Recommend a good/simple hex editor?

[electro]

I use windows XP. What would be a good/simple hex editor for a beginner?

Thanks,
T

[never-obsolete]

i use hxd. it's freeware and has served me well.

[Bregalad]

I use translhexion

[tepples]

When I don't need to add custom character encodings, sometimes called "tables", I just use the hex editor inside Notepad++.

[NotTheCommonDose]

*cough Hex Workshop *

[electro]

Thanks.

I'm trying out Translhexion. I have no idea what I am seeing...

A lot of $FF's (a real lot). %1111 1111 or 255

They appear below this stuff:

Code: Select all

4E 45 53 1A       01 00 01 00

etc.

I have 3 sections in the editor; left, center, and right. His html help files don't work (they are broken links). Gotta dig some more.

[BMF54123]

If you do stick with Translhextion, beware that it *might* crash if you do certain things. Save your work before you do the following:

- Switch to another window (this one can often be avoided by clicking somewhere in the file and scrolling up/down before you start typing)
- Open a very large file
- Delete a large portion of a file
- Insert a large amount of data/empty space
- Keep typing past the end of a file (a safer method is to insert some empty space after the last byte, and then truncate whatever you don't use)

It seemed to crash more often when I was still using Win98. I haven't noticed quite as many crashes under 2K/XP.

Also note that pressing Shift+Y will enable "offset mode," so if you need to type a capital Y in the right pane, you'll have to manually insert it (0x59) via the left pane.

Instability aside, it's a great program. I use it frequently.

[Roth]

I've been using frhed for awhile now, and it's very easy to use.

[Bregalad]

Yeah, translhexion sometimes crashes. Normally it doesnt, but once it has started you're good to have crashes each 30 second for a whole day or so. It tends to crash if you paste data, save then scroll. So either don't save or don't scroll and you should be fine.

[Celius]

I've been using HHD Hex editing software, and it works fine for me. It's a trial version, but if you right click on a file, and choose to edit with hex editor, it somehow ignores the fact that the trial is over. If you choose to open the program normally, it'll confront you about your trial being expired. I really don't need too much from a hex editor, it's just nice to have a program that can copy/cut/paste/generally edit hex values.

[electro]

I'll just be cutting a pasting.

I'm trying out HXD.

Was wondering if anyone can help me out with what I'm seeing.

This is in my center window of hxd:

Code: Select all

4E 45 53 1A 01 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 78 D8 A2 40 8E 17 40 A2 FF 9A E8 8E 00 20 8E 01 20 8E 10 40 2C 02 20 10 FB 8A 9D 00 00 9D 00 01 9D 00 02 9D 00 03 9D 00 04 9D 00 05 9D 00 06 9D 00 07 E8 D0 E5 2C 02 20 10 FB A9 00 A2 00 9D 00 40 E8 E0 0F D0 F8 A9 10 8D 10 40 A9 00 8D 11 40 8D 12 40 8D 13 40 20 70 80 AD 00 00 29 80 F0 03 20 87 80 AD 00 00 29 40 F0 03 20 97 80 4C 56 80 A9 01 8D 16 40 A9 00 8D 16 40 A2 08 AD 16 40 4A 6E 00 00 CA D0 F6 60 A9 01 8D 15 40 A9 9F 8D 00 40 A9 21 8D 03 40 60 A9 01 8D 15 40 A9 FF 8D 00 40 A9 DB 8D 01 40 A9 A5 8D 02 40 A9 AB 8D 03 40 60

Which is then followed by many rows of (and continues to the end):

Code: Select all

FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

This is in the right hand window:

Code: Select all

NES.............xØ¢@Ž.@¢ÿšèŽ. Ž. Ž.@,. .ûŠ........................èÐå,. .û©.¢...@èà.Ðø©...@©...@..@..@ p€­..)€ð. ‡€­..)@ð. —€LV€©...@©...@¢.­.@Jn..ÊÐö`©...@©Ÿ..@©!..@`©...@©ÿ..@©Û..@©¥..@©«..@

Which is followed by many rows of:

Code: Select all

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ

I am assuming the stuff in the center window of HXD is the hex representation of my compiled assembly code?

What is the stuff in the right hand window of HXD?

Thank you,
T

[never-obsolete]

it's a character encoded representation. it defaults to ansi, but if you go view->chrset or use the drop-down box you can change to a couple other encodings.

[electro]

it's a character encoded representation. it defaults to ansi, but if you go view->chrset or use the drop-down box you can change to a couple other encodings.

The stuff in the right hand window is a character encoded representation?

Ok, thank you.

T

[CKY-2K/Clay Man]

There should be a way to make your own custom chrset, especially if we find out how to change text in a game.

[electro]

There should be a way to make your own custom chrset, especially if we find out how to change text in a game.

Hey, if you're interested in changing text in games check out this:
http://www.nesplayer.com/database/info/ ... html#INTRO

(I'm just interested in copying and pasting the hex data so that I can program an eeprom.)

That webpage has some interesting info. There is something there specifically about changing text in games.

There's also this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom_hacking

Good luck,
T