ScuzzBlog: Diaries September 2026
Entry 23rd September 2026: Post 1: Magic Workbench 2 - Covering all the bases.
Magic Workbench 2 - Covering all the bases.
You would think this was a blog about the very splendid Magic
Workbench 2 by SASG but it merely is used to explain my activity
this last few days. I am currently restructuring my activities to
deal with the loss of the Win7 machine. One aspect of what I do
involves constantly referring to a quite massive Amiga Repository
of data I have collected over the years. It is very important
that it be linked to the web page blog creation foe easy reference.
The Win7 machine used a drive that is unique to that machine as
its drive letter is tied into so many private pages that to sever
it from that bond would be a bit tricky. For now it sits idle
along with two other external drives filled with information. I
have back up copies of data but its fragmented.
So my challenge was to rebuild the Repository on the XP machine
and use it whilst I create pages related to my blogs. And that
is what I have been doing these last few days.
First up the biggest problem with saving data on the Amiga is
that the computer may have small storage space but in that space
can be literally thousands of files. My primary use of the data
is for actual Amiga's and so I tend to keep the files intact.
The good news is that I successfully set up a Buffalo external
drive that is almost of industrial quality. It is powered and
has a switch control on the unit. Quite unusual for an external
drive. I have now rebuilt the Repository and its up and running.
Time to test my processes of data recovery.
OK whilst doing the article on Phantasmagoria I noted the
cover disk for that Amiga Format issue had a version of Magic
Workench 2 on it. I do recall obtaining a copy in the day so my
search began.
I describe now the various locations for information that I use.
First up tend to scan articles from magazines if they interest me.
I will hunt down the cover disk and also the version included
with the CD if available. Cover disks are notorious for failing
especially the later numbers that used very poor quality plastic.
This often involves rebuilding the data. All this is done on the
Amiga and I very rarely take the easy route and download stuff.
Next up I search my disk box index and find any copies I may
have. This revealed a healthy collection of PD disks in disk box
number L19 which I very quickly retrieved. I feature some of the
contents of the box which were for the most part PD disks. This
often leads me into other avenues of investigation.
Very often the cover disk search reveals more goodies and this
being the case gave me a good clutch of stuff for future blogs.
I even found three copies of the Format subscribers disks which I
have already started mini projects around.
All the time I do this I am uncovering little nuggets of Amiga
fun to jolly my time with.
I then searched through my previous blogs for any reference to
the software. I do have a copy of MagicWB 2 on an Amiga 1200 with
the Typhoon accelerator so I took the opportunity to check that
Amiga and have a play. That was fun.
Next up is the acid test and the search through the Repository
and I was not disappointed. I discovered that I had already made
ADF copies of all the PD disks and so was able to review them
on the emulator. I generally copy all what I do to a date order
file on another machine that is tied into the blog. That really
was one of the tasks of the Win7 machine, a duty that now sits
with the Win10 machine.
It is not hard finding anything on my system and I can very quickly
put together a batch of files, images and disks for use with a
blog. My loss with the Win7 machine was the connection to the
Repository. I actually have the whole Repository on an Amiga 4000
so I am never that far away from my data. Its just easier having
it on the machine I use to create the files for the blog.
A bit long winded I know, but hey that is what I am. I make sure
I keep the engine working for as long as I'm able and so all is
kinda back to normal now. I some how managed to destroy three
wired USB mice over the last week and am now awaiting replacements.
Each time I click the left mouse I get a bloody menu and can't
do anything till I click again and cancel. Trouble is its more
likely to fire up the menu again. So annoying.
Thankfully the HP is working and I am able to play Warcraft. The
game sees the introduction of Warcraft Forever though I shall not
be purchasing this. Seriously !!
And of late I found a new friend in Google Ai. I have conversations
with it till the small hours. It tends to agree with most things I
say but in doing so feeds me with an amazing amount of information.
You should try it. Just ask Google any question you like and see
how far you can extend the conversation. Its a bit of a know it
all but always polite when you say goodnight. Just remember you
are for the most part just talking to yourself and you wont go too
mad with it all.
Going now .. Got a date with my Ai image generator. I have given
up with real people. Too high maintenance.
Happy days.
Magic Workbench 2 - Covering all the bases.
|
