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DS Flash Equipment > Problem running .SRL files using PassMe2 + flash cartridge

#68868 - Bastian - Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:58 am

Hi everyone,

I'm having trouble running .SRL files on my NDS using the PassMe2 adapter and a flash cartridge.

Specifically, I am using an EZ-Flash Advance flash cartridge, and a PassMe2 with Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow (USA version).

Here are the steps I've followed.

1. Generate a .SRL file.
2. Rename the .SRL file to .NDS.
3. Use Darkain's loader to generate a .DS.GBA file from the .NDS file.
4. Add the Castlevania DS USA SRAM .SAV file into the same directory.
5. Rename the .SAV file to have the same basename as the .DS.GBA file, so that the SRAM will be written with the ROM.
6. Write the ROM+SRAM to the flash cartridge using the client.
7. Insert the PassMe2+Castlevania DS USA, and flash cartridge into the DS and power on.

After these steps, the DS boots to Darkain's loader, and if I choose one of Darkain's sample programs, it will load successfully.
However, any SRL file that I write just results in two white screens. These SRL files work normally in "the official" emulator, so I am not sure what I'm doing wrong here.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick.

#68898 - tepples - Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:31 am

Have you been able to boot FlashMe.srl? Make sure to have a dollar-store precision screwdriver handy. If you can get FlashMe installed, you can stop worrying about SRAM.

By ".srl file that you write", what are you talking about? Have you tried the libnds examples?
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#68916 - FluBBa - Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:56 am

Bastian wrote:

...
...
After these steps, the DS boots to Darkain's loader, and if I choose one of Darkain's sample programs, it will load successfully.

Well, now you can run homebrew.
Go somewhere else to disscus running of warez on the DS.
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#68934 - Lynx - Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:57 pm

Being nieve, I'm hoping:

1. Generate a .SRL file.

Means he works at a commercial software company and would like to use homebrew hardware for testing..

#68954 - Bastian - Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:36 pm

Quote:
If you can get FlashMe installed, you can stop worrying about SRAM.


I thought the fact that I could run Darkain's homebrew samples with the setup I described meant that the writing of the SRAM was not an issue... or is this not the case? I understand that running FlashMe might simplify things, but at this stage I'm hesitant to modify my hardware.

At any rate, further testing has revealed that my SRL file does execute correctly for a short time, so it's not the actual running of SRLs that's the problem. I've discovered that the problem is related to the NitroSDK filesystem that is included in my SRL.
Are there any known issues with using the NitroSDK filesystem with the PassMe2/flash cartridge setup I described? Specifically, the first call I make to open a file fails, whereas in "the official" emulator it succeeds.

#69000 - revo - Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:11 pm

Bastian wrote:
Quote:
If you can get FlashMe installed, you can stop worrying about SRAM.


I thought the fact that I could run Darkain's homebrew samples with the setup I described meant that the writing of the SRAM was not an issue... or is this not the case? I understand that running FlashMe might simplify things, but at this stage I'm hesitant to modify my hardware.

At any rate, further testing has revealed that my SRL file does execute correctly for a short time, so it's not the actual running of SRLs that's the problem. I've discovered that the problem is related to the NitroSDK filesystem that is included in my SRL.
Are there any known issues with using the NitroSDK filesystem with the PassMe2/flash cartridge setup I described? Specifically, the first call I make to open a file fails, whereas in "the official" emulator it succeeds.


http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=4659 wrote:
Do not post information available only under non-disclosure agreement (such as the official Nintendo SDK), and do not request information available only under non-disclosure agreement.


About the problem - DS game slot has different address then gba slot. Try some universal patcher (worked some time ago), or just make few changes in code.
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#69016 - Bastian - Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:54 pm

Quote:
About the problem - DS game slot has different address then gba slot. Try some universal patcher (worked some time ago), or just make few changes in code.


Thanks for your advice... where can I get such a patcher? Or what changes exactly need to be made?

#69024 - revo - Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:55 am

Bastian wrote:
Quote:
- DS game slot has different address then gba slot. Try some universal patcher (worked some time ago), or just make few changes in code.

Thanks for your advice... where can I get such a patcher?

look at http://boards.pocketheaven.com/ (if won't work, try on older sdk)
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#69047 - tepples - Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:51 am

The primary changes that need to be made involve sticking all the files in an archive and appending that to the ds.gba file. If you want ready-made code to handle archives in GBA ROM space, GBFS is rawther popular around these parts. Or if you have a GBAMP, a SuperCard, or an M3, you might want to try Chishm's FAT code.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#69061 - Bastian - Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:08 am

Thanks for your help, I'll give it a try. :)