USB GDrom Thread

Is it the same file as the previous updates or MNEMO needs to send us a new one each update he releases?

 

Its in the readme for the new update, so not sure if its the same file.
( never thought of checking lol )

 

^ thanks, haven't downloaded this update (or the previous one for that matter) yet...

 

Installed the 2w resistor.
Now it is time to play
I will report back if the heat is reduced enough so it won't smell anymore

--- update
Installed the 1w resistor as it fits better and had some issues booting with the 2w.
Played some games and it all works good.
Now I have upgraded the USB GDROM with the latest firmware it keeps rebooting while selecting a folder... Any ideas?

So far I tried the following:

• Boot without resistor
• Tried the special update patch
• Tried to install the firmware again, causes boot loop.
• Open a folder causes boot loop.
• After a while booting it shows a audio cd.

Stupid idea to try the firmware upgrade... *sigh finally played some games without heating the damn thing, now it is bricked.

--- update
Tried some more testing.
Disabled GDI autoboot and Region free and I am able to install the special update patch again but without luck.

I am not able to boot GDI's.
Also I am not able to reinstall the latest firmware that causes a boot loop.
Hope someone can help me out

--- update
Also sent a email to MNEMO and received almost a instant reply with newer firmware dated 8 december, but still no luck with the GDI's.
Now downloading a CDI to check if that works. - No Sega bootscreen and after that it hangs.

--- update
Fixed with the format tool from MNEMO and setting the FAT32 to 64k cluster format.
See THIS post.

 

GDI sources? I heard Redump are supposed to be crap dumps for DC. TOSEC and Trurip work fine.

Try a different HDD or Pen Drive? Primary Partition/32-64K clusters?

 

GDI sources are TOSEC
Tried a HDD and a Pen Drive.
Formatted with the following command: mkdosfs /dev/sdb -s 16 -F 32 -I
Should be fine right?

 

You cannot reinstall or downgrade to a lower firmware once the latest one is installed.

Also the special update you stick on the root of the hdd/USB pen, UGC will see it and install it automatically, you do not need to select it.

If GDI files weren't launching you would get a blue screen when you select a folder, this is when you would stick the special file on the root of the USB device.
( you didn't need the special file as it loaded GDI and rebooted. As far as I know the special file is for v1 devices, as I need the damn thing after every major update lol )

Since you are getting a boot loop, it's could be that your USB device now isnt supported due to MNEMO changing something in the USB host code, or something else he changed in the new update.
( was it formatted with a 64kb cluster size? )

I still wish he would implement a debug feature, so we can give him logs. As when I was testing ( when I got my v1 device ) all the PAL and NTSC games I had multiple crashes or issues and trying to explain this via ICQ or email was a nightmare.

Update:
Just seen you replied.

The command would be
mkdosfs /dev/sdb -s 128 -F 32 -I
( -s is sectors per cluster, so 128*512 bytes gives you 64kb, you had used a 8kb cluster size 16*512 bytes )

 

I had the same problem. Nothing was booting even cdi. He sent me fat32 formatter. I used it as 64 clusters and it now works. I was getting constant rebooting before this.

 

The English translated CDI images by atreyu187 and ReviveDC don't have this issue. No Codebreaker required. As an added bonus, the ReviveDC version replaces the stage music with OverClocked ReMix's "Blood on the Asphalt" soundtrack.

 

Thanks that's good to know, never knew that. I think I have the RDC version somewhere and I'll try it, yet all of their releases from TIZ got pulled sometime ago.

 

Thanks
Just received a email from MNEMO with the format tool.
Now it is time to prepare my disk and check it out, will report back.

--- update
Formated the drive with 64 cluster using the tool MNEMO suggested and that fixed the issue
Also update my initial post with the issues.

 

Is there any more info on removing the padding from the files? I've used gdiopt to save a little space, but if there's a better method I'd be interested to use it, as long as it's still compatible with the USB-GDROM and I'm not losing any video or audio quality. I'm also hesitant to upgrade to the newest firmware because I'm not sure if that will break the compatibility with the files I've run gdiopt on. I haven't had any issues running anything with the firmware that came with my v5; the only thing I haven't checked is to see if the disc swap works with D2.

 

I'm working on such a feature for gditools. I'm not sure if it'll be compatible with USB gdrom, but it works with GDEmu.

 

I had the same boot cycle issue after updating. This solution fixed it so thank you.

However now my device is loading games inconsistently.

For example if I try to boot a GDI sometimes it works and sometimes it goes to the Dreamcast system menu and says Please Insert Disc.

When I try to load CDI it goes to the Dreamcast system menu plays it as if I were playing a music CD.

IS anyone else experiencing these issues or can suggest any remedies?

 

Hi,

I replied to your pm at tiz for possible fixes. But, If what i suggested does not work then hopefully someone else may have a solution.

 

Have you tried the new firmware I shared in my post?
Which version do you have of the USB GDROM?
V5?

 

Hey,

So I have the internal V5 USB-GDROM. I got it brand new from MNEMO a month or 2 ago. It came preloaded with the October firmware (sorry don't remember exact date). I was using an 8 GB Sandisk USB stick which I formatted to FAT32 using Disk Utility on my Mac. It doesn't let me specify cluster size so I'm not sure what it was using. At first I started playing a Skies of Arcadia CDI which I got from Iso Zone and then I switched to a GDI (from ISO Zone AND TOSEC I believe). Never had any issues booting the files.

When I updated to the Dec 4th firmware all of a sudden my Dreamcast would get stuck in loop whenever I launched the same Skies of Arcadia GDI files from the same USB stick (After picking the game from the USB-GDROM menu it would show the Dreamcast swirl, the Sega logo and then repeat). This was not a hardware loop as the system never lost power/reset.

At that point I installed the "extra" file, but had the same results. After reading your post I installed the December 8th firmware update and reformatted my USB stick using Fat32Formatter with 64k clusters. It solved the boot loop, but now the game files I had wouldn't load consistently. The GDIs would sometimes bring up the Dreamcast system menu and say Please Insert Disc and the CDIs would load as an Audio CD. They do eventually load correctly, but it's not 100% of the time like it was before the firmware update.

Sorry for the novel, just trying to give you all the details and order of events.

I tried to "roll back" to a previous firmware, but as I now know that isn't possible.
I use the first Init.rar file when I reformatted my USB stick.
I also reformatted my USB stick using MiniAide.
At one point in Skies of Arcadia both the TOSEC GDI and IsoZone CDI both froze in the same spot, but the TruRip version got past it.

 

I would suggest trying another usb disk and also trying to install that patch for gdi loading issues.

 

Yeah, try another USB stick or an actual hdd in a enclosure. I use this with a samsung 2.5" 500gb drive and works perfectly:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tool-free-...id=1482310301&sr=1-3&keywords=inateck+usb+3.0

It's possible the USB code was changed in the latest firmware, causing boot issues

 

Hello guys,

i have a short question: how can I run an firmware update?

I was seeking the half day to get a answer, hopefully somebody can help,

Thanks