Conner Hard Drive Issue

[Gemmstone4291]

A1200 - 4 Mb ram. My old Conner 40 Mb drive won't boot. It starts spinning but then stops - does this about 10 times then stops spinning altogether.

I'm looking to replace it with a 20 or 40 Gb IDE drive - any advice would be great.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You didn't mention what model of Amiga or hard drive controller you have, but personally I'd use one of the many CF or SD solutions, instead.

[Rob]

I agree that it's best to go for some form of flash drive.  SD cards seem to be the cheapest option.

[BozzerBigD]

@Gemmstone4291

Here's a 80GB one on Amazon assuming it's a 2.5" model you're after? £21.99 with 1 years  warranty sounds alright.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000OUF6PU/ref=s9_acsd_zgift_hd_bw_bT8RE7_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_r=5EYQS8FV9W0X1ETQJZQA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=bf1b43e2-62d7-50d2-9701-571f436e2e72&pf_rd_i=430525031

[BozzerBigD]

... you'd need one of these 44pin to SATA adaptors too:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Adapters/SATA-Female-44Pin-IDE-Male-HDD-Converter/B0049D7PCU/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_lp_t_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BFB9XWC0HNQ58DQRRTR7

Edit: Corrected Link

[polyp2000]

My old Conner 40 Mb drive won't boot. It starts spinning but then stops - does this about 10 times then stops spinning altogether.

I'm looking to replace it with a 20 or 40 Gb IDE drive - any advice would be great.

Its kind of astounding that it booted up until now really. Did you back up the contents onto a more modern one ?

[Gemmstone4291]

A1200 with 4 Mb ram expansion.

I've recently moved and had a bit of nostalgia - the 1200 hasn't been switched on for about 10 years.

[Gemmstone4291]

A1200 with 4Mb ram expansion. It fired up just fine.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Something like this from one of the various Amiga vendors is going to be a lot easier for you than an old-style spinning disk:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=883

[TheMagicM]

Something like this from one of the various Amiga vendors is going to be a lot easier for you than an old-style spinning disk:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=883

Will a 16gb CF card work?  I'm assuming yes, just needs to be partitioned?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Will a 16gb CF card work?  I'm assuming yes, just needs to be partitioned?

It should, but you'll need to partition it correctly and a file system that support it (SFS, PFS, OS3.9, etc.).  Same as any setup on an Amiga with a large hard drive.

[TheMagicM]

It should, but you'll need to partition it correctly and a file system that support it (SFS, PFS, OS3.9, etc.).  Same as any setup on an Amiga with a large hard drive.

Thought so.  I have an A1200 but needs HD, floppy drive, maybe KS 3.1 since I have 3.0, and an Indivision.  Dont know if I want an Indivision since I cant use a widescreen LCD.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Dont know if I want an Indivision since I cant use a widescreen LCD.

Sure you can.  Who told you that you couldn't?  Depending on your display your picture will either be stretched to fit or have black borders on the sides.  Most modern LCD displays this can be configured to be how you like it.  Also, some Indivision modes perfectly fit widescreen displays.  I'd check out SuperPlus 800x600 and HD720, if I were you.  

[scuzzb494]

A1200 - 4 Mb ram. My old Conner 40 Mb drive won't boot. It starts spinning but then stops - does this about 10 times then stops spinning altogether.

I'm looking to replace it with a 20 or 40 Gb IDE drive - any advice would be great.

The trick with old computers and related kit is to keep using it. Just fire the computer up on a regular basis and they will last for ever. I have my original drives on my machines still working. But if you leave a 2.5" that long it will fall over. I have a 2.5 in a 600 and it takes three soft boots to get it going. I have a 3.5 on a 2000 that will only boot if I switch it off and switch it back on. I have some very strange noises coming from a 590 with an old XT. But if they work once I can generally keep 'em running. The 2.5s are the worst though.

You probably need to read up on partition sizes and capacity issues with new drives and the older Amiga OSs before you buy something. I do have one of these new fangled cards in a 600. Bit lifeless for my taste. Works though... just doesn't feel the same.

[thebajaguy]

My advice to many that are asking the large multi-GB HD (or Flash) question (on an A1200 or A600) for the first time is simple:

Get a 4GB CF or similar module to start, and partition into 2x 2GB FFS partitions.  

This skims past the problems encountered when you go past the signed and unsigned 32-bit integer issues (which is what lurks at those boundaries mentioned).  Once you get the above running, then delve into the issues with newer file systems (mentioned above) and newer OS/Support tools that can handle media in the areas above 4GB.  You also have your backup on your original 4GB media.