Trying to dump 512kb UOROM

[lidnariq]

The places you'll need to modify are probably near this chunk:

Code: Select all

crc_fail:    lda #3		;crc failed, determine size of normal UxROM game
             jsr wr_bank
             jsr compbank
             beq is64k

             lda #7
             jsr wr_bank
             jsr compbank
             beq is128k

is256k:      ldx #4
             jmp next_part
is128k:      ldx #2
             jmp next_part
is64k:       ldx #1

And this chunk:

Code: Select all

;PRG/CHR/WRAM min/max sizes supported
             .db 64 >> 4,256 >> 4

[serpentor]

No sorry I won't share the rom, that'd take the fun, challenge, and legitimacy out of it

Have a soldering iron? I have a hacker solution for you. Lift the A18 pin (referenced from the flash chip's datasheet) on the PRG-ROM from the PCB. Connect it to GND. Dump it as UOROM 256KB (that's your lower half). Disconnect from GND, connect to Vcc, dump again. Remove the header from the second dump and append to the first. Adjust remaining header to 512KB and enjoy. Reconnect the lifted pin if desiring to replay on the NES.

No soldering iron? I have an even bigger hacked solution for you. Take it even further with a slightly less approved no-solder method. Scrounge the drawers for a paperclip (a metal one). Take the cover off you NES & cart so you can access the PCB (PRG-ROM specifically) while dumping. For the few seconds it takes to dump, short the A18 pin to Gnd with your paperclip & dump. Short to Vcc and dump again. Create file as directed above. Sure this option stresses your A18 OR gate output driver a little, but if it's only for a min or less it should be just fine. Put your thumb on the OR gate(s) for a temporary little heat sink.

This is in no way fun for me. But if this is what it takes to get a rom of a game I legitimately own, I guess I'll do what I have to do. I have no idea what the heck I'm doing. I guess if I can't figure out how to edit an ASM to build a new BIN, I'll follow your soldering tip. Thanks for that, at least

[serpentor]

The places you'll need to modify are probably near this chunk:

Code: Select all

crc_fail:    lda #3		;crc failed, determine size of normal UxROM game
             jsr wr_bank
             jsr compbank
             beq is64k

             lda #7
             jsr wr_bank
             jsr compbank
             beq is128k

is256k:      ldx #4
             jmp next_part
is128k:      ldx #2
             jmp next_part
is64k:       ldx #1

And this chunk:

Code: Select all

;PRG/CHR/WRAM min/max sizes supported
             .db 64 >> 4,256 >> 4

What should I change it to say? This appears to be my best option, I'm just not sure which parts need modification. I'm guessing the last one needs to be changed from 256 to 512, but what numbers need to be changed in the first part, and does anything else need changing in the second part?

[rainwarrior]

I don't have anything I can test it with, but try this with http://code.google.com/p/usbcopynesblue/

Put in PLUGINS folder: http://usbcopynesblue.googlecode.com/sv ... /U5ROM.BIN
Put in program folder: http://usbcopynesblue.googlecode.com/sv ... APPERS.DAT

It should show up under "unlicensed games".

Source: http://usbcopynesblue.googlecode.com/sv ... /U5ROM.ASM

If it works I'll check it into the repository for posterity.


Also, lidnariq, where did you get that source for a UxROM dumper plugin? What I have doesn't match the BINs (source is called UXROM.ASM and only does 64/128k, but the BINs are called UNROM.BIN/UOROM.BIN-- I couldn't find sources for these on Kevtris's site, RetroUSB, or Quietust's site).

[lidnariq]

Also, lidnariq, where did you get that source for a UxROM dumper plugin? What I have doesn't match the BINs (source is called UXROM.ASM and only does 64/128k, but the BINs are called UNROM.BIN/UOROM.BIN-- I couldn't find sources for these on Kevtris's site, RetroUSB, or Quietust's site).

from BootGod— http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/plugins.php

[rainwarrior]

Also, I just noticed the solder blobs on the board seem to suggest it uses 16k of CHR-RAM, and not just 8k. I wonder if that'll make the graphics break at some point in emulation.

[infiniteneslives]

Also, I just noticed the solder blobs on the board seem to suggest it uses 16k of CHR-RAM, and not just 8k. I wonder if that'll make the graphics break at some point in emulation.

