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- If you would like to receive e-mail updates of the software written
- for the PowerFlyer FastATA-2/EIDE Controller, please send a message
- to: support@elbox.com
- subject: subscribe FastATA'99
- body: <your name>, <your ATA3.driver version>,
- <the serial number of your controller>
-
-
- SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
-
- Note: Before you proceed with the installation of the software
- of the controller, uninstall any system add-on programmes
- like IDEFIX, EIDE device, etc.
-
- Note: If you use AmigaOS3.5 you should have on the begining
- of s:startup-sequence following line:
-
- SetPatch QUIET SKIPROMUPDATES scsi.device
-
- The following files are provided in the enclosed FastATA'99 floppy disk:
- ATA3.driver,
- ATA3-Install,
- ATA3Prefs,
- AllegroCDFS - only if you have version with AllegroCDFS,
-
- /for order AllegroCDFS separatelly please contact with
- sales@powerc.demon.co.uk or sales@elbox.com/
-
- Mountlists: CD1, CD2, CD3, PC5, PC6, PC7, Orgella,
- ReadMeFirst
- History.txt
- CheckLMB (Check Left Mouse Button)
- DriveSpeed
- ATAPIFormat
- FastATA'99.lha
- Copyright.doc
-
-
- Note: The controller without software installed operates only with
- the PRIMARY PORT, in exactly the same way as a standard A1200
- controller.
-
- Note: Please remember that if you have only one drive attached to any port,
- jumpers on this drive should be set to SINGLE (MASTER). If you have
- two drives attached to any port, the first drive should have jumpers
- set to MASTER, the second to SLAVE.
-
- AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION
-
- 1. Boot the computer from the hard disk.
- 2. Run ATA3-Install from the FastATA'99 floppy disk.
-
- The installation shall proceed in a fully automatic mode.
-
- After installation of FastATA'99, reboot your Amiga with
- the left mouse button pressed during start: it will start
- ATA3Prefs program. Click SAVE on exit from ATA3Prefs.
- For installation/reinstallation of AllegroCDFS start
- ATA3-Install once again.
-
- ATA3-Install prepares all AllegroCDFS mountlists for your
- CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD drives.
-
- Note: The Installer program (from INSTALL Workbench) must be present
- in the SYS: folder of the booting disk.
-
- MANUAL INSTALLATION
-
- 1. Copy ATA3.driver and CheckLMB to the C: folder.
- 2. Copy ATA3Prefs to the Prefs: folder.
- 3. Add the following at the beginning of the startup-sequence:
-
- C:SetPatch QUIET (in OS3.5: C:SetPatch QUIET SKIPROMUPDATES scsi.device)
- C:CheckLMB
- IF WARN
- SYS:Prefs/ATA3Prefs
- ENDIF
- C:ATA3.driver QUIET
-
- Note: If you upgrade drivers, copy only new ATA3.driver and new ATA3Prefs
- to appropriate folders.
-
- 4. For manual installation of AllegroCDFS, copy AllegroCDFS to L: folder
- 5. Copy appropriate mountlists from FastATA'99:mountlists to Devs:DosDrivers
-
-
- HOW THE SOFTWARE WORKS
-
- The ata3.driver program recognises EIDE devices connected to the Amiga,
- detects the A1200 processor type and takes over all the calls to the
- scsi.device.
-
- The second run of the ATA3.driver gives only information on the devices
- connected and their modes of operation (PIO 0 to PIO 4).
-
- FastATA-2/EIDE Controller supports HDD > 4 GB by way of automatic HDD
- split into 4 GB logical units, which guarantees 100% compatibility
- with the Operating System and any previous software.
- If you connect hard disks of over 4 GB, they will be
- automatically divided into Units of the size below 4 GB.
- Split 4 GB units have Drive Revision 4Gxx in the HDToolBox program.
-
- In preferences in ATA3Prefs you can choose the mode of operation
- for either SPLIT (default) or NO SPLIT. The latter means that
- installing a HDD will NOT divide it into logical units. Then,
- use only the filesystems with NSD, TD64 or DirectSCSI commands
- implemented.
-
- Note: Run ATA3.driver before partitioning HDDs larger than 4 GB!
-
- Note: Some filesystems (e.g. FFS) don't support correctly partitions
- larger than 2 GB.
-
- See also FAQ in the end of ReadMeFirst.
-
-
- If any HDD partition is not validated, ATA3.driver will stop running
- until Amiga finishes validating this HDD.
-
- Note: PRIMARY PORT without ATA3.driver running works like standard Amiga
- IDE connector.
-
- ATAPI DEVICES
-
- If you have ATAPI-standard devices installed, the Devs/DOsDrivers folder
- has to include an appropriate mountlist.
