A3000D and CF solution [Archive]

skilgannon

07-27-2009, 09:12 AM

Hi all (again),

It's me and yet again I'm asking you for your Oracle like advice. As you may have seen in the Market place - I'm about to buy Drac's A3000D. What I want to do with it is a) get 3.1 ROM's (which I can get from Amigakit) and b) use the same or similar Compact Flash solution that I'm going to use for my A1200 (which I'm getting from AndyC).

My knowledge of the A1200 and WB3.1 to WB3.9 is ok but my A3000 knowledge is zip, although I realise it's SCSI and not IDE.

Now, I can keep it how it is and work out a network solution that would let me use Amiga Forever to transfer my WHDLoad games over to the built in SCSI drives, but I think the CF solution might be nicer / better.

Any recommendations good people?

(PS - wife is gonna kill me! One new A1200, One new A3000 and one new Minimig - all likely to appear at our doorstep over the next couple of weeks... hey ho, I tend to go full blast into things ;))

Skilgannon

tone007

07-27-2009, 09:25 AM

You'd need something like one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-CF-2-5-SCSI-Converter-KIT-CF-PowerMonster_W0QQitemZ300333529636 (and if that one, the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter that's available.)

I think there were some less expensive solutions, like a SCSI to IDE converter, and then an IDE to CF converter, but either way you slice it, it seems like alot of trouble. I personally leave CF for the machines with built in IDE.

edit: actually, this method would be much cheaper: http://cgi.ebay.com/SCSI-To-IDE-Bridge-Card-Adapter-ATAPI_W0QQitemZ330343942321 but it's no PowerMonster(tm)!

Tumbleweed

07-27-2009, 10:23 AM

An alternative option would be to buy a Deneb USB 2.0 board and run the CF off a USB card adapter connected via the Deneb. This is what I have in my A4000D.

The Deneb costs a bit but has the advantage of allowing you to use USB peripherals, such as USB flash drives, mice, keyboards, ethernet adapters (wired and wireless), external hard drives, zip drives etc.

save2600

07-27-2009, 10:35 AM

Chain

07-27-2009, 11:14 AM

Im using Buddha controller with El-Cheapo CF-IDE, works great! (only with genuine sandisk card)
For 60€ its a great bundle :D

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=486
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160351708064

skilgannon

07-27-2009, 03:50 PM

Hi chain, that looks great although not sure it would work in an A3000D?

Drac

07-27-2009, 04:14 PM

The Buddha works in the A3000D since it's a zorro card.

I have had a buddha in one of my earlier A3000D with an Ide harddrive.
Worked like a charm.

:)

skilgannon

07-28-2009, 03:17 AM

Thanks Drac - sounds like it is the best option for me. Do you know if the machine can boot from the IDE once the Buddha is installed or does it need to boot from the SCSI and then access the IDE as a separate storage medium?

If so I was going to buy this http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=486 and also http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=883 as they have offered to preload the CF with OS3.9 :)

Tumbleweed

07-28-2009, 04:18 AM

@Tumbleweed:

What USB<>CF Card adapter are you using? I've got a Sandisk (supposed to be the most compatible) 6-in-1, Sandisk 512mb & 2gb CF cards and cannot get it to work with my Deneb USB 2.0...

I'd like to see someone's Trident preferences as I think mine are all out of whack by now.

Its a cheapo no name adapter I picked up a couple of years ago for my PC. I'll have alook at my trident settings and take a screen dump and post. How do I take a screen dump on the Amiga?

skilgannon

07-28-2009, 04:42 AM

Photograph it with a digital camera ;)

tonyyeb

07-28-2009, 07:00 AM

Have a quick look at my CF solution in an A3000D with a Buddha.

http://eab.abime.net/album.php?albumid=72

save2600

07-28-2009, 07:16 AM

Its a cheapo no name adapter I picked up a couple of years ago for my PC. I'll have alook at my trident settings and take a screen dump and post. How do I take a screen dump on the Amiga?

