GBA exploader

GBA exploader
General
Author	Rudolph
Type	Handheld
Version	0.58b
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2008/12/21
Links
0.58b + uo Download
Website
Source

With this program, you can run GBA games which are in SLOT1 flash card through SLOT2 expansion pack.

If your SLOT1 flash card supports soft reset, you can use your exp pack as Rumble Pak or Memory Expansion Pak.

Supported SLOT2 expansion packs are 3in1 Expansion Pack, EZ4 lite-delux and EWIN EXPANSION PAK (2in1). NOR mode and Rumble Pak function are enabled only in 3in1 Expansion Pack.

A patch is released for GBA Exploader so it'll work on M3DS Real and iTouchDS.

Installation

Please patch the DLDI on GBA_ExpLoader.NDS (if your flash card supports auto DLDI patch, you need not to do this).

Create /GBA_SAVE/ and /GBA_SIGN/ folder on the root of your SD card (modify GBA_ExpLoader.ini, and you can set other folders).

Copy GBA files into your SD card.

Put SAV files into /GBA_SAVE/ (if there are no SAV files, they will be created automatically).

Put gbaframe.bmp (24bit or 8bit) into the root, /GBA_SIGN/ or /_system_/ if you want to use GBA frame.

User guide

You can choose between 3 modes if you use the 3in1 Expansion Pack:

• PSRAM mode.
• NOR mode.
• Expansion mode (if supported).

PSRAM/SDRAM mode

If you run a GBA in PSRAM/SDRAM mode, SAV file will be saved next time. You can select where to save or not to save.

• Write a GBA file into PSRAM with SRAM patch.
  • Load SRAM data from SAV file.
  • Then run GBA from PSRAM.
• Backup SRAM data to SAV file.
• Restore SRAM.BIN to SRAM.
• Backup all SRAM data to SRAM.BIN.
• Patch PSRAM for DS Browser and soft reset (disabled when your pack is 3in1 Expansion Pack).

With 3in1 Expansion Pack:

• You can run a GBA up to 16MByte (16000KB) in PSRAM mode.
• Return to your flashcard's menu if soft reset is supported.
• You can run GBA from RAM until turning off DS or pulling out your expansion pack.

When you want to exchange SAV file:

• Backup SAV data (or run another GBA) first and then exchange the file.
• SAV file will be written into SRAM every time you run the GBA, even if you run the same file again and again.
• If your expansion pack has only 128KB SRAM, you cannot run GBA with FLASH 1Mb save.

NOR mode

Enabled only with 3in1 Expansion Pack.

• Backup SRAM data to SAV file.
  • Write GBA file to NOR with SRAM patch.
  • Then load SRAM data from SAV file.
• You can also run NOR in DS menu like a normal GBA cartridge.
  • Run GBA (Slot2) stored in NOR.

Expansion mode

Enabled only with 3in1 Expansion Pack.

• Change Rumble level (low/medium/high).
• Patch PSRAM for DS Browser and then soft reset.

Repairing of header

GBA ExpLoader will repair corrupted header of GBA.

Savedata

If save type is not SRAM, GBA ExpLoader Will patch SRAM automatically.

Supported save types:

• EEPROM_V111, EEPROM_V120, EEPROM_V121, EEPROM_V122, EEPROM_V124, EEPROM_V125, EEPROM_V126.
• FLASH_V120, FLASH_V121, FLASH_V123, FLASH_V124, FLASH_V125, FLASH_V126.
• FLASH512_V130, FLASH512_V131, FLASH512_V133.
• FLASH1M_V102, FLASH1M_V103.
• Special save type of Famicom Mini(Classic NES)EEPROM_V122, EEPROM_V124 and undefined type.

Additional:

• The size of SAV file will be adjusted to the real SAVE size. But GBA ExpLoader cannot detect EEPROM 512B or 8KB, so all EEPROM size will be set to 8KB.
  • If GBA ExpLoader cannot detect save type, it will be set to SRAM 64K.
  • It's OK even if SAVE data has dummy area at the tail of the file. E.g. real file size is 64K but file size is 128K.
  • SAV file will be saved to /GBA_SAVE/.
  • File name will be the same of the ROM file name.
• When you run a ROM first time, analyzed data (SGN file) will be saved to /GBA_SIGN/.
  • If the file extension is BIN, GBA ExpLoader won't patch. And SAV file size will be set to 64KB.
  • In file select window, top SAV will be saved as .SAV and <1> to <5> will be saved .SV1 to .SV5.
  • You'd better create /GBA_SAVE/ and /GBA_SIGN/ yourself (Some Slot1 flash cards cannot create these folders correctly. N-Card series will take a long time to do this).

Controls

L/R - Change mode (3in1 Expansion Pack only)

PSRAM/SDRAM mode:

A - Write a GBA file into PSRAM with SRAM patch, load SRAM data from SAV file and run GBA from PSRAM.

