Bootproblem A3000 - memory error

[McVenco]

I'm reviving an A3000 that I bought recently (semi-complete). After putting in some spare CIAs (which weren't onboard), I fired it up for the first time with a VGA monitor connected.

Now everything seems fine, I get into some Kickstart menu (the machine has 1.4 roms installed on board) where I can choose between 1.3 and 2.x, but when I insert a floppy and click on either of the 2 kickstart version buttons, a grey screen appears with orange letters saying:

"Error can't get memory! Reboot system"

On the mainboard the CHIP ram is fully populated, and there is no FAST ram (unfortunately).

Anyone know what causes this error? Do I need to set a jumper to a different position, and if so: which one(s)?


EDIT: the problem seems gone when after I plugged in the SCSI cable of the harddisk. However, the harddisk says "not a DOS disk", and when I boot from a 1.3 disk that I found, it starts booting, but halfway it returns an error "unknown command resident", and then stops. I've tried it with 2 different WB1.3 versions (1.3 and 1.3.2)

[adolescent]

Do you have an A3000 SuperKickstart disk?  The Kickstart 1.4 requires ROM files to be loaded from floppy or placed on specially named HD partitions.

There's a utility on Aminet that can create a SuperKickstart disk from a ROM image.  I've never tried it (got 2.04 ROMS the week after I bought my A3000) but it's worth a shot since you have access to other Amigas to create the disk.

[Matt_H]

So it sounds like the 'Can't get memory' error has been solved. I was wondering if the softkicked ROM had to be located in Fast RAM, since I think all early 3000s shipped with 1MB Chip and 1MB Fast.

I've found Kickstart 1.4 to be incredibly sensitive to the version of FFS being used. There's no version string in what I've got in my RDB right now, but it's 12248 bytes long and allows me to dual boot between the 1.3 and 2.1 partitions. I suspect it's from 1.3, but I'm not certain. It has to be plain FFS, not International.

[McVenco]

Do you have an A3000 SuperKickstart disk?  The Kickstart 1.4 requires ROM files to be loaded from floppy or placed on specially named HD partitions.

Ah, didn't think of that, though I've should have known probably :-)

There's a utility on Aminet that can create a SuperKickstart disk from a ROM image.  I've never tried it (got 2.04 ROMS the week after I bought my A3000) but it's worth a shot since you have access to other Amigas to create the disk.

Can a SuperKickstart disk be made from any ROM image, or only 2.x? I only have machine with 1.3 or 3.x ROMs, so I'll have to hunt elsewhere for a 2.x....

[Zac67]

On a SuperKickstart machine, you must have Fast RAM - either buy some or move over the 2nd MB Chip RAM to the Fast RAM sockets and jumper appropriately.
Another option is to replace the 1.4 boot ROMs with a ROM Kickstart 2+ (3.1 recommended).

The Kickstart is loaded from disk into Fast RAM (only) - if there's no RAM, there's no way to run any kickstart (other than hitting the invisible close button on the Kickstart selection window).

Of course you can generate a 3.x Superkick disk, too, but you'd lack the license to use it. Note that you'll need an A3000 Kickstart, otherwise your SCSI and Fast RAM will be missing (AFAIK).

[taunusand]

http://www.titan.co.nz/Amigaak/AA060105.htm

KICKSTARTS:
 1.4   or the 'Boot ROMs' looked for a file called devs:kickstart to boot up
 2.04  available in ROM and as a kickstart file. All 3000's were to come with
       either one of these.
 3.1   This is available as an upgrade

Would it be legal for me to mail my A3000's devs:kickstart to McVenco? I have it on my A3000D, and yes, it can not boot without it.

[McVenco]

Zac67 wrote:

On a SuperKickstart machine, you must have Fast RAM

Damn, that sux. ZIP rams are expensive. :-(

Yet, a while ago I saw a few of these SIMM to ZIP boards on Ebay, I believe they were called Simmfony or something. Does anyone know if they are still available somewhere (I believe some Dutchman made them, but I can't think of his name).

Of course you can generate a 3.x Superkick disk, too, but you'd lack the license to use it.

No I don't. I've got another A3000 - WITH 3.1 roms :-)

taunusand wrote:

Would it be legal for me to mail my A3000's devs:kickstart to McVenco? I have it on my A3000D, and yes, it can not boot without it.

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The A3000 apparently was sold with it and it's a viable part of the package with the 1.4 roms so I should have all rights to own it - well, just my opinion :-)

[TheGurb]

The dutchman is Michel something... check www.amiga-digital.nl I bought one of these boards and it's working perfectly in my A3000

[McVenco]

Amiga Digital, that was the name indeed... According to his site, the Simm-folie (fony, folie, almost the same :-)) will be on delivery soon again. Good to hear (and no need to buy way too expensive ZIPs)!

[Zac67]

Using any Kickstart 2.x file can't be illegal since all A3ks were sold with 2.x.
3.x is something completely different however.

To start with, you can use any 4x256K (414256/514256) or 4x1M (414400) DIP chips as well (8 pcs), but there's only one DIP bank, so you'll end up with 1 or 4 MB. 514256s are easy to find (old VGA boards or 286 mainboards), I just gave my last ones away.

Later on 4x1M DIPs could even be combined with 4x1M ZIPs (since static column DIPs don't exist, it wouldn't matter if you bought (rare) static column or fast page ZIPs).

[taunusand]

taunusand wrote:
Would it be legal for me to mail my A3000's devs:kickstart to McVenco? I have it on my A3000D, and yes, it can not boot without it.

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The A3000 apparently was sold with it and it's a viable part of the package with the 1.4 roms so I should have all rights to own it - well, just my opinion :-)

IF I can get some proof of how it is legal, PM me and I will mail it to you. If you would like it :-)

I would not like any stories about me and piracy  :roll:

[McVenco]

taunusand wrote:

IF I can get some proof of how it is legal, PM me and I will mail it to you. If you would like it :-)

I would not like any stories about me and piracy  :roll:

Meh, piracy. I respect amiga.org's policy about not wanting to have anything to do with piracy, but behind the scenes I've helped and been helped out by quite a few a.org members with software that officially may not be thrown around freely.
So sue me  :-D

Anyway, I will need to locate some Fast RAM first anyway, so either I take 4MB ZIPs from my other A3000, or I'll hunt down some other chips somewhere.. Or maybe I'll just take out out the 1.4 ROMs and replace them by decent 3.1 ones :-)