I found this on Aminet:

http://aminet.net/package/util/misc/LeoUtils

skilgannon

07-28-2009, 09:58 AM

Nice one Tonyyeb. Are you using your CF to boot the Amiga or just for additional storage? Also are you using the Amigakit CF solution or just a plug in IDE to CF adapter?

tonyyeb

07-28-2009, 11:54 AM

It was being used to boot workbench. I got a CF-IDE from ebay for a couple of quid, and similar a 2GB CF drive. Needed a little jiggery pokery but then it worked a treat!

skilgannon

07-28-2009, 03:32 PM

LOL - it's the jiggery pokery that worries me ;)

Definitely getting the Buddha and teh Amigakit CF Drive solution (just because it's easier).

tonyyeb

07-29-2009, 01:32 AM

Indeed, it was a bit tricky to get the CF card to act like a hard drive but thanks to AlexH I got it sorted. I expect AmigaKit will already have done this if you are getting a CF solution from them.

alexh

07-29-2009, 08:54 AM

The cheapest solution for an A3000D is an ACard AEC-7720U SCSI->IDE adapter (~$40 US) and a cheap IDE->CF adapter (~$5 US).

Chain

08-01-2009, 01:36 AM

and here is your chance :D
http://amibay.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3004&sid=27e17c468b5e3b324e64efb27c013a70
Zetr0 is selling his buddha card for L30

delshay

08-01-2009, 02:18 AM

there also SCSI to PCMCIA which you can get with dual slots....hot swap device..

skilgannon

08-01-2009, 02:59 AM

Thanks for the heads up Chain, I've responded to Zetr0 on his post :)

and here is your chance :D
http://amibay.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3004&sid=27e17c468b5e3b324e64efb27c013a70
Zetr0 is selling his buddha card for L30

AmiDude

08-20-2009, 08:41 AM

Have a quick look at my CF solution in an A3000D with a Buddha.

http://eab.abime.net/album.php?albumid=72

I'm having trouble to find a CF card which will work with my Buddha and A3000.
Can you please tell me what brand the CF card you're using is?
I've tried 5 different CF's that didn't work:
SeaGate 2.5GB Microdrive
Sandisk UltraII 2GB
Sandisk UltraII 256MB
SanDisk 128MB
Canon 16MB
:confused:
Also tried it with 3 different CF2IDE adapters.
Strange thing is that all these cards and adapters are recognized by my A1200.
Is there anybody who knows which brands will work with Buddha on an A3000?
Thanks in advance!

tonyyeb

08-20-2009, 10:10 AM

I used a Sandisk Ultra II 2gb. Have you changed the CF card to act like a hard drive? I can't remember the DOS tool you use to do it but I needed to do that before it would work.

MozzerFan

08-20-2009, 11:33 AM

@Amidude

You need to change your sandisk card from removeable to fixed. The Dos Tool to do this is named ATCFWCHG.COM.

Note that the tool does not work with an usb cardreader. It only works with CF-IDE adapters.
Edit: Also it only works with sandisk cards.

BTW I've read somewhere (I think it was a1k.org) that Transcend sells some Industrial CF cards which are set to fixed instead of removeable.

AmiDude

08-20-2009, 01:04 PM

I used a Sandisk Ultra II 2gb. Have you changed the CF card to act like a hard drive? I can't remember the DOS tool you use to do it but I needed to do that before it would work.

That's really weird... I have the same SanDiskII 2GB and HDToolbox can't see it
when connected with an IDE2CF card to the Buddha in my A3000.
And yes, it was used as a harddrive with my A1200 and has O.S. 3.1 installed on it.
The same goes for the other CF cards I tested.

AmiDude

08-20-2009, 01:07 PM

MozzerFan

08-20-2009, 01:19 PM

Do I also need to change my CF cards even when they are Amiga formatted + O.S. 3.1
installed on them?

Unfortunately, yes. The buddha can't cope with CF cards that are set as a removeable disk. You have to change it to fixed.
That's what the DOS tool I mentioned does.
Unfortunately you need a PC to do this.

AmiDude

08-20-2009, 01:34 PM

Unfortunately, yes. The buddha can't cope with CF cards that are set as a removeable disk. You have to change it to fixed.
That's what the DOS tool I mentioned does.
Unfortunately you need a PC to do this.

