carts:nintendo:n64

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carts:nintendo:n64 [2021/10/13 02:06]
jonasrosland 		carts:nintendo:n64 [2022/09/21 22:34]
cartridge_hermit add instructions for opening carts
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 ====== Nintendo 64 ====== ====== Nintendo 64 ======
 +{{wst>see_hardware_page}}
  
-===== Introduction =====+**Warning: UltraSave + 64drive may produce bad dumps of NUS-8F16FB-02 development boards.**
  
 +{{wst>vgpc_help}}
 +
 +===== Introduction =====
 +{{wst>carts_important_notes}}
 Dumping Nintendo 64 carts is pretty easy if you have one of the dedicated hardware solutions for it, but they can sometimes be hard to come by, or out of stock, or you have to build them yourself. Dumping Nintendo 64 carts is pretty easy if you have one of the dedicated hardware solutions for it, but they can sometimes be hard to come by, or out of stock, or you have to build them yourself.
  
 **Note on Development Cartridges:** **Note on Development Cartridges:**
-Because the Retrode and Sanni Cart Reader lack the PIF chip, //development carts cannot be dumped with them//. The only option is to use a GameShark, 64drive + UltraSave, or possibly a Doctor V64. 64drive + UltraSave is recommended (uses USB, no region lock, no size limit, no address limit, can dump all save types, is fast and reliable), but can be expensive and goes out of stock quickly.+Because the Retrode, the Sanni Cart Reader and the RetroBlaster 2.0 with standard N64 adapter [[https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/discussions/295|don't supply enough power]], //development carts cannot be dumped with them//. The 64drive, RetroBlaster 2.0 with N64 Pro adapter can be used. The GameShark ProAction Replay Pro and some old copiers can also be used, but they are unreliable.
  
 ===== Methods ===== ===== Methods =====
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   - [[#Method 2 - Sanni Cart Reader|Sanni Cart Reader]]   - [[#Method 2 - Sanni Cart Reader|Sanni Cart Reader]]
   - [[#Method 3 - Retrode2 + N64 adapter|Retrode2 + N64 adapter]]   - [[#Method 3 - Retrode2 + N64 adapter|Retrode2 + N64 adapter]]
-  - [[#Method 4 - GameShark ProAction Replay Pro|GameShark ProAction Replay Pro]]+  - [[#Method 4 - INLretro|INLretro]] 
 +  - [[#Method 5 - RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter|RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter]] 
 +  - [[#Method 6 - GameShark ProAction Replay Pro|GameShark ProAction Replay Pro]] 
 +  - [[#Method 7 - Old copiers|Old copiers]]
  
 ==== Method 1 - 64drive + UltraSave ==== ==== Method 1 - 64drive + UltraSave ====
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   - The Retrode2 should now show up as a regular USB drive, and you can copy the ROM from there for further analysis.   - The Retrode2 should now show up as a regular USB drive, and you can copy the ROM from there for further analysis.
  
-==== Method 4 - GameShark ProAction Replay Pro ====+Note that the Retrode does not detect 12 MiB carts correctly, and will overdump them, so for those, make sure to set the dump size manually in the Retrode config, or trim the overdumped ROM to 12 MiB after the fact.
  
-Follow the NES World [[http://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=n64&data=n64-howtodumproms|guide]]. It has been reported that parallel port adapters don't work for this, so you'll need to find an old desktop computer. You may also want to read this article by [[http://www.nintendoplayer.com/feature/n64/|Nintendo Player]].+==== Method 4 - INLretro ==== 
 +[todo: 
 +  * look at [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdpxEUvrixM|this]] video tutorial 
 +  * its sometimes possible to work out the ROM size by examining the overdump. maybe this could even be automated. 
 +]
  
