I have just bought an old Pro Action Replay (with Comms Port) to use with my USB DataLink (I fried my AR 4in1 Plus years ago).
Cart details:
Flash Vendor ID: 0101 - AMD
Flash Device ID: 2020 - AM29F010
Firmware: ACTION REPLAY SATURN Version 1.8f (see attached ARS_18F.zip for the ROM)
I am using a USB DataLink (red LED)
When trying to receive anything with the USB DataLink software whilst the Saturn was at the Action Replay main menu, nothing works. Uploading the utility that enables the transfer of the cart's ROM to the Saturn crashes the Saturn.
Error message in USB DataLink software: "Communication Timeout ! Verify That All Cables Are Connected and Power Is On."
Getting data transfer working
Using PSK Save Data Manager V6.324 and manually changing the Link Type to Datel* allows:
* You can change the link type by going to "Save Data Dump" from Save Data Manager's main menu, then "Change Link Type", then select "Commslink (Datel)" and press the A or C button.
Note: this does not work with PSK Save Data Manager v6.437 (there is no "Change Link Type" setting in v6.437, and it doesn't work with whatever setting it has by default).
Indirect Dump of Cart ROM
Before I found a working setup for my USB DataLink, I found that you can do the first part of an 'Indirect Dump' with cafe-alpha's Save Data Manager, and then transfer _CARTDMPDAT and _CARTDMPHDR to a PC via Slinga's Save Game Extractor - the transfer via minimodem took about 50 minutes! This method is available when one has no other transfer method (and can run CDRs).
However, you would need a way to run the second part of the Indirect Dump process to decompress the ROM from _CARTDMPDAT.
See the attached AR1.8f_CARTDMPDAT.zip for the .BUP files that I got when I used this method.
Flashing a new ROM
I have had no success with flashing this cart with a different firmware, it fails at erasing the ROM, and the cart is left untouched.
Cart details:
Flash Vendor ID: 0101 - AMD
Flash Device ID: 2020 - AM29F010
Firmware: ACTION REPLAY SATURN Version 1.8f (see attached ARS_18F.zip for the ROM)
I am using a USB DataLink (red LED)
When trying to receive anything with the USB DataLink software whilst the Saturn was at the Action Replay main menu, nothing works. Uploading the utility that enables the transfer of the cart's ROM to the Saturn crashes the Saturn.
Error message in USB DataLink software: "Communication Timeout ! Verify That All Cables Are Connected and Power Is On."
Getting data transfer working
Using PSK Save Data Manager V6.324 and manually changing the Link Type to Datel* allows:
- transfer of BIOS, internal save memory, and cart ROM with cafe-alpha's SatLink software
- transfer of BIOS and internal save memory via the USB DataLink software (uploading the utility to transfer cartridge ROM still crashes the Saturn, so dumping the cart ROM is not possible).
* You can change the link type by going to "Save Data Dump" from Save Data Manager's main menu, then "Change Link Type", then select "Commslink (Datel)" and press the A or C button.
Note: this does not work with PSK Save Data Manager v6.437 (there is no "Change Link Type" setting in v6.437, and it doesn't work with whatever setting it has by default).
Indirect Dump of Cart ROM
Before I found a working setup for my USB DataLink, I found that you can do the first part of an 'Indirect Dump' with cafe-alpha's Save Data Manager, and then transfer _CARTDMPDAT and _CARTDMPHDR to a PC via Slinga's Save Game Extractor - the transfer via minimodem took about 50 minutes! This method is available when one has no other transfer method (and can run CDRs).
However, you would need a way to run the second part of the Indirect Dump process to decompress the ROM from _CARTDMPDAT.
See the attached AR1.8f_CARTDMPDAT.zip for the .BUP files that I got when I used this method.
Flashing a new ROM
I have had no success with flashing this cart with a different firmware, it fails at erasing the ROM, and the cart is left untouched.
Attachments
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