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

[wbrejnia]

FIGURE IT OUT ALL   (PC-BOOT/Amiga HD) issues. (Janus Versions have subtle variations)

** I wouldn't have had any of these issues if I had an Amiga Hard Drive, but I don't  (YET) **

*** THIS IS MIND BOGGLING. **
* I don't expect anyone to understand this, by  reading this post. You need to see the testing **

So I thought I was going crazy over last long while, and didn't know what I was doing.
I thought I may have HW issues, etc.

Hardly the truth.  
Everything in previous posts makes 100% sense to me now.
EVERYTHING IS WORKING as DESIGNED!!

This is what made me understand it all.

When trying to create a lo-Tech SD card Parition to Take to WinUAE, I didn't put in the WD-Controller/RLL drive.

This message came up, which I've seen before (INSERT Volume "WORK")



-> I investigated the Janus Install created WB disk to find that it has an "ABoot.ctrl" file.
-> In that ABoot file is a hard file entry to WORK:PDDrives/DriveC
--------> ** Disk was created from a Fresh/Untoched Factory Workbench 1.2 Disk **
--------> ** Workbench Disk was modified by Janus 2 Install Disk **
--------> ** I DID NOT CREATE THIS FILE, Janus 2 Install DID **

-> This is very similar to my WOrking Lo-Tech Workbench (Janus 1)
------> Janus-1 Workbench disk boots the Lotech (C: drive).  
------> Janus 2 does not Boot (just picks up the Lotech C: drive).

So what I've discovered is the various versions of Janus changed over time.

-> THE BRILLIANT AMIGA Engineers evolved JANUS over time as Computers/Peripherals Became available.
-> And left me to solve this undocumented technical Version-Mix MAZE.

Each version of Janus does things slightly differently.

ALL THESE PIECES are way to complicated to explain.

But in  nutshell.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> Janus 1 will Boot my Lotech C: drive (but needs WD/RLL drive present)
-----> Will NOT WORK from COLD AMIGA BOOT (needs CTRL-ALT-DEL BB-PC)
----->  Lotech/SD (must be at C800),  WD/RRL (CANNOT BE INSTALLED)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-> Janus 2 will NOT boot my Lotech C: drive (but will recognize Lotech)
-----> Will WORK from COLD AMIGA BOOT  
-----> WD/RLL (must be at C8000), Lotech/SD (must be at D800)
-----> Boot has to be from A: DRIVE (Floppy DOS boot disk)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And to further complicate things.

----> The WD/RLL drive will simply not Boot DOS (Even on 486)
---------> It will recognize C: drive (in Janus 1, and Janus 2)
-------------> So something is wrong with MBR, etc ()

My thoughts beyond this:

---> This is Certainly Janus Version differences (even within Janus 1)
-------> My original Workbench Disk has a Janus (filesize) smaller than All the Janus Libraries I have downloaded.
------------> So yet another (really early version of Janus) that worked.
------------> Problem is (I can see the Janus.library file but disk is corrupted to get full file)

---> It could even be that I need a BridgeBoard BIOS upgrade to work with newer versions of JANUS

SUMMARY:

Each Version of JANUS probes the "ISA Bus Via Bridgeboard"  the PHSYICAL Drives differently (who know how that is then done for Amiga Partitions within.).

I have some idea's how to solve this (For things to work they way I want).  Getting a HD for Amiga is one.
Stay tuned.

[Pat the Cat]

"Off the cuff" thought...

... If you can get the DriveC file from the disk you started the Amiga with back in your university days working with an old version of BB software...

... That should allow you to DJMount properly and get the BB started up from the old hard disk?

[Pat the Cat]

Might be a repost, but apparently somebody did a set of PC utils to help BB PCs access the Amiga side...

https://www.uni-due.de/~be0001/atutilities/

Probably not much use to you, will keep hunting for very old BB software.

[wbrejnia]

"Off the cuff" thought...

... If you can get the DriveC file from the disk you started the Amiga with back in your university days working with an old version of BB software...

... That should allow you to DJMount properly and get the BB started up from the old hard disk?

Pat, I am thinking like you are....

-> I can't get C: drive back (100%).  When I did image DUMP, it already had MBR missing.  I got everything past 2nd sector.

-> I am going to flip thru every OLD Floppy Workbench I have to find maybe 2nd Copy of that Really OLD JANUS.libary.

Right now I have the WD/RLL drive in the 486, and hacking at it to Patition, Format, and get it DOS Booting. (no luck yet).

