How to install AmigaOS in 2024?

[JHanna]

I used to be a serious poweruser back 20 years ago, and knew everything there was to know. Had an A4000 and thought I'd peaked.

Just getting back into it now and about to build an ultimate A4000T setup. But I do have a question:

I bought AmigaOS 3.2, and some 3.2.2 ROMs, but how do I install it? It came with no floppy disk. Can 3.2.2 boot from CD somehow? How could that even work? Where can I get a boot floppy with a CD filesystem from?

I realise it's such a basic question but I feel like I'm starting from scratch again.

P.S is MaxTransfer still a big issue or did that ever get resolved? lol

 

[comraider]

The CD should have ADF images on it--if you have the ability to write an ADF to disk, you'd want to do that for the Install disk. That disk then has an ActivateCDROM icon that will mount the CD and you can continue from there.

Also, be careful not to toss out the plastic wrap--the serial number is on that (and not on the CD case itself). The installer won't ask for it, but you need it to download anything from Hyperion.

I always just use 0x1FE00 for MaxTransfer out of habit--no clue if that's still needed with CF cards etc. I would highly recommend using the PFS3AIO filesystem.

 

[miggymad]

Here's a good guide to give you a heads up on what you need to do ...

 

[Boing-ball]

Couple of options for 3.2 install:

1).. Gotek. Use a PC to copy the install3.2.adf to a FAT32 formatted USB thumb drive. Boot the Install3.2.adf from Gotek. Put in the CD into a CD/DVD drive connected to your Amiga. Then you can auotmount all adf files via the install3.2 boot.

2).. Use WinUAE on a PC (Or the MAC version) and install using that option then transfer to the Amiga.

As Comraider eluded to. Make a Hyperion account at: https://www.hyperion-entertainment.com/
You will definitely need this to A)… Register your AmigaOS3.2 CD and B).. To obtain the 3.2 to 3.2.2.1 and 3.2.2 (V47.111) Kickstart ROM updates.

 

[JHanna]

Thanks for the answers guys.

I've already got 3.2.2 Kickstart ROMs. At least that's what I asked RetroPassion to burn me, and he told me he did...

I don't have any means to unADF to an Amiga disk. I'm building this machine from scratch.

I'm using a good, rare, compatible SCSI hard disk, not CF or anything like that.

Looks like I need a 3.1 workbench disk and some kind of CD handler for my SCSI CDRW drive etc.

Can someone help me out with a floppy?

 

[Boing-ball]

Aminet - docs/help/AmigaOS_3.2-FAQ.txt

aminet.net

 

[fitzsteve]

Pretty sure 3.2 has a CD file system so you'll just need to setup the CD0 file with the correct scsi unit of your drive.

You could make life easier for yourself by installing everything to a CF card in WinUAE and then just copy to your SCSI HD on the Amiga and then put the CF away somewhere safe as a backup. That's what I'd do.

 

[Xanxi]

I second the fact of using WinUAE.
I use Amikit to be able to install and modify big drives (SSD, CF, SD, IDE, whatever) and copy fast files. I don't use OS3.2 though, in my case i just clone and adapt my old own installation of 3.1.

 

[JHanna]

No.

 

[fitzsteve]

Fair enough, it would still be a lot easier to make yourself a little boot partition on a CF card or even an IDE HD then messing around with a boot floppy disk. You can then copy that over to your SCSI Disk once your CD is setup and you're good to go.

 

[JHanna]

I think I have WB2.1 disks somewhere. If it lets me mount PC0: then I can hopefully lha the Install 3.2 floppy and copy it on a PC floppy disk then unlha it back on the Amiga side and xopy to an Amiga disk, then repeat the process as necessary.

Pretty ****ing **** that Hyperion think this is acceptable. Just include a floppy disk you tight ****ing ****s.

 

[fitzsteve]

Most people don't want to torture themselves using floppy disks these days and on top of that they're not particularly reliable, I wouldn't want the warranty and support grief when disks won't read in people's 30yr old floppy drives.

 

[JHanna]

Putting a floppy disk in and clicking an icon is much less of a headache than any of the other methods involving WinUAE or CF cards etc. Imagine trying to guide a novice through that!

 

[miggymad]

We were all novices once ...

And we have all been there when it comes to setting things up just the way you want.

I think Hyperion looked and saw that the vast majority use WinUAE these days to set up Amiga emulation on their PC. So to them I guess it made the case for a CD only release

 

[Boing-ball]

Also note. Once you get the CD up and running it literally takes a couple of minutes to install. Each ADF gets mounted up automatically.
I’m lucky that I have Phase 5 Accelerators that can be setup to boot up SCSI CD from the get go.

These days, I use bootable Zip 750 or JaZ 2GB drives to install OS 3.2. I feel your frustration though if you are starting from scratch.

 

[JHanna]

Where's this serial number meant to be? There's nothing on mine...

 

[miggymad]

It's usually stuck on the plastic cellophane that you rip off the box and throw away ... clever huh?

 

[JHanna]

It's usually stuck on the plastic cellophane that you rip off the box and throw away ... clever huh?

Yes.

But there's nothing on this case.

That's all i got, a shrinkwrapped DVD style case...

 

[RandomInexperiencedGuy]

Bähmmmm

 

[JHanna]

Bähmmmm

View attachment 2488407

Eh?