Hacking Auto-boot/load a single rom file from GBA cart

[jasonisdavid]

I've been searching around for sometime trying to find any GBA carts that will auto load a single rom file, its for a pretty personal project. The aim is to make the cartridge appear as if its a normal game. I've been searching things like "auto boot rom" but so far found nothing fruitful - I'm not sure if I'm just not using the right terminology or it just a feature that doesn't exist?

If someone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Monty Kensicle]

I've been searching around for sometime trying to find any GBA carts that will auto load a single rom file, its for a pretty personal project. The aim is to make the cartridge appear as if its a normal game. I've been searching things like "auto boot rom" but so far found nothing fruitful - I'm not sure if I'm just not using the right terminology or it just a feature that doesn't exist?

If someone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm interested in this as well. I think the Gameboy Everdrive has the ability to boot a default ROM, so I imagine the GBA model could probably do the same once it's released.

 

[jasonisdavid]

Thanks for the info on the Everdrive, looks damn pretty promising! He appears to have his first prototype board ready which is a good thing, but I'm needing this for September so it would make me a little nervous waiting for it to eventually be available for purchase. Any other thoughts?

 

[Armadillo]

IIRC the ezfa can do it if you turn off the loader (this cart, so there's no confusion http://www.emu-zone.net/gba-sp/ezf-advance.htm). I've not used mine in years, but I'm pretty sure it autoboots if you don't burn the loader to the cart. I think most of the old NOR based gba flashcarts (f2a, ezfa, efa etc) would autoboot straight to the game if you didn't write the loader to the cart.

Unfortunately the old nor based cards are not common and those who have them, are unlikely to part with them.

Other than those, I think the ez 3in1 will autoboot a gba game written to it's NOR section, but you need a ds+slot 1 flash card to even write to it.

 

[jasonisdavid]

Ah fantastic, cheers Armadillo! The hunt is on for one of the old flashcards then, I'm sure one will rock up some where if I look hard enough.
I also have a ds lite hiding away some where so if I found a 3in1 'fat' then I'd be sorted there too.

I'll be sure to update this and confirm when I get one in my hands.

 

[FAST6191]

Have fun finding a GBA sized one -- you are not the only one to want to make a repro or autoboot homebrew.

If you want to get a DS lite sized one though it will work if you mod the case or stick it in another.

 

[Localhorst86]

my old flash2advance (with 128Mbit storage) does allow booting a single rom without any menu. But that one is a pain to flash (requires an old XP virtual machine) and probably not really feasable.

 

[jasonisdavid]

Have fun finding a GBA sized one -- you are not the only one to want to make a repro or autoboot homebrew.

Ha, Yeah ... I'm learning that very quickly after my searches this morning!

If you want to get a DS lite sized one though it will work if you mod the case or stick it in another.

Oh wow! This is a lot more promising though, as those EZ-flash 3in1's are far more common. I think this is route I'll take and just use the DS lite to dump into nor - then get a little creative with a case mod.

my old flash2advance (with 128Mbit storage) does allow booting a single rom ... probably not really feasable.

Thanks for the info Localhorst.

I really can't thank you guys enough, it's a rather important project of mine.