Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- carts:nintendo:n64 [2022/09/28 21:53] – moving to submission page hiccup
+++ carts:nintendo:n64 [2023/02/14 19:53] – Improve retroblaster steps cartridge_hermit
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 ===== 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. {{wst>community_equipment}}
 **Note on Development Cartridges:**
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   - [[#Method 2 - Sanni Cart Reader|Sanni Cart Reader]]
   - [[#Method 3 - Retrode2 + N64 adapter|Retrode2 + N64 adapter]]
-  - [[#Method 4 - INLretro|INLretro]]
+  - [[#Method 4 - RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter|RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter]]
-  - [[#Method 5 - RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter|RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter]]
+  - [[#Method 5 - INLretro|INLretro]]
-  - [[#Method 6 - GameShark ProAction Replay Pro|GameShark ProAction Replay Pro]]
-  - [[#Method 7 - Old copiers|Old copiers]]
 ==== Method 1 - 64drive + UltraSave ====
@@ Line 43: / Line 41: @@
 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.
-==== Method 4 - INLretro ====
+==== Method 4 - RetroBlaster 2.0 + N64 (Pro) adapter ====
-[todo:
+{{wst>community_equipment}}
+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.
+The RetroBlaster software currently only supports Windows and is available on the [[https://github.com/retrostage/RetroBlaster|RetroBlaster github]].
+  - Make sure the '3V' setting is selected on the device (not the '5V' setting)
+  - Connect the N64 adapter to the RetroBlaster. To seat the adapter, firmly but gently push the adapter in until the pins are no longer showing.
+  - Insert the cartridge or PCB into the adapter, with the label side facing the activity LED.
+  - Open the RetroBlaster software (click Run if you see a security warning about the publisher not being verified) and navigate to the N64 tab.
+  - Click "Dump ROM."  Choose the location and filename for your ROM
+  - The activity LED will turn on on the RetroBlaster board. A progress bar will indicate the status of the dump, and information will be displayed on the 'status' log when the dump is complete. Dump time will vary, from ~1.5 minutes for an 8MB cartridge to ~5.5 minutes for a 32MB cartridge, and even longer for 64MB cartridges.
+  - You can also dump the SRAM or EEPROM save data from this same tab, by clicking the appropriate button.
+When swapping adapters, the official recommendation from RetroBlaster is to use the non-writing end of a pen or marker to slowly push the adapter out from either side, using the board for leverage, in order to avoid bending the pins.
+==== Method 5 - 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.
-]
   - 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]].
@@ Line 57: / Line 71: @@
   - 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 ====
+===== Not recommended/unreliable methods =====
-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 ====
+==== GameShark Pro and Action 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 ====
+==== 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.
+Old hardware like v64, v64jr, z64, and cd64 are unreliable and not recommended. If you do have to use one, dump the cart multiple times, and clean the cart in-between each try.
 ==== Opening carts ====
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 ===== Gathering and Submitting Dump Info =====
+{{wst>see_submission_page}}
-See [[submission:general|Gathering and Submitting Dump Info (Basic)]]