Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    First tip RELAX....
    	Many games are copy protected,and will run only if the system
    is booted from them.I use a commercial copier to copy my games.In
    some instances it will even remove the need for entering a code
    where required.I purchased FaeryTail Adventure,and wanted to protect
    the original disk.This is the only one I have tried so far but I
    am pleased with the results.You need to give more information.
    	a)what are the games you have?
    	b)which amiga do you own?
    	c)Are you talking Hard,or floppy drives?
    I have a 2000 with 3 floppies,and the amiga 8meg(2meg populated)card.
    I feel the memory while expensive was a good investment.I base this
    on the fact that I can expand when I am ready,and have had no problems
    with it.I own 3 drives only because some of the software I own would
    not see my external drive on my 2000.I could not afford a hard drive
    so i went this route.While not as nice as a hard drive multiple
    floppies makes the amiga much easier to work with.You want at least
    two floppies,or a floppy,and a hard drive.
                   						bill

    I've got an AMIGA500, i'm thinking about buying either a double
    disc drive (floppy.  Is their any other kind?) / or expansion card
    to upgrade it to 1000.
    
    The games i've got are:-
    
    ELIMINATOR (dosen't work)
    SPITTING IMAGE (dosen't work)
    OUTRUN     (dosen't work)
    ZYNAPS
    POWERPLAY
    RETURN OF THE JEDI
    WIZARD WARS
    HELL BENT
    CUSTODIAN
    MERCENARY
    and one other which I can't remember.
    
    Can you tell me where I can get a good copying program?

    The first thing you want to do is add the internal memory to the
    500.Many programs developed today will not run on less than a MEG
    of memory.I have seen dual floppy drives at my dealers
    	(system eyes N.H.)but cannot recall the name og the vendor.On
    a 500 you may not want too add two drives.I am not sure but I have
    read threads on usenet about problems with the power supplies.(any
    500 owners want to give their experiances)Another thing to consider
    is each drive requires buffer space in memory.On the 1000 there
    were games,and programs that would not run until do removed the
    external drive.This was due to the limited memory on the 1000,and
    the memory requirements of the program.The 500 at one meg should
    not have problems with an additional floppy.The copy program I picked
    up is Raw Copy.It struck me as strange that it cannot copy itself.If
    you want to backup RAW COPY you will have to find another copier.
    While this does not please me(seems twofaced)it does not suprize
    me.
    								bill
    

    Can you tell me where I can get a copy of this copier?
    
    Will it require two drives, or is the internal one sufficient?
    
    Rob
    

    Hi Rob,
    
    	I'm an A500 owner,in England (London) Tel :- 01-234-5935
    
    Where are you???
    
    
    Raw Copy can be found in most of the Ami mags.BUT there is also
    PROJECT D which can copy itself and Evesham Micros 0386 765500 sell
    it in England for approx 35 Pounds.
    
    It is better to have 2 drives ie one external and the internal should
    be suffient.
    
    Memory:
    
    	  It can be cheaper to buy an unpopulated A501(half meg memory
    upgrade which fits under the flap on the under the AMI giving you
    a total of 1 meg.) OR there are external add on i.e. STARBOARD2
    2 megs. OR WAIT 
    and goto the Commordore show at Hammersmith Novotel Hotel on 2/3/4
    June . 
    
    				Regards
                                Steve G...

    Steve,
    
    Would the copier from Evesham Micros work with one disc drive
    (internal) or would I need another external one?
    
    Would an external BBC compatible drive work?
    
    I'm in DEC Gateshead (Near Newcastle)
    
    Thanks,
    Rob

    
    
    	Hi,
    	  I'm not sure but it is always better to use two drives.
    
    RE BBC drive.
    Which type ? If tis the 3.5 it only half meg type drive but could
    be adapted using the circuit described in previous notes .
    
    If you can not phone London give me you no and I'll call you
    
    
    			Steve G

    Welcome to our world..... I myself own a A500. I ran for the first
    year at 1/2 meg. some games even though advertised to run at 512k
    sometimes will do strange things. i.e. Battlechess will say not
    enough memory. Winter games music will sound garbled. The way around
    this is to unhooked your external floppy and then they improve.
    
     You should seriously consider at least a 1/2 meg. expansion. I
    used the Comodore blessed version a501. As far as a second floppy,
    I would say its a must. I have an 1010 comodore floppy. But I would
    recommend an Air Drive or that style floppy. They are smaller, quieter,
    and come with a longer data cord.
    
      1 meg. memory is a good start. At this point 1 meg drams are
    expensive. I have heard rumors that at the end of the year the cost
    of memory will start to come down.
    
     As far as reliablity currently my system is 1 1/2 years old and
    doing great!
    
     I might also suggest (if your as green as I still am) a disk based
    magazine (ami exchange, am news, amiga plus etc).
    
    
                                                       enjoy
    

    Hi, I am about to purchase an Amiga, my very first computer.I have
    so far bought Amiga user international & get various price differences
    for the Amiga 500 package. I wish to ourchase the 500 along with
    a colour monitor. Could someone recommend what priority I should
    then place on get the following items: 
    
     A second disk drive
     An extra 1/2 mb of memory
     A printer
    
    Could I also ask what the Amiga comes with software wise? & what
    programming languages are shipped/supported.
    
    I wish to use the computer together with my camcorder so will at
    some stage need a genlock, any recommendations? Any help advise
    would be welcome.
    
    
    Cheers Richard, Basingstoke

    
    I'll try to reply again, the network bounced me yesterday just as
    I finished entering it.
    
    RE:-1
    
    re: Priority of 2nd drive vs Expansion Memory vs Printer.
    
    All the arguments between memory and drive have been put forward
    several times in the notesfile, I'd suggest that you try a DIR/TIT=new
    to find them. As far as a printer is concerned, it depends what
    you want it for... if it's just to printout listings or readme files
    you may want to try getting a 'loaner' from work until you have
    a better idea of exactly what you need.
    
    re: Software shipped.
    
    The Amiga only comes with WorkBench and Extras. The included language
    is AmigaBasic (a version of Microsoft Basic). Other languages that
    are available include; C, C++, Pascal, Modula2, Forth etc. (The
    only language that definitely isn't available is COBOL :-) )
    
    re: genlock.
    
    Genlocks are available from �100 to �2000 so it depends on your
    needs.....   If it's only for home video titling, check out the
    MiniGen genlock (�100 approx) it was reviewed in (I think) last
    months Amiga Computing magazine.
    
    					Alan T.