You can't really get 8KB sram anymore unless you want to pay extra for it, so that's why it's there in the first place. In any event, the jumpers that are closed would suggest the PCB is limiting it to 8KB of CHR-RAM.

[rainwarrior]

Yeah, I suppose there would have to be a second jumper to ground the select pin if 16k bankable CHR-RAM was an option and you weren't using it (but still wanted to use a 16k RAM chip).

When I've bought SRAM in the past it's been a toss-up on different days as to whether it was cheaper to get 6264 or 62256.

[infiniteneslives]

Yeah, I suppose there would have to be a second jumper to ground the select pin if 16k bankable CHR-RAM was an option and you weren't using it (but still wanted to use a 16k RAM chip).

When I've bought SRAM in the past it's been a toss-up on different days as to whether it was cheaper to get 6264 or 62256.

16k (byte?) isn't even an option really with the current market.

I imagine there are some places that have 8KB sram for less than their 32KB, probably places that sell old stock. But with main stream suppliers that's not the case. Digikey sells 8KB for about twice the price of 32KB in DIP packaging. I even was surprised to find that in large quantities of SMT 128KB sram is actually cheaper than the 32KB equivalent right now...

[nintendo2600]

I imagine there are some places that have 8KB sram for less than their 32KB, probably places that sell old stock. But with main stream suppliers that's not the case. Digikey sells 8KB for about twice the price of 32KB in DIP packaging. I even was surprised to find that in large quantities of SMT 128KB sram is actually cheaper than the 32KB equivalent right now...

NOS atari 7800 games are a fantastic source if your willing to desolder them from the pcbs. I use them alot as the common donors that have them are also ones that support larger banked games that need both U1 and U2 for the program data and the SRAM needs to be removed anyhow Bank switching on the Atari is alot like mapper implimentation on the NES for larger amounts of code if your not up on Atari. Anyhow, if you search around you can still get the 7800 games with 8k static ram in them for dirt cheap in large quantities. It's pretty sad when parts of the boards population are worth more than the game as a whole though.

[serpentor]

I don't have anything I can test it with, but try this with http://code.google.com/p/usbcopynesblue/

Put in PLUGINS folder: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/883356/U5ROM.BIN
Put in program folder: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/883356/MAPPERS.DAT

It should show up under "unlicensed games".

Source: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/883356/U5ROM.ASM

If it works I'll check it into the repository for posterity.


Also, lidnariq, where did you get that source for a UxROM dumper plugin? What I have doesn't match the BINs (source is called UXROM.ASM and only does 64/128k, but the BINs are called UNROM.BIN/UOROM.BIN-- I couldn't find sources for these on Kevtris's site, RetroUSB, or Quietust's site).

I tried it out this morning and Nestopia gave a CPU jam! warning and a white screen. It did dump a 512k sized file, though.

[rainwarrior]

I missed an AND that made the bus conflict prevention only work for banks 0-7. Try downloading this again: http://usbcopynesblue.googlecode.com/sv ... /U5ROM.BIN

[Quietust]

I don't have anything I can test it with, but try this with http://code.google.com/p/usbcopynesblue/

If at all possible, could you test it with the original CopyNESW client? It was updated about 6 months ago and should work correctly with the USB CopyNES hardware.

[rainwarrior]

Well, I created USBCopyNESBlue because at the time neither CopyNESW nor USBCopyNESW were functional. Sorry about the name, it was chosen hastily. (I changed the icon colour so I could see it was a new version easily, and named it after the new icon colour.) I know it's working because I already use it, and I knew serpentor was already using it, and I provided a mappers.dat that I knew would work with the version of the program he has.

I don't particularly like having another fork of this around, but I have some questions about CopyNESW:
- Does CopyNESW have a source repository that I can examine?
- Do you keep changelogs?
- Are old versions of the source available?
- Can I contribute to its development?

As an alternative, maybe you would like to join the USBCopyNESBlue project on google code? It would be easier to collaborate, and the public repository automatically answers the questions I just asked. I was planning to do some work on it in a few weeks anyway, it could be a good time for me to integrate your changes and bring in parallel port support. (If it needs a name change, that can be accomodated too.)

[serpentor]

I missed an AND that made the bus conflict prevention only work for banks 0-7. Try downloading this again: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/883356/U5ROM.BIN

I'll give it a try as soon as I get home from work!