Workbench Question

[ami500]

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?

[Jose]

Short answer:  Yes. If my memory doesn't fail me, you won't even be able to boot WB 2.0  cause the filesystem in WB2.0 is updated.

[Ilwrath]

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?

Correct that you can not run Workbench 2.x at all.  It checks for the ROM at startup.  The only way around this would be to softkick the 2.x ROM image, which will chew up some of your RAM, provided you have more than 1.5 meg total.  If you have only 1MB RAM, I don't think you can softkick.

As I remember it, for 1.x and 2.x, the major number matters.  
ie,
you can run Workbench 1.3 from a 1.2 ROM.  
or you can run Workbench 2.1 from a 2.04 ROM.  
but you can't run Workbench 2.04 from a 1.3 ROM.
This held true a bit into 3.0 series, as you can run Workbench 3.1 from a 3.0 ROM, as well.

Then it all went wacky with 3.5 requiring a 3.1 rom.  :-P

[ami500]

Ilwrath wrote:

I'm just wondering, since my amiga has kickstart 1.3, am I able to run Workbench 2.x at all? Does the ROM have to match?

Correct that you can not run Workbench 2.x at all.  It checks for the ROM at startup.  The only way around this would be to softkick the 2.x ROM image, which will chew up some of your RAM, provided you have more than 1.5 meg total.  If you have only 1MB RAM, I don't think you can softkick.

As I remember it, for 1.x and 2.x, the major number matters.  
ie,
you can run Workbench 1.3 from a 1.2 ROM.  
or you can run Workbench 2.1 from a 2.04 ROM.  
but you can't run Workbench 2.04 from a 1.3 ROM.
This held true a bit into 3.0 series, as you can run Workbench 3.1 from a 3.0 ROM, as well.

Then it all went wacky with 3.5 requiring a 3.1 rom.  :-P

Ok then, how would I "soft boot" the rom?

The reason I want to run 2.x is to be able to read pc formatted floppies. Or is it possible with workbench 1.3 that I just havn't found yet?

[hnl_dk]

Try this one:
http://aminet.net/misc/emu/multidos1_12.lzh
http://membres.lycos.fr/schaffner/amiga/multidos/readme.txt

[xeron]

MessyDOS from Aminet can read DOS floppies under 1.3.

[ami500]

Thanks guys, but to get these programs on, I'll require the amiga to be able to read dos disks in the first place. Yea, catch-22.

But it looks like I've sourced a rom chip from a local dealer here for a 2.04 rom for my amiga 500.

One more question on that though, if I install the 2.04 rom chip, will I still require workbench 2.1 to be able to read dos disks from, or will it work under workbench 1.3 as long as I have the 2.04 rom? EDIT: That's assuming that workbench 1.3 works with rom 2.04.

Thanks.

[xeron]

You need workbench disks to use CrossDOS, since it is provided on the disks and not the ROM.

[bloodline]

ami500 wrote:
Thanks guys, but to get these programs on, I'll require the amiga to be able to read dos disks in the first place. Yea, catch-22.

But it looks like I've sourced a rom chip from a local dealer here for a 2.04 rom for my amiga 500.

One more question on that though, if I install the 2.04 rom chip, will I still require workbench 2.1 to be able to read dos disks from, or will it work under workbench 1.3 as long as I have the 2.04 rom? EDIT: That's assuming that workbench 1.3 works with rom 2.04.

Thanks.

I should pont out it is not the ROM that has the DOS driver for 720K disks.

You can boot a 2.x machine with the 1.3 Workbench, but there is no point as the 720K disk software was park of Workbench.

 I have never used 720K disks on a 2.x system but, on a 3.x system you will find PC0 and PC1 device drivers on the storage disks.

[ami500]

Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know.

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.

[Thomas]

You could use this to transfer files from PC to Amiga without floppy disks: http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/homepage/c725/c72578/amiga/

Bye,
Thomas

[bloodline]

ami500 wrote:
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know.

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.

You will need The "CrossDos" software. that will run on any version of Workbench, but it might come with WB2.x

[ami500]

bloodline wrote:

ami500 wrote:
Ok this is a little confusing ATM.

So It's not the rom that adds the ability to mount PC0, but workbench 2.x and above?

But to use version 2.x of workbench I require a 2.x rom. That bit I know.

So I'll be needing to buy workbench 2.1 along with the 2.04 rom? I just want to know if I can save $20 in not buying workbench 2.1.

You will need The "CrossDos" software. that will run on any version of Workbench, but it might come with WB2.x

Mmmmm... According to this:

http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-crossdos.shtml

It's in workbench 2.1 and above.

I'll pretty much need to buy workbench 2.1 then as I do want the ability to read straight from pc formatted floppies.

And Thomas, that looks very interesting. And while I do actually have the appropriate null modem cable, I might put that one in the "tinker with" Pile. But seriously, that does look very interesting how they did that.

[pjhutch]

Unfortunately, its next to impossible getting WB 2.1 and 2.x ROMs. BUT you can get WB 3.1 and KS 3.1 ROMs from most Amiga suppliers. WB3.1 includes Crossdos.

[Ilwrath]

It's in workbench 2.1 and above.

Correct.  CrossDOS was NOT in Workbench 2.04.

WB2.1 will run on a 2.04 ROM, though.

However, unless you can source the 2.1 workbench and 2.04 ROM very cheaply, it might make more sense to take the plunge all the way to 3.1, just to be current.  Lots of stuff requires at least 3.0 or greater.