Replacing an A2000 SCSI hd with a new one

[TheMagicM]

You probably already know about these people, but just in case you haven't heard of them (local to you);-

https://10bitworks.com/

Heard of them.. never been there before (too many hobbies, not enough time).   There's also a guy up in Round Rock (about, oh, 60-70 miles from me) that has a group that gets together and messes with Commodore stuff.  No BS'ing and drinking beer, reminiscing, but actual C= stuff, testing hardware, fixing hardware etc.  I'm going to go up there maybe this Sunday and bring my board.

Interesting you said that about the EEPROM on the A2620. I looked at the chips on the board..didnt want to peel off the sticker to see if it was an EEPROM, but if so, I can almost bet its probably shot.  I'd be as happy as a pig in shi* if thats what fixes it.

I also have an actual replacement SCSI hard drive that I can use in the meantime.   Now I need to dig up docs on how to use the Gotek USB floppy.  I completely forgot how to use it and I dont think I have docs.  :-/  Thats what I get for putting this stuff in my drawer and not messing with it.   Also have a A1200 that needs to be put together.

[TheMagicM]

Fixed the A2620...by replacing it with a A2630!!! LOL!   Have a spare Quantum Fireball HD that I'm using also with a A2091.

[BozzerBigD]

Wow! An old drive made before 2001! I hope it holds up for a few more years for you! I thought my 68-pin SCSI drives were old technology!!!

[TheMagicM]

Wow! An old drive made before 2001! I hope it holds up for a few more years for you! I thought my 68-pin SCSI drives were old technology!!!

Well..I dont think its holding out.  I'm able to create a DH0: partition, DH1 gets an error formatting.  Also, when I created the DH0 partition with HDToolBox (I think..in 1.3), named it Workbench, it created an icon for Workbench and DH0:DOS(with a weird character after it).   I think the hard drive is bad.

[paul1981]

Could perhaps try this, although it says 2.0 +

Have you tried the Low Level Format in HDToolbox first? If no go try this:

http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat

[TheMagicM]

Could perhaps try this, although it says 2.0 +

Have you tried the Low Level Format in HDToolbox first? If no go try this:

http://m68k.aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SCSIFormat

I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk.  I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?  

I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same?  If yes, I'll give it a shot.   The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.

I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.

[zipper]

I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk.  I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?

Quoting Jope 10 years ago:
If your disk accrues bad sectors, a low level format will attempt to mask those out.
For an IDE disk, the HD vendors provide the software for this (bootable floppy/cd image for a PC). Do not do it with hdtoolbox. For a SCSI disk, the hdtoolbox will start the lowlevel format, but most modern drives will probably ignore the command anyway.
But if you get visible bad sectors on a modern drive, it's too late already! The drive has run out of spare sectors to do on-the-fly remapping. If you have some bad sectors, the number will just increase over time, so it's best to back it up immediately and then use a hammer to smash the failing drive into little pieces (or return it if it has some warranty left :-).

So: don't lowlevel format modern drives, you will only get a short term benefit and this benefit will come ONLY when done with the correct tools.
If you decide to disregard all this advice and do it anyway, be prepared to wait for several hours (5-10 or more!) for it to complete.

[James1095]

A cheap SCSI drive option are SCA server drives with a 50 pin adapter board. I've got a few of the Seagate Savvio 2.5" drives in old Macs, the advantage of the 2.5" being they're much quieter than typical server drives. I think I paid $7 each for the drives and around $3 for the adapter. 72GB but I'm only using 2GB partitions on most.

[paul1981]

I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk.  I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?  

I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same?  If yes, I'll give it a shot.   The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.

I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.

Zipper may be correct about the HDToolBox not issuing a correct low level format command for a more recent drive (post CBM), I don't know, but to try the other tool won't hurt either. I'm assuming there's no data you need from the drive in which case you have nothing to lose. The Low Level Format should re-assign any bad disk blocks on to good spare portions of the disk so that the Amiga only sees a whole good disk (in essence all blocks will look good to the Amiga).

Edit: If the software doesn't work under 1.3, you could always softkick 2.0 or 3.1.

[HammerD]

I saw the option of low-level format in httoolbox on the A2091 install disk.  I"m assuming that process will map out bad blocks automatically if I select it?  

I'm assuming the prog on aminet you listed does the same?  If yes, I'll give it a shot.   The smarter thing for me to do would be to buy the SCSI2SD which I'm going to end up doing.

I have KS 2.x roms I *think*, just not installed.

I'm in the process of restoring an A2000 I bought off of Amibay.  It is a Revision 6.3 motherboard with 1MB chip ram and ECS chipset (one of the later ones).  It is actually labeled A2500 on the front.  It has a C= 2630 and C= 2091.  I've bought some 7.0 ROMS for the 2091 (so I can use drives >1GB) and I am using an ACard SCSI to IDE adapter.  I works fine.

It also came with a Microway Flicker Fixer (which works pretty well) and a Firecracker 24bit card. I didn't test that yet.  I had an Emplant card and I installed that too (but it's not set up yet).

First thing I did was remove the battery (there was small leakage).  Nothing was damaged. I cleaned up the area and ordered a coin-type holder which I will install when it arrives from AmigaKit.

Anyway, having fun with it!  Also some guy on http://www.a1k.org has made a new A2000 motherboard and is assembling it.  Also another guy on Amibay as well.  Two independent projects for a new A2000 motherboard!

Anyway I like the A2000 for the room and I like the keyboard and mouse ports at the front

I also ordered a Prisma music card (Zorro II) for the A2000! Looking forward to trying that out.

[TheMagicM]

Where did you buy the acard from?

Edit:  damn.. If I'm looking at the right board,  it's expensive.  Scsi2sd is $60.

[giZmo350]

damn.. If I'm looking at the right board,  it's expensive.  Scsi2sd is $60.

I hear ya talkin! I'm fixin to buy one shortly. I have GOT to get some sort of a reliable HDD solution going for my A2K!!! I've tried everything... Old SCSI drives, Buddha/TruIDE, you name it. Nuthin's workin out. Next stop, SD-ville :pissed:

[HammerD]

Where did you buy the acard from?

Edit:  damn.. If I'm looking at the right board,  it's expensive.  Scsi2sd is $60.

I bought several years ago from ACard's website (when they still had online sales).  Back then they were only about $80 or so.  Prices now are crazy so I wouldn't recommend getting an ACard.

The SCSI-to-SD adapter from AmigaKit seems like a good bet for today.  At least it's not HUNDREDS of dollars....so semi reasonable price.  Still, I think a gadget like that should be more like 30 bucks.  Oh well :-/