#AmaxII :^(
30 messages in this thread
Here's something interesting. I've been running the new AmaxII software on
my cartridge since I've received it. I just got another upgrade in the mail
on beige disks (why don't these people put the version no. on the disk?, Is
this too much to ask?). I'm running 6.0.3. I've had an Amax cartridge since
they were available for sale. The old software worked just fine. Now my
system will run for a while, but repeated running of any program will cause
it to bomb. Get a different bomb message each time. I've tried booting from
a clean system disk not my harddrive. The system still bombs – sometimes it
just hangs. Never the same thing twice. So I made the $7.50 call to
Readysoft. They told me that there had been a duplication error in the
AmaxII software. Did I have the blue disks? What blue disks sez I. Sure
would like to recover my harddrive partition without reformatting my whole
drive. Ugh. Anyway blue disks are in the mail. If I can find what version
number they are sending, I'll tell all.
people put the version no. on the disk?, Is this too much to ask?).<<
What version # of the A-Max s/w caused the 'bombs'? (or is that too much
to ask?
<running away>
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
I don't know where to look to find the version number. Doesn't appear to
have an about or info box. I think the most recent is 2.0.1. It came a few
days ago, the disks were beige. This is wicked, I got the machine to work
today without any problem for a few hours booting from the harddrive!? I've
checked to see if everything is well plugged in. It was hotter yesterday,
at least 85 – 90 degrees inside my house. The Amiga side of things was
working just fine. I was also have bombs ahoy when I booted from a system
floppy.
ReadySoft needs to get their versions #'s straight! I did the 2.51
(AMAXII+) upgrade and not only is there no version # on the disks but the
title screen comes up as 2.50! The first thing I did was write the version
# on the disk…. oh boy. I just looked in my Amax dir and found a
problem… On the 2.51 disks, the Amax Startup file is called "AMAX
STARTUP" while on the 2.50 disk it was called "AMAX_STARTUP", so that when
I used the supplied INSTALL program, it copied the new file to the proper
drawer but didn't overwrite the old file, so I've been running the old
version all along! When I'm done with this thread of msgs, I'll boot the
2.51 s/w and see how it does.
If you want to check the version # of the s/w, open a shell, CD to the
Amax directory and enter VERSION <ProgramName>.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
thanks, I knew about 'version' just didn't think to use it!
Erik FLom
This is horrible, no? It's working now. *I* don't know why and *I* don't
know for how long. What was strange was on the day it was flaking out, I
did a cold boot – let everything cool off and it was still screwy. The
*next* day you'd never know I was having a problem. I am very religious
about backing up Macintosh anything. I rarely backup my Amiga partition.
Does this tell you anything. I don't trust the Mac operating system as far
as I could throw that bomb.
Maragaret:
There is no question that running MAC s/w under A-Max on an the Amiga is
more precarious than actyally running it on a MAC. Some MAC system s/w
works better than others (like 6.03, 6.04), and some MAC software will run
better still on the Plus Card than on cartridge based AMAX's. Maybe it's a
chip not seated properly, or a shielded connection that isn't shielded too
well. Maybe it's the spirit of Steve Jobs. I don't know. ReadySoft's
support seems to have fallen off since II+ shipped… hopefully it will
get back to normal (which is very good) when things slow down a bit for
them.
In the meantime, can you believe I'm having _zero_ problems with my AMAX
II Plus card? I even got MicroSmiths' QLII MACFAX s/w working to work
perfectly… something that many MAC owners can't get it do! (And PPI has
even 'awarded' me a T-Shirt for writing up how to do it. The funny part
is, I didn't have to 'do' anything. It worked right out of the box, with
the default setups! Go figger.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Pardon me, but who is PPI? Not familiar.
Practical Peripherals Inc.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Margaret,
PPI is Practical Peripherals Inc., they are owned by Hayes.
Don
Sorry to hear of your problems, I had MANY read errors on files when I got
my 2.5.1 update, fortunately, they were not 'important' files (to me at
least).
I agree that they're pretty bad about changing the version #'s, the Amiga
side of the AMAX software WAS a different size than the 2.5 software, but
it still said nothing about versions when run. I think the old software at
least gave a version number when run. As for the file transfer utility on
the mac side, it IS v2.51, even though the name stile says v2.5. If you
'get info' the version number is listed correctly there.
