Homebrew SCFW: Custom Firmware & Kernel for Supercard

[stl25]

I attempted to use v0.3.1. I can load the kernel.gba but subsequent loading of any game results in SDRAM write failed critical failure

Edit: Looks like my miniSD is borked

 

[metroid maniac]

I attempted to use v0.3.1. I can load the kernel.gba but subsequent loading of any game results in SDRAM write failed critical failure

That sounds like a hardware fault. If you hold L+R with the original firmware while booting the cartridge, it should enter self-test mode. Then you can press A to test SDRAM.

 

[stl25]

That sounds like a hardware fault. If you hold L+R with the original firmware while booting the cartridge, it should enter self-test mode. Then you can press A to test SDRAM.

miniSD needed a reformat

 

[Flame]

So I was speaking with @Scarlet she goes she has this problem.

its a Micro SD to SD adapter, FAT formatted 1GB Micro SD card

 

[metroid maniac]

So I was speaking with @Scarlet she goes she has this problem.

its a Micro SD to SD adapter, FAT formatted 1GB Micro SD card

View attachment 418243

Does it happen at the same loading progress every time, for every game?

 

[Flame]

Does it happen at the same loading progress every time, for every game?

yeah she goes nothing boots

 

[stl25]

yeah she goes nothing boots

That is the error I was getting. I formatted the miniSD and everything peachy after that

 

[SylverReZ]

Hi, I was reading your post about the CF for the SC, I tried to run it on mine but I gave an error of wrong Flash id

Compile your own build with the flash ID of your chip and the appropriate commands to read and write directly to it.

yeah she goes nothing boots

Then, your only option would be to reprogram the flash chip to have the appropriate firmware using an EPROM programmer.

 

[metroid maniac]

Then, your only option would be to reprogram the flash chip to have the appropriate firmware using an EPROM programmer.

The flash chip in the Supercard is used to store the firmware and is only 512KB in size.
Games are loaded to SDRAM in the Supercard instead, and no command set is needed to use it. You just read and write halfwords directly.
I'll release a version which warns if any SDRAM errors take place but attempts to continue anyway. If it's only a couple bytes error, the game will probably still work.

Post automatically merged: Feb 5, 2024

yeah she goes nothing boots

I have released version 0.3.2 which will ignore but report SDRAM errors. Please let me know if this helps, how many SDRAM errors she gets, and whether games seem to play okay.

 

[JORGETECH]

I attempted to use v0.3.1. I can load the kernel.gba but subsequent loading of any game results in SDRAM write failed critical failure

Edit: Looks like my miniSD is borked

Which kind of Supercard miniSD are you trying, is it an original or one of the newer (possibly cloned?) ones with a microSD slot? Mine does not report those errors and it's one of the newer ones, I'll attach some photos of mine for reference.

EDIT:
I actually got an SDRAM error right now with Doom II, a bigger ROM. I tested again loading an smaller one and it didn't fail, the weird thing is that now Doom II doesn't give an error!

 

[stl25]

Which kind of Supercard miniSD are you trying, is it an original or one of the newer (possibly cloned?) ones with a microSD slot? Mine does not report those errors and it's one of the newer ones, I'll attach some photos of mine for reference.

EDIT:
I actually got an SDRAM error right now with Doom II, a bigger ROM. I tested again loading an smaller one and it didn't fail, the weird thing is that now Doom II doesn't give an error!

View attachment 418377

My Supercard SD is one of the original ones I got many years ago. I also have the larger Supercard SD (blue) that uses full size SD cards. Getting harder to find miniSD so I hope mine will last for awhile longer. Seems fine so far after format (1 GB size).

 

[JORGETECH]

My Supercard SD is one of the original ones I got many years ago. I also have the larger Supercard SD (blue) that uses full size SD cards. Getting harder to find miniSD so I hope mine will last for awhile longer. Seems fine so far after format (1 GB size).

Yeah, it's getting harder to find non-HC SD cards. I was able to buy 2 GB SanDisk ones from AliExpress a while ago, I'm not sure about the authenticity but they seem to be holding up for the moment. It may help to search for "industrial" SD cards when buying.

 

[Apache Thunder]

Google Topram 4GB SD card. I can certify that one is one of the few remaining non SDHC 4GB cards out there. I've used it with my Gamecube at one point for my Datel ActionReplay exploit for booting Swiss and that setup required a non SDHC card.

Looks like NewEgg still carries them .

Now if only there was a microSD varient of that 4GB card...I'm sure some non SDHC 4GB MicroSD cards were made back in the day but it seems they are unobtainium now.

 

[stl25]

2 GB microSD in a microSD 2 miniSD adapter is more than sufficient for those miniSD variants. I ordered an adapter literally minutes after my post. Haha

 

[VROdin]

Oh, man it's a brilliant. Good work!

 

[davidleeks]

Great work. i registered after i saw this post. now testing the v0.3.2, it seems ok with the games i tested. hope the realtime save feature will be added.

 

[metroid maniac]

Great work. i registered after i saw this post. now testing the v0.3.2, it seems ok with the games i tested. hope the realtime save feature will be added.

Realtime save will be one of the hardest features to add. It is low on the priority list and I cannot promise I will be able to add it.

 

[stl25]

Realtime save will be one of the hardest features to add. It is low on the priority list and I cannot promise I will be able to add it.

Loving the current functionality of the firmware and kernel. Soft reset back to game selection menu will be fantastic. Already bookmarked this project to track progress. Keep up the great work.

 

[davidleeks]

Realtime save will be one of the hardest features to add. It is low on the priority list and I cannot promise I will be able to add it.

Noted. thanks for the quick reply on this. i bookmarked this post to check for any update.

Post automatically merged: Feb 6, 2024

Anyway, i still use the SuperCard because i like the "slowdown" feature for some action games, it makes the games easier for me. haha.

 

[stl25]

Just tested 0.3.3 and everything is working fine.

Post automatically merged: Feb 6, 2024

Realtime save will be one of the hardest features to add. It is low on the priority list and I cannot promise I will be able to add it.

Been enjoying 0.3.3 release. Played about an hour of Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. Saved in game and turned off DS Lite . When I started the game again the save does not autoload. Have not tried any other game.