A3000D Cd-Rom issue

[guest20923]

HI, I recently connected an NEC CD-Rom to my A3000. It came with the A3000 and was already set up.(SCSI)
The strange thing is that when it's connected, the Amiga won't go through the boot process unless the CD-Rom is turned on AND there's a readable disc in it.
Pretty strange to me. Does anybody know if this is normal or can cds' be put in the CD-Rom at any time while the Amiga is turned on?

[lost_loven]

I have my external scsi cdrom turned on, also I can boot with or with out a cd in the unit. It detects disc changes also when in workbench 3.1/3.9 I have used with it.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

My A500 won't even POST if the external SCSI DVD drive is plugged in but not turned on. Powered on (no disc needed) it boots normally, I think this has to do with how I set up termination, is no big deal. Disc changes are recognized normally, etc.

So I would guess that your first issue (not booting if the drive is off) is "normal". Your second issue -  needing a disc in the drive - is there something in your Startup-Sequence that's checking for presence of a disc in the drive and causing it to stop?

[guest20923]

I have my external scsi cdrom turned on, also I can boot with or with out a cd in the unit. It detects disc changes also when in workbench 3.1/3.9 I have used with it.

Thanks, at least I know that it's possible now.

[guest20923]

My A500 won't even POST if the external SCSI DVD drive is plugged in but not turned on. Powered on (no disc needed) it boots normally, I think this has to do with how I set up termination, is no big deal. Disc changes are recognized normally, etc.

So I would guess that your first issue (not booting if the drive is off) is "normal". Your second issue -  needing a disc in the drive - is there something in your Startup-Sequence that's checking for presence of a disc in the drive and causing it to stop?

Thanks for the info. I don't know about the configuration of the ss. It was already set up when I bought it. Ex Tasmanian University Amiga. I'll check it out and the termination; I haven't had a close look at it - and to be honest I'm out of practice and have forgotten a lot since I had my A1000 in 1990!:)

[Kitch]

Interesting, I once had an A4000 that wouldn't boot unless it had a readable disk in the CD drive.
I never figured out why but it worked so I left it like that.

[guest20923]

Well, I just checked the termination and it's on. The device is set at 3. I just booted the Amiga after reading the instructions for the cd-rom. It says there's an order for turning the cd-rom and Amiga on and off. Turn the cd-rom on first then the Amiga, and turn off the Amiga and the cd-rom after that. Well presto!! it works - no need for a cd in it. I don't know what was going on before. as an aside - I rarely turn the girl on as I'm in perpetual terror of hard drive failure due to its' age. But I don't feel inclined to do what I've done with my A1200. Something like sacrilege or the sort. Thanks for all the case examples and moral support.

[mechy]

Well, I just checked the termination and it's on. The device is set at 3. I just booted the Amiga after reading the instructions for the cd-rom. It says there's an order for turning the cd-rom and Amiga on and off. Turn the cd-rom on first then the Amiga, and turn off the Amiga and the cd-rom after that. Well presto!! it works - no need for a cd in it. I don't know what was going on before. as an aside - I rarely turn the girl on as I'm in perpetual terror of hard drive failure due to its' age. But I don't feel inclined to do what I've done with my A1200. Something like sacrilege or the sort. Thanks for all the case examples and moral support.

Dont worry, hardware is meant to be used. when the hd fails you can also get a scsi2sd or a scsi card reader. If you dont want to lose workbench back it up to your 1200 just in case.

[midway]

Dont worry, hardware is meant to be used. when the hd fails you can also get a scsi2sd or a scsi card reader. If you dont want to lose workbench back it up to your 1200 just in case.

I had similar issues with my 2091 scsi controller, which wouldnt allow the a2000 to starr unless a cd was in the cdrom and the cdrom was not the final scsi unit.