Cartridge Conversion: Difference between revisions

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This wiki supplies cartridge ROM images in two formats. They will either be '''.bin''' and represent the raw data content of the cartridge or they additionally are available as [[CRT Format|.crt]] file for quick emulator use.
This wiki supplies cartridge ROM images in two formats. They will either be '''.bin''' and represent the raw data content of the cartridge or they additionally are available as [[CRT Format|.crt]] file for quick emulator use. This may not be possible for some ROM dumps due to no [[CRT ID]] being available for them (yet).


==Usage==


Most emulators will support attaching cartridges in ''.crt'' format and will then tell you that the cartridge is probably not supported. Attaching ''.bin'' files is supported by [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/vice-emu/ VICE]] on a very large scale of files though many are not listed in the GUI. Running VICE on a console or in a dosbox using '''x64 -help''' will expose many secrets.


Old stuff:
The supplied ''.bin'' files are ready to be programmed into EPROMs of suiting size when using a modern PC eprommer. A standard C64 eprom burning program will expect the data to be delivered with a start adress at the file's beginning which forces you to manually add the two bytes. Common are $1000, $2000, $3000 and other ''flat'' memory addresses which are simply prepended to the file in low/high-byte order. Your eprom burner manual will probably outline the start address topic as well.


CRT, BIN and Eprom Images need special handling, the new Retro Replay Hardware and it's Flash Utility will make use of .BIN files.
Media files on [[:Category:Cartridge_FAQ|Cartridge FAQ]] also contain information regarding this.


If you are going to use them on an emulator only accepting CRT files, you will have to convert the BIN files to CRT using the mcart tool.


See here how to do it:
==Converting==
 
When facing an unknown ROM and not being sure which type of ''.crt'' may suite there is no other way than testing the available ones. The list of emulated carts is always growing but just game cartridges can be seen as fully supported yet. Most speeders, freezers and other exotics will require their own implementation.
 
There are several converters for ''.crt'' <> ''.bin'' which are available for various platforms:
 
* [[Cartridge Conversion#cartconv|cartconv]]
* [[Cartridge Conversion#mcart|mcart]] (DOS/Win)
* [[Cartridge Conversion#cbmcart|cbmcart]] (DOS/Win) by N.Coplin
 
 
===cartconv===
 
 
===mcart===


[[File:Mcarthowto.gif]]
[[File:Mcarthowto.gif]]
{{-}}mcart for dummies
{{-}}


== Burning these files to an Eprom for latter use on real Action Replay Hardware ==


BIN files have to have a start adress added, since they represent a raw binary image of the eprom contents.
===cbmcart===
Most eprom burners will need a start adress to be able to load and burn the image, so you will have to add the 2 necessary bytes to the start of the file (mostly $1000 or $2000).
Since there is no standard on the start adress, I couldn't care less and keep it off :) ....


You will need a 27c256 or similar eprom (any speed) to burn the image to.
''cbmcart'' displays cartridge information and is able to extract the ''.bin'' content from a ''.crt''. It recognizes Action Replay, Final Cartridge, Power Cartridge and Simons Basic.
27c512 worked aswell for me, but both 32 KB chunks had to have the ROM image on. (Just a guess when you are running out of empty eproms :) )






[[Category:Cartridge FAQ]]
[[Category:Cartridge FAQ]]

Revision as of 20:02, 15 June 2010

This wiki supplies cartridge ROM images in two formats. They will either be .bin and represent the raw data content of the cartridge or they additionally are available as .crt file for quick emulator use. This may not be possible for some ROM dumps due to no CRT ID being available for them (yet).

Usage

Most emulators will support attaching cartridges in .crt format and will then tell you that the cartridge is probably not supported. Attaching .bin files is supported by [VICE] on a very large scale of files though many are not listed in the GUI. Running VICE on a console or in a dosbox using x64 -help will expose many secrets.

The supplied .bin files are ready to be programmed into EPROMs of suiting size when using a modern PC eprommer. A standard C64 eprom burning program will expect the data to be delivered with a start adress at the file's beginning which forces you to manually add the two bytes. Common are $1000, $2000, $3000 and other flat memory addresses which are simply prepended to the file in low/high-byte order. Your eprom burner manual will probably outline the start address topic as well.

Media files on Cartridge FAQ also contain information regarding this.


Converting

When facing an unknown ROM and not being sure which type of .crt may suite there is no other way than testing the available ones. The list of emulated carts is always growing but just game cartridges can be seen as fully supported yet. Most speeders, freezers and other exotics will require their own implementation.

There are several converters for .crt <> .bin which are available for various platforms:


cartconv

mcart

File:Mcarthowto.gif


cbmcart

cbmcart displays cartridge information and is able to extract the .bin content from a .crt. It recognizes Action Replay, Final Cartridge, Power Cartridge and Simons Basic.