A2000 Formatted HELP!

[iamaboringperson]

@N7VQM
What you might be thinking about are IDE drives.
Don't low-level format an IDE drive.
With SCSI drives it should be fine, but it is only needed once.
Once low-level formatted, you can use it on any computer.

[Piru]

You MUST then do a Low-Level Format on the NEW hard drive. What I mean by new is a hard drive that has never been formatted on an Amiga before.

No! You must NOT low level format.

Like said before this probably only render your hard drive unusable. In fact, most modern drives ignore the low level format command anyway (even SCSI drives!).

The physical layout of the hard disk is the same, regardless of the used hardware/OS. You do not need to and must not low level format.

[ddogg66]

So I will not do a low-level format. Like I mentioned before, the SCSI drive had already been formatted, That is not the issue. What I need to know is this:

Is using HDToolbox the only way I can create partions on my drive? If so, where can I DL this software?

If there is another method for creating partions I need to know. The only way I can boot is with the 1.3 disk. When I do so the 1.3 disk icon is on the workbench but NOTHING ELSE. My HD isn't being recognized. When I type in command like '1> copy df0: to dh0: all clone' i get a bad argument response. Anytime i tell the system to do something to DH0 it says to insert that disk or gives me an output error. If i could make these 2 default partions everyone is mentioning, then I could copy the workbench disk over to my bootable partion, right? At that point I could re-boot and begin installing all my other soft right? :-?

[iamaboringperson]

Okay, if you don't get a disk icon, it's not formated or partitioned for the Amiga.
One thing that you must remember is that 'DH0:' is a name that you might give the partition.
You can give you partitions whatever name you desire.
Also don't type the '1>' part! it isn't part of the command.
You need to find HDToolBox, or another HDD partitioning utility(GVP have their own). and first create a partition.
Once you have a partition, you will see an icon for it - with a name that begins with the name you gave the partition.
Then you may format it, and after copy what you want to it.

[ddogg66]

OK. I've tried using the GVP disk to make partitions. I tried to boot from my GVP disk but it only works sometimes?? Here is what I did to get the GVP disk to work: Boot on 1.3 disk, hit right Amiga and letter"E", hit return (created Ram Disk) copied WB disk onto Ram Disk, ejected WB disk, inserted GVP disk and opened faastPrep utility. I opened the formatting utility (faastprep) but when I chose SCSI and then 'automatic installation' i got an error message 'can't open gvpscsi.device. /EU& *something* in?, autoboot enabled?, binddrivers?' or something to that effect. Any suggestions? Should I be able to boot from the GVP disk and create partition w/o a prob? I also tried copying both the WB disk and GVP disk to ram disk then inserted WB disk again. Loaded GVP faastprep sof, and i see the interface load that is suppossed to help me partion, but then i get the screen that gives me the "automatic installation" option and the "manual installation" option. When I click on either one i still get the message:

                     'can't open gvpscsi.device.
 *something* in?, autoboot enabled?, binddrivers?'

agh! I'm almost there! Why do i get this error message??

my A2000 is opened up so that I can give you a detailed account of my hardware/software.

•Amiga 2000 Rev 6.2 MBoard Copywrite 1988
•Trump Pro Card
•[Great Valley Products 50 MHZ ?accelorator? board (looks like 2 boards put together, text on both boards. One says A2000-030 Rev. 7 and the other A2000-RAM32 Rev. 3)
•HDD: Quantum ProDrive 210S

OK. Now you know what is in my system (besides a toaster card and 2 DPS TBC cards)

Now here is the software that I do have:

•Workbench 1.3 & extras disk
•GVP Impact Series II 030 Install Disk & Harddisk installation
•Trump Pro Configuaration Utilities Rev. Z.1C

So can I do what I want with the software/hardware I have? I can't belive this is so difficult :-(

Thanks so much everybody. I'd de so totally lost w/o you all!
 :-D

[iamaboringperson]

Boot on 1.3 disk, hit right Amiga and letter"E", hit return (created Ram Disk) copied WB disk onto Ram Disk, ejected WB disk,

I don't see what need there is to copy the WB disk tor RAM:
Don't do that.

I chose SCSI and then 'automatic installation' i got an error message 'can't open gvpscsi.device.

'gvpscsi.device' should be located in the ROM of your accelerator card.
Perhaps you have the wrong device number? or you are out of memory, since you have copied so much to the RAM: disk.

Should I be able to boot from the GVP disk and create partition w/o a prob?

From my memory - you should be able to boot from that disk with out a problem.

I also tried copying both the WB disk and GVP disk to ram disk then inserted WB disk again.

May I just ask why you feel the need to do that? What are you thinking?

Try booting from the GVP disk.
Don't copy things to RAM disk when there is no need.
Try some of the configuration display utils on the disk.

Do you have a manual for the card?

[ddogg66]

I don't see what need there is to copy the WB disk tor RAM:

I have no idea really. Just trying everything I can. :-(

'gvpscsi.device' should be located in the ROM of your accelerator card.
Perhaps you have the wrong device number?

What do you mean wrong Device#? What does that mean? (Remember, I know nothing)

From my memory - you should be able to boot from that disk with out a problem. (GVP disk)

When I do a warm-boot (ctrl+right Amiga key) The disk begins to load, but then my mouse freezes and the drive light stays on w/o anything happening that i can tell, same behavior if I cold-boot (turn system off for 5 seconds and back on with GVP disk in drive)

"I also tried copying both the WB disk and GVP disk to ram disk then inserted WB disk again."
May I just ask why you feel the need to do that? What are you thinking?

