AMAXII survives Reboot
22 messages in this thread
Well I finally got my AMAX update and am already having troubles with it. I
called ReadySoft and they're sending me the bug fix. Apparently there is a
problem with machines having both 16bit and 32bit memory residing together.
The programmer's debugger window keeps popping open unexpectedly when
working with mac applications. When I quit an application or Desk Accessory
I receive the dialog box that states that "SuchandSuch program has
unexpectedly quit", no kidding I told it to quit! Also, after a warm-boot
to restart the Amiga and use it as such, when I restart the AMAX program,
press F1 to initialize the Ram-Disk, the icon suddenly appears and just
about everything that was put into it during the AMAX session is still
there! I've done this several times in a row, in fact if I leave out the
boot floppy, start AMAX, press F1, the system boots up and the little mac
machine smiles and launches the system. All the INITS appear at the bottom
of the screen as they load, and the DAs work, calculator, etc. SuitcaseII,
the DA that handles suitcases works, and even PageMaker 4.0 is still
intact! Granted, somethings are munged but the majority of it is all there!
Has anyone else experienced these kind of problems with AMAX?
I've seen the debugger window pop open, but I'm pretty sure that I had that
happen occasionally with the previous version of AMAX. I never really
thought of reporting it as a problem, since all I have to go is enter a 'g'
to resume the program.
I am having more serious problems with using a modem under AMAX. Has
anyone else had problems with seeing more garbage on the line? This also
was the case with the old AMAX but seems to be worse with AMAXII. I'm
trying to use CheckFree and haven't been able to connect successfully since
I upgraded to AMAXII. (It was "iffy" under AMAX, but it did occassionally
work.) Les Clark
I never had the debugger window open on the old version (1.0) unless I
called for it to open. Now it opens at the least thing I do like open a
program menu. Also, it keeps telling me a program quit unexpectedly when I
selected to quit the program!
chris AT&G
I also have it telling me that a program quit unexpectedly…
Just wondering, do you have an accelerator board? I have the GVP '030 and
I wonder if that is part of my problems. I going to try disabling this
weekend and see if I still have the same kinds of problems. I'll let you
know.
Les Clark
Les, I do indeed have a GVP '030. It is 33MHZ w/4MB 32 bit ram. Maybe GVP
is the problem.
chris AT&G
I've had no problems using my modem (even ZModem downloads) with A-MaxII. I
also use Checkfree (on an IBM laptop), and can definately tell you that
connecting to Checkfree is more often successful at 1200 baud. 2400 baud
usually won't work. Robert Rosen
– via Whap!
I have actually gotten connected a couple of times now after I downloaded a
mac DA that allows me to set the caching options on the 68030. I can't
prove that the DA is what did the trick, but I tried about 40 times without
any luck before I got it and have connected 2 times in about 8 attempts
since then. (Still not a great ratio, but bearable.)
BTW, I've been doing all of the CheckFree stuff at 1200. Just out of
morbid curiousity, how much trouble do you have connecting with the IBM
version?
Les Clark
I have very little problem connectng to Checkfree at 1200 baud. Probably
80% of the time I connect on the 1st try. Now I'm using it with Quicken,
and it's a very nice package.
– via Whap!
Robert:
I call CheckFree all the time at 2400 baud. Their local number is actually
the number for Telenet, so perhaps you're not calling a 2400 baud access
number.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Chris,
I going to get the Amax II Plus when it becomes available. I take
it that the Amax system works really well. I had a Mac SE30, but sold it
when I got the 3000. I can't wait to get the card:)
Thanks! Jamie
Chris: I am using AmaxII with an Amiga 1000. I have never had the problem
of the debug window opening. As for the Amax RAM disk, it is supposed to
be recoverable (this is not a bug). If you use your computer as an Amiga,
some of the memory may be overwritten. But Amax tries to recover as much
as possible when you reboot the mac. (I personally think that this is one
of the best features of Amax). A real mac has a ram disk too, but I don't
think that it is recoverable.
