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

[wbrejnia]

WD1002-27X HD Controller & Octagon ST-506 Hard Drive
 
 Comparing the info I have and the way things are connected, I'm 90% sure the cabling is correct.
 
 Here an update to all the specs I have.
 
 
 
 Next is the DOS driver investigation.

[wbrejnia]

Western Digital DISK CONTENTS (Looking very Promising)

Check this out. I was searching the Internet (no luck) for DLGMAKER.exe which makes a WD Disk.

This may be the disk (Contents of Disk #3 in the Photo)



Now all I need to do is copy over to a 5.25" for the Amiga DOS Drive, and try running some of these.
 
 Will check out the two .txt file to see what they say.

[wbrejnia]

Almost Giving up.  (Couldn't get access to 5.25" drive, and now Lost C: Hard Drive on 486).  
 
 The first problem I faced is I could only see the 3.5" floppy, but not the 5.25".  I assumed first was a: and 2nd b:  (so that limits my ablity to create a 5.25" DOS disk)
 
 The 5.25" did work a few years ago since I was able to create the one Boot Disk I have.
 
 This computer seems to boot differently each time. Can't breath near it.
 
 So I played around with cables, and things are sensitive.
 
 I now can't see the C: drive.  Only D: is visible (even from BIOS)
 
 Progress is going backwards, and I'm losing energy and hope.
 
 The Western Digital Disk Does boot by itself, and here is what the program looks like.  Seem to be geared toward ATA drive, so seems hopeless.
 
 
 

[wbrejnia]

Some cable wiggling fixed the C: drive. 486 is back up.

But still can't see the 5.25" disk as B: drive. ( I vagely remember there was some trick to see the B: Drive. Like disconnecting the A: drive. What's weird is the BIOS show the 3.5" a: drive as a 5.25" a: drive.)
 
 The only hint I have is doing a "dir a:" or "dir b:" gives me listing of the same 3.5" disk drive.
 
 From Windows there is only an a: drive.

[darkage]

Some cable wiggling fixed the C: drive. 486 is back up.

But still can't see the 5.25" disk as B: drive. ( I vagely remember there was some trick to see the B: Drive. Like disconnecting the A: drive. What's weird is the BIOS show the 3.5" a: drive as a 5.25" a: drive.)
 
 The only hint I have is doing a "dir a:" or "dir b:" gives me listing of the same 3.5" disk drive.
 
 From Windows there is only an a: drive.

Not sure how you have it hooked but, but theres is normally a twist in the cable which shows which is A: and B:.  Then of course it has to be specified within the BIOS.  

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/fdd/confCable-c.html

[Pat the Cat]

I think I know why Janus isn't starting up. It was written to cover all of 5 different products with the same software. That means, you have to run PCPrefs and tell it everything properly first before a PC side hard drive can be accessed from the Amiga. That's on Page 30. It has to be told which kind of Bridgeboard is connected at least.

Further, the drive settings are complex, but there is a setting for a PC hard drive on a PC controller to be mounted automatically, if you know which kind of hard drive it is.

Do have a read, it's very good.

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

[wbrejnia]

ERROR IN THIS POST: (Removing for update)

[wbrejnia]

Thanks for the Info ( Great Teamwork Here )

I've shown all I can below.

There is a twist in the cable. Both A: and B: are on same cable.

If I flip the Connector on the controller card the 5.25" B: drive light comes on and stay on (so wrong).

The connector on the 5.25" drive cannot be reverse due to slotted connector.

I even disconnect the 3.5" a: drive, and put the 5.25" b: drive as the 2nd connection on the cable (a: & b: ) or even  ( B: by itself) no luck.  Doesn't work on the latter since OS wasn't an A: drive to boot. (that could be changed in BIOS)




This is getting Crazy. We are not suppose to be fixing (TWO COMPUTERS). 3 if you count the Amiga a (2)

[Pat the Cat]

OK, so you got a 486 to verify that the hard drive is showing partitions. (Hooray).

That's not helpful to getting the data off if it isn't PC data. You have to do that through the Bridgeboard via Janus.

You probably have one partition of each type, I would think. Logical, there are two partitions. Or maybe you have the BB PC HD and something else in the 486.

And you have to arrange somewhere for the data to fit, too. I'd back off the drive. Give it a rest.