Again, I have no idea. This is my very first attempt at doing anything with my A2000 besides turning it on and starting my toaster software. I have no other experience other than that :-(

Try booting from the GVP disk.
Don't copy things to RAM disk when there is no need.
Try some of the configuration display utils on the disk.

I seem to get the error message everytime i try to use faastprep (a tool on the GVP disk) other apps on that disk i have tried but to no avail. I thought it may be because the WB disk wasn't installed which is why i did all the ram disk stuff :-?

Do you have a manual for the card?

Wish i did. Literally, all i got with my amiga was the computer, keyboard, mouse and that is it. No manuals or software. All the soft I do have was copied by a friend for me recently. 8-)
Still up a creek....any  more suggestions would be great!!

[ddogg66]

please disregard this post as i was unable to delete a duplicate

[Wain]

Did some searching for info on Trumpcard Pro, and all I could come up with was this...

"when booting from floppy disk, the hard disk is not mounted automatically in order to prevent virus infection - but pressing the left mouse button during startup forces the HD to be mounted"

Could this be part of the problem???  If the drive's formatted, but not mounted you're not gonna' see it.

Will keep looking for you.   :-D

[Amigadude]

ddogg66 wrote:
So I will not do a low-level format. Like I mentioned before, the SCSI drive had already been formatted, That is not the issue. What I need to know is this:

Do not low-level format

Is using HDToolbox the only way I can create partions on my drive? If so, where can I DL this software?

No HDToolbox isn't the only software to create partitions, software to partition the drive should of come with the harddrive controller card.  Even if you download it how you going to get it onto the Amiga?  Nothing else can format Amiga disks & no PC disk reading util comes with wb1.3

If there is another method for creating partions I need to know. The only way I can boot is with the 1.3 disk. When I do so the 1.3 disk icon is on the workbench but NOTHING ELSE. My HD isn't being recognized. When I type in command like '1> copy df0: to dh0: all clone' i get a bad argument response.

Not sure what going on but you need to find out if any partitions r on the drive....

Dunno if this worked the same under wb1.3 (I'm using 3.1 here) but try the command 'info' in a CLI/Shell & post the output here.

On my machine it produces this output:

15> info

Mounted disks:
Unit      Size    Used    Free Full Errs   Status   Name
RAM:       17M   18294       0 100%   0  Read/Write Ram Disk
HD0:      152M  186054  125943  60%   0  Read/Write workbench
DF0:      No disk present
HD1:      171M  108186  242211  31%   0  Read/Write BackUp

Volumes available:
Ram Disk [Mounted]
BackUp [Mounted]
workbench [Mounted]
15>


To format the main system partition I'd use:
Format DEVICE HD0: NAME Workbench FFS NOICONS

The 1.3 version of the format command might be different (I don't have it here...) so if you get an error get the command template and post here.

To get a template type ?
Format ? in this case.

The SCSI/CPU card I've never seen or used, but I would guess the software that came with the card would have partitioning s/w that can set a partition to be bootable.  I've never used the install command to make a harddrive bootable (works on floppies) but then again I never had a harddrive on a machine with less than 3.0.

Hope I helped a little...

    JohnN aka Amigadude

[ddogg66]

 :-D Thanks for caring Wain!

I did a cold-boot with the GVP card inserted. When AmigaDOS started i held down the left mouse button. The DOS screen said it was" restting to 68000 processor" or something. Then it re-booted and all the sudden i have not only the GVP disk mounted, but also a disk called "untitled" and a ram disk!! :-D Whee!! We are getting closer!! What should I do next? I'm going to try and run the faaast prep application again...ok, tried it but still get the same error message as listed before "can't open gvpSCSI.device..."

Should I try copying to untitled disk or formatting?

Thanks again!!

[Wain]

IVS' drivers can be downloaded from here, they're in DMS format, and the site's in German but it should still work.

http://www.planetmulti.de/TreiberSektor/IVS/ivs.html

That is assuming you have an IVS card, for some reason I keep thinking you said somewhere the you have an IVS trumpcard controller, but I'm not seeing it anywhere in the previous messages.  If I'm wrong just ignore me and I'll eventually shut up and go away  
 ;-)

[ddogg66]

here is what I have:
•Amiga 2000 Rev 6.2 MBoard Copywrite 1988
•Trump Card Pro
•[Great Valley Products 50 MHZ ?accelorator? board (looks like 2 boards put together, text on both boards. One says A2000-030 Rev. 7 and the other A2000-RAM32 Rev. 3)
•HDD: Quantum ProDrive 210S

is my trump card IVS? If so i can DL the drivers from the link, move the file to a floppy and install on amiga? When and how should this be done?

[Wain]

IVS is the manufacturer of the Trumpcard and Trumcard professional SCSI controllers.  I'm not sure if this is the same as what you are saying is "Trump Pro" or not, but I'm not seeing anything else with a name like that in the big book of amiga hardware.

[ddogg66]

Trumcard professional

That is the card i have, no doubt :-)

[Wain]

Okay, from what I've gathered (mind you it's been a LONG time since I've used an Amiga), it looks like you're having problems because you're trying to load the drivers for the GVP accelerator, which it can't find because you formatted your hard drive.

Hitting the left-mouse button during your bootup disabled the GVP accelerator and rebooted your system under the original 68000 CPU.

If your harddrive is coming up as 'Untitled' I can only assume that means that it's both mounted and formatted, and now just needs Workbench installed on it, and then your GVP software.  I however have absolutely no memory of how to do this, you might want to check the earlier advice some people have given in this thread.

It sounds like the hard drive is prepared, it just needs to have workbench copied over to it, probably some kind of copy sys: command or something.  After that, you're going to want to install the GVP software again.


mind you I could be really wrong.