-
- Note: You can make use of the CD0 mountlist included in the STORAGE
- disk of Workbench 3.1. The Unit parameter of the CD0 mountlist
- shall correspond to the Unit number for the given CD-ROM drive.
-
- PRIMARY MASTER Unit 0
- PRIMARY SLAVE Unit 1
- SECONDARY MASTER Unit 2
- SECONDARY SLAVE Unit 3
-
- Note: CDx mountlists for AllegroCDFS are stored in
- FastATA'99:mountlist folder
-
- Note: If you are using any other mountlist, always set
- the device=scsi.device for HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW drives
- and device=trackdisk.device for removable media like LS-120, ZIP-ATAPI.
-
- Removable media drives like LS-120, ZIP, etc., when formatted with
- the Amiga operational system, do not require any special mountlist as
- they are automatically recognised. When these media are used in the
- PC format, the Devs/DOsDrivers folder has to include an appropriate
- mountlist (PCx).
-
- Note: The Unit parameter of the PCx mountlist shall correspond
- to the drive Unit number (Unit = Unit number + 4).
-
- for PRIMARY MASTER use PC4 from FastATA'99:mountlists folder
- for PRIMARY SLAVE use PC5
- for SECONDARY MASTER use PC6
- for SECONDARY SLAVE use PC7
-
- THE ATA3Prefs PROGRAM
- The ATA3Prefs will NOT operate when the ATA3.driver or any other
- software colliding with the ATA3.driver (e.g. IDEFIX, ASIM.device, etc.)
- has been started earlier.
- The ATA3Prefs may be used to manually adjust operation modes in any
- non-standard or old drives and to configure the ATA3.driver.
-
- Please start this program always after changing your hardware configuration.
- To store it, change exit by SAVE. It will save ATA3.Prefs configuration file
- in Envarc: folder. This file is used by ATA3.driver.
-
- Note: From ATA3.driver ver.3.6, in order to reach the full write speed
- on A1200 with 68040 it is necessary to start once ATA3Prefs
- and exit it with SAVE option.
-
- The ATA3.driver is a resident software as a rule, thus enabling
- auto-booting from LS-120 and ZIP disks. You can switch
- off this auto-booting option by changing ATA3Prefs settings.
- Any changes become valid after the computer is restarted.
- From the ATA3Prefs 3.0 on there is new, PIO4 NF mode added.
- Only the newest UDMA drives will work in this fastest mode.
-
- Note: Pressing the RESTORE button in the ATA3Prefs recalls the fastest
- settings and auto-booting after any unwanted changes made with
- the ATA3Prefs software.
-
- Note: With ATA3-Install script used, ATA3.driver and ATA3Prefs from the
- floppy disk are installed in such a way that keeping the left mouse
- button pressed at computer's boot-up causes ATA3Prefs to start.
- Otherwise, computer starts with ATA3.driver running.
-
- AllegroCDFS
-
- AllegroCDFS is the fastest Amiga CD File System.
- The first Amiga file system to support UDF (the Video DVD format).
- Access to:
- ISO 9660 level 1, 2, 3,
- Joliet (Windows 95/98 long name) level 1, 2, 3,
- RockRidge (with Amiga Extensions),
- CDDA,
- UDF (Video DVD).
- Supports Amiga protection bits.
- Supports Multisession.
- Supports SCSI and ATAPI devices (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD).
- Supports direct audio grabbing from standard audio CDs.
-
-
- DRIVESPEED (works also without FastATA-2/EIDE controller)
-
- DriveSpeed is used for checking speed of any drives.
-
- Syntax:
- DriveSpeed scsi.device n
- where n is the unit number from 0 to 3.
-
- Note: For checking max CD-ROM speed, use CD-ROM disk larger than 675 MB.
- With smaller disks, only speed of the central (slower) sectors is read.
-
- ATAPIFormat
-
- ATAPIFormat is a low-level formatting program for any removable ATAPI
- media.
-
- Syntax:
- ATAPIFormat scsi.device n
- where n is the unit number from 0 to 3
-
- FAQ
-
- I have a problem with disappearing data on my HDD 6.5 GB...
-
- ABOUT USING HDD > 4 GB
-
- The Scsi.device implemented in the A1200's ROM does not work properly
- with standard Amiga file systems when managing hard disks larger than
- 4 GB. Attempts to write to partitions above the 4 GB may result in
- damaging data located in lower partitions.
- New file systems, based on TD64 commands (TrackDisk.device 64) is an
- effort to cope with this situation. However, this solution does not
- assure full compatibility with the current software available for
- Amiga computers. Major malfunctions are observed in the working of
- software directly modifying disk sectors: the FORMAT system command,
- REORG, DPU, DiskSalve, QuarterbackTools and other programmes.
- (Using any of these in any partition above 4 GB may lead to damaging
- data in lower partitions.)