B - Backup SRAM data to SAV file

Y - Restore SRAM.BIN to SRAM

X - Backup all SRAM data to SRAM.BIN

R - Patch PSRAM for DS Browser and soft reset

Select - Return to your flashcard's menu if soft reset is supported

B - Backup SAV data (or run another GBA) first and then exchange the file

NOR mode:

A - Backup SRAM data to SAV file, then load SRAM data from SAV file

B - Backup SRAM data to SAV file

Y - Load SRAM data from SAV file

X - Run GBA (Slot2) stored in NOR

Changelog

Unofficial

V0.58b0MX 2010/04/15

• This is the combined patches of the 0.58X M3 Patch and 0.58b0 Patch.
• Fixed bugs related to 3IN1+.
• This doesn't fix rumble or browser mode with a 3IN1+.

V0.58b0 2010/01/05

• This contains the 0.58b version and a patched version that shows up as 0.58b0 of GBA ExpLoader. The ips file is also included if you prefer to patch it yourself.
• For NOR writes you are limited to 32MB.

V0.58X M3 Patch (0.58b unexcluded ips) 2009/01/09

• A patch for GBA Exploader so it'll work on M3DS Real and iTouchDS.

Official

MSHL2 V0.1 2009/02/01

• Launch GBA files via extension association in MoonShell2.
• It launches the specified GBA file from MoonShell2 using GBA ExpLoader V0.58 with "PSRAM/SDRAM mode" and "No_MultiSave" settings.

V0.58b 2008/12/21

• Fixed FAT initialization processing remaining in test mode since V0.58a.
• Fixes a bug with the Flash 512Kbit save type used in several notable games.
• Although untested it now supports 3IN1+ (up to 32MB NOR).

V0.58 2008/12/07

• Fixed the bug of FLASH1M in DSTT GBA&EXPLORER 2IN1.
• Support FLASH1M in M3 (SLOT2), G6 (SLOT2) and GBA Expansion Pack.
• Fixed the Added auto header fix function.

V0.57 2008/05/12

• Fixed the bug of timestamp of save file again.
• Changed Famicom Mini(Classic NES) save data format to VBA save format. Attention: Compatibility is lost.

V0.56 2008/04/13

• Fixed the bug of timestamp of save file.
• Fixed the display of Japanese character.
• Fixed the bug of the display when filename is short name (shorter than 8 words).

V0.55 2008/03/30

• Fixed the bug of NOR writing.
• Support FLASH1M in DSTT GBA&EXPLORER 2IN1.

V0.54 2008/03/23

• Has save bug. With M3, G6 or GBA Expansion Pack, save data will be damaged. replaced.

V0.53 2008/03/22

• Fixed the recognition of DSTT GBA&EXPLORER 2IN1 which have 128K SRAM.
• Now, M3(SLOT2), G6(SLOT2) and GBA Expansion Pack are supported temporarily (FLASH1M save is not supported yet).
• Fixed the bug of the message when cannot soft reset.
• Support DLDI of SLOT1 flash cards.

V0.51 2008/03/15

• Fixed libfat to change the alias name. Now Windows compatible (Digit is set to double figures).
• Fixed so-called "0xE5 problem". All Japanese words and short name supported.
• Fixed extension pack recognition.
• Fixed the bug of the process of SRAM.BIN in [EXP128K] mode.

V0.5 2008/03/12

• V0.5 final release.
• Support EEPROM_V122 Famicom Mini (Classic NES) and undefined type.
• Fixed the bug of the reset after setting Rumble Pak.
• Added directory create date.

V0.5 beta 2008/03/09

• Support EEPROM_V124 Famicom Mini (Classic NES) (EEPROM_V122 is not yet).
• Support EWIN EXPANSION PAK (2in1) with 128KB SRAM temporarily.
• Added auto header fix function.
• Added setting about SAVE/SIGN directories and MultiSave option.

V0.5 beta1 2008/3/10

• Has module error. replaced.

V0.4 2008/03/01

• Changed some message.
• Fixed the bug that EWIN EXP PAK won't be detected after you select Memory RAM or LINK and reset.
• Fixed the detection of EWIN EXP PAK with 128KB SRAM.
• Add SAV file; 6 files: SAV and <1> to <5> (sv1 tosv5).

V0.3 2008/02/21

• Fixed the bug that soft rest is disabled if your flash card is R4/M3S.
• Fixed the bug of EEPROM_V111 patch.
• Fixed the bug of FLASH1M_V103 patch in NOR mode.
• Support "EZ4 lite-delux" and "EWIN EXPANSION PAK (2in1)".
• SAVE data in PSRAM/SDRAM mode will be saved to SAV file when GBA_ExpLoader is run.

V0.2 2008/02/10

• Fixed the bug about SAV file extension.
• Set SAVE size of BIN file and UNKNOWN games to 64KB.
• Changed the color of the menu in NOR mode.
• Stopped DMA transfer in PSRAM mode. Speed will be slow but more stable.

V0.1 2008/02/08

• Support 3in1/2in1 games.

V0.0 2008/02/06

• Prototype version.

External links

• Author's website - https://kotei.blog.ss-blog.jp/archive/c530-1
• GitHub - https://github.com/ArcheyChen/GBA-Exploader