Have you tried using your old version? Also, consider Norton Utilities for
the Mac. I was able to rescue file from my Mac partition before I
reformatted it (this was after upgrading to 7.0.1 and having my HD crash).
Good Luck, Erik FLom
I did try the old version on the day I was having the problems – still
messed up for me. The next day however, all was fine. Now I really don't
trust my Mac. I do backup all the time on what I think I can afford to lose
but I'd still rather wipe out and restore the partition than reformat the
whole drive (including the Amiga partition). They weren't that hopeful at
ReadySoft but I don't think they have all the answers either.
I'm sorry to hear of your continued problems. . . . . :^(
I just carted my 3000 down to a friends business and hooked up to his
network via the AMAX II+ card, and everything worked beautifully. I didn't
even hear anything more derisive than 'sure a funny looking Mac'
– a record for this guy, since he works with Quadra 950's w/256MB RAM,
etc.
What is your setup exactly? Not that I could help, but I'd be interested to
know.
Thanks, and good luck,
Erik Flom
P.S. If you are using System 7.0 make sure you update the hard disk
drivers, there are some undocumented problems with old disk drivers and 7.0
I had to reformat to get it to work right for me, though it sounds as if
you've done that already.
I have an accelerated 500. I used to have a 1000 and used the Amax
cartridge very successfully with that for quite a while. I've run Amax from
floppies. Now I have a GVP harddrive with 105 meg Quantum in it. I have my
disk partitioned 30 megs Mac, the rest Amiga. I'll probably repartition it
one of these days so I can get more room on the Mac. Seriously looking at a
Syquest I don't use the Amax everyday. When I do I use it for days on end –
so the problems that I'm having seem to come and go. My instinctive feeling
is that the Mac wants plenty of disk space to run in. I need to invest in
some utili ties to recover and restore my Mac partition. Needs some
housecleaning.
Maragret:
AmiBack from Moonlighter allows you to do an IMAGE backup of your AMAX HD
partition. It copies the entire partition, byte by byte, and saves it to
floppies, or tape. Two drawbacks with this method of backup: it can be
restored only to a device of the exact same size; and you can not do
selctive backups (ie: you have to back up the entire partition).
Barring an Image backup, I think your only alternative is to get a MAC
backup program.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Thanks for the advice.
I would definitely recommend using the latest version of Norton Utilities,
or an equivalent program. I would also strongly recommend getting a Syquest
(88 if you can afford it), as I have used several brands w/o problems on my
machine. I have even partitioned them with half-mac/half-AmigaDOS
partitions with few problems. The Syquest saved me last time I crashed my
internal drive, as I just threw in a syquest cartridge with another system
and booted from it. You could alsso easily move your images to and from the
Amiga, and deliver them to the print bureau in whatever format they
preferred.
30MB should be enough to run on (I have 25MB in my mac partition), so I
suspect the controller or the accelerator. You didn't mention what type of
accelerator you're using?
Make sure and check your INIT's also, try getting a utility like
INITPicker, or Extension Manager for System 7.0, to easily allow you to
turn of all your INITs, this might solve some of your weirder problems.
Anyway, Good Luck,
Erik Flom
I have a CSA MMR which behaves very well. Are you using the Amax with the
Syquest partitioned? They (Readysoft) told me that would not work. I'd like
to do that if I thought it would work. Don't got no stink'n Inits and I'm
running 6.0.3.
Margaret,
"…Don't got no stink'n Inits…"
Well, gee, you haven't gone over to the MAC forum libraries and sniffed
around their camp yet huh? 🙂 INITS are wonderful little startup programs
that do all kinds of neat and magical things for the mac. A commercial one
that comes to mind is Adobe Type Manager (ATM) and one I like is INIT 3.0
that lets you pick which ones start or stop them before they do. I think I
have between 7 – 10 of the little boogers in my startup. Don't forget to
get the Disinfectant INIT. Can't be spreading virii around these days, it
is the 90s thing to do ya know.
Chris
From under an old '57 Chevy with my feet sticking out the side…
I have a pretty vestigial Mac system. Yes, I've got my virii checkers. All
Mac people complain about their incompatible Inits. I go with as little as
possible on my system. Avoids confusion. Yes there are some neat little
programs out there but I'd really have to love one to put in on my system.
I have only used this setup on borrowed Syquest mechs (of several mfrs),
and have had no problems.
