**Need Setup HELP** with Classic Amiga 2000 HARD DISK (Bridgeboard)

[wbrejnia]

Anyone have any info on Bridgeboard BIOS Rom Upgrades?

The Lo-Tech Flash ROM chip matches the ROM chip on the Bridgeboard.
If I can get a  copy of the Upgrade ROM image, I can have it installed for testing purposes

- (Proof that it will it work to fix IDE/Flash-Drives).
- Possibly fix the C: drive boot issue too.

If BB BIOS Upgrade works, that would be a big improvement.

[leofoe]

I think this thread may have useful information for you.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=76395

[wbrejnia]

I think this thread may have useful information for you.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=76395

This thread is amazing.    Links within are even better.
There is a link to technical manual with all the RAW keycodes, especially for my missing "\"

I'll need days to read this stuff.

[wbrejnia]

All Test results.  For ISA Storage Solutions for 8088 Bridgeboard PC.

All I wanted was a 8088 PC that would boot without the 5.25" Floppy.

The hard file solution works for a C: drive, but having to use a 3.5" Amiga Side Floppy isn't acceptable, since for it to work, I have to remove the WD controller and RLL Drive.
I did think of stripping down a Workbench disk with small C: HardFile, and putting it into Gotek for  boot.  But what value is a few byte for a C: drive.

I've left this with Lo-tech support, begging James Pearce for some debugging tools, or patch ROM on adapter to get it working.

Here is the summary of results, after Syba Compact Flash Adapter also failed to work on Lo-tech ISA/IDE Adapter.



Considering the money I spend and the time wasted I would have been better off overpaying for a Amiga Side Hard drive solution.
Then I could use the Hard File Solution for a C: drive, and sell the WD/RLL drive.

If I can get the Jdisk/Jlink solution working and a Amiga side Link C: File, that would allow me to have the RLL drive as a D: Drive
That would be acceptable and my next real big effort.  I did try dos 3.3 to see if RLL would boot.  No luck

Now I need a break.  Taking family away for a weekend getaway, and will be nice to get away from the Amiga and my RETRO LAB.

[wbrejnia]

Here is a picture of the Bottom of that Mystery box.

I think this is what is is

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_Technologies

Interesting.  The Wiki talks about McDonald Douglas the Air Craft company that built DC10 airplanes.
My dad worked in Tool and Die for 40 years at Mc Donald Douglas Canada (wing Division, Tool and Die)
Maybe he got it from some scrap area for a Trailer stool.
There might be a 8088 and few spare roms in there, and the 5.25" Drive, may be better than my 360K in the Amiga




Have a nice weekend.

Wally

[darkage]

Now that looks like a real machine!  haha I would restore and play around with hardware like that.

http://www.amiga.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5619&stc=1&d=1487916201

[Raffaele]

Anyone have any info on Bridgeboard BIOS Rom Upgrades?

The Lo-Tech Flash ROM chip matches the ROM chip on the Bridgeboard.
If I can get a  copy of the Upgrade ROM image, I can have it installed for testing purposes

- (Proof that it will it work to fix IDE/Flash-Drives).
- Possibly fix the C: drive boot issue too.

If BB BIOS Upgrade works, that would be a big improvement.

I will not touch Bridgeboard Bios as I think it is heavily patched to functioning with the dual environment.

However in the PDF file (Amiga Training Course) that was suggested some comments above, it is stated that it is a Phoenix Bios.

https://computerarchive.org/files/co...ing_Course.pdf

There is no info stating it is a standard BIOS, so be careful.

[Raffaele]

USEFUL HINT

In MSDOS when you want to copy files from a disk to another and you have only one disk mechanic you can use command COPY with this parameters

Copy A: A:

And you will be prompted to insert origin and destination disk when necessary.

Copy A:\command.com A:

Copies file command.com from origin disk to destination disk that requires be put in mechanic at request prompt.

On some advanced bios roms I found also this trick:

Copy A: B: even if you have only A: Mechanic

It worked the same as Copy A: A:

but it is very rare to found such useful trick implemented.

Also invoking disk B: at prompt let you use a second disk as there were two drive mechanics.

B:

Changes work directory to disk B:

You will be prompted to insert another disk.

I remember it worked for me on a couple PCs I used at University and in an office.

On the vaste majority of bios roms it caused an error.


[EDIT]

Take care of the fact I made suggestions using my memory recalls and integrating it with documents I found online. Some of my suggestion may be prove being false in the end, as my memory can be faulty.

[Raffaele]

I am just online reading Bridgeboard Manual from site http://www.traumstation.ch that was linked some comments above.

