Issues Booting Atari Mega STE Internal Hard Drive…

[a***@gmail.com]

Hello!

I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?

Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.

–Artisan21

[Arachide]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hi,

The ST always tries to boot on the floppy first. If there is no floppy
inserted, then it boots on the hard drive.
If your HD doesn't boot, it looks like there is some problem...
Do you have the original disk for the MegaSTE (it contains a tool, AHDI,
to install the boot sector on the HD, format it, verify it, etc) ?

Guillaume.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Unfortunately, I do not have the original disk. I was thinking that it would be something like that with the boot option. Even if there is no floppy disk, it tries to boot the floppy drive. Very strange. I am thinking that getting the Megs STE floppy boot disk might be a good idea, for obvious reasons. Do you know where I could find the boot disk? Thanks.

–Artisan21

[Arachide]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Unfortunately, I do not have the original disk. I was thinking that it would be something like that with the boot option. Even if there is no floppy disk, it tries to boot the floppy drive. Very strange. I am thinking that getting the Megs STE floppy boot disk might be a good idea, for obvious reasons. Do you know where I could find the boot disk? Thanks.

Hello,

Here is a page:
http://www.atari.org/services/systemdisks.php

take the "Atari Mega STe with Hard Drive Language Disk, English-US,
Revision A"

Guillaume.

Post by a***@gmail.com
–Artisan21

[David Wade]

Post by Arachide

Post by a***@gmail.com
Unfortunately, I do not have the original disk. I was thinking that it
would be something like that with the boot option. Even if there is no
floppy disk, it tries to boot the floppy drive. Very strange. I am
thinking that getting the Megs STE floppy boot disk might be a good
idea, for obvious reasons. Do you know where I could find the boot
disk? Thanks.

Hello,
http://www.atari.org/services/systemdisks.php
take the "Atari Mega STe with Hard Drive Language Disk, English-US,
Revision A"
Guillaume.

Post by a***@gmail.com
–Artisan21

It should boot to a desktop with NO disks inserted. Any blank floppy
should speed the boot process.

Dave

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Thanks for the help. I have another question. Can I just dump these files I downloaded from a PC to a floppy disk? Or, do I need specialized software on the PC to make a TOS-compatible disk? Thanks again.

[Arachide]

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Thanks for the help. I have another question. Can I just dump these files I downloaded from a PC to a floppy disk? Or, do I need specialized software on the PC to make a TOS-compatible disk? Thanks again.

The format for a disk if compatable with the MS-DOS format.
On the PC, if you can format the disk in DD 720kB, that will do the job,
just copy the files ont it and the Mega STE will read it.

Or, as David said, you can wait and let the MegaSTE boot to the desktop.
Put a floppy in it and select FORMAT (so you can also verify that the
atari drive works!)

Guillaume.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hi again, folks!

OK. Here is the recent news. I used a MegaSTE Language Disk floppy and got three inaccessible hard drive partition icons on the screen. I also commandeered a copy of the MegaATE Advanced Hard Drive Utilities floppy disk. I ran the AHDI program on the disk, and the computer said that the hard disk was not boot-loaded. We are seemingly getting closer to the hard disk working, but what lack I yet?

I think that there may be a desktop .INF file in the hard disk. Could that be an issue? How do I make the hard disk self-boot without ruining the data on there, in short, without wiping out the drive? Do I need to have HDINSTALL run to set up the hard drive and can I do that without erasing the data? Thanks.

–Artisan21

P.S. I also have hard drive recovery applications. I might want to try these, but I need your advice first. Thanks again!

[Arachide]

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hi again, folks!
OK. Here is the recent news. I used a MegaSTE Language Disk floppy and got three inaccessible hard drive partition icons on the screen. I also commandeered a copy of the MegaATE Advanced Hard Drive Utilities floppy disk. I ran the AHDI program on the disk, and the computer said that the hard disk was not boot-loaded. We are seemingly getting closer to the hard disk working, but what lack I yet?
I think that there may be a desktop .INF file in the hard disk. Could that be an issue? How do I make the hard disk self-boot without ruining the data on there, in short, without wiping out the drive? Do I need to have HDINSTALL run to set up the hard drive and can I do that without erasing the data? Thanks.

yes, if you install the driver, this won't erase the data.
If any action should erase data, you get some warnings and have to
confirm deletion.

Guillaume.

Post by a***@gmail.com
–Artisan21
P.S. I also have hard drive recovery applications. I might want to try these, but I need your advice first. Thanks again!

