Setting Up an Amiga 500 Workbench 3.1 Hard Disk in WinUAE
  
This article explains how to configure a virtual Amiga 500 in WinUAE, install
Workbench 3.1 from floppy disks, and boot directly from a hard disk directory.

Instead of creating a complicated harddisk image, you use the standard Amiga 500
configuration and add a directory from your Windows computer.

The result is a virtual Amiga 500 with Workbench 3.1 installed on a hard disk,
ready for running classic Amiga demos.

What you need Before starting, make sure you have the following:

1. WinUAE installed on your Windows PC.
2. A compatible Kickstart 3.1 ROM, normally version 40.063.
3. Workbench 3.1 installation floppy disk images in ADF format.
4. An empty Windows folder for the virtual hard disk.

For example, create the following directory on your PC:

C:\Amiga\A500WB31\

Leave this folder empty until you are ready to install Workbench.

Configuring the Amiga 500

Start WinUAE and open the Quickstart settings. Select the Amiga
500 model and choose a compatible Kickstart 3.1 ROM.

Keep the standard A500 hardware configuration, including the
68000 CPU and OCS chipset. There is no need to select an A1200
or add extra memory just to install Workbench.

Save the configuration with a descriptive name, such as
"A500 Workbench 3.1", so you can easily find it later.

The goal is to recreate a straightforward Amiga 500 rather than
an expanded machine with different hardware requirements.

Adding the Hard Disk Directory

Open the CD & Hard Drives settings in WinUAE and select
"Add Directory or Archive".

Choose the empty Windows folder you created earlier:

C:\Amiga\A500WB31\

Configure the directory using these settings:

Device name: DH0
Volume label: System
Read/Write: Enabled
Bootable: Enabled
Boot priority: Leave the default initially.

Confirm the settings and save your configuration.

The directory now acts as the Amiga's virtual hard disk. The
device name is DH0:, while the volume name is System:.

Preparing the Workbench Floppy Disks

Open the Floppy Drives settings in WinUAE and insert the
Workbench 3.1 Install disk into drive DF0:.

If you have additional virtual floppy drives, you can insert
other disks into DF1:, DF2: or DF3:.

Start the emulation and let the Amiga boot from the Install disk.

Depending on your Workbench distribution, the installation
set may contain the following disks:

Install

Workbench

Extras

Fonts

Locale

Storage

The filenames and exact disk set can vary between releases,
so use the ADF images supplied with your distribution.

Installing Workbench 3.1

Once the Amiga has booted, open the Install3.1 disk icon.
Open the Install drawer and select your preferred language.

Start "Install Release 3.1" and choose an installation level.
Intermediate User is a reasonable choice for most users.

Follow the instructions displayed by the installer. Select the
System: volume as the installation destination when prompted.

The installer will copy the operating system files to the
virtual hard disk. Insert the requested floppy disks whenever
the installer asks for them.

Wait until the installation has completed successfully.

Do not attempt to format the Windows folder manually. It is
already mounted as a virtual Amiga drive.

If the installer cannot find System:, check the device name,
volume label and read/write settings in WinUAE.

Booting Directly from the Hard Disk

After the installation has finished, stop the emulation and
open the Floppy Drives settings.

Eject every inserted floppy disk. Check that the DH0 directory
is still configured and marked as bootable.

Start the emulation again.

If everything is configured correctly, the Amiga should boot
directly into Workbench 3.1 without requiring a floppy disk.

If the machine does not boot, check the Kickstart ROM, the
hard disk directory settings and the boot priority.

Also verify that the directory was mounted correctly and that
the installation actually copied the required system files.

Organising Your Demo Collection

Once Workbench is running, you can create a directory for
your Amiga demos.

For example, use the following path:

DH0:Demos/

You can copy demo files into this directory from Windows or
from within Workbench.

To inspect the directory from Shell, enter these commands:

DH0:
CD Demos
DIR

Then launch the appropriate executable using its actual
filename and any instructions supplied with the demo.

Some productions require a specific working directory or
additional command-line arguments.

Memory is another important factor. Certain demos need more
chip RAM or fast RAM than a standard Amiga 500 provides.

Hard disk releases can also differ from floppy releases.
For example, a hard disk version may contain additional music
or other content that is absent from the floppy version.

If a demo fails to run, investigate its documented requirements
and the particular release before assuming ECS is necessary.

A hard disk installation does not automatically make every
demo compatible with the standard Amiga 500 configuration.

Final Checklist

Before considering the setup complete, verify the following:

The standard Amiga 500 configuration is selected.

A compatible Kickstart 3.1 ROM is configured.

The Windows folder is mounted as a writable DH0: directory.

The directory is marked as bootable.

Workbench 3.1 has been installed from the floppy disks.

The Amiga boots successfully with all floppies ejected.

A Demos directory has been created and tested.

The essential idea is to keep the setup simple: a standard
Amiga 500, Kickstart 3.1, Workbench 3.1 installed on a hard
disk directory, and your demos stored on that same disk.