[darkage]

I even disconnect the 3.5" a: drive, and put the 5.25" b: drive as the 2nd connection on the cable (a: & b: ) or even  ( B: by itself) no luck.  Doesn't work on the latter since OS wasn't an A: drive to boot. (that could be changed in BIOS)

Have you tried swapping the power connector to confirm that works ?  Not sure if the 5.25 floppy actually works.  You will need to do basic trouibleshooting like swapping power connector and confirm original one works on another device, changing ribbon cable if  you have a spare (if you dont have a spare push down on the end connectors to make sure its got a good bite into the cable), is there another I/O card with floppy controller you can swap it with.  maybe something is up with the card.     Would be good if you have a spare 5.25 floppy somewhere to swap with.

Edit - Off topic, but I would recommend picking up a gotek floppy emulator and try to do every off floppy images.     It needs a modified firmware to work on a amiga, but should work ootb on a regular pc.  

https://cortexamigafloppydrive.wordpress.com/
http://amigastore.eu/en/323-usb-floppy-emulator-gotek.html  (already modified firmware, cheaper to get off ebay not modified)

[wbrejnia]

OK, so you got a 486 to verify that the hard drive is showing partitions. (Hooray).

That's not helpful to getting the data off if it isn't PC data. You have to do that through the Bridgeboard via Janus.

You probably have one partition of each type, I would think. Logical, there are two partitions. Or maybe you have the BB PC HD and something else in the 486.

And you have to arrange somewhere for the data to fit, too. I'd back off the drive. Give it a rest.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. THE 486 is the PC running Window 3.1 that I'm trying to get going to format a 5.25" disk for the bridgeboard PC.

The 486 is not the Amiga PC (that is the 8088 PC). I'm far from done.

[wbrejnia]

Have you tried swapping the power connector to confirm that works ? Not sure if the 5.25 floppy actually works. You will need to do basic trouibleshooting like swapping power connector and confirm original one works on another device, changing ribbon cable if you have a spare (if you dont have a spare push down on the end connectors to make sure its got a good byte into the cable), is there another I/O card with floppy controller you can swap it with. maybe something is up with the card. Would be good if you have a spare 5.25 floppy somewhere to swap with.

All good ideas!!

I did the power connector swap. All good either way, either drive.

It could be the ribbon cable and the bite as you say, since I once did see the 5.25" disk drive light blink on boot. Going to dig for another cable from another old PC.
 
 If I had a spare 5.25" floppy in another computer my problem wouldn't exist.  I could do what I need to do on that PC.  This is the only 5.25" disk I have, but that does bring an Idea to mind.  Take out the 5.25" from the 486 and put into another computer.

[darkage]

maybe even cleaning the edge connector on the floppy with some isopropyl alcohol might help ?

edit - its probably been 25 years since I touched a 5.25 floppy drive, but you might want to check it for jumper settings.  Looks like they came with termination settings.

http://blog.3b2.sk/igi/file.axd?file=2015%2F5%2F5.25-jumpers.pdf

Jumper settings on the floppy disk drives must not be changed from the default configuration
shown in the figures of the drives.
The only exception is the TM jumper (terminator), which must be removed when the 5.25"
drive is installed as the systems second drive. However, this terminator must be present if
the 5.25" drive is the only one present in the system. The terminator is always present on
3.5" drives, and is soldered on the board



Theres a cheap one for sale on ebay.ca  


http://preview.tinyurl.com/zez3qau

Edit - You could make a new friend http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71880

Look up manual for the controller card you are using

This might be helpful http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/working-with-st-506-interface-mfm-hard.html

[wbrejnia]

I will catch up on all your tips.
 
 This 486 Standalone PC issue shouldn't be happening.
 
 It worked before and has been sitting on shelf last two years.
 
 That B: 5.25" disk DRIVE worked and here is proof.
 
 
 
 I label the disk with the command I used a couple of year ago.  Because I learned that time that the Amiga 5.25" need to be formatted a certain size.
 
 the command was as at the top of the floppy on the sticker.  
 
 Clearly says B: for the DRIVE
 
 and the command was....
 
 format b:/F:360 /s

[wbrejnia]

LONG SHOT Possibility for B: Drive Not working.

To be Clear this is the 486 Windows PC (no B: Drive) , not the Amiga.

I was thinking of pulling out the 5.24" drive out for the Explorer computer

As I pulled out the cable I notice this.



It's perforated from a previously connected connector.

I don't think this is the reason since the A: Working Drive is after this punch.

But depending on what pins are needed this could be an issue.
 
 If I can put back another connector at this punch point, I may restore some needed connections.

[wbrejnia]

NOPE, the cable is good even with the punchthru.
 
 I tested each line with an ohm meter from One-Far-End to the Other.