BetterWB release 4.3 - 08.02.2018 BetterWB is a new workbench pack, much like AIAB, Amikit, AmigaSYS, ClassicWB, etc. but applying a totally different aproach. It aims to be much like an enhancement, an updated extension to AmigaOS 3.1, without all those hardware requirement penalties typically associated with these kind of packs. It is indeed a better 3.1 than 3.1 itself! BetterWB best targets: -Purists that believe anything beyond 3.1 is an overbloated piece of crap

-Low end Amiga computers that are left in storage deprived from any usage, and only regarded as antiques

-Users that refuse to pay big bucks in order to be able to somehow upgrade their Amiga workbench experience

-Minimig users, that are restricted to a 68000 processor

-Anyone that wishes a clean AmigaOS 3.1 like experience Advantages: -Works on any Amiga.

-It occupies less than 10MB on a harddrive

-It is distributed as a set of floppy images

-Its usage is simple and bares a high resemblance to an ordinary 3.1 install Drawbacks: -Limited eye candy (but it does not compromise performance)

-Will appear incomplete, for high end or heavily expanded Amiga systems (They are probably better with other workbench packs), that rely on visual appealing components.

Requirements: Any Amiga computer

Kickstart rom 3.1 (May also work under 3.0)

AmigaOS 3.1 disk set (May also work under 3.0)

About 10MB of storage space on a harddrive



Updates from previous versions of BetterWB: Here you can find zip files and with them you can either choose the adf or dms floppy image and use the supplied installer. BetterWB 4.0 to 4.3 here

BetterWB 3.9 to 4.0 here

BetterWB 3.8 to 3.9 here

BetterWB 3.6 to 3.8 here

BetterWB 3.5 to 3.6 here

BetterWB 3.4 to 3.5 here

BetterWB 3.3 to 3.4 here

BetterWB 3.2 to 3.3 here



Full Install: First install AmigaOS 3.1 like you usually do. Then insert disk #1 of BetterWB, labeled as "Misc3.1", and install from over there. BetterWB requires only six floppy disks (labeled "Misc3.1", "Tools3.1", "Bonus3.1", “Docs31”, "Icons3.1" and "Drivers3.1") to be installed. All disk images can be downloaded from here as .ADF floppy images or here as .DMS floppy images . After that download apply the BetterWB 4.0 to 4.3 update . Features: -New and Improved datatypes for gif, jpg, bmp, png, pcx, ilbm, tga, tiff, wav and cdxl media

-Modern backup tool (ABackup) that replaces the ancient one from 3.1

-New Removable media partition mounter (SCSIMounter)

-New System snooper (SnoopDOS)

-Fast and easy to use floppy disk copier application (SuperDuper)

-Say, the text to speech utility is back again

-New commodities: GrabIFF, WBGauge, SwazInfo, AssignWedge, CleverWIN, IconAppearer, AltTab, ToolAlias and AddMenu, DontShowIborder, ModePro, MultiHelp, yStart, WintoFront, BenchTrash, DosPrefs, PowerSnap, CronTask, Ned, FreeWheel, PM and MagicMenu

-66 additional workbench printer drivers (take a peek at your SYS:Storage drawer)

-Three new monitor drivers for improved video support (HD720, HighGFX and SuperPlus)

-A complete set of manuals that explain all these new features (See inside HELP: )

-New more flexible handlers (GrabIFFHandler, port-handler and speak-handler)

-A couple of upgraded, and new system commands (Info, Installer, Reboot, SetPatch, Version, Break, Join, Copy, Sort, Avail, WBRun, Add44k, DMS, zDir, RequestChoice, dd, Addmem, LockDevice and Showboards)

-XPKMaster offers a data compression/decompression library available to programs that support it

-Reworked WBPattern preferences with more options

-New Finder utility that lets you search for any given pattern

-ShowConfig has been replaced by the powerful WhichAmiga

-Totalcalc is a replacement calculator that can even be configured as an advanced scientific one

-MinStack increases the default stack size for programs to 8KB (Can be configured to any size)

-Enhanced Serial prefs program with more options

-FastFileSystem 44.5 patches NSD64 devices to support drives bigger than 4GB (upto 8GB)

