Re: harddisks with MBR

["Michael L. Hitch" <mhitch%montana.edu@localhost>]

On Fri, 31 Jan 2003, Nicolas Bruno BASTIEN wrote:

> > On Mon, Jan 27, 2003 at 05:50:35PM +0100, Gunther Nikl wrote:
> >
> >>Is it possible to use hardisks that have a MBR?
> >>
...
> Here is what I think (but I am not 100% sure of it) :
> MBR is for PC while RDB is for Amiga

  MBR is for any port that understands them, which can be more than just
the PC.

> so using a disk with a MBR on Amiga is possible
> but the MBR will be deleted and Amiga will put a RDB instead.

  Adding support for MBR partition tables if there is no RDB present on
the disk could be done.  Direct support currently does not exist, and
the only way to use the disk is to get the partition information from the
MBR and create the RDB partitions that match it.  [Most programs that
manipulate the RDB will write the RDSK block in the first disk block,
overwriting the MBR block.  A smarter program could place the RDB blocks
starting in the second disk block, leaving the MBR intact -
theoretically allowing the disk be swapped between a PC and the Amiga
without needing any other changes.]

Michael