OK, I will give it a try. If that fails, I'll buy one of those Transcend Industrial CF cards.
Thank you guys for your help! :)

MozzerFan

09-03-2009, 07:07 PM

Just read this at a1k.org. It was written by Jens Schoenfeld:

Quote:
Die Produktion des "TrueIDE" Adapters ist bereits angelaufen. Dieser neue *aktive* CF-Kartenadapter löscht das removable-Bit von allen CF-Karten ganz ohne dass man ein Hacker-Tool und eine DOS-Maschine braucht.

In Kürze gibts also bei Vesalia (oder einem anderen Händler Eures Vertrauens) eine ganz einfache Lösung für das Problem: Den richtigen CF-Kartenadapter.

Jens

It basically says that a new CF adapter went into production, that clears the removeable-bit of all CF-cards, without the need of a software tool or PC.
Could be interesting for Buddha and IDEfix users who want use CF cards.

gertsy

09-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Agree with the Buddha on A3000 (It opens up other expansion doors as well) and always recommend supporting Amigakit, but,, these IDE to CF adaptors are a dime a dozen(See I can speak U.S.) I have one in my A1200 and one in my A4000. Both bought on ebay for BA (a poet too) from different but simular Hong Kong gentlemen.
The key is to get a good original CF card and the recommendation of the SANdisk (Ultra II 4 or 8gb) will ensure compatibility once its zapped. Make sure you purchase from a registered SANDisk retailer. SANDisk is a bit more expensive but you know it's quality and you know it works right now. The jiggery pokery bit is about HD Toolbox (3.1 v 3.9) but AORG will help you through that, if u can't wing it.

CFs are sooo quiet and quick and tiny, teanie, itsy bitsy, cutie.. sorry got carried away.

Gertsy

AmiDude

09-04-2009, 03:15 AM

The ATCFWCHG.COM Dos tool didn't work, so I bought a
Transcend Industrial fixed CF card. It's recognized by
HDToolbox, so my Buddha+CF problems are over!
:banana:

alexh

09-04-2009, 05:23 AM

The ATCFWCHG.COM Dos tool didn't work
Which almost certainly meant your card was fake.

alexh

09-04-2009, 05:26 AM

Jens Schoenfeld says that a new CF adapter went into production, that clears the removeable-bit of all CF-cards, without the need of a software tool or PC.
If he's got the source code for the Buddha's driver (which I guess is in flash on the card as it is bootable), it should be trivial to make the changes to support these removable CF cards. Seems to me either pure laziness, they have lost/forgotten how to change the buddha driver, it is impossible to update the ROM on the buddha.

I favour the laziness option. It is cheaper and less time consuming to do nothing. Shame they do not open-source under GPL such things so there is a chance an Amiga coder could fix it.

tonyyeb

09-04-2009, 06:01 AM

The ATCFWCHG.COM Dos tool didn't work

It will only work with genuine CF cards that are capable of having the BIT changed to make them act like hard drives.

AmiDude

09-04-2009, 07:16 AM

Which almost certainly meant your card was fake.

What do you mean by "fake"? I used a genuine Sandisk UltraII 2GB CF card.
When I entered the ATCFWCHG.COM command in MSDos CLI window,
the system replied that it couldn't run the command.
Anyhow, the Transcend Industrial CF card works just fine!

tonyyeb

09-04-2009, 07:22 AM

What do you mean by "fake"?

ALOT of 'Sandisks' floating around are fake, even some shops where you would think it is legit have been conned into selling fakes. I remember reading Currys in the UK had been selling fakes without realising.

AmiDude

09-04-2009, 07:37 AM

ALOT of 'Sandisks' floating around are fake, even some shops where you would think it is legit have been conned into selling fakes. I remember reading Currys in the UK had been selling fakes without realising.

I know for sure my card isn't a fake. It sits now in my A1200 and HDToolBox
recognizes it as a genuine SanDisk.
The ATCFWCHG.COM tool was just faulty.