#hard disk controller
12 messages in this thread
help: a friend of a friend game me a disk controller and a seagate hard disk
drive so that I can see if it works on an amiga 2000. The seagate hard disk 20
megs fits perfectly (in the 5.25 drive slot). When I booted the amiga the
light for the hard disk drive came on (which didn't happened when I tried the
pc board and 5.25—I am waiting for commodore to send me another one, its been
over two weeks). The disk controller will only fit in the 50 pin slots near
the back of the A2000. The A2000 book suggests that that the controller be
installed in the nearest 1000 pin to the right. Unfortunately, the controller
does not have 100 pins (sorry for the extra zero above). In addition, the A2000
manual says I must have certain software to get things going: "prep" and
"Hddisk". I tried using the pc board startup disk, mount-lisst, mount and
every thing else I could think of but the amiga will not recognize the hard
disk. Can yoiu you give me an idea how I might get it to work. I have to
return the disk drive and controller next week. If I could get the software
would the hard disk work? Where will I get the software? Am I just wasting my
time and should return the equipment.
Odell lee, 70701,3624, Williamsburg, VA
Odell,
The controller board you have is for a PC and would allow you to use
the Seagate with a BridgeBoard. But as to using it with the Amiga as an Amiga
drive…it can be done, Larry Phillips has done it but he had to write some
specialized software to do it.
Don
Thanks a lot Don. If I under stand you correctly, I can use this controller
with a bridgeboard. When I receive my new bridgeboard, and if it works, I
could use this controller and the seagate? Fantastic. However, you say if I
want to use it with my A2000, I will need special software. I would like to
try it both ways. Is it possible for you to give me Larry Phillips' ID number?
I looked under Phillips and there are about seven Larry Phillips on CompuServe.
I really appreciate you help. Looking to here from you as soon as convenient.
Thanks.
/ex \
Odell,
Yes, when you get the bridge card, you will be able to use a standard 'XT
style' controller with it. The software to do that is included with the
2000/bridge software. Don was referring to trying to use an XT controller
without a bridge card. As he says, it can be done, but requires both hardware
(a sort of an adapter to connect the Amiga and IBM sides0, and special driver
software.
Regards, Larry.
Thanks Larry. I guess it would be prudent to wait for my bridgecard
replacement since I am a novice at these things. I will talk to my friend's
friend. If he has some ideas or some hardware gadget that will make the hard
disk controller and seagate work without a bridgeboard, I will pass it on to
you.
thanks again, Odell/ex
Odell,
Good luck. I already have mine working, so there's no problem there.
Regards, Larry.
Odel,
I see Larry has jumped in with a message.
Yes, once you have the bridgeboard, you can use the Seagate and the
controller ON THE PC SIDE, as a PC drive. You can partition it so that you can
use part of the drive as an Amiga drive then. With what you have right now
(A2000, PC controller and Seagate), you can not use it without the special
software and hardware adapter Larry mentioned. This software/hardware is not
available to the public at this time, it's a project that Larry is working on.
Also, IF you buy a 2090 HD controller for the A2000, you can then use
the Seagate as an Amiga drive (and you can share it with the bridgeboard).
Remember, the A2000/bridgeboard is really 2 complete and separate
computers. They share the monitor and keyboard, but that's about it. On the
PC side, you use PC add-ons like controllers and drives. On the Amiga side,
you use Amiga add-ons like controllers and drives. However, once you have the
A2000/bridgeboard…even thou they are 2 separate computers, CBM supplies you
with software that allows them to share other things besides the monitor and
keyboard. They can also share the printer port and hard drives and they can
transfer files back and forth between the 2 sides.
That ability to share things is what makes the combination unique, the
PC side plus the Amiga side = a networked system for all intent and purposes.
Without the bridgeboard, you can only use add-ons that have been
designed for the Amiga, not add-ons that have been designed for a PC.
Don
Don,
Thanks much! You have provided me with the most information I have
received to date relating to the A2000/Bridgeborad/HDDISK controller. My
friend's friend would like to sell to Amiga owners, I am sure that is why he
load out this hardware. By the way, he is selling the PC Controller and Seagate
20MB for (total) for $325. I understand that is not a bad price. I think I
will buy it and use it with my Bridgeboard (when I receive my new one!) Will I
have trouble finding a place for my 5.25 internal drive now that this Seagate
fits so perfectly into the floppy 5.25 slot? Or, would you suggest I buy a the
2090 HD controller and a type HDdrive that frees up the 5.25 floppy disk whole
on my A2000. Another point, I understand my friend's friend might be
interested in looking at some sort of new hardward that might bridge the gap
between the PC and Amiga. I have not idea what it is or whether or not it
relates in anyway to what Larry is working on. I would appreciate you comments
on whether or not I should by the 2090 and give back the PC controller, even
though the price is very attractive since I already have (in theory that is)
the Bridgeboard.
looking to hear from you, Odell
Odell,
While you can leave the HD in the 5.25" bay and use it as a PC HD with
the Bridge (and share it with the Amiga side)…that means that your 5.25"
floppy (which you need) is going to have to be external…and you are going to
have to supply it power externaly. It can't attach to the back connector, it
has to attach to the internal floppy connector since the drive select lines for
drive A: only come off the internal connector. However, once you do have the
floppy attached (thru one of the openings is fine for the ribbon cable) and
format the HD with the /S option (so it writes the system files to it), you can
then boot off the HD and no longer absolutely have to have an A: drive. You
can then hook up to the rear connector as a B: drive and while you'll get an
error on boot up, hitting the F1 key will continue the boot and it will boot
off the HD. It's not the best solution, but it is a workable soultion.
As to getting a 2090 or using the PC controller card…it all depends
on your needs. If you need an Amiga HD more than you need a PC HD, then yes,
I'd get the 2090. Your arrangement of the 5.25" drives could still be the same
as described above, but you'd have to leave the floppy as drive A: as the PC
board can not boot off an Amiga HD.
Don
Don,
Thanks again! I am sure I can do everything I want to do on my Amiga. The
reason I chose the A2000 was because of its pc compatibility. I use my Amiga
mostly for writing manuscripts and articles in collaboration with several other
persons who have IBM compatibles. I assumed that it would be best if when we
decided to transfer files for editing, it would be easier to use a hard disk,
and safer. If I can do all this with the A2090 without all the electrical
connections you talked about, that's fine. On the other hand, where can one
get an A2000 hddisk controller and 20 megs for $300? Since I have already paid
for the bridgeboard and the internal 5.25, I suppose you are correct in
suggesting that I opt for the 2090. I know it will be easier for me work with,
given the alternatives.
Thanks again, Odell
Don: Can you use the Janus drivers and the AssignDev command to use the Amiga
floppies on the IBM? I am visualizing using an Amiga 3.5, an IBM 3.5, leaving
the 5.25 for a hypothetical future HD, and an external 5.25 that AmigaDOS
thinks is a 3.5.
I already have an external (high density) 5.25 and 3.5. I plan to put the 3.5
drive into df1:. The 5.25 is already Amiga adapted.
I want to be able to assign the 5.25 to whichever of the computers needs it at
the moment. I am willing to suffer some performance loss on the IBM side. I
am willing to reboot to change the assignment, but don't want to move wires.
Can PC Utilities work with a disk that is electrically the same as the 3.5 inch
drives?
../greg
Greg,
If the Amiga can recognize the disk, then ARead, AWrite and JLink
_should_ work with it. I know it works with RAM:.
Don