Lynch_MJ@cc.curtin.edu.au (02/28/91)
Following is a list of mail I recieved in reply to my posting asking questions about the Amazing Computing RAM hack for an Amiga 1000. I recomend you read my original posting first (Q: AMAZ. COMP. RAM HACK). There are several solutions to non-autoconfig problem. Please send any queries you have to the people who sent me the letters. Remeber, I haven't done the hack yet and they have. Huw Thanks to everyone that replied. ------------------------------------------------------------------ From: terry%helios.UCSC.EDU@ucscc.ucsc.edu (Terry Ricketts) Organization: UCO/Lick Observatory, Santa Cruz In article <7228.27ca481d@cc.curtin.edu.au> you write: > >QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMAZING COMPUTING A1000 RAM EXPANSION HACK (1987) > >I'm considering adding ram to my 1000 the DIY way using the method outlined >in Amazing Computing (1987). The article tells of problems with Kick-Start >1.2 trying to configure the RAM in a way that it shouldn't be used. > >What I want to know is does this problem still exist with KS 1.3??? > Yes it does. The problem arises if the memory is seen to be there and the stack gets put there before the addmem command can tell the software it is REALLY there. This causes the machine to hang. >Is the extra hardware hack to remove the RAM until the WB disk is validated >needed with 1.3? > Yes it is. There are two ways to do it. One by Dave Haynie of C= (I think it is outlined in the article, with some mistakes) and another by a fellow in LA ( I don't remember his name). When I had my A1000 I put the hack in and used the mod from the fellow in LA. A friend did the mod using Dave's fix and had to make a change to it to make it work. >Does this form of expansion work with most software and games? > In the two years I had it in my A1000 I never found anything that would not work. I did have to add the 'addram' command to a number of disks. >Are there any other problems or solutions to problems? > The mod from the fellow in LA works fine. The mod in AC is incorrect, be sure to check it. I'm pretty sure that CBM-Harv (or Harv Laser) the sysop of the AmigaZone on People Link knows the fellow in LA & could put you in touch with him. He is on this net as well, though I don't know his address. >Is it possible to build the AddRAM program into the kick start disk or the >boot-block on WB disks? > Yes, it is supposed to be possible. I saw some programs posted to People Link that did that. I think I tried it once & deciced to leave my kickstart alone. >Any replies will be greatly appreciated. >Huw >-- I sold my A1000 a year ago to upgrade to a A2000HD so my memory is getting fainter on this mod. Hope this is of some help. Terry ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Drake Diedrich <DLD118%PSUVM.PSU.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> Subject: RE: Q: AMAZ. COMP. A1000 RAM EXPANSION HACK The 1.2 hardware hack is unnecessary if you pick up either KickPlay (by Dan Babcock) or KickMem (by Dave Williams). KickMem automagically installs KickPlay on a KS 1.2 or 1.3 disk. KickPlay is on an Amicus Disk (25?) and KickMem is on a Fred Fish Disk. Also, I believe the 1.2 fix prevents DRAM refreshes from getting to the chips, so you can't keep things in any recoverable disk. I had to install the fix because of a bad memory chip I couldn't locate right away (fried addressing internals, but it still held memory values). If you do connect the 1.2 fix, it's easy to disable it with one more jumper. Just add a jumper to short out the whole circuit; connecting the A19 to where it would have originally been connected. Also, if you want a modified KickMem that supports the automatic ram enable in KickPlay (if you did the 1.2 fix anyway), I have one. Haven't posted it, as KickPlay has the same thing. Good luck. More ram is nice. -Drake -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Dave K. Martin" <davem@hp-lsd.cos.hp.com> Subject: RE: Q: AMAZ. COMP. A1000 RAM EXPANSION HACK In-reply-to: article <7228.27ca481d@cc.curtin.edu.au> of Tue, 26 Feb 1991 03:35:57 GMT To: Lynch_MJ@cc.curtin.edu.au Message-id: <9102271435.AA02272@hplsdes.cos.hp.com> X-Envelope-to: Lynch_MJ Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Regarding your query on the AC memory hack and WB 1.3. I've been using the extra half meg of memory in my A-1000 and WB 1.3 for several months now. I built the little hardware validation circut and put the 'addram' in my startup sequence. It has worked with everything I've run on the system, only the few things that have to boot from their own disk don't use the extra memory. Most of those can have the addram added to their startup though. The extra memory has really done worked to make the system useable and it was fairly cheap, about $60. If you build this, I would recommend not using the sockets like the article mentions. The sockets caused a *lot* of problems with poor contacts and the extra height under the daughterboard. I took them out and soldered the new chips directly on the board. davem. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From: miler@adm.csc.ncsu.edu (George Miler) Subject: RE: Q: AMAZ. COMP. A1000 RAM EXPANSION HACK Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Organization: North Carolina State Department of Computer Science In article <7228.27ca481d@cc.curtin.edu.au> you write: > >QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMAZING COMPUTING A1000 RAM EXPANSION HACK (1987) I did the Amazing Computing expansion hack back when it came out and have had no problems whatsoever. I did not do the the additional hardware hack for use with 1.2, instead relying on the supplied software hack. Since that time others have written better software hacks to solve the problem (which does also exist with 1.3). These new hacks are modifications to kickstart, so by simply booting with the modified kickstart you have nearly auto-configured RAM. There is a hack for both 1.2 and 1.3 (different) available in the Fred Fish collecion and elsewhere. All the software I have works perfectly and I do have some older software that would cause problems if things weren't set up correctly. I recommend the upgrade as a stable inexpensive method of gaining RAM. George Miler adm.csc.ncsu.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ------------------------------------------------------------ { Merv Lynch } { Department of Applied Sciences } { Curtin University of Technology } { PSImail: psi%050529452300070::Lynch_MJ } { Internet: Lynch_MJ@cc.curtin.edu.au } { Bitnet: Lynch_MJ%cc.curtin.edu.au@cunyvm.bitnet } { UUCP : uunet!munnari.oz!cc.curtin.edu.au!Lynch_MJ } ------------------------------------------------------------