Softloading Kickstart 3.1

[dandelion]

I have a Kickstart 3.0 Amiga 4000 and would like to upgrade it to 3.1 so that I can install OS 3.9 etc. The problem is Kickstart 3.1 roms for Amiga 4000s are few and far between. I've heard that it's possible to softload the rom images with certain applications.

Firstly, is this possible and if so what application(s) would I need to do this.

Secondly, what disadvantages are there to this over using the actual roms? I have PLENTY of fast ram (140 megs or so) and a Cyberstorm 060/50.

I fully intend to get the real roms installed when some surface. Does anyone know of dealers in the UK that still have 4000 roms available?

Many thanks,

Dandelion

[Ryu]

powerc and analogic.

Softkicking arom you dont legally own is something I would not condone. A4000 3.1 roms can still be got, and are not as hard to find as you make out.

[redrumloa]

Buy Amigaforever and load it's 3.1 rom into Kickflash:-)

[AJS]

dandelion

Power Computing Still list them on their Website £25.99
http://powerc.com/


Andy

[amiga1260]

You only need is to use Blizzmagic to load a kickstart rom 3.1, but you are better of to buy those kickstart 3.1 roms. If you use a softkick rom, you lose 1 MB of RAM to use OS 3.9. OS 3.9 needs also to softkick some functions.

[Piru]

You only need is to use Blizzmagic to load a kickstart rom 3.1, but you are better of to buy those kickstart 3.1 roms.

Blizzmagic is for Blizzard 1230/1240/1260, not Cyberstorm.

BlizKick might work, depending on the Cyberstorm version.

If you use a softkick rom, you lose 1 MB of RAM to use OS 3.9. OS 3.9 needs also to softkick some functions.

You lose 512KB + few hundred kilobytes. Totally Insignificant with 140 megs of ram.

[Ilwrath]

This raises an interesting question to me.

Is there a way to patch up a version "3.9" kickstart image that could be blizkicked to directly?

Kinda what Kickflash does, but using the blizkick util, and still needing a single reboot....?  

Would that give full 3.9 support, with only needing the same memory allocation as a single blizkick'd 3.1?

[Damion]

@Ilwrath

Yes. In fact, there is a very detailed section in the
Blizkick docs which describes exactly how to do it.

Basically, Blizkick comes with a tool called
"romupdatesplit", which separates the romupdate into
it's individual segments. Then you can use them as
additional "modules". It's pretty cool, becasue
you can "dial in" the exact configuration you need.


 

[Ilwrath]

Yes. In fact, there is a very detailed section in the
Blizkick docs which describes exactly how to do it.

Alrighty... Call me a dolt.  I should update my utilities once every decade, or so.  Sometimes updates come out.  ;-)  

Looks like what I wanted.  I'll have to play around with it later.  

Thanks!!!!!!

[Damion]

@Ilwrath

Yes. In fact, there is a very detailed section in the
Blizkick docs which describes exactly how to do it.

Alrighty... Call me a dolt. I should update my utilities once every decade, or so. Sometimes updates come out.;-)

LOL, I promise I didn't intend for that comment
to sound as asenine as it did!! :-) Net communication
can be difficult sometimes, without those "real life"
nuances! :-)

[stefcep]

I have the same setup as you and did use blizkick.  it works and claims that your system will be faster and you can add other modules too with additional features.  BUT with OS 3.9 it means 3 resets on cold boot and i found some instabilty.  i couldn't notice the speedup in system performance either.  For me the cold boots were too infuriating ans so i disabled blizkick.  my system is rock sold now, more so than with blizkick installed.