In response to other questions about serial communications (from other
users) I don't seem to have any problems. Someone said there is a bug
(which ReadySoft has apparently fixed) when both 16 and 32 bit memory types
are present. I guess I haven't seen some of these problems because I am
using a 1000. Does anyone have any further info on this?
-David Cattell
David, So where in the brief update manual did you see that the AMAX ram
disk was recoverable? It is nice that it does that but I would have liked
to have seen it in print somewhere! OK so it ain't a bug, that is a relief,
and now that it is suppose to do that I'm glad to see it implemented, it is
a real pain having to reload that ram-disk every time. Of course if it
wouldn't crash I wouldn't need to do that, but I'm running on an
accelerated A2000 via GVP 33mhz '030, with 2 mb of chip ram, 4mb 16bit ram
and 4mb 32 bit ram and I guess I need the bug fix version. You haven't had
the dialog box that tells you something has unexpectedly quit on you when
you in fact have asked that it quit? BTW how do you set up a real mac's ram
disk? I guess I really should read its manuals, but then again I don't
think I ever opened them [smirk] I was the one (I think) that mentioned
that readysoft has a bug fix for the ram problem, and I hope it gets here
quicker than the update.
chris AT&G
Chris, to access the Mac's RAM disk use Control Panel desk accessory. You
can adjust the size of the Mac's ram disk from there. I have never seen the
dialog box telling me that a program has quit unexpectedly. I am using an
Amiga 1000 so the problem may be related to the memory architecture of the
2000 (or 3000). In any case call ReadySoft (I forget if you said you did)
and tell them the problems. They seem to be responsive to user problems.
(The AmaxII program disk they sent me was bad. I called and they sent me a
new one…I got it 5 days after the call). There is other important info
in Amax's main manual, so take a look when you get a chance. (I usually
don't read manuals until I need to too 🙂
Oh yeah, I forgot that is where the Mac's ram disk is adjusted from, but
does it show up as an icon? I did call ReadySoft, and the fix is suppose to
be in the mail.
chris AT&G
The Mac RAM disk should show up as an icon. Try it and see. ReadySoft has
been pretty good about bug and disk fixes. I hope the new version works OK
for you.
Chris,
I don't want to go looking for my Amax manual but isn't it documented
that, not only is the ram disk recoverable, you can BOOT from it? Or
doesn't that qualify as recoverable? In any case, I usually move a system
folder into the ramdisk and then when you get the little Mac you push F1
and have booted in less than a second.
Scott
J. Sure I've booted from the ram-disk in AMAX plenty of times, it is just
after a warm re-boot and using it as an Amiga, then returning to AMAX that
I was surprised to find the AMAX ram-disk, still quite intact! Just to find
it all was a surprise to me!
chris AT&G
Chris,
In short, your right. It IS interesting that the Amax RRD survives an
AMIGA reboot.
Scott
As long as your amiga-side activity is limited, you'll be OK. Beware
that the memory isn't write-protected when back on the Amiga-side, so
anything you do could potentially corrupt information on the AMAX side.
– via Whap!
For what it's worth, I use Prodigy software with Amax with no
difficulty whatsoever. No significant line noise. I also have both 16 and
32 bit memory and have never had the debugger open unexpectedly.
Scott
Chris:
The last part (that the stuff is still in the ram disk) isn't a prolbem.
It's just that, when you warm boot, your ram doesn't get erased. So, the
AMAX ram disk is still there. It doesn't, to my knowledge (or my
experience) mess up anything in Amiga-mode. But, as you have noted, since
the Amiga doesn't know that its there, or care, it will overwrite that ram
at will. So, when I go back into AMAX after a warm boot to Amiga, I alwasy
erase the AMAX ram disk, and reload it.
I have the original AMAX. It doesn't seem to have any problems with my
system at work — 1 meg 16 bit, 4 megs 32 bit.
?|^] Ray Lewis
Ray, This is the first time that I ever had the ram-disk stay resident
after going back to running as an Amiga, sure I've booted from the AMAX
ram-disk plenty of times, in fact it is faster than the MACIIcx!
PageMaker4.0 opens quicker and loads faster than it too!
chris AT&G