-===== Identifying Game Versions ===== +  - Find the ROM size in kilobytes by looking at the text on the ROM chip and converting it or (may be inaccurate if dump isn't trusted) use the size of the existing dump in [[https://datomatic.no-intro.org/index.php?page=search&s=24|No-Intro's DAT-o-MATIC]]. 
-todo: add info on cart/box serials (and non-standard carts if relevant)+  - Insert the cart into the N64 cart slot on the dumper. 
 +  - Connect dumper to a PC running at least Windows 10 (requires a USB-A to USB-B cable; you can get one with the dumper itself) 
 +  - Obtain the inl-retro-progdump software from GitLab (either run <code>git clone https://gitlab.com/InfiniteNesLives/INL-retro-progdump</code> or just go to the url, download the source as a zip, and extract it wherever) 
 +  - Open PowerShell from the host directory in the repo (path\to\repo\host) 
 +  - Run the following command: <code>.\inlretro.exe -s scripts/inlretro2.lua -c N64 -k *romsize* -d *dumpname*</code> Paste the size of the rom in kilobytes over *romsize* and the name you want for the created dump over *dumpname* 
 +  - Here's an example of the command I used to dump Lego Racers: <code>C:\Emulation\Tools\INL-retro-progdump\host> .\inlretro.exe -s scripts/inlretro2.lua -c N64 -k 16384 -d LegoRacers.z64</code> 
 + 
 +==== Method 5 - RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter ==== 
 +Retroblaster 2.0 has a standard "N64 Adapter" and a "N64 Adapter Pro." The latter is needed to dump prototype carts, whereas the former can be used for standard carts. 
 + 
 +  - Make sure the '3V' setting is selected on the device (not the '5V' setting) 
 +  - Connect the appropriate adapter to the Retroblaster 
 +  - Insert the cartridge or PCB into the adapter 
 +  - Open the RetroBlaster software (available on the [[https://github.com/retrostage/RetroBlaster|RetroBlaster github]]) 
 +  - Navigate to the 'N64' tab, and click "Dump ROM."  Choose the location and filename for your ROM 
 +  - A progress bar will indicate the status of the dump, and information will be displayed on the 'status' log when the dump is complete 
 +  - You can also dump the SRAM or EEPROM from this same tab, by clicking the appropriate button 
 + 
 +==== Method 6 - GameShark ProAction Replay Pro ==== 
 + 
 +Unreliable - not recommended. Produces corrupted dumps for some/all prototype carts. If you do have to use it, dump the cart multiple times, making sure all the dumps match and clean the contacts in-between each try. Follow the NES World [[http://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=n64&data=n64-howtodumproms|guide]]. It has been reported that parallel port adapters don't work for this, so you'll need to find an old desktop computer. You may also want to read this article by [[http://www.nintendoplayer.com/feature/n64/|Nintendo Player]]. 
 + 
 +==== Method 7 - Old copiers ==== 
 + 
 +E.g. v64, v64jr, z64, cd64. Unreliable - not recommended. If you do have to use it, dump the cart multiple times, and clean the cart in-between each try. 
 + 
 +====== Documenting physical media ====== 
 +{{wst>carts_photos}} 
 + 
 +==== Opening carts ==== 
 + 
 +Unscrew the back of the cartridge with a 3.5mm "game bit" or line screw driver, carefully separating the bottom half of the cart's shell. Then, remove the phillips screws on the metal shielding to expose the PCB. 
 + 
 +==== Identifying Game Versions ==== 
 + 
 +Once the cart has been opened, you can decode the letters/numbers stamped on the main chip.
  
 {{:carts:nintendo:n64:n64-identifying_game_versions.png?400}} {{:carts:nintendo:n64:n64-identifying_game_versions.png?400}}
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 ===== Gathering and Submitting Dump Info ===== ===== Gathering and Submitting Dump Info =====
  
-See [[submission:nintendo-carts|Gathering and Submitting Dump Info for Nintendo carts]] +See [[submission:general|Gathering and Submitting Dump Info (Basic)]]
  • carts/nintendo/n64.txt
  • Last modified: 2022/09/28 22:09
  • by hiccup