-PatchRam fixes a long standing bug in ram-hadler. The Ramdisk now displays correct usage, and not 100% all the time

-Smaller and faster picture.datatype that speeds up image display operations

-Bugfixed and faster serial.device

- A greatly enhanced Shell console with a ton of neat features (ZShell)

-The famous LHA, GZIP, ZIP and UNZIP archiver commands are installed in their latest incarnation

-Queue-Handler has been bugfixed

-An incredibly faster mathtrans.library with an extra feature is included

-Jaztools is a commandline tool to handle ZIP and JAZ drives

-A low resource and flexible filemanager is now present (DirWork)

-Support for FAT and FAT32 volumes is achieved with fat95

-The fastest Amiga filesystem, PFS3, and its associated tools are now included

-Corrected the ancient "Pure" bit omision in the original AmigaOS 3.1 distribution

-Macintosh floppy format (HFS) and proper mountlist (MAC0) implementation

-Highly enahnced and optimised cdrom filesystem with many new features such as: Long filename support, Macintosh HFS, multiple

session, hybrid (audio+data), and iso 9660 cdrom support

-Rexxsyslib.library got bugfixed (WaitDosPacket)

-IPrefs features now an increased stack to avoid stack overflows when loading worbkench backdrop pictures

-Mfm.device got a stack increase to avoid problems with some programs

-New and powerfull workbench system format

-Compact Disk player with lots of great features (ACDPlay)

-SetJoyPort is a program that improves the chances of using a CD32 style joypad with all games -Midi support for many programs with camd.library and the Midiports preferences -New graphic interface that lets you read and write back adf and dms floppy images. -There is a new preference program that lets you easily handle the WBStartup and the Commodities drawer. -TagLiFE is a simple patch for the utility.library that installs a new set of optimized assembler routines to get faster TagList support. -PatchWB solves many workbench bugs -The new icon.library is active by default (Now you can see all Amiga icons) -The powerfull BootUte replaces NoFastMem -Incorporated a system font cache that requires no extra memory (Fontcache) -CopyIcon is a tool that allows you to copy and replace any Amiga icons -The superb editor Redit is now included -IconSet is a new preferences program to switch between icon types -Rebooter is a new handy application to work with low memory enviroments -Hardwiz lets you autodetect and install drivers for the most popular hardware accelerators -EnvHandler will save memory by optimising envarc: -FullPalette will let you lock and optimise palettes -Charmap is a tool that helps dealing with all the characters of a given font -Prepcard+ helps the user to easily manage other hardware on the pcmcia port (Wifi, ethernet, modems and card readers) -Disksalv and pfsdoctor are now integrated as salvage options -ConBuffer gives scrollbars to any cli (configured by default for Zshell) -Datatypes.library 45.4 corrects several bugs and is a little bit faster than its previous counterpart -DOSDrivers for Jaz and Zip drives are included. If you still have one of those magnetic dinosaurs ;) History & changelog: 4.3 – Minimal public update 08-02-2018

Icon.library updated to 46.4.473

Redit updated to 1.16

BoardsLib updated to 3.42

Say updated to 38.5

Speak-Handler updated to 39.1

HardWiz updated (AcaTune 1.91)

Fixed mathtrans.library bug 4.2 – Eternal Internal: more tests and fixes 15-06-2017

Not a public release yet. 4.1 – Internal testing: toying with some ideas 26-09-2015

Not a public release. 4.0 – AutoHappyBirthday 27-02-2015

Rebooter has now a fast performing bootable ram option

LockDevice is a command which between other things, changes the read and write status of a drive

Icon.library has been updated to 46.4.408

Fat95 has been updated to 3.18

Dir now generates a wider and more clear display mode

ConBuffer gives scrollbars to any cli (configured by default for Zshell)

A new commodity, PM, a cpu/process meter

Datatypes.library 45.4 corrects several bugs and is a little bit faster than its previous counterpart

DOSDrivers for Jaz and Zip drives are included. If you still have one of those magnetic dinosaurs ;)

Reduced the memory footprint just another extra bit

A few more minor fixes and tweaks. 3.9 – No trip to India 19-11-2014

Disksalv and pfsdoctor are now integrated as salvage options

Addmem command allows you to configure non autoconfig friendly ram expansions

Icon.library has been updated to 46.4.399

Prism2v2 has been updated to 2.6

PrepCard+ has been updated to v0.2

SmartWin is no longer needed. CleverWIN replaces it, and doesnt require a workbench reset

TextEngine crashed under some RTG systems. It has been replaced by Redit.