- PowerFlyer Fast-ATA2/EIDE controller solves all the problems related
- to the application of hard disks larger than 4 GB. The controller
- uses a method of managing large disks, which is different from TD64
- commands. Disks larger than 4 GB are automatically splited into
- logical units of 4 GB size and a unit of a size, which is part of
- that amount, if needed. For example, a 18.3 GB disk will be divided
- into 4 disks of 4 GB each and a 2.3 GB disk.
- This method guarantees 100% compatibility of logical disks created
- in this way with all the software available for Amiga computers.
- Any file system (OFS, FFS, AFS, PFS-2, etc.) may be used, the disk
- may be partitioned with the standard HDToolBox, and partitions may
- be formatted with the FORMAT system command.
-
- Note: During partitioning disks larger than 4 GB, controller must
- be active. In order to do so, run the ATA3.driver before
- running HDToolBox (for partitioning HDD>4GB). If the disk to
- be installed is the only disk connected to the Amiga, the
- ATA3.driver must be run from the FastATA'99 floppy disk supplied
- with the controller.
-
- Below, please find the step-by-step instruction for installing
- a 4 GB hard disk in the Amiga with the PowerFlyer FastATA-2/EIDE
- controller, when the said disk is the only disk connected to the
- computer. (This disk shall be connected to the PRIMARY port as
- a MASTER disk.)
-
- INSTRUCTIONS
- 1. Turn on the computer and run WORKBENCH from the Install floppy disk.
-
- !!! From ATA3.driver ver. 4.0 !!!
- Start ATA3Prefs (from FastATA'99 floppy disk) and choice between SPLIT
- and NO SPLIT. Recommended option is SPLIT. Exit ATA3Prefs by SAVE.
- If you will choice NO SPLIT you should use only filesystems supporting
- NSD or TD64 or DirectSCSI.
-
- 2. Replace the floppy disk with the FastATA'99 floppy disk and run
- the ATA3.driver program.
- 3. Replace the floppy disk with the WORKBENCH Install floppy disk
- and run the HDToolBox.
- 4. The status line will have several logical disks with the status:
- UNKNOWN, Address = 0, Lun = 0, 1, ...
- 5. Mark the first of the logical disks and open the Change Drive
- Type options.
- 6. Select the Define New option.
- 7. Enter RAM: in the File Name field: before the file name (so as
- not to save to the Install floppy disk).
- 8. Select Read Configuration, then OK, then OK.
- 9. Start partitioning the first hard disk. (Please remember that
- FFS does not work properly with partitions larger than 2 GB;
- therefore, if you want some partitions to be present in the FFS,
- these should be smaller than 2 GB.)
- 10. After dividing the disk into partitions, select the Save Changes
- to Drive option.
- 11. Mark the next logical disk and proceed as in steps 5 to 10. Do
- the same for all logical disks. Note: Make sure that every
- partition is named differently.
- 12. EXIT from the HDToolBox.
- 13. Reset the computer with the Install floppy disk in its drive.
- 14. Stop the start of the computer with both mouse buttons pressed.
- 15. Then run the "Boot without startup-sequence."
- 16. Replace the floppy disk with the FastATA'99 floppy disk and run the
- df0:ata3.driver.
- 17. Return to the Install floppy disk and enter
- execute s:startup-sequence.
- 18. All the partitions will appear in the screen. Now quick format
- all the partitions... then everything should be clear.
-
- You can freely use a hard disk, which was prepared in this way, and
- writing to partitions above the 4 GB size will not lead to losing
- data in lower partitions. You could use any file systems:
- OFS, FFS, AFS, PFS-2 filesystems on any HDD partition.
-
-
- When you connect a 4 GB hard disk to Amiga with another hard
- disk fitted with the Workbench and installed FastATA-2/EIDE
- controller drivers, the installation procedure for > 4 GB hard
- disk is much simpler. Connect the installed disk as a PRIMARY SLAVE
- or to the second port. There is no need to swap floppies, and steps
- 14 to 17 are no longer necessary.
-
- If you would like to use NSD, DirectSCSI or TD64 command instead of
- splitting HDD > 4 GB start ATA3Prefs before ATA3.driver
- and set UP 4GB to NO SPLIT.
-
- Note: Changing the operation mode of the ATA3.driver (SPLIT/NO SPLIT)
- for the given disk into mode which is incompatible with its
- installation (partitioning), may result in losing data (when
- attempting using software, which accesses directly disk sectors:
- Format, ReOrg, DiskSalv, ...).
-
-
- Note: (Only for users of AmigaOS 3.5.)
- On the begining of startup-sequence you should have line:
-
- SetPatch QUIET SKIPROMUPDATES scsi.device
-
-
- SUPPORT
- If you have any questions about PowerFlyer FastATA-2/EIDE Controller,
- please contact with our technical supports:
-
- support@powerc.demon.co.uk or support@elbox.com
-