At Chapter 4 pag 19 (and forward) manual stated how to make a PC Hard Drive recognized by Bridgeboard.

You must enter Bridgeboard Setup Utility with ConTRoL+ALT+ESCape three fingers keys sequence, and it has to be run at full PC screen (that can be invoked with Right Amiga + F)

You must move to Hard Disk 0/Hard Disk 1 invoice.

It will open a Table of Hard Disks recognized by the Janus, and you must  navigate with PageUP/PageDown keys to choose the correct drive geometry or the one that match closest your drive geometry.

Entry 40 for Hard Disk 0 and Entry 42 for Hard Disk 1 will allow you to insert manually the parameters.


Entry 41 for Hard Disk 0 and Entry 43 for Hard Disk 1 will read parameters right straight from Hard Disks electronics.


I think that this is the trick to make both your RLL disk and CF Card being recognized by Bridgeboard at the same time

Both RLL Drive and CF Card are mastered by their controller cards, so you must invoke latter two paramters 41 and 43 in the Bridgeboard Table of Hard Disks from Setup Utilility Screen.

Hewre is the link to manual:

http://www.traumstation.ch/hardware/Commodore/Amiga/A2286-A2386%20Bridgeboard/BridgeBoard%20Manual.pdf



[EDIT]


Also I find an important parameter from Bridgeboard Utility Screen called BIOS SHADOW.

You may find instructions at Chapter 5 page 38 of the manual.

When enabled it loads PC BIOS in Upper Memory to make it act with more speed. Check if it is enabled/disabled.

It may be the cause your Janus BIOS sometimes is not loaded in memory.

[Raffaele]

(Retro Computing Device) What is it?  What's inside? (Challenge)



[/SIZE][/SIZE]

Looks like something from the 90's.. reminds me of something that either SGi, Sun or Digital would bring out.....  at first I wanted to say SGI but no funky colours, logo or unique shapes.

Yes it has 1990's design and it is modular on the front just as like japanese engineers preferred design for electronics. It recalls me of Sharp X68000 but it is not Sharp X68000.

Maybe it is some graphic station for Television Titling, and GFXs like Truevision Targa, or maybe it is some mainframe for engineering CAD in automobile or aereonautics industry just as you suspected.

Can you made some close photos of the rear to check if there were engraved names of the connector ports?

Have you tried to post these photos on a Retrocomputing forum? You may have better chance of find what it is.

[wbrejnia]

Yes it has 1990's design and it is modular on the front just as like japanese engineers preferred design for electronics. It recalls me of Sharp X68000 but it is not Sharp X68000.

Maybe it is some graphic station for Television Titling, and GFXs like Truevision Targa, or maybe it is some mainframe for engineering CAD in automobile or aereonautics industry just as you suspected.

Can you made some close photos of the rear to check if there were engraved names of the connector ports?

Have you tried to post these photos on a Retrocomputing forum? You may have better chance of find what it is.

Here you go.
I might post a photo of this on Vintage Computer Forum http://www.vcfed.org
That is where I'm starting a thread for the ISA/IDE adapter troubleshooting.

The Vintage computer forum is having a big conference in March.
Maybe this computer thing is special and I can be guest speaker

Here is the photo. I better put it in the garage
To take photo I had to clear off a big spider.
My wife is terrified of any spider.

[wbrejnia]

I am just online reading Bridgeboard Manual from site http://www.traumstation.ch that was linked some comments above.

At Chapter 4 pag 19 (and forward) manual stated how to make a PC Hard Drive recognized by Bridgeboard.

You must enter Bridgeboard Setup Utility with ConTRoL+ALT+ESCape three fingers keys sequence, and it has to be run at full PC screen (that can be invoked with Right Amiga + F)
...
[/url]



[EDIT]


Also I find an important parameter from Bridgeboard Utility Screen called BIOS SHADOW.

You may find instructions at Chapter 5 page 38 of the manual.

When enabled it loads PC BIOS in Upper Memory to make it act with more speed. Check if it is enabled/disabled.

It may be the cause your Janus BIOS sometimes is not loaded in memory.

Raffaelle,

Oh, I wish what you say worked.  That would be perfect.
I tried the CTRL-ALT-ESC many time before.
IT DOESN'T do anything.
Maybe part of my Keyboard map problem.  But I think not since CTRL works, ESC works and ALT works.

I think that is for higher Bridgeboards 386/486 that were made with newer BIOS.  That is why I keep thinking upgrading my Rev 3.5 Bios.

I HAVE A 8086 Bridgeboard, not the 386/486.

** IF SOMEONE HAS A 8088 Bridgeboard and they try CTRL-ALT-ESC at BIOS Boot **


But I think the boot loader in BIOS is pointing to my C: drive.

