Im new to programming and can just about program AVR chips and that's about it. im trying to learn before receiving my minipro I have read about removing headers and byteswapping. how do I perform that I cant see a menu item for it thanks
And you're programming which chip... and with what? Details, man! Check out http://www.avrfreaks.net/
right now im only trying to learn the basics, I know that byteswapping is reversing the order of bytes, there must be a way to do that in general for what ever chip/file you are trying to flash. As for AVR I know AVR, I only every really use 328P and for that is use ICSP via a USBTiny or my Arduino UNO
So ATmega series, then. What software, though? I assume you're using someone else's ROM file... so you could just look for a byte swapping tool. Your programmer's GUI should do it if it's a decent one, though. You're still being pretty vague on what you're trying to do, so here's a tool to remove ROM headers from SNES ROMs. *shrugs* http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/593/ *EDIT* And this will byte swap N64 ROMs http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/other-consoles/n64/tool64v111zip/
im being vague because I have no files right now and no chips, but eventually I want to try my hand at retro console related things. Another reason for being vague is I cant remember which files I read needed headers removed and byte swapped, for example if I can remember correct the Dreamcast RF file and SEGA CD RF bios file need to be byte swapped. I may try to make my own Mother2/Earthboaund translation cart and Starfox2 Cart but only for myself and that I believe needs removed headers. I basically just want to know how to do it for when the time comes. There is no harm in educating ones self before hand. and no not AVR as I said I know AVR and don't have issues with them.
I can't help with programming advice but this might be of help in regards to byte swapping (look at the second post): http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=93984.0 I only tested it with N64 roms but I don't see why it wouldn't work with other files. Just drag any file into the exe and it should swap bytes automatically.
OK, no harm in educating yourself, but your first post was rather confusing. Saying you can "just about program AVR chips" made it sound like you were having issues with an AVR, not that you wanted to branch out into other chips! Programmers are, in general, used to program a device with a code YOU wrote. Whilst they can do it, they weren't designed to burn game ROMs downloaded (probably illegally) from the Internet. So that not an "in general" use of a programmer at all. Had you said that you want to burn downloaded ROMs (hence needing to byte swap), maybe your purpose would have been more clear. Still, though, it doesn't explain what systems you want to do it for, for example - naturally, different systems use different ROMs and in different manners, so there are tools that will be quite system specific. In general, though, your programmer should have some software which has a GUI which can byte swap. I would research on a system specific basis if I were you. You remove headers on SNES but not Mega Drive. That tool will do it. Removing headers isn't general programmer use. You'll find some information on the above sites and any sites dedicated to programming the system you are intending to work with. Of course, that includes this forum - I'd ask specific questions in the section for the specific console *EDIT* Yeah, that tool's probably handy to keep, may well be easier to use if it's a drag-and-drop solution!
thanks retro your explanation makes sense a lot, im going to be using a minipro here is a screenshot of the gui and I seriously cant see the option on it as you explained all roms are different and I prob will try a translation on a mother2 cart but will own an original mother2 cart before I do it and a starfox2 cart but again I don't know the copyright on that as It was unreleased (both SNES) not interested in MD tbh
All code is copyrighted, regardless of whether it was sold. As long as you're not selling it, it's not a major concern if you're playing with translations etc. I've not used that programmer. Is it in the tools menu? I wouldn't worry, anyway - just run the ROM through that utility.
