42adlgx@sacemnet.af.mil (42ADLGX) (01/02/91)
I am having great difficulty with the Sidecar, especially when trying to
use the hard-drive as an Amiga drive.
I have tested several configurations and found that it works in any way
except with the A1000 Spirit Board. i have used two different A1000s to
test this. Both computers have had the PAL grounding done as described by
Perry Kivolowitz's article (and correction) in Amazing Computing v.3 n.3.
Here is what I have done:
Both computers without the Spirit Board - Works OK
Swapped 68000 CPUs with the one on the Board - still works okay
Both computers with the Spirit board - DOES NOT WORK
Swapped the 68000 CPU on the board - STILL DOES NOT WORK
The MS-DOS (Sidecar) screen shows "Janus Handler 2.63, Library 33.1" -
WHEN IT WORKS!
I have received several different types of errors. The most constant
ones lately being:
On the Sidecar - optional ROM bad Checksum=XXX (XXX has been various
hex codes)
After running DJMOUNT on the Amiga side the PC side
will often have colored blocks running digonally
across the screen. These disappear after running
the MSDOS CLS command or a DOS program that changes
screens.
On the Amiga - After running DJMOUNT CLI returns with "PC JANUS
handler not running."
I have tried configuring the Spirit board to have it's memory starting at
800000 HEX (so the Amiga doesn't auto-config it) Didn't work.
The Memory DOES check out okay when tested.
Other errors seen:
On Sidecar: * Once the screen went to 40 Col mode and I had an error
screen saying "No JANUS Memory Structure Found J0.63"
On the Amiga: * System "freezes" (No guru, just locks up)
* Workbench gets corrupted (Disk icons just disappear,
etc) and I must run LOADWB again to recover.
* Various keys do not return the proper character
(i.e., I hit "A" and get "/", etc.,)
* The CLI may respond to all key presses with garbage
characters (I've seen this once before, in 1986 with
WB 1.1)
System Configuration:
Amiga: Spirit Board (1.5 M)
External 3.5" Disk drive
Modem
HP Deskjet Plus
A1080 Monitor
Sidecar: 640K Ram
7 Pack function card (by CPI) all jumpers set correctly
Seagate ST-225, with Western Digital Controller
PLEASE HELP!!! Do my PALS need to be replaced? Could it be a timing
problem? Is the SIDECAR known to have problems working with internal
expansion items that go off of the CPU Slot?
Any WORKAROUNDS or FIXES??? I need to get this WORKING!!! I return to
school in May for my Masters and I need to have this system running
properly.
THANKS TO ALL!!!
Steve Brady
US MAIL Address:
Work: 42 AD/LGX
Grand Forks AFB, ND 58205
Home: 1722 University Ave
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Phone #s:
Work: (701) 747-3105
Home: (701) 775-6446
DDN Address:
42ADLGX@SACEMENT.AF.MIL
Thanks again!!!