Query re upgrading ROM's and WB

[Hodgkinson]

Hi all,
Im looking to upgrade my OS...
Firstly, can my existing A1200 WB3.0 system run OK - And reliably - on a set of new WB3.1 ROM's, which I would probably buy from amigakit?

Secondly, can my WB3.0 system be upgraded to WB3.1 without having to rebuild and re-install the entire system (E.g., install over the top of WB3.0)? And without having to reinstall drivers or re-construct the entire startup-sequence from a backup of the old system?
Would there be any negative aspects to upgrading in this manner rather than rebuilding the system from scratch?
(Installing the new WB3.1 ROM's first, of course...)

And, what’s WB3.1 like for backwards compatibility to WB3.0 and earlier applications?

Thanks in advance,
Hodgkinson.

[mintfresh]

I'd be interested in knowing this too.

Also, on the same theme. Since 3.1 ROM's allow you to run 3.1, 3.5 and 3.9(I think) what are the major differences and requirments? Is there a reason why you wouldn't just upgrade to 3.9?

[Crisisdog]

Take all of my statements with a grain of salt, but in my experience, I was not able to run Workbench 3.0 on a set of Kickstart 3.1 ROMs.  It did all sorts of weird things and wouldn't load the WorkBench.

I always did a clean install, but I'm fairly positive that WB 3.1 has an "upgrade" option when installing.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, as it's been a while since I've done an install, but I'm pretty sure it's there.  As for WB 3.9, it's pretty much a prerequisite to have WB 3.1 already loaded and running as this comes on CD and requires a CD-ROM filesystem already in place to install.  Not sure if it will install from 3.0, but definitely does an upgrade from 3.1.

As for backwards compatibility, there are some minor differences between 3.0 and 3.1, mostly to allow better interoperability with RTG systems and Workbench screens of more than 256 colors, and maybe some data type changes.  But pretty much, if it works on 3.0, it usually will work on 3.1.  I'd be more concerned about apps requiring WB 2.x and 1.x.  WB 3.5 and 3.9 are nothing more than bug fixes and eye candy applications applied to the base 3.1 install, so again I wouldn't be too concerned about an app than ran on 3.1 not running on 3.9.


 :-D

[Matt_H]

I've never heard of a single program running under 3.0 and failing under 3.1. Release 3.1 might be the most stable and bug-free version of classic AmigaOS available (when not hacked and patched beyond recognition).

The 3.1 installer will not completely purge your system. Most things will be left alone, but anything in danger of being overwritten will just be moved into SYS:OLD. This does mean you'll need to manually restore commands from the startup-sequence and user-startup.

Perform a backup to be 100% safe. This can be as simple as copying SYS: to a subdirectory on another partition.

[rkauer]

 I`ve got no problems when I upgrade my 3.0 Miggy to 3.1, several years ago. And no, there's NOT A SINGLE PROGRAM wich refuses to run on WB 3.1 when it runs OK in 3.0.

 To install 3.5 or 3.9 you need 3.1 ROM only. No need to install 3.1 1st (the only thing you need is a bootable floppy, called "emergency disk", IIRC). And a CD-ROM attached to the system, of course. ;-)



 

[Hodgkinson]

Thanks for your advice.
Although I have a set of WB3.1 floppies, my only decent A1200 is currently in pieces as part of an upgrade project, so unfortunately I can't check to see if WB3.1 can actually install over the top of an existing WB3.0 system.

Can anyone positively confirm this before I splash out on some new ROM's?

Matt_H:

The 3.1 installer will not completely purge your system. Most things will be left alone, but anything in danger of being overwritten will just be moved into SYS:OLD. This does mean you'll need to manually restore commands from the startup-sequence and user-startup.

Perform a backup to be 100% safe. This can be as simple as copying SYS: to a subdirectory on another partition.

So basicially anything that already exists is automaticially copied to SYS:OLD as part of the install process? Is the user prompted for this? And existing files that don't need updating are left alone?

Thanks,
Hodgkinson.

[motorollin]

Hodgkinson wrote:
Although I have a set of WB3.1 floppies, my only decent A1200 is currently in pieces as part of an upgrade project, so unfortunately I can't check to see if WB3.1 can actually install over the top of an existing WB3.0 system.

Can anyone positively confirm this before I splash out on some new ROM's?

AFAIK you don't need the 3.1 ROM chips to run 3.1, though I have never actually tried this.

--
moto

[leofoe]

WB3.1 runs fine on KS3.0 ROM's.

[Hodgkinson]

Ah, but im aiming to upgrade...
Would WB3.0 work on KS3.1 ROM's, until I get around to upgrading the OS?

Thanks again,
Hodgkinson.

[rkauer]

 You can install WB3.1 over 3.0 without losses of libs, if that's you afraid for.

 IIRC, WB3.0 don't run "comfortably" with 3.1 ROMs.

[jasper]

I'm thinking about upgrading my Kickstart Roms too but whats the correct and safest way of removing the old Roms without bending the pins and is there a removal tool supplied with the new roms?

[Hodgkinson]

Problem areas if they are altered...
-Libs
-Startup sequence
-Screen prefs and overscan settings (Colours...)
-Additional system tools in C: (One or two have appeared   from somewhere)
-Some special additional files added by AmiTCP into the system folders
-HyperCOM PortJunior device driver

What would be better - Installing WB3.1 over WB3.0 with KS3.0, then upgrading to KS3.1, or installing WB3.1 over WB3.0 with KS3.1 already installed?

Thanks for your help,
Hodgkinson.

[Hodgkinson]

@Jasper
Somthing like this, perhaps:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=522&osCsid=10960a1a2d5e7350778691421bd9c65d

Oh, and do it slowly...Sometimes chips have a tendancy to "Flop over" when there are just a few pins in a corner of a socket left engaged and the force with which you are pulling the chip causes the chip to lean over, bending the pins.

(Pins can be straightened, but they are affected by metal fatiuge)

This is also a good idea:
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=110&osCsid=10960a1a2d5e7350778691421bd9c65d

Hodgkinson.