[Pat the Cat]

I have a site for you - I have no idea if any of these installs will  work, but there is quite a selection to try.... even original Sidercar  install. Also 1.2 for A2000. SOMETHING should work.

https://web.archive.org/web/20101118020635/http://amigadisks.co.cc

All ADFs, good job you have a Gotek.

[wbrejnia]

I have a site for you - I have no idea if any of these installs will  work, but there is quite a selection to try.... even original Sidercar  install. Also 1.2 for A2000. SOMETHING should work.

https://web.archive.org/web/20101118020635/http://amigadisks.co.cc

All ADFs, good job you have a Gotek.

Pat, you got me excited when I saw these links BELOW.

A2088T Install-Disk V1.02. (327KB). File: _a2088.adf
A2088T Install-Disk V1.02. (327KB). File: _a2088t.adf

THEY LOOK like (TITLE WISE) like my ORIGINAL "BridgeBoard 2088" Floppy which is totally Dead.

But I guess you never clicked on them for Download like I did.
THE LINKS point to the "Wayback Machine" and they are all dead links.

Would have been interesting to see the ADF's.

Thanks for trying.

[Pat the Cat]

Blast. Sorry for that, am using a crawly slow net access...

... actual files should still be on there, they've been moved somewhere else.

Will find correct links and post, but very slow job and will need a faster connection to do the job properly.

[paul1981]

http://grandis.nu:81/eabsearch/search.php?_search_=1&search=a2088&category_id=&exclude=&limit=

The server seems down at the moment but it should be back on soon. I see install disks here. I think they moved the server or something recently.

[Pat the Cat]

"The Zone" has had a problem for... some time now. Thanks anyway Paul, did find it useful...

Hand searching, I did find this - link is live, works for me.

ftp://ftp:amiga@grandis.nu/Commodore_Amiga/App/Disk/2088-2286%20install%20disk(1988).adf

Other files that might be of interest, if not directly useful...

http://ftp://ftp:amiga@grandis.nu/Commodore_Amiga/App/Disk/Driver/_a2088t.dms

http://ftp://ftp:amiga@grandis.nu/Commodore_Amiga/App/Disk/Driver/_janus-setup.dms

http://ftp://ftp:amiga@grandis.nu/Commodore_Amiga/App/Archive/Driver/-sidecar.lha

http://ftp://ftp:amiga@grandis.nu/Commodore_Amiga/App/Archive/Driver/JANUS-DOCUMENTS.lha

EDIT: Some of Pauls links work now, try them.

[Raffaele]

User Athlas on Amigapage.it seems he had problems with Janus.Library.

He found some infos online that Janus.Library has serious problems on systems with more than 7,5 Megabyte of RAM installed.

When he disinstall his GVP expansion memory modules the Janus 2088 loads with no problems.

I wonder if this is also another of the common problems that affect Wbrejnia hardware configuration.

http://www.amigapage.it/index.php?op=v&pl=forum&id=F122014-2-35&page=0

[wbrejnia]

Thanks Everyone, going to look into all above.

BUT I have an UPDATE.

My RLL Drive might be one reason.  MIGHT BE THE REASON !!
Can't say for sure.

I could not get the RLL drive to AutoBoot in my 486. (so could explain Why things are buggy in Amiga PC)

-> I did LL-Formats (various drive parameters), repartitions, Format, even tried Ranish Boot Loader  (10-12 times, many hours spent)
----> The partitions slice up perfectly.
----> I can install DOS, format /s, read write, Norton, Spirite with 100% success.
----> But it won't Boot as C: drive in 486 (just like in Amiga PC).
----> IT ALL KIND OF POINTS TO THE MBR
-----------> AND more specifically to the Boot Sector

-> What is interesting is depending on Low Level format (Dynamic Parameters), [Works or  Unstable (mbr dissappears) ]
-> Everything has been guesses on parameters (specifically precompensation)
-----> Then I found in that JUMPER Enclyclopedia the parameters for KL330 HD for "Precompesation"  which (SPEFICIALLY) says

Precompensation  ---------------  
For the KL320/330,
precompensation is required on every track from  cylinder 300 to 615.
The optimum amount of precompensation is 12  nonoseconds for both early and late bits.

-----> http://www.uncreativelabs.de/th99/h/txt/1911.txt

I have been guessing precompesation=[1, and 128, and Non-Dyanmic Defaults].

Going to try one more LL-Format before I give up.

