A2000 SCSI-cards not working

[storhemulen]

I'm at a loss here trying to figure out why my A2000 stopped working. Well, does not work as expected I should say.

It all started when I inserted a disk in my internal df1 which made a unusual sound and the system crashed. Now the scsi hard drive spins up but does not boot the system. Also the LED indicating HD activity never turns on,but power LED flashes. The system will not boot at all from floppy when the SCSI card is installed [HC+8]. I tried my old HC2-card which worked before I put in the HC8 and that produces the same effect, no boot and a flashing power LED.

If no SCSI card is present the system boots from floppy just fine.

Any clues what to do next? To me it seems the cards are probably OK since I doubt both have failed. Something with the zorro bus maybe?

 

[Zetr0]

I got a nasty feeling that either

1. the SCSI Harddisk has died.
2. the BOOT ROM on your SCSI device just died.

We need confrim either of the above before we can move on.

you can boot from Floppy and pending on your SCSI adapter you can put the device.driver in the expansion directory on your workbench disk.

i.e. if you havea GVP impact series II Fast SCSI controller then you would put the gvpscsi.device into the expansion folder on the workbench disk - ensure that the boot-option (usually a jumper) is disabled - with the SCSI harddisk still connected you boot from the floppy.

from here modify the HDTOOLS or HDINSTALTOOLS icon from

SCSI_DEVICE = scsi.device

to (for exampled the GVP SCSI adapter

SCSI_DEVICE = gvpscsi.device

Save this icon and then run the porgram, it will scan the SCSI adapter and you should be able see and manipulate the SCSI harddisk if the HDD is working... should this be the case then I suspect its the SCSI adapter BOOT ROM failure...

let me know what one you have an I may (pending if I have a spare EEPROM) be able to program you a new one and stick it in the package I am sending you =)

 

[PymerOne]

Dear storhemulen,

It is possible the zorrobus does have a problem.
Can you check with other harddisks?

Grtz, PymerOne.

 

[Buzzfuzz]

Well if it started with DF1, then disable that (floppy cable and power connector off it and jumper on the board) and see if the system starts then.
Also try another Zorro slot than the one used.

Could also be that the PSU is failing slowly.

 

[storhemulen]

Thanks for all the replies. First off, the HC2 card had a different HD installed, I should have mentioned that. Two different cards with two different HDs that is. And the system won't boot from HD or floppy if either of the SCSI cards is installed, but boots just fine without them from floppy.

Also maybe worth mentioning is that installed a Zydec kickstart switcher some time before the troubles began. The switcher works fine (1.3/3.1) and it was installed when I booted system to WB from HD successfully one time, but after that refuses to boot from HD.

I will try disable the boot ROM on the card and try your method of detecting the drive Zetr0, but it feels like there is something else wrong. Maybe this it the right time to replace all electrolytic caps...

I also tried putting the HC8 in two different Zorro slots, so that can be ruled out. The PSU theory is interesting though. Is it possible that the PSU can handle the system with two floppies but fails when having to supply a SCSI card on top of that?

EDIT: How silly of me. Of course I can't try detecting the card using Zetr0's method since the system won't boot when either scsi card is installed. Anyway I did try removing the auto-boot jumper but no go.

 

[PymerOne]

Dear storhemulen,

seeing that you mentioned trouble started after installing the KS switch, is the switcher eazily removed?
Might be worth a try.

Grtz, PymerOne.

 

[storhemulen]

Will give it a try Pymerone.

 

[Buzzfuzz]

Just install the 3.1 only and then the HC8, it should boot.
You can also disable the memory, if any, on the HC8, see if that is the fault.

 

[storhemulen]

Update: I removed the kickstart switch, installed KS3.1 and also removed a bridgeboard. Now the HC+8 is working again and system boots to WB! Very strange, maybe I shorted something when installing the KS switch. There is one lead connected to Gary and another lead connected to one of the CIA.

Will start installing the parts one by one now and taking extra care when installing the KS switcher as the last part. That will have to wait though. Only got a few minutes to spare every now and then with two little boys a wife wanting some attention.