Dumping Nintendo 64 cartridges

N64 Cartridge Dumping
Last updated 12-24-07


Image from HowStuffWorks

The N64 cartridges contain one or two mask ROMs, with multiplexed
address and data lines, to save pins on its connector.


Image (c)Shiggsy

The large, bulky flash cartridges contain banks of flash ROMs - accessable
through a ASIC and some glue logic. They can be dumped in the same
manner as normal cartridges.


Dumping

Because the ROM is multiplexed, the carts can't be dumped with just an
EEPROM reader. The most popular and easy way to dump carts is using a
backup device, such as a Doctor V64, CD64, or the like. It is also possible
to build your own cartridge reader, but make sure it works before you ruin
any of your protos

• With a V64
  You will need to remove the gray emulation adapter and plug in the
  cartridge on top of the V64, and download the latest 2.03b BIOS with
  backup feature enabled.

• With a CD64
  Maybe someone who has one can help me out here, but the procedure will
  be similar. As with the V64, you need a straight-through parallel cable to
  connect it to your computer.

• Other methods
  As I said, you can build your own, provided you have some electronics
  knowledge. The timing for accessing the ROM is fairly simple and be
  accomodated with some 74 logic.
  http://www.crazynation.org/N64/n64_cart_info.htm
  
  If you have a suitably large microcontroller with RS232 support, that will
  work as well. I can design a USB-based cartridge reader/writer if there
  is interest.
  

So there you have it, folks - the easiest method is to borrow someone's
copier. If anyone has any suggestions or details to add, let me know
and I'll update this post.

 

CD64 actually needs a special adapter that sits between the CD64 and the parallel port.

Z64 can also of course dump games to Zip disks, and it's by far the most user friendly.

V64 Jr can dump games too, but it's less user friendly than other devices.

Supercom 64 aka Wild Card 64 can dump games too with an ISA card and cartridge adapter.

 

Bump, just remembered the cheapest/most available solution for N64 backup--the GameShark!!! (parallel port version)

 

I seem to remember that the Z64 cant backup dev cartridges...just normal games.

Shiggsy

 

I found the cable for the GS to be extremely hard to find, at least back in the day when that thing first came out. Made loading up codes extremely easy, didn't know it worked for dumping.

Shame it's hard to find a 100% proper working GS these days. My current one's parallel port doesn't work.

 

I think I have two GS with parallel port, how does it work to dump a game ?
Does it use a standard parallel cable ?

 

Funny you should mention that, I have had problems backing up dev carts with my Z64.

 

It works by interrupting the game and downloading it with the PC software, very similarly to how cheat finding works.

Yes, it just needs a regular straight through parallel cable.

Any idea why that is? Couldn't be a problem interfacing. Couldn't be that ROM is mapped abnormally. Maybe the Z64 doesn't follow the strobing protocol exactly like the N64.

 

Let me find those dev carts and do some testing....

Update:
I have three dev carts here, which I got from a friend who had bought some N64 dev kits. One cart is marked NUS-16F32SB (256M+256K), and when I tried it in my JPN N64 it boots Kirby 64 -The Crystal Shards. I would like to dump this game and check if somebody just flashed the cart with the retail version (my guess..) or if this is something else.

The other two carts are both NUS-8F16F 128M. They don't boot in my JPN N64. I opened them once, and seem to remember that they had PAL CICs. I have tried to boot them with no luck using a couple of different import adapters.... Need to get my PAL N64 from storage one day... The carts might be erased empty for what I know....

I just backed up a few of my N64 retail games without any problems with my Z64 (V3 HW, 2.18C). JPN, USA or PAL carts - no problem. One thing that is handy with the Z64 is that doesn't even need to be connected to the N64 to backup games - it has a nice LCD and is very portable. When I backed up the retail games, the Z64 displayed the name of the games in the LCD....

When I try to backup the dev carts, the Z64 can't display the name of any of the games - not even for the Kirby cart which boots fine. It does however ask if I want to dump 32Mbit regardless of which dev cart that is inserted, which can't be the correct size of ROMs. Kirby 64 is 256Mbit (?). There is something strange with the dumps, because the Z64 doesn't display them in the list of games. Once I find my USB ZIP-drive I will check out the dumps....

 

Dont bother, Ive tried it and I seem to remember there being only a few kb of garbage or nothing at all. I think it can backup the save file though...but its been a few years since I tried it.

Shiggsy

 

What would be the best way to do this?

I have a 512Mbit V64 Jr. (ehh, E64 actually). Usually I use elim, because of EPP emulation in software, for uploading code...

As far I as remember elim, ucon64 and wJrWrite don't support dumping....

Did you find an easy way to dump dev carts?

 

The reason why there's garbage must be because the Z64's protocol is bad.
The thing about the Flash carts is that the N64 is interfaced with the Flash through a CPLD. The CPLD must expect the N64 to strobe a very specific way and when the Z64 does things out of order, it doesn't end up making a valid access.

It's been some years since I've done this but to backup games with the V64 Jr, you need to transfer a dumping program over, wait until the game is copied into RAM and then download from RAM using a transfer tool. This surely will work even with Flash carts because the N64 acts as the mediary.

 

I follow you. Your logic seems sound.

I'll check out dextrose and see what I can find on the subject..... Want to try this now

 

Does someone have this software or the name, couldn't find it on dextrose

 

Ziyal by Obsidian?

Shiggsy

 

Thx Shiggsy! ZiyalII looks very promising, and like elim it has even got support for EPP-emulation in software

http://go.to/obsidian/

 

That is right
it will dump a 32Mbit rom which is fillled with zeros no matter what proto you have.
Dumping with a v64 Jr is easy, i used wJrRead V1 - By RaO as transfer software all the time.
But when i remember right, i had always a windows 98 SE partition to do dumping becaus it was not working in XP.

 

It works I just dumped the Kirby dev cart with a V64Jr using ZiyalII. The command line is simply:
ziyalII [CIC-Type]

The CIC-types supported by ziyalII are listed in the included documentation (all CIC-types seem to be supported). Once executed the program will upload the dumping software to the V64jr. Then simply follow the on-screen instructions.

The only snag is that the dumping code needs to run on the N64. So you need a PAL N64 to dump a PAL cart, and a NTSC N64 to dump a USA/JPN cart, if you don't use any import converters or other tricks (i.e. replace the CIC in the cart).

If anyone is curious; there was nothing special on those other two dev carts either. One seems empty / dead. The other booted with a Paradox crack intro, so it was no prototype or beta or anything exciting....

Good to know! You need a PC with an EPP compatible parallel port, or does it do EPP emulation in software?

What I really like about elim and ziyal is the EPP emulation which makes them compatible with all kinds of old and new parallel ports

 

Well i tried last week or so again and i got it work under XP pro SP2
You need to copy two files in the System 32 and Driver Folder and set compatibility Mode to Win 2000. Works great, no Win98SE anymore ^^