PLAN B: ($10)

---> I found a $10 (local seller)[FONT="] Seagate ST-11R[/FONT] Controller that has jumpers to Address D8000,
which  means I can make the RLL drive a D: drive and Lo-tech become C: Drive

PLAN C: (>$10)

--->  END THIS MISSERY (with 3-in-1 Solution)
--->  For extra Memory and a Hard Disk on Amiga, AND a BOOTABLE (8088 PC)
--->  Get something like one of these as Raffle recommends above
---> http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/impact2000hc8  (This is the User Manual and Install disks I was playing with)


I have to end this HOLD UP Struggle.  It's not fun anymore, and affecting my health (mental, sleep, etc).

The next part of this build will be fun, and productive.

[Pat the Cat]

Fair enough. You've got plenty of other projects to get sorted.

If it's not fun anymore, stop and take a nice big holiday. You've already covered miles and miles of effort.

[wbrejnia]

Fair enough. You've got plenty of other projects to get sorted.

If it's not fun anymore, stop and take a nice big holiday. You've already covered miles and miles of effort.

Yes, I took a break away from the Pain In the Ass RLL Drive.

But I did touch the Gotek and the LED Display which was disabled after adding the 2-Line LCD display.

GOTEK Floppy Drive Emulator MOD (3 Digit / 7 Segment LED Display)
--> Reverse Engineered the TM1651 Driver Chip (Serial Signalling, Data Structure, Commands)
-----> http://aitendo3.sakura.ne.jp/aitendo_data/product_img/ic/LED-driver/TM1651_%20V1.2/TM1651_V1.1_EN.pdf
-----> Simple 2 Wire (Data[I/O],ClocK)  driven from Any Aurduino Module

The goal for the final build will be to use the Aurdino MicroController to Display Centrally  the I/O Status  of the Hard Drives (including the Lotek SD Card Access) .

I can also piggy back sense the Gotek Control Buttons, to indicate the SLOT #'s just like originally working.

I now have full control of the display and created this simple animation.

NOTICE THE RLL drive is spinning Backwards

YOU TUBE VIDEO [Gotek LED Display Animation] (Hard to show Animation in Screen Shot)
https://youtu.be/qtPzclKb7rU

It wasn't easy since no documentation, started in Chinese, found a sample for similar Battery LCD module, and then once I had one segment working, the rest was just mapping.
 LCD also has 8 Brightness levels I can control.

Piece of cake compared to the RLL drive.

[wbrejnia]

The MYSTERY of the RLL Drive will be Solved (or Ended) (Got a Seagate ST11R Rll Drive Controller)

I did park the RLL drive issue, but not for long.

I stumbled upon a Local Seller that sells Retro Computing Parts.

He had a Seagate ST11R HD Controller Card for sale (VIA make an offer on Ebay)
http://www.uncreativelabs.de/th99/c/S-T/20196.htm

I offered $20 including Shipping and got it.

It's worth a last ditch effort for a try/validation.

Jumper Matchable (615-Cyl,5-heads,26-Sectors) to the DK330 RLL Drive, BUT ISA-Bus Address changeble to D8000, so I'll be able to make my RLL drive a "D:" drive.

If it works, then Lo-tech ISA/IDE-SD will become a "C:" drive and Should boot and Possibly DJMOUNT.

I'll have an answer to the Mystery, or simply give up and move on FOR GOOD!!

....And while I wait for the Card to arrive, this arrived....



"The Future was Here" is a book that suits my Build as I futurize this A2000.

Looks like a interesting nostalgic read.  Perfect for a break..

(I also got a replacement Left Shift KEY-CAP, which has been annoying not to have!)

[wbrejnia]

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW (EVERYDAY)  Arrgggh! Explained

Look at this picture.  DO YOU SEE ANYTHING WRONG?



Put aside the mess and the danger that something metallic could fall into the Amiga Motherboard (and fry my circuits).

I've been extra careful after one screw fell in.

Sure the monitor could fall over, but it's leaning backwards against the wall.

But there is something else that has been driving me crazy.

I've had discs go corrupt over the last while.
At first I thought it was the OLD 5.25" floppies.  JUST OLD.

But recently after the Gotek MOD work I lost a couple of 3.5" disks.

HERE IS THE REASON WHY!!!!!

Look at the picture again.



The lamp has a transformer in it.  At the base.
Emitting electromagnetic waves!!!

It's been frying (Degaussing) my disks  when I used the Lamp too Close to them.

Even fried the last two disks INSIDE the DRIVE when I put that lamp on top.
I figure it out when I made a new disk and put it back under the lamp.  Poof!! Erased again.

You learn something new everyday. .  
We'll at least I know, and I have a handy DISK ERASER if I need one

Thank God I never put it on top of my Hard to Replace GAME collection Floppy Box.
(Which reminds me,  I better make ADF copies of my Important Stuff)

[Raffaele]

Computer Museum needs Amigans:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=72143