It must be the Boot block on the C: drive
It's won't boot (last time I tried in 486)

Plus it does try based on LED behavior to Boot from my RLL drive.

I disconnected the 5.25" floppy and look what happens



-The drive is (FORMATED /S)
-The drive is Parition (ACTIVE)
-The drive is a perfect C: drive, zero Errors.  Good file system.

What could BIOS want more for C: drive boot.  OLD Fat Boot Block?

That ADISK program does install a BOOT Block or something when it can't read Boot block.  Maybe I should Pull cable from RLL during ADISK.  Then put it back for the ADISK boot Block.

Maybe I should put RLL drive into 486, and play till I get it to boot (DOS version whatever)

Maybe install a mini Boot Loader on the Boot Sector of the Hard Drive???

Any more idea's

[wbrejnia]

[[[ IGNORE THIS POST ]]] I formatted the 5.25" floppy wrong format size, and it wasn't readable by Amiga PC 640K drive


I just replicated the behavior above.

- I booted my 486 off a original DOS 3.3 floppy
- I formatted a 5.25" floppy with "format"   (DOS 3.3 version)
- I did a "sys.com b:" of the 5.25" floppy

I put the 5.25" floppy in to the Amiga Bridgeboard PC (8086)

- I tried to boot the Amiga PC (with the Phoenix BIOS)
- Same message "Boot disk Failure.  Type any Key to retry"

AmigaPC (Pheonix BIOS) won't boot off the 5.25" floppy.  But the 486 will off the 3.5" DOS 3.3 original Disk. It booted with a DOS 6.2 Floppy.

THE AMIGA Pheonix BIOS wants something special.
Something in the MBR bootblock

I will play with Ramish Partition Manager to fix the B: disk, then do the same to the RLL drive.

Somehow clone the MBR from the Original DOS 3.3 Floppy.

[wbrejnia]

[BIG CLUE from Ramish Parition Manager]


Look at this.
I ran an IDE controller check using Ramish.



Maybe Ramish doesn't get things right.

But this shows there is no Primary or Secondary Controller or drive attached.
Yet the command is being run on PARTITION D: of the RLL Drive.

I'll have to put in the ISA/IDE Adapter, and see what Ramish picks up with same command.

[wbrejnia]

Hang on.

"Part -i" is an IDE check.
The WD controller and RLL drive is NOT IDE.  It's ST-506

But the ISA/IDE Adapter is IDE.

So using "part -i" with the Adapter in 486 and 8086 will be a good comparison test.

[Raffaele]

Raffaelle,

Oh, I wish what you say worked.  That would be perfect.
I tried the CTRL-ALT-ESC many time before.
IT DOESN'T do anything.
Maybe part of my Keyboard map problem.  But I think not since CTRL works, ESC works and ALT works.

I think that is for higher Bridgeboards 386/486 that were made with newer BIOS.  That is why I keep thinking upgrading my Rev 3.5 Bios.

I HAVE A 8086 Bridgeboard, not the 386/486.

** IF SOMEONE HAS A 8088 Bridgeboard and they try CTRL-ALT-ESC at BIOS Boot **

I went to AmigaResource.cx and I checked for Manual PDF file. Manual is common to Bridgeboard 8088 and 80286, and yes!

As you said, from some hints (Chapter 5 page 45, it is stated that 286 "has special Setup Utility".

Unfortunately so it seems that the Setup Utility is available starting from 286 Bridgeboard.

Any more idea's

From the same manual it seems that 8088 card should recognize automatically any hard drive controller xt card inserted into bus slot, so I dunno what is the problem.

I starting supposing that you must do installation with original DOS 3.3 disks provided with Janus XT Board and forget for a certain time the idea of using DOS 6.22.

Once you have setup BB and HD properly then you may think to made all updates to software.

A2088/A2286 Manual is available here:

http://amiga.resource.cx/manual/A2088-A2286.pdf

Appendix E (page 71) describes how to instal phisical Hard Drive to PC SIDE.

Somewhere in the manual I also read that installing real PC Hard Disk voids Autoboot from Autoboot PSEUDO Boot Drive into Amiga side. That could be another hint why you failed boot from autoboot virtual disk in your past tests.

It is stated in Appendis B page 58.

As long as it says to use FDISK command provided with Bridgeboard disks I think that this could be a clue to use 3.3 MSDOS Original Disks, and it stated clearly to set the partition as Active.

Maybe something changed from DOS 3.3 to 6.22 in FDisk command that may add some different sequences strings/hex-characters magic numbers in MBR to make an active partition.