Formatting CF (CompactFlash) with WinUAE- Dramas

[RedWarrior]

Jackpot! I had to killdisk the whole CF card (takes ages!) and have followed all the above- I'm now at the part where I have to define the drive type... heads, cylinders, numbers and settings galore... [edit]

I pressed the detect configuration button... all systems go... formatting... everything working so far!! unreal!

CF IDE installation tomorrow...  hope u can handle another round of questions!

Thanks heaps!!

=)

[TheGoose]

Very helpful to me, I was just thinking about this. I have a IDE CF card in my A1000. It's mounted so I can remove it, put it in a PC w/WinUAE for example. And with luck put downloads and stuff on it like in this process. New to WinUAE too.

[RedWarrior]

Ok- IDE/CF adaptor has arrived- I spent a day or so preparing the card with all the programs I wanted etc- though it seems the stupid adaptor doesn't fit on the IDE cable properly!!

It's the right width etc- standard 40 pin... though the Adaptor has a rather shallow "slot" with pins that are too short to make a proper connection with the IDE cable... I've tried phoning the computer shops for an alternative cable, but there seems to be no such thing....

My 600 came with a 3" drive adaptor... maybe I'll have to get another adaptor back to 2" with the right kind of socket?  so it will go- 2" to 3" to 2" to CF.... (yes, that sounds stupid!)

Anyone got any ideas?

Also- if there are any Brisbane Amigans out there- who remembers the name or phone number of that old shop in Morningside which were the last Amiga shop? I think they still sell computers and might be able to help, but can't remember the shop name or anything.

Input appreciated again!! =)
Cheers.

[RedWarrior]

Ok- I couldn't wait for sage advice, so I went out and bought one of those 3.5" to 2.5" adaptors to stick on the end of my 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor... (genius!)

the bits all connect, though when I power on- I get a black screen, and sometimes a bit of static. I changed the pin polarity, tried with and without power to the adaptor... (How do I upload a photo to show you what I mean?)



Is it possible I just purchased a dodgy adaptor? (looks like it's been in a drawer for 10 years) or could something dodgy happen with all that adapting going on?



There it is- that crappy looking thing with HX-IDE-K on it... when I unplug it, I get the usual kickstart anim.

No wonder this is such a niche hobby... what a royal pain in the a$$!

[Fingers]

All that adapting looks like bad news.

Try this:

See on the corner of the CF adaptor there is a white diagonal line? That indicates Pin 1.

Pin 1 is clearly indicated on the A600 motherboard.

Make sure they lead to each other.

Also, heat up the black plastic "seat" on the adaptor and slide it off, then the pins will be long enough to get inside the cable plug properly.

Just use the 2.5" cable only and what I said above :-)

PZ.

[RedWarrior]

ok- I like this idea! Have you tried this before? - Not sure of a safe way to heat the plastic though... I have a mini-blowtorch? Don't want to melt the thing obviously!

Appreciate the tip- though any cautions would also be handy!

cheers,
 =)

[Fingers]

Yep, I've done it at least five times to date :-)

The blowtorch will work, but you have to be REALLY careful not to apply too much heat/apply heat to the wrong places & do it outdoors in case of fume inhalation! It can end in disaster if not careful!

A messy, but much safer way, is to spray WD-40 into the plug.

PZ.

[RedWarrior]

God that was hard work!!

Ok- I've managed to remove the annoying plastic thing (and large chunks of my fingers) and have successfully attached the adaptor to the cable...

And it doesn't boot.

Had a few moments of black screen peril (power cord came out)... And now I've got the kickstart anim...

It's not booting from the CF card.

Looking in the boot/bios menu thing, there are some options for DF0 and CC0 (is that the CF card, or the PCMCIA slot?) - is there something I should enter in those parameters for a chance at hope, or has this whole project been a waste of time?

Thanks for the help so far...!

=)

ok- it gets worse... tried to restore my previous setup with the really loud 1gb hdd... it aint even loading now.  what have I done??
 :-?  :-?  Maybe I should repost this.. nobody reads after page 1 of posts...

[TheGoose]

Pretty dramatic so far. Act II scene I "The blowtorch"

Now that I see these different CF adapters, not all are good; I'd like to make a product recommendation, I have 2 of these. Please notice they have the follow features that cover you Amiga situation

40 and 44 pin connections!
44 pin needs no power adapter connected.
Has DMA jumper,
Has Master / Slave Jumper,
Proven to work in an A1000, A1200.
Hardware to mount it in at least two ways.
Comes in two colors!

http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/adidecf.asp