WB 3.1 will not boot on A2000!?

[Findlarn]

I just ordered a CF card with WB 3.1 preinstalled on it. However, it doesn't work When starting up the computer the screen just remains black, all the lights on the SCSI card reader is constantly on, and nothing more happens. But games, demos etc. works just fine.

And yes, of course I have Kickstart 3.1 installed... I have a switch with both 1.3 and 3.1. I have also double checked that 3.1 is the auto booting one.

Could it be the controller card? It's just a slow A2091. However the ROM's have been upgraded to 7.0...

I have also tried playing around with the JP5 jumper (LUN on or off) with no result.

The CF card is connected to the PCMCIA port...

Any ideas..?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Are you using one of the Mechware SCSI card readers?  Is termination and SCSI device ID set correctly for your system?  Can you confirm the card reader works correctly with other cards?

[Findlarn]

Yes it is a Mechware reader.

And well... I've actually had quite some trouble with other cards. In fact it was one of the reasons I ordered this one. (thinking the other ones where incompatible somehow) As I foolishly thought that would be an easy, hassle free quick fix.

The (other) cards (32mb, 64mb and 4GB) where not recognized some times and they where very difficult to set up. Size couldn't always be recognized and once created, partions refused to be formated etc. And the 4GB card was even more useless as it would not even let me into the HDToolbox setup...

So yes, I think we are on the right trace here... So I guess the question is, how do I set up the card reader correctly?

However it has worked somewhat ok in the past with the 64mb card. The only problem then was that I constantly got messages about bad blocks. And that was the main reason why I tried using other cards in the first place.

[Acill]

I've never got my mech card reader to work in an A2000 and had massive issues with it in a friends 3000. I ended up just selling it to get an IDE solution when building an A1200 for him.

I would look more into one of these honestly. http://www.generationamiga.com/2017/06/10/the-new-ide4-zorro2-a-new-idecf-controller-for-amiga-2000/

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I've never got my mech card reader to work in an A2000 and had massive issues with it in a friends 3000.

FUD.    Works great for me in an A2000, also in an A500.  Suggest it may be a problem with the controller board, or not set up correctly for LUN's, or some other configuration error (ID, termination, etc.).  The A2091 isn't exactly the best SCSI controller option for an Amiga...

[magnetic]

FUD.    Works great for me in an A2000, also in an A500.  Suggest it may be a problem with the controller board, or not set up correctly for LUN's, or some other configuration error (ID, termination, etc.).  The A2091 isn't exactly the best SCSI controller option for an Amiga...

LMAO Paul doesnt do "FUD" that is just dumb. Its based on his experiences. Having said this it  looks like there are several ppl here sucessfully using that hardware

[Findlarn]

LMAO Paul doesnt do "FUD" that is just dumb. Its based on his experiences. Having said this it  looks like there are several ppl here sucessfully using that hardware

Ok, but if that's true, what would be the first step to try here? And also, how should the jumpers on the card reader be configured? I just checked, and right now they are set to "termination ON" (pin 7-8) Should it be set to 0 instead? And exactly what does "termination" mean in this case? Anyway... the other configuration part (NC and WR Protect) is left as it is, with no jumpers...


Oldsmobile_Mike:

Yes, I'm fully aware that the A2091 isn't the greatest card by any means. It's very slow etc... So what other controller card would you recommend?

 
Acill:

That IDE interface sure looks good. But if other people can manage to get these things going I probably should try solving this issue first, before jumping into something completely new. Besides I really like the feature of having access to everything externally on the front. Especially when swapping files between PC/emulator and stuff like that. And the ability to have one card for the OS and programs and another one for my files.

[Kawazu]

I have a Mechware  scsi in my A2000 with a GVP Impact HC+ 2008 and its working fantastic with the CF card in the PCMCIA Port.
When i get some spare time i can try to take a look at my jumper configuration and get back to you.

[psxphill]

And exactly what does "termination" mean in this case?

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/scsi/cablesTermination-c.html

tl;dr Terminators stop signal reflection and are built into every SCSI device these days, however they must only be enabled on the furthest devices away from each other and not on devices between.  If you only have a 2091 and a card reader, then both should have termination enabled (the 2091 is just as much a SCSI device as a hard drive). If the cable has more than two connectors then use the ones at each end.

[madgrizzle]

Is the reader the only thing connected to the 2091 and do you know that the 2091 is actually good (working)?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Ok, but if that's true, what would be the first step to try here? And also, how should the jumpers on the card reader be configured? I just checked, and right now they are set to "termination ON" (pin 7-8) Should it be set to 0 instead? And exactly what does "termination" mean in this case? Anyway... the other configuration part (NC and WR Protect) is left as it is, with no jumpers...


Oldsmobile_Mike:

Yes, I'm fully aware that the A2091 isn't the greatest card by any means. It's very slow etc... So what other controller card would you recommend?

I can't speak for the A2091, mine is currently in a box (I was halfway finished with the Speedgeek 14MHz hack and put it away a couple years ago, unfinished), would have to dig out the manual...  but for the card reader itself (assuming you have a PCD-60b like mine, the 50-model may be similar) there's four jumpers on the bottom.  0, 1, 2, and Termination.  The first three are for setting the device ID.  It should be set to an ID that doesn't conflict with the controller card or other devices.  The last one - Termination - if this is the only device on your SCSI chain you'll want to set that on.  If you have other devices in your chain you'll need to adjust accordingly.

My best recommendation (if you have multiple devices) is to start with just one device.  Get that working 100% correctly then add a second device, and so on.

Also, just a side thought, have you tried with a different SCSI cable?  May be you have a bad cable.

As for "recommended devices", I have successfully used my card readers with an A500 GVP Series II sidecar (using both 4.15 and Guru-ROM's), a GeForce '040 (using 4.15 ROM), and a TekMagic '060 board (using the latest ROM's for that device).  When in doubt, always make sure you have the latest ROM.  I know you said you did that for your A2091, which is good, but if possible you might try swapping to a GVP-brand SCSI controller.  IMHO they have a few more modern features than the older 2091.

But check those jumpers and try with a different cable.  Rule out the easy stuff first.  

[Findlarn]

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/scsi/cablesTermination-c.html

tl;dr Terminators stop signal reflection and are built into every SCSI device these days, however they must only be enabled on the furthest devices away from each other and not on devices between.  If you only have a 2091 and a card reader, then both should have termination enabled (the 2091 is just as much a SCSI device as a hard drive). If the cable has more than two connectors then use the ones at each end.

Ok so that's what it means. And thanks for the link! It made me remember those external ones as well...

But what I don't understand however is that the A2091 doesn't seem to have any termination jumpers on the PCB:

http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/product.aspx?id=1161

Should I put an external terminator on the SCSI port on the back? In that case I think I have an old one lying around somewhere...

madgrizzle:
Yes, the card reader is the only thing that is connected. And good question... Didn't think of that... How do I know if it's faulty then? That would be a bit odd however, considering how little use it has seen.

[Findlarn]

Oldsmobile_Mike:

Ok I will check that out as soon as I can. (You posted the same time I was writing my previous reply)

[madgrizzle]

Spitballing here, but is JP2 enabled?

[Findlarn]

Spitballing here, but is JP2 enabled?

You mean autobooting? Yes, it is set to "AUTO"...