#Floppy/CD problem
17 messages in this thread
I have a floppy disk drive problem on my A4000/40, WB3.1. DF0: does not
recognise an Amiga formatted disk when inserted while the system is running. I
get the DF0:NDOS icon. However, I can boot from the same disk! Also, when using
Shapeshifter, a floppy already in the drive when the Mac is booted will be
recognised, whereas a floppy inserted afterwards will not. This problem has
arisen at the same time as I am having problems reading CDs. Using the Index
Guide on Aminet 7 fails more often than not. Either the file is not
decompressed to RAM, or fails to be displayed or played. I can move the files
with DirOpus, though. The only visible sign is that I get a yellow screen on
reboot. Never when the computer is first booted, but always on reset.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Pete
Peter,
try reseating the 68000 CPU chip. Come to think of it, almost all all other
chips as well. If those don't fix it, do a complete reinstall of the system
software, although I don't expect much from that, since your CPU is complaining
about problems before the GURU is even running.
Lastly, you may also have a disk drive alignment problem. Any chance you
have a store nearby that can align the diskdrive?
Brian
Been there…. Done that…. Better.
Are you using MFS, or CrossDOS, or CRossMAC, or something similar?
Something, a device driver or something, is screwing things up. If you do not
use MFS, try using it. It may be related to your CD driver. What driver do
you use for your CD-ROM? I have had similar problems with my CD-ROM drive, but
no floppy problems.
It is a driver and software problem, NOT a hardware problem, I am fairly sure.
Ian,
Thanks for the suggestions. The problem has simplified a little. I CAN read
Amiga disks. I stupidly picked up a magazine game disk which was NDOS, but
would boot.
I have taken the A4000 to pieces and put it together again. The yellow screen
on reset was still there, but not for long. It has now mysteriously
disappeared, at least for the moment.
So now I have two problems which might, or might not, be related. The MAC
system under Shapeshifter will not recognise a disk unless that disk is in the
drive on boot-up.
The second problem is the CDROM drive. If, for instance, I place an Aminet CD
in the drive, and click on the index icon, this opens an Amiga Guide program
showing all the directories. Clicking on a directory works most of the time,
but occasionally, it fails saying something like it couldn't locate
AMINET7:Lists/Part-idv/mods_rock/mods_rock. The second 'mods_rock" shouldnt be
there. If the directory is found, then clicking on a compressed file should, in
this case, decompress the file, call up the audio-player and start to play the
music. Nothing happens, except that there is a disk read for a while and then
the cursor returns to an arrow.
I can, however, go to DOpus, move the same file to RAM: and decompress without
problems. I am using the AmiCDrom software, by the way.
I shall investigate device drivers, as you suggest. Any further thoughts from
you that may be sparked off by the above would be most welcome.
Pete
Peter,
:The MAC system under Shapeshifter will not recognise a disk unless that :disk
is in the drive on boot-up.
I have the same problem using 3.1 of SS, so you can exclude this from the
problems on your machine. According to the author there's a bug in the
mfm.device V39.4, for which he gave me a workaround, but it still isn't fixed.
I think I'll switch back to 3.0b, if still possible.
Check the cables on your floppydrive…
.
– Lieven Lema
Lieven,
Thanks for the info. I tried Shapeshifter version 3.0 and that works ok,
although my version of mfm.device is 40.9. Excellent advice on your part!
I am now struggling with the CDROM, which worked fine before, and now is giving
me all sorts of trouble, both on the Amiga side and the Mac side.
We seem to be using very similar configurations. Maybe we should get together
and exchange hints and tips. I'm in Sterrebeek. Where are you?
Pete
Peter,
oops, I have 3.1 too, so mfm.device is version 40.9 too, don't know where I got
the number I stated you.<g>
My CDROM is IDE-connected with the more than excellent ATAPI software, now
called IDEFIX. no troubles at all there.
I'd like to get together with you sometime, I'm in Strombeek, but I'm in the
middle of redecoratring a house we bought, if you could hang on a few weeks…
.
– Lieven Lema
Lieven,
Good luck with the decorating! By the way, I have discovered that the CrossMac
software has a modified mfm.device. Maybe that will solve the Shapeshifter 3.1
problem. I am picking it up tomorrow. Will let you know.
Pete
Peter,
it's actually rebuilding, the 'knocking down walls'-part was easy enough, it's
building back up that takes time.
