A cautionary tale regarding clean install of OS4 FE

My OS4 system is an ancient Eyetech MicroA1-C ...

This is a cautionary tale regarding clean installs of OS4 FE...

During the last few years I have encountered some strange experiences that prompted me to reinstall AmigaOS 4.1 FE from scratch.

When elf.library 54.1 first came out, I had issues with every python script on my system. Eventually, we discovered problems with my SObjs directory.

I performed a clean install of AmigaOS 4.1 FE ...
- quick format, installed FE, Update 1, original Update 2, Update 2 Hotfix

A few days later, on February 3, 2024, I started having issues with MultiView. Sometimes, I would get a DSI error while trying to view text files. Not every time, but only text files were affected. The DSI errors always indicated locale.library.

Only MultiView and MultiViewer were affected. All other programs appeared to be ok.

I tried many things, older versions of MultiView, older versions of locale.library and older versions of datatypes.

I even tried older versions of NotePad just in case NotePad was setting up the conditions for the MultiView DSI errors.

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After enduring this issue for a year and three months, I decided to install OS4 on a different partition.
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On May 29, 2025, I disabled my existing SYS: partition (DH0:) and performed a clean install on my DH4: partition.

Quick format and installed AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition from CD.

Over the next few days, I tested NotePad and MultiView with no issues.

Installed Update 1 ... no MultiView DSI errors.

Installed the fixed version of Update 2 ... no MultiView DSI errors.

- used AmiUpdate to download and install required updates
- installed previously downloaded AmiSSL 5.20
- installed previously downloaded AmiUpdate 2.55

I added my other stuff gradually and tested NotePad and MultiView many times with no issues.

I slowly built a new User-Startup file from scratch, rather than copying my previous User-Startup file.

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On June 6, 2025, I decided to do a clean install on my original "real" OS4 partition (DH0:).

This time, I disabled DH4: and re-enabled DH0: ...

I followed a slightly more compressed time schedule, but did the install very carefully and tested between steps.

- backed up my new User-Startup and some other important files
- quick format of DH0:
- installed AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition from AmigaOS 4.1 FE CD
- installed AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition Update 1
- installed AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition Update 2 (fixed version)
- used AmiUpdate to download and install required updates
- installed previously downloaded AmiSSL 5.20
- installed previously downloaded AmiUpdate 2.55

I have only encountered one DSI error with MultiView. I think I had the same file open in a different window in the background.

Other than that one DSI error, no other issues whatever with MultiView or NotePad or copying from MultiView to NotePad.

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I never did figure out what the issue was with MultiView.

Was there an error in my old User-Startup file?

Were there some zombies lurking in my old install on DH0:?


Anyways ... I'm happy with the final results.

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redfox

On June 14, 2025, I installed AmiDVD.

Unfortuately, it requires gadgets from the Enhancer Software package. And the Enhancer Software support system.

- Enhancer AmiDVD
- Enhancer Classes/Gadgets
- Enhancer AmiSphereServer
- Enhancer Updater
- Enhancer NotificationServer
- related Enhancer documentation
- related Enhancer Locale/Catalogs

Also used Enhancer Updater to update
- Enhancer Prefs/Notifications

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redfox

It would be so nice if one day we all get one new Amiga OS 4.1 MASTER that has all the original and updates that is part of the new Installer so one does not have to piece-meal all of this.

That is a nice dream to have.

Seems wonky after all this time we have to go back to Square One to build things back up to a updated form that we can then build back onto.

TJ

@redfox
Quote:

If it require some libs or gadgets from Enhancer, just install only necessary ones manually, don't install whole Enhancer it will broke your system in one or another way. And don't use Updater blindly as it will overwrite some of your system's component and you will have bugs again. Just do it careful and only over components you know you want to update, previously unselecting all other updates.

@AmigaSociety

I agree with you.

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redfox

@kas1e

Thanks for your advice kas1e. I have been there before in the past and learned my lessons, so I am very selective now.

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redfox