Hacking EZV NOR mode - Can't load SAV to SRAM

[cwc]

I'm using Exploader .58b0mx on a CycloDS Evo in slot1. I've been playing FireRed written to NOR mode for a while and it's been working great, no problems saving or anything. I decided to swap out the game in NOR for a bit, then I tried to go back to FR.
The game writes to NOR fine, but restoring the SAV file does not seem to be working. When I select the option to load the SAV into SRAM, there is a brief pause, but no error messages of any kind, from Exploader or the game itself. It's like it just isn't writing anything. My hunch is that the save file that was copied from SRAM to the SD card is corrupt, but I don't know enough about the save format to be able to tell.

Can anyone assist me with this?

 

[cwc]

I believe I've already figured it out. I saved a new game in FR as soon as I was able, wrote the SRAM to SAV, then immediately loaded it back into SRAM. It worked. I loaded the malfunctioning save, and FR tried to start a new game. With the SRAM now effectively wiped, I loaded the fresh save that I'd created minutes ago, and it worked again. So I guess when I wrote my original SAV, it was corrupted.

Adding insult to injury, I opened both saves in a hex editor. The malfunctioning save is 131KB of 0xF. The working save is padded on both ends with 0xF, but clearly has data in the file. I guess it was just a freak write failure. Surprising since I actually made two copies back-to-back, and both of those saves were corrupted. Maybe the 32GB card I'm using is the problem. Oh well - in the future I'll just have to manually verify every SAV file I write. No swapping games out on the go.

 

[Technicmaster0]

Why do you use the exp loader anyways? CycloDS Evo supports EZ-Flash 3in1 Expansion Pack (/Slot-2 EZ-Flash V) from within the Menu.

 

[cwc]

Why do you use the exp loader anyways? CycloDS Evo supports EZ-Flash 3in1 Expansion Pack (/Slot-2 EZ-Flash V) from within the Menu.

True, I just like being able to use the game like it's an actual GBA cart, like not having to go through the Cyclo menus and just running it from the DS menu. I was also hoping it would work with Pal Park, though it didn't seem to.

 

[Technicmaster0]

True, I just like being able to use the game like it's an actual GBA cart, like not having to go through the Cyclo menus and just running it from the DS menu. I was also hoping it would work with Pal Park, though it didn't seem to.

You just have to press "Y" and select "NOR" to write ROMs to the NOR
But make sure that you still write them with "A" to the EZ3in1. "Y" only changes the mode but doesn't write the game.

 

[cwc]

You just have to press "Y" and select "NOR" to write ROMs to the NOR
But make sure that you still write them with "A" to the EZ3in1. "Y" only changes the mode but doesn't write the game.

Interesting, didn't know that Cyclo could write to NOR. Does it automatically manage the save states, or is it still a relatively manual process like Exploader?

 

[Technicmaster0]

Interesting, didn't know that Cyclo could write to NOR. Does it automatically manage the save states, or is it still a relatively manual process like Exploader?

It handles the saves automatically as far as I know.