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

OK. Now, when I want to use the HDINSTALL program, all the physical drive numbers are ghosted. They cannot be accessed. I was able to get into the hard drive at least twice before. This is very strange. I cannot get the hard drive to even boot. The internal floppy drive is OK. I am wondering if the hard drive was so old that it eventually died on me.

The internal hard drive light does not even turn on at all, even if I do not use a floppy disk. So, maybe it did die out. Please tell me, if this is the case, what kind of hard drive will my MegaSTE accept if I cannot resurrect this hard drive? Thanks.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Correction: when I run AHDI from a floppy, the internal hard drive does come on, but it is an amber light that does not turn green, and then AHDI says it is not boot-loaded. I opened HDX and it recognizes the drive as Unit 0. Or, so it seems. Please tell me, am I doing something incorrect with the setup? Please bear in mind that I have never used a MegaSTE before. I guess I am a novice at this. Sorry for all the inquiries. Thanks.

[Michael Allard]

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Correction: when I run AHDI from a floppy, the internal hard drive does come on, but it is an amber light that does not turn green, and then AHDI says it is not boot-loaded. I opened HDX and it recognizes the drive as Unit 0. Or, so it seems. Please tell me, am I doing something incorrect with the setup? Please bear in mind that I have never used a MegaSTE before. I guess I am a novice at this. Sorry for all the inquiries. Thanks.

See if this might be of some help.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/693807/Atari-Mega-Ste.html

Hope that helps

[Michael Allard]

Post by Michael Allard

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Correction: when I run AHDI from a floppy, the internal hard drive does come on, but it is an amber light that does not turn green, and then AHDI says it is not boot-loaded. I opened HDX and it recognizes the drive as Unit 0. Or, so it seems. Please tell me, am I doing something incorrect with the setup? Please bear in mind that I have never used a MegaSTE before. I guess I am a novice at this. Sorry for all the inquiries. Thanks.

See if this might be of some help.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/693807/Atari-Mega-Ste.html
Hope that helps

If you use that book, jump to page 72. There is a troubleshooting question that exactly matches your issue.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

I have a question. Does anyone know if there is a person in America I can turn to to recover my MegaSTE's internal hard drive? Since I cannot access it, and I have tried, it might be kaput. It can only read floppies. It does not automatically start the hard drive when the floppy is absent from the drive. Ben, you still have Bravo Sierra as your business. I understand your health situation, but can you give me some options? Thanks.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hello again,

Ben, my name is Steve and I live in North Central Minnesota. I was wondering about how to fix the drive because there is good stuff on it. Applications are on there that I would love to back up. I do have an external FA•ST SCSI drive from ICD, however I never have tested yet. I do not know if the thing works. I asked you because of your Atari experience and I have heard of your business on the West Coast. I have been to your site as well.

So, that is why I asked. Sorry about your health. I was looking for referrals for hard drive recovery. Maybe, when I have the cash, Best Electronics might be able to do it. It is still a ways from Minnesota, but perhaps. In the meantime, I can try the drive I have. Thanks anyway, and to everyone as well.

–Artisan21

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hello again,

I found something that qualifies as unusual. I did not know this when I purchased it, but I have a modified ROM for TOS on my STE. We think that this is causing a conflict with the hard drives. I don't know if this is the cause or not. We will find out. Thanks.

–Artisan21

[Michael Allard]

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hello again,
I found something that qualifies as unusual. I did not know this when I purchased it, but I have a modified ROM for TOS on my STE. We think that this is causing a conflict with the hard drives. I don't know if this is the cause or not. We will find out. Thanks.
–Artisan21

I bet the nodded ROMs are keeping it from recognizing the hard drive. I hope you can get ROM versions that were originally in the machine. Keep us posted because I'm curious.

[David Wade]

Post by Michael Allard

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by a***@gmail.com
Hello!
I recently purchased an Atari Mega STE with an internal hard drive. For some reason, I cannot boot into the internal hard drive at all because I do not know what key to push to bypass the floppy drive. I am still very novice at this, plus the fact is I do not have an owner's manual for this computer. Can someone give me some tips on how to perform this action?
Your assistance and advice are duly appreciated. Thank you.
–Artisan21

Hello again,
I found something that qualifies as unusual. I did not know this when I purchased it, but I have a modified ROM for TOS on my STE. We think that this is causing a conflict with the hard drives. I don't know if this is the cause or not. We will find out. Thanks.
–Artisan21

I bet the nodded ROMs are keeping it from recognizing the hard drive. I hope you can get ROM versions that were originally in the machine. Keep us posted because I'm curious.

Why? If it came with a hard drive and it once worked the most likely
cause is a duff hard drive. These drives are all around 20 years and
they are all getting flaky. I would try a SCSI2SD first...

Dave