Soo... tried to setup a CD32 and got fairly lost...

[sTo0z]

Yah, just trying to absorb all of this and learn how it all works, but I made it to the end and it didn't quite work out, haha. Hopefully this is the correct place to ask, admitting total noob here.

Here's what I have:
* A CD32 - works fine with discs.
* A TF 330, says Revision 3 on it.
* This riser/expansion thing, says Kipper2k V6.0 on it.
* A CF to IDE adapter, says ALINEA COMPUTER on it, V2.1
* A CompactFlash card, 8GB, SanDisk Ultra 50 MB/s - seemed to be a card recommended that worked for others.

So I definitely admit I'm not entirely sure how to prep the CF card, but apparently I have some pre-made 8GB image and wrote that image with Win32DiskImager. Said it was successful.

Plugged it all in and turned on the CD32, and I just get an infinite black screen. Even if I put a disc in there (which I thought I read would take precedent and run the game, bypass the TF) the disc doesn't spin or do anything, just black screen.

CD32 works fine if I remove the TF entirely. Is the pre-made image the sketchiest part here? Or have I screwed something else up?

I have no idea about the TF firmware, or even how to update it. Some basic searching saw some people do crazy things with RPis. Is there no other way to update? Not even sure if I should. The file I have is: tf330r3_main_top-2023-05-21.zip

Anyways, would love any help. Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place, or if I have done something else super foolish. I will keep at it, but wanted to get this post out.

Thank you!

[alexh]

Without the HDD or CF attached it should boot to the Kickstart screen if it's working.

I suspect it's incorrectly fitted or damaged.

Has the CD32 been recapped?

There's a slim chance the FPGA on the board needs programming. You'll need the correct JTAG programmer and a PC with the correct FPGA dev tools to reprogram it

[sTo0z]

Hi there, thank you so much for the reply.

You had pointed out something that I had not tried. I did not try booting with the TF in without the CF card attached, so I gave that a whirl.

Now, without the CF card attached, the disc in the tray will override and boot, seemed to boot totally normal this way.

So I took the disc out and powered on again, I blinked through some black screens and eventually got to the "Amiga CD32" screen with the spinning disc and the wavy colors.

Not sure if I know what a "Kickstart" screen is? I tried to google quickly but it wasn't clear.

I'm not aware that the CD32 has been recapped, I haven't done it and I can't recall if it had been when I bought it.

EDIT: Alright, well, after cleaning things again, and basically removing it and re-seating it about 20x, for whatever reason now it booted up into the Amiga desktop screen thingy. I assume it's working, however I cannot move the cursor or do anything with the CD32 controller, is that correct?

Is there a way to change what boots? Can I have it launch the tinylauncher thing instead?

[supaduper]

Just check that the enable jumper is in place first, see pic below

Also make sure you have the CF adapter plugged in the right way, I.E pin 1 to Pin 1

TF330 enable jumper.jpg (247.75 KiB) Viewed 154 times

[alenppc]

I cannot move the cursor or do anything with the CD32 controller, is that correct?

Yes, obviously you need an Amiga mouse connected to the machine to interact with Workbench.

Is there a way to change what boots? Can I have it launch the tinylauncher thing instead?

Edit the S:Startup-sequence file and add TinyLauncher before the "LoadWB" line. However, a mouse will still be useful since some games use it, so you should get one.

[alexh]

I did not try booting with the TF in without the CF card attached
eventually got to the "Amiga CD32" screen with the spinning disc and the wavy colors. Not sure if I know what a "Kickstart" screen is?

For the CD32 that spinning disc is the Kickstart screen. It means that the TF330 is working.

EDIT: Alright, well, after cleaning things again, and basically removing it and re-seating it about 20x, for whatever reason now it booted up into the Amiga desktop screen thingy.

Seems to be working. Cool.

[sTo0z]

I cannot move the cursor or do anything with the CD32 controller, is that correct?

Yes, obviously you need an Amiga mouse connected to the machine to interact with Workbench.

Is there a way to change what boots? Can I have it launch the tinylauncher thing instead?

Edit the S:Startup-sequence file and add TinyLauncher before the "LoadWB" line. However, a mouse will still be useful since some games use it, so you should get one.

Thanks for the confirmations!

Sounds like to make that edit I need to somehow mount this CF card in WinUAE, so I will try to figure that out. I tried to use something called "DiskFkashback" to mount it, but it didn't like that, just errors out.

Roger that on the mouse anyways! Was already looking into that as well, sounds like something called "TruMouse" is the way to go, if I can't find a compatible Amiga specific mouse?

[alexh]

sounds like something called "TruMouse" is the way to go, if I can't find a compatible Amiga specific mouse?

There are lots of competing cheap PS2 or USB to Amiga mouse adapters. I don't think TruMouse supports the mouse wheel. So if you like that function maybe this is not the one for you.

I have recently been using HID2AMI (which does support mouse wheel) and it has (IMO) the best Bluetooth dongle support.

https://github.com/EmberHeavyIndustries/HID2AMI

I also know TikUS also has mouse wheel function as does MouSTer.

https://retrolemon.co.uk/amiga-adapters ... apter.html
https://retrohax.net/shop/modulesandparts/mouster/

[alenppc]

Sounds like to make that edit I need to somehow mount this CF card in WinUAE, so I will try to figure that out.

You can use my guide on how to mount the CF card in WinUAE. Once you've done it, you can just open the shell and type

Code: Select all

memacs s:startup-sequence

This will load the file into the text editor. Next, find the "LoadWB" line toward the bottom, and insert "SYS:TinyLauncher" on the line above it.

Use the menu to save the file and exit. Now the CD32 will load the TinyLauncher instead of going to Workbench. You can still press ESC on the keyboard to quit TinyLauncher and go to WB.

[sTo0z]

All working well! Thank you so much for all the replies and help!

Seems like my TF330 issue comes down to it being very picky how it's plugged in. Sometimes I have to wiggle it a bit to make it happy, even though it feels like has a very solid connection.

Now hilariously the right directional on the d-pad on my controller just died, so now to take that apart and take a look...

Thanks again, everyone here is awesome!