Saturn proof-of-concept bootloader Pseudo Saturn

Is there a way to flash the cart using the saturn (for those carts with out the comm port)??
Can a comm port be added to a Chinese action replay, iiuc it's just one ic and the connector that's missing on the new ones, Pcb is the same.

 

Yes via a swap trick and a burned CD, most of the posts in this thread are about that, either cafealpha2 disc or the ATLUS disc to flash the cart with

 

Just wanted to report I flashed successfully my EMS PAR4M+ with the boot disc on my chipped PAL Saturn.
Now going to test the PAR on my non-chipped NTSC-J Saturn.

 

Either try again and flash it back to it's original firmware or try the ATLUS flasher, both should detect the flash chip before flashing it

What disc did you use as there are 3 in this thread

 

ATLAS lol

 

The other flasher, doesn't recognize my action replay. Then, I use the ATLAS, and give me the next message.

 

Sorry for the delay.
That's weird, because atlas and my flasher are supposed to be more or less equivalent. I will compare their source code when I will have enough time for this.

This time, it is not my fault

 

Insert the cart after loading the Manager (after launching the Memcard icon)

 

Hi again everyone,

Does anyone know if it's possible to flash the Action Replay 5 in 1 via the COM port on top connected to a PC? If so, what software would be used? I've already successfully flashed it with an older version of the software indicated on this forum via cdrom, but I'd like to flash it back to the original software via Atlus. Any help is appreciated.

 

x

 

Which firmware would that be? Any help is appreciated. I'm running to the store shortly to get cdrs but I'd prefer to do it via the com port.

 

x

 

Sadly I received the same error at first, the cart is not recognized. Even I tried copy the firmware to virtual memory and then flash, but doesn't work.

 

I suppose you already know, but you will need USB data link device for this.
From Pseudo Saturn firmware, there is a "reflash cart" feature that allow to reflash your cartridge. For this, you need to upload the new firmware to LRAM, then press A+B+C buttons on "reflash cart" screen.

If this is too complicated, I advice you to use Atlas CDROM made by Zorlon, or my flasher utility.

 

Hi again Ya'll, just wanted to share my experience. It started out as extremely frustrating but in the end paid off. For those of you going the Atlus cdrom route to reflash your 5 in 1 carts, be patient and stick with it. It took me about 30 minutes of trial and error to get through the menus and figure out what I was doing. At first I successfully flashed to 202c (purely on accident), then got it flashed to 202 (after trying 50 times with write errors). When I had the cart flashed to 202c, it still wouldn't let me flash to the latest version of Pseudo 831. I tried everything but it kept giving me errors about the vendor ID and vendor DEV being unknown. Finally I did get the 5 in 1 flashed to 202 via Atlus cdrom, then loaded up the Pseudo 831 disc and it let me flash my cart, finally! I can confirm everything is working as the boys on the forum have stated and it boots up whatever your gaming heart desires.

It only took 15 years to get this scheme figured out but it was worth the wait. Thanks for all the hard work boys!



I've been in Saturn modding and hardware repair for a long time. My collection thanks all of you who worked so hard on this project

 

x

 

By the way, does anyone have a running compat list for Pseudo .831? I've got a few hundred games here I can test and add to the list.

 

That tiny board may be just the PAL-M conversion from the NTSC-J. Usually they are just crap wires crossing the main board with some quick solder, when done not officially (or even officially?).

Any Saturn BIOS can boot any disc from any country. You just need to change the jumpers.
The boot logo will remain the same but you'll notice on the right bottom something like "NTSC-4", "PAL-3", wich are the region locks.
You can easily try on emulators.

Would you mind taking a better picture of this tiny board?

I've never handled a model2 but are all those wires and that diode(?) crossing that chip in the center normal?

 

Wires on the bottom are region mod via reset switch. I've worked on, modded, played with probably 50 different Saturn models over the past 17 years and I've never seen one like the one with the special chip up top. It came OOTB like that too. Very weird. I'll take hires pics as soon as I'm done testing a few hundred games on Pseudo .831 , but it's going to take a bit. Glad to be able to contribute something to the forums finally

 

The extra board could either be a full video encoder or, more likely, just an oscillator circuit to deliver NTSC or PAL color burst for some reason.