999) when I saw a genuine & informed person worried about helping out over this.

Regards, Bubble.

P.S. Thanks for not pointing, my mum said it is rude to point :-D

Re: Advanced Amiga Analyzer found in storage

Can I close this thread? Look, I agree and disagree altogether. But I absolutely refuse to have this informative discussion thread-jacked. If you don't like something said in a thread, start a new one and don't screw it up for everyone else.

Bubble, I'm not pointing at you specifically. I'm making a generalized comment on the lack of courtesy that some exercise in these forums.

Hey, Wayne, how about making a special forum just for copyright {bleep}ing?