Ripping problems

Would it be worthwhile compiling it with no LBA hack, merely MIL-CD support, or does MIL-CD have to have an LBA reference?

One would think if the SH-4 and emulator can understand the lack of LBA references, this shouldn't be much of an issue, though perhaps we will need to inject whatever is there in it's place. Either that or the bootbin is encrypted and they know how to decrypt it.

Is there a reference to exactly what hexa codes the ML-CD exploit changes and their function? I understand what happens generally, but it would be nice to know the specifics.

I'm still wondering why MIFFVIEWER.MINI obviously works but doesn't appear to load.

 

You and other members are probably already aware, but there was a Space Channel 5 promo disc released that was MIL-CD.

Perhaps taking a look at this disc would shed some light on the situation and provide some more info?

 

no, there is LBA reference, just not using standard CD001 libs.
I have tried to create a .cdi with LBA11702 - I can clearly see it access 45166 directly and of course hangs.

I have traced and hacked the bootbin for 11702 references (offset 1DB390 and 211B30 from 6EB0 to 5C2E), the .cdi did read 11868 twice (like 45166x2) and then load the whole TOC like before, but it won't start loading the .miffs and hangs (all being tested in NullDC) - so something else kicks in, may be more protections related to 45000.

So I would say it won't work for sdiso too.

 

hian glad to see you're still about and I guess obiously have the dummied pack I take it

MIFFVIEWER.MINI needs to be referenced somehow to make it all work, but strangely it doesn't appear to load, yet obviously it does as the .MIFF files work later when all goes to plan.

Did you spot anything about that? I have been busy, bored, distracted then catching up with TV but I think that could hold the key, or at lest a big part of it as if that fails everything fails.

I've no idea how it stealth loads though, but maybe as the bootbin is counted as 1658 extents, part of that could include MIFFVIEWER.MINI, so it may be part of the program, just broken off? Which would then mean the size reference needs to be altered too instead of 1657.whatever extents or bytes perhaps? (just thinking aloud before more TV)

 

I am still here but been busy with family and my new android toy.

The fact that the .cdi works in NullDC is a major road block for me. I need to learn more (much more) about the DC OS and come up with new ideas.

MIFFVIEWER.MINI might just be a left over from project development. I t is 100 bytes only and there is no reference of it in the bootbin.

The size of the bootbin is "correct" according to the GDI TOC (45016-20) . It is 5 bytes more than 1657 sectors can accommodate. This is oK but being not quad bytes aligned is weird. Since they are all "00" near the end, I don't think they post a threat.

It would be a good idea to redump the GDR and compare the 2 dumps just ot make sure though.

 

Well when you're right you're right, it isn't stealth loading, at least not to the title. I deleted it from GD Workshop and it had no effect on booting. As for later in the game who knows but perhaps the program was incorporated or made redundant. I could have swore I tested this when I deleted fonts etc for the bare necessities last week. I guess that's what I get for not documenting the scienfitic method 45016 still gets read twice though but I suspect that will happen regardless.

 

yes, 45016 will be read twice as there are 2 reference of separate B06E calls in the bootbin. I still suspect the first call is protection related but haven't figured out how.

 

Hello. need GD copy of this game. Maybe not full. But it must to be gdi. Please share it.

 

You don't need anything, I highly doubt you were even a donor to get this game in the hands of ASSEMbler. It's not even self-bootable yet, so it wont be out for sometime soon.

Donors get it first, then sometime after, people get the torrent version. Just be patient and wait.

 

Lin1985 the .gdi has been posted and the current pack contains everything you need to get to the start menu.

If you *must* have it in .GDI format just extract the .cdi with IsoBuster and write your own .GDI to reference the extracted .iso - it is quite easy

 

Haha, I'm pretty sure he didn't mean the pack that was made so more people could have a crack at trying to crack it. Given that it is his first post, and him sounding demanding, I'm going to assume that he wanted the full game.

 

i think legit has done alot to spread enough of the disc to get it cracked....hopefully. we dont need to release anymore bits.


btw thanks legit

 

Ты не прав. Я человек, который помог сделать Nettou Golf. И я могу помочь только, если сделают копию именно с GD диска. Только так можно отследить причину, по которой игра не работает на Dreamcast. Не обязательно полную версию. Можно и порезанный вариант, где идёт загрузка только до основного меню игры.
Если этого не будет, то вряд ли получится помочь.

 

"You're wrong. I am the man who helped make Nettou Golf. And I can help only if it will make a copy of GD drive. Just so you can keep track of the reason why the game does not work on the Dreamcast. Not necessarily the full version. You can cut and an option where loading just before the main game menu.
If this is not, it will hardly help."

To save you the hassle of opening google translate.

 

The copy has been dummied and posted already, Lin1985. It is stickied in the file downloads section and present in this thread too.

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32917

It is all that is needed to test the problem, no more

 

Проблема проверена. Причина ясна. И ЧТОБЫ РЕШИТЬ ПРОБЛЕМУ С ЗАПУСКОМ НУЖНА GDI. Люди хотят вам помочь, а вы не слушаете. Ещё раз говорю. Основная проблема ясна.
Для сравнения и выясления решения нужна GD.

 

The files from the GD are posted in that link. It is everything you need to get to the menu, the remainder is dummied data.

I'll repost it here incase you did not see the link on the page:

Geist Force Bare Necessities.rar 984.78 Kb (Warning - will extract to 600+ Mb!)

 

These files he has, and he has studied protection, but for cracking the protection he needs to study GD image structure.

LeGIt
Can you make working GDI image with this files and upload here?

I think, this for patriot (bleemcast hacker)

 

A working gdi can be made from the files posted as they have been sorted into the correct structure etc - you compile them, rip them, then load the .cdi into Daemon Tools, open the Virtual drive with IsoBuster, extract the disc contents from session 2 into an .iso, then you write a .gdi to load the .iso

I can do it for him if that is what he is asking, but with the above details, it is a simple procedure. Sadly my 'net connection is not too good today so even if I do it now I cannot upload it yet - my ISP complains I download 500+ Gb in a month =/

 

You think that's bad? I've downloaded over a TB this month.

Anyways, yeah, it seems pretty simple to do that, the guy shouldn't have any issue doing it on his own.

Can you point me to some information on Dreamcast image hacking? I want to familiarize myself with everything so I can take a shot at it myself.