I was able to partition a Syq 44MB cart w/ one partition of each type and I
was able to use it on my system w/o problems. I seem to remember using
SCSIProbe on the Mac to get it to mount if it didn't come up the first
time, though I was unable to get the Mac partition to boot on a 'real' mac
with another Syq mechanism.
I have used many SCSI device (including DAT backup drives) with my AMAX
cart on my 3000 w/o problems. Usually I acn usae them on the Amiga side,
assuming I can find a driver for it.
I have nottried on the AMAXII+ yet – though the Amiga 3000 worked GREAT
through the AppleTalk port when I hooked it up at a friends business.
I remember looking at the Mege Midget Racer when I had my 1000, but opted
for newer technology (fat lot of good it did me [having had to hack on the
case of my 3000 to get the Toaster into it]).
They seemed like a decent company with a stable design – are they still
around?
Anyway, the Syquest seemd to work OK partitioned as AmigaDOS/Mac, but I
didn't use the disk for more than a few days before reformatting it (for
other reasons).
It did seem to work OK while I had it – I seem to remember filling up boths
partitions w/o any problems (ie: it din't write into the wrong partition),
but I AM using WB 2.04, and was using Mac Sys 6.0.5 at the time. My Amiga
has a nice Util Called HDToolBox that I have not seen on 'Vanilla' re;eases
of WB2.04. Do you have this tool?
If you need SCSIProbe, you can probably find it in one of the Mac SIGs.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom
CSA is still around. They have a very hot '040 board out now but it is big
$$$'s. They've been good to me, very good at answering questions on the
phone. Thanks for the SCSiProbe tip. I like PD/Shareware that does useful
things. I'm thinking of throwing caution to the wind and getting the 88
Syquest. I would keep my Mac system on my Quantum and increase the
partition size to 50megs. If I'm going to go through all of this agony, I
might as well just jump for it. Is HDToolbox a commercial product or what?
I also have received the latest software V 2.5.1 from readysoft. No
problems so far running it on my AMAX cartridge system. I'll let you know
if I run up on anything.
During the reinstall, the program does not replace the old files. No
documentation came with the new upgrade. So when I installed the new
software, I now have two "Start AMAX" icons. Anyone have any ideas as to
how to remove the old while keeping the new? Or even how to identify which
is the old?
Thanks,
Steve
Steve:
I just discovered the same thing. The old version is:
Amax_Startup
The new version is:
Amax Startup
Rename the old version OldAmax_Startup, then rename the new version
Amax_Startup.
You can check the version # by opening a shell, making your AMAX dir the
current dir, and then entering VERSION <ProgramName>
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael, Since switching to AMaXII 2.5/.51 I've been having trouble writing
to my Cutting Edge MAC floppy drive. Sometimes the format fails, other
times the write fails, then when it does, the MAC OS tells me the disk
needs minor repairs and wants to fix it. Then it can't update the desktop
file and ejects the disk. Then it doesn't recognize it as formatted and
wants to reformat it. If I hold down the [Shift] and [C=] keys I can force
an update of the desktop file and then the disk appears as normal. If I'm
trying to load a file from the floppy, say in Excel, excel has a problem
reading it and I get a message, file not found, I click on Retry maybe
three or four times and finally it loads. I never liked my Cutting Edge
drive that much, but I'm wondering if its the drive or the new AmaxII
stuff? Are you using the cartridge or card? Ever have problems writing to a
MAC floppy drive with it or reading one?
Chris
Chris:
When I upgraded to AMAXII+, I got the card and don't have the cartridge or
my cutting edge drive hooked up any longer. So far, I've had no problem
reading Mac disks in with the Amiga internal drive.
I recall a lot of discussion about some Cutting Edge drives not working
properly or consistently with Amax. Can you borrow a real external Mac
drive from someone and see if Amax exhibits the same problems with a
'real' disk drive?
If your Cutting Edge is still under warranty, I'm sure that they would be
willing to exchange it for you.
Let mew know how things turn out.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
I've had similar problems. My backup set on floppies is no longer any
good. The program says they are bad and need reformatting. But the
format can't finish. It says the disk is bad.
I think they screwed up with this latest update myself.
Donovan,
I think I'll try the older version of Amax and see if it fixes my
floppy drive problem. If it doesn't then I'll guess it is the drive, if it
does, I'll call ReadySoft.
Chris
Thanks, but you won't believe this… it works fine today. This is wicked
as I said. I have not been to the post office to get my "disk" mail so I
don't know if the blue disks are here yet. Canada has strange mail.