Regarding mfm.device, christian Bauer sent me a patch, had to fiddle with a few
bytes in a hexeditor, but that doesn't work. Apparantly we're the only ones
with this problem, noone else seems to have them, I guess we have installed
something lately that is bothering the good functioning of our machines, if
only I knew what…
.
– Lieven Lema
Lieven,
As you no doubt will have seen before you read this message. I have e-mailed to
you the modified mfm.device. Shapeshifter 3.1 can read floppies with this
device installed, with the one caveat that the busy light stays on all the
time.
If only you and I were having this problem, then at some time, we should sit
down and compare everything we have installed or have running on our respective
beasts.
Have fun with the rebuilding and keep the thumb well away from the destination
of the hammer. <g>
Pete
Peter,
:with the one caveat that the busy light stays on all the time.
Have to dissapoint you there, everything is perfect now. If and when my
registration comes in (should be here in a couple of days) I'll let you know
how my CDROM is behaving, we'll meet between 9 and 15 september, in that week
I'll promise myself some time off, leave the hammer from my thumb for a
while…<g>.
.
– Lieven Lema
Peter,
Re: "…problem is the CDROM drive…Aminet…works most of the time, but
occasionally, it fails…"
I too had a similar problem running Aminet CDs under the AmigaDOS 3.1 device
driver on my A3000. The cure was buying AsimCDFS CD-ROM Control Software
(v3.0) by Asimware Innovations Inc. of Hamilton Ontario, Canada
(info@asimware.com). As wonderful as the Aminet CDs are, I feel I gained much
more by buying AsimCDFS.
Not only were the Aminet CDs better behaved, I also gained the ability to run
<some> CD32 and CDTV titles. The thing, though, which gladdened my heart was
how musical CDDA (regular music) CDs sound when played under the latest
revision (3.1) of the AsimCDFS software – even on a cheap single-speed CD-ROM
drive.
My test of any CD player (or any new audio equipment) is to play the title cut
from Paul Simon's "Graceland." If I start tapping my foot, that means the
spirit and rhythm of the music is getting through to me. If I hear something
in the music which I had never noticed before, that means detail in the
recording is getting through to me. And if I stay up half the night listening
to other old favorites that means I've found a winner. I experienced all three
with my Amiga controlling an-under-$100.00 CD-ROM player using AsimCDFS v3.1.
As soon as I can, I hope to get a CD-ROM player which will allow CDDA direct
digital transfer (e.g. Sony or Toshiba) to my hard drive and thus to my SunRize
AD516. The AsimCDFS software is supposed to support that with the right drive.
Highly recommended.
-John
"…there is no such thing as a bad tube amp"
John,
Judging from your signature I'm surprised you'd tap your foot (or even inflict
your ears) with anything coming off a CD-ROM <vbg>
Steve
Daring to be different, Amiga on the Internet, Lotus on the Interstatee
Steve,
Re: My signature and the fact that I "inflict…ears with…CD-ROM."
Actually, I edited out my usual <semi-obligatory> pro-analog plug when
preparing my message <g>. I've been reading the postings praising the
excellent s/n ratio in the Amiga forums, you see, and I didn't want to be the
one to turn the forum into the online version of a cheapo one-brand "rack
system hifi" <vbg>.
I hope the Amiga starts getting noticed for how well it fits-in with an audio
system which honors music played on it. I'm starting to hear differences due
to <software> when recording or playing digital audio on my 3000. It makes
sense when you think about it, but I was still surprised the first time I
noticed an audio CD 'skipping' when I did some heavy multitasking.
-John
"…there is no such thing as a bad tube amp"
> I hope the Amiga starts getting noticed for how well it fits-in with an audio
system which honors music played on it.
Many of us hope it gets noticed for anything 🙂
Actually having been an Amiga user since 1987 I'm still amazed at how well the
old girl seems to attack almost any task.
And BTW, I'm pleased to meet an analog guy who's not too proud to soil his
hands in the digital domain 😉
Steve Brightman
Daring to be different – Amiga on the Internet – Lotus on the Interstate
John,
Thanks for the AsimCDFS tip. It was something I was considering. You have
pushed me into trying it.
Pete
Pete,
The only 'regret' I have about getting the AsimCDFS software was that I learned
that they make MasterISO software for rolling-your-own CDs on an Amiga. And
now I have to figure out a way to buy the MasterISO, a recordable CD-ROM drive,
another 8 megs of RAM and at least a 1.8 gig hd. Let's see, if I buy generic
rice cakes and vitamins… <g>.
-John
"…there is no such thing as a bad tube amp"