SwazInfo is suggested when switching to GlowIcons

Reduced memory footprint a bit more

A few more minor fixes and tweaks 3.8 – ...Back on track 24-09-2014

Charmap is a tool that helps dealing with all the characters of a given font

Prepcard+ helps the user in managing other hardware on the pcmcia port (Wifi, ethernet, modems and card readers).

Ned is a commodity that lets you close the active window by pressing the "Esc" key

Freewheel helps you in using the mouse wheel comfortably

Updated HardWiz: Phase5 68060.library to latest v46.15

Updated icon.library to 46.4.385

Updated pfs3aio to v2.3 (28-05-2014)

HDToolBox is back (Some users reported incompatibilities with HDinstTools)

WhichAmiga now properly works with ACA accelerators (modrobert´s fix)

EnvHandler is now offered as an option, and a warning message is displayed upon first install of BetterWB

Tweaked Magic Menu Prefs: Pull-Down and Pop-Up menu usage is better as Smart Select. (Thanks Retrofan)

A few more minor fixes and tweaks 3.7– Eternal internal release 21-07-2014 3.6 – Spare time strikes back 20-03-2014

Full 68040, 68060 and ACA accelerators autodetection and driver support with the new HardWiz

Rebooter is a new very handy application for restricted memory systems

EnvHandler will save quite a lot of ram by optimising envarc (Thanks PeterK)

Easily customize and lock palettes with FullPalette

Updated icon.library to version 46.4.339 which is faster and less memory hungry

Updated PFS3 aio to latest build (19-march-2014)

Updated DMS to version 1.53

Added a small text with a couple of tips after switching to GlowIcons

Gzip is back. It is required for ADZ support in TSGUI (Thanks Jost)

Added missing deficons (tool & project)

Changed default position of the global trashcan whenever it is activated, so it doesnt get in the way

For the love of the boing ball: replaced workbench´s glowicon to suit Jarek´s taste ;)

Replaced the standard trashcan icon with one that looks more elegant

BetterWB has now its own envarc drawer with wich you can easily check wether BetterWB is installed, which version is it, and the extensions it has enabled (FullPalette, GlowIcons, Rebooter)

Plus a few more minor fixes and tweaks 3.5 – The dirty bit 04-03-2014

Fixed Redit and Ed duality. They now live together in harmony

Fixed the IconSet typos for those german friends out there

Goodbye GZIP. Welcome ZIP and UNZIP.

DirWork is still in love with Redit after the Ed affair (new DW.cfg) 3.4 – Relentless : ) 03-03-2014

Fixed two enforcer hits present in the Status command since CBM days

Fixed a compatibility problem that surfaced with ClassAct (Thanks David)

Fixed some problems with deficons when using glowicons (Thanks Jarek)

Updated icon.library to 46.4.334

Added a new commodity (Crontask) that can easily manage job scheduling

Added a warning to both MagicMenu and CronTask prefs, so you can only configure them when they are actually running

Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements 3.3 – Back again 21-02-2014

Updated icon.library to version 46.4.332

Added showboards command so that we can detect some ACA accelerators (WhichAmiga fails with some of them)

Added PowerSnap commodity for enhanced clipboard functionality

Redit 1.8 replaces the aging Ed and gives you much more functionality

Added a new "IconSet" preferences app that lets you switch between different built-in icon types

Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements 3.2 - End of year rebuild ;) 16-12-2013

DosPrefs is a commodity that replaces both Clicknot and Unixdirs3 and adds wildcard support

A powerful system Trashcan is now included as a commodity

MagicMenu has now a preferences program and is configured to use less resources (Thank you SS454 !)

Boards.library got updated to its last incarnation

A bugfixed requestchoice command fixes 3 bugs that were previously available

Tooltype tweaking on some commodities for more comfortable use

Workaround for an icon.library bug regarding internal deficons

Format GUI now works without problems

Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements