DENEB booting off of a thumbdrive.

[MozzerFan]

Hi Bash, just remembered something important. Firmware v7 of the deneb comes with a watchdog. This means when in a short amount of time to many reboots are taking place, the deneb flashrom will be deactivated. If you have v7 and you try to boot from thumbdrive, wait about 10 seconds before rebooting. Otherwise the deneb flashrom is deactivated and poseidon will not be started, so the system can't boot from your thumbdrive. The new firmware on the E3B website doesn't have the watchdog thing anymore, so if you're uncomfortable with the watchdog thing, you can reflash the deneb with the new firmware.

Also check your PSU. You have many expansions in your A2000 (lucky you). Maybe your PSU isn't providing enough juice.

Regards,
Lloyd

[Darrin]

and don't forget to update the firmware to v9 and downloaded the new software from Chris' site.

[bash64]

Issue it totally resolved.

I'd like to know where this is in the documentation but here is what was wrong...

1) I would make changes to my settings in trident.
2) Run luciferin and reflash everything inlcuding psdstackloader which had my new settings in it. Luciferin asked if I wanted to clear reset vectors and I said yes. I rebooted to massive problems.
3) I just ran PsdRomTag after Luciferin and it fixed whatever was wrong. I now have NO SCSI in my system. The deneb is my only hard drive controller. Period.

Thumb drives are cheap and I don't expect to have a problem getting a new drive for my Amiga for a long time.

I can now move on to other important issues.
I am going to work with the author of FryingPan to make it work with usb burners. It may already do so according to him. I laso need to work out what the deal is with my usb audio acting like {bleep}.

I hope this helps somebody not waste a month of their life like I just did.

 :-o :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o

[save2600]

Thought I'd resurrect this glorious thread.

Spent half the day trying to get a different flash card to boot (because I'd like to actually back up my faux "HD", but for the life of me - can't!!

I've flashed, I've reset, I've formatted using FFS and SFS, used HDToolbox, HDInstallTools, you name it. I'm completely out of ideas here. Only Flashdrive I have ever been able to boot off of, is a cheap 128mb card that works under FFS.

Settings in Trident between the 2 cards are *exactly* the same. Card in question is a 4gb HP. I've released bindings, done the class scan, powercycles, blah - blah - blah. Do I need to perform some kind of an Indian rain dance now or what? Also, am noticing how flaky flashing Deneb is. Works only about 1/2 the time. Other half, I have to open my computer, hook the SCSI drive up, boot with that, and then re-flash Deneb for the umpteenth time. I'm looking at a Kickstart screen now after flashing Deneb  :-(  Oh well, guess I'll be used to keeping the tools nearby!

-update-

Trying to get the software back onto the HD and am having a helluva time. OS2.1 and OS3.1 don't have the right 'installer'? Ugghh. Oh yeah, they only have 'Install'. lol This is about the time I wish the software came on disk AND had the correct stuff included! Glad I had another floppy that happened to have 'Installer' on it  :-)  Oh, but wait... MUIMaster?  Ahhh, jeez. This is starting to feel like an Easter Egg hunt!

[MozzerFan]

Sometimes it's necessary to change the startup-delay for the usb device in trident prefs, otherwise the device won't be seen in the boot menu.
See http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41208

[save2600]

Thanks Lloyd, I did play with those settings, but still couldn't get it to boot. What's weird is that after every_other_Deneb_flash, even my tried and true card wouldn't boot!  

That's why I gave up. Threw the uber-fast Quantum SCSI Drive back in and she works like a champ again  :-)

[HammerD]

As you mentioned, also my "cheap" 1GB usb stick has random problems, but my SanDisk 4GB "Cruiser" USB stick works fine... Try another USB stick.

I am getting a second Deneb for my A4000T.  I just moved my original one over to my A4000D which is running OS4, and after some trial and error, I have loaded the OS3.9BB2 patches and SmartFileSystem into the flash so they are available at startup.  OS4 reboots the machine once the OS4 kernel is loaded so you have to change some options in Luciferin when you flash your Deneb...and you have to exclude Luciferin from Petunia (JIT), but it works

[save2600]

As you mentioned, also my "cheap" 1GB usb stick has random problems, but my SanDisk 4GB "Cruiser" USB stick works fine... Try another USB stick.

Running out of sticks here (only have 4 of the bloody things!)  lol

Petunia? WTF?!? Isn't that some kind of flower? lol

[save2600]

Finally got everything straightened out (back to SCSI that is) and the system is QUITE fast again. Starting to think I had some funky edge connector or dirty Zorro connectors 'cause all I did was remove the card several times while alternating the position of the "rescue" jumper. In any event, my experience has shown that while booting and using flash drives exclusively is "neat", the problems I experienced do not make it a worthwhile long term config scenario. Especially for those that want to stream music from USB to USB. Oh well, my A2500 is happy again! (til' the next upgrade or update that is). :-P

[Darrin]

My goal is to use it to replace my aging scsi system.
Do you know how hard it is to find a 4gb or smaller drive that is not ragged out? I bought a box of four of them on ebay. I'm down to two working ones. I need a NEW reliable set of drives to use.

Try a Bhudda (Buddha?  That fat chap from India) card.  I used one in my A2000 for ages to run the hard drive and CD/DVD ROM.