Hacking EZ-Flash 4 Skin builder ()

[Localhorst86]

This is just a quick thread to release the skin builder I am using for everyone so everyone can make their own skins now.

This tool is basically just the "Customize Pack" available from the EZ-Flash website but the kernel has been replaced by the 2.02 kernel.

To create your own skin, just edit the bitmap files and the help.txt in the Res\.shell folder. Once finished, simply double click the "build.bat" file and you'll receive a stock ezfla_up.bin file.

You'll also notice a folder called "patches". These contain ips patches for various major and minor improvements to the kernel (making 8Kb show up as 8Kb instead of 8,192 bytes, translation improvements and the clearlooks font). Simply apply them to your ezfla_up.bin file using any ips patching tool. Sorry the patches are not properly documented, they were originally intended for personal use only.

I decided not to include my EZ-Flat base skin in this pack because the base skin that comes with the customize pack contains a few more icons necessary for older versions of the skin. So if anyone wants to use this as a base for creating a skin that contains more icons, they can see which icon needs to go where.

A second upload will contain various older kernels and their appropriate patches. Simply copy the kernel (rombuildpro.rom) you want to the Res folder, overwriting the existing one.

Make sure to only apply patches made for whichever kernel version you're using. Using wrong version patches will break things or eat your children.

Credits to Gyron, Lybertyernie, Kuwanger and Draxxon for kernel various text improvements and fixes, the improved font and original Hard Reset modifications. Most IPS patches were adapted for 1.78 onwards by myself.

DISCLAIMER: I am not to be held responsible for any damages this may cause to your EZ-Flash Cartridge, your computer, your loved ones or your life.
This has only been tested on a EZ-Flash IV micro SD version and the EZ-Flash Reform, use at your own risk.

EDIT: 2017-07-17 - kernel pack 2.03 added
EDIT: 2017-10-31 - kernel pack 2.04 added
EDIT: 2018-01-08 - kernel pack 2.05 added

 

[tiduscrying]

Thank you so much for this! Already compiled my cobalt skin! Bonus thanks for including your patches as well!

 

[Bart Lemming]

Thank you for sharing this. I've never really messed about with anything like this but I'm going to try to do something GBmicro inspired.

 

[tiduscrying]

Just a quick question regarding the tool... When a new version of the Kernel is released, in this case with today's release of 2.03, will the tool have to be re-released to include a new rombuild.pro file? Or is there any way we can extract the necessary bits from the kernel ourselves and make our own rombuildpro files?

 

[Localhorst86]

Just a quick question regarding the tool... When a new version of the Kernel is released, in this case with today's release of 2.03, will the tool have to be re-released to include a new rombuild.pro file? Or is there any way we can extract the necessary bits from the kernel ourselves and make our own rombuildpro files?

The kernel can be extracted from future ezfla_up.bin releases, the kernel is simply the first x offsets of the final release, simply truncating the file where the kernel ends suffices.

Kernel releases simply need the extracted rombuildpro.rom file in order to skin it.

The patches need to be modified to compensate for shifted offsets, though. Usually a new kernel varies in size and therefore where the appropriate offsets are located in the file.

But again, the tool itself can remain unmodified, all that people need to do to update to future releases is replace the rombuildpro.rom file with the latest one.

 

[ShinyRotom]

After compiling the ezfla_up.bin for 2.03 (yes, I made sure the .rom was the correct one) and updating the kernel, I get graphical errors: many sprites/banners don't load and the "help" section is all glitchy. Why is that? The ez flash itself is working fine on the roms. I can upload the .bmp I used if necessary.

 

[Localhorst86]

After compiling the ezfla_up.bin for 2.03 (yes, I made sure the .rom was the correct one) and updating the kernel, I get graphical errors: many sprites/banners don't load and the "help" section is all glitchy. Why is that? The ez flash itself is working fine on the roms. I can upload the .bmp I used if necessary.

Have you applied any patches? This could happen when you apply patches for a different version.

What happens when you don't apply any patches?

 

[ShinyRotom]

Have you applied any patches? This could happen when you apply patches for a different version.

What happens when you don't apply any patches?

If I don't apply any patch the results are the same. In fact, when I did apply the patches, they seemed to work fine.

 

[Localhorst86]

If I don't apply any patch the results are the same. In fact, when I did apply the patches, they seemed to work fine.

Make sure your pictures are 24bit bitmaps.

 

[ShinyRotom]

Make sure your pictures are 24bit bitmaps.

That was it! I turned many images into 32bit by mistake. Now everything works fine.
Thank you very much!

 

[Megamanx4]

hi, im sorry to bother but do you have the bmp files of the darth vader default theme of the ez flash?, on 2009 i bought an ez flash iv cardridge, many years have passed and i bought another cardridge, and i want the firmware 2.03 but with the old skin of darth vader, its a ugly skin but the skin have the nostalgia value for me, so do you have the bmp files for me, so i can build a ez kernel 2.03 with the darth vader skin ! XD

 

[Megamanx4]

this theme XD

 

[Localhorst86]

hi, im sorry to bother but do you have the bmp files of the darth vader default theme of the ez flash?, on 2009 i bought an ez flash iv cardridge, many years have passed and i bought another cardridge, and i want the firmware 2.03 but with the old skin of darth vader, its a ugly skin but the skin have the nostalgia value for me, so do you have the bmp files for me, so i can build a ez kernel 2.03 with the darth vader skin ! XD

I do not have the bmp files for that darth vader skin, no.

but since the whole ezfla_up.bin file is simply the kernel file followed by the data files you could try finding an old ezfla_up.bin file that has this skin and overwriting the old kernel part at the beginning of the ROM with the new kernel in a hex editor. I am not going to take any responsibility, though, you would need to try that on your own, this tool won't be able to help, sorry. If you still want to try Good luck

 

[Megamanx4]

EZ4 skin extractor v1.0 by Suanyuan 2006/07/09

EZ4SkinExtract is a small program to extract NDS skin and GBA skin data files from EZ4 kernel.

Just copy the ezfla_up.bin to the same folder of EZ4SkinExtract.exe then run EZ4SkinExtract.exe.
The NDS skin files will put to NDS sub folder and GBA skin files put to GBA sub folder.

Download from:

http://gens32.emubase.de/Img/flash/Ez4SkinExtract.rar



do you know where i can find this program??

 

[Localhorst86]

EZ4 skin extractor v1.0 by Suanyuan 2006/07/09

EZ4SkinExtract is a small program to extract NDS skin and GBA skin data files from EZ4 kernel.

Just copy the ezfla_up.bin to the same folder of EZ4SkinExtract.exe then run EZ4SkinExtract.exe.
The NDS skin files will put to NDS sub folder and GBA skin files put to GBA sub folder.

Download from:

http://gens32.emubase.de/Img/flash/Ez4SkinExtract.rar



do you know where i can find this program??

Unfortunately no. This tool seems to have been lost on the internet. Every link to this tool I was able to find was dead by now. Unless someone magically finds this tool on their hard drive, we will probably never see it again.

 

[Megamanx4]

i tried really hard to find this tool but nothing :/ all the links are dead

 

[Megamanx4]

i found the darth vader theme (the ezfla_up.bin with theme0 i just need the damn extractor XD

 

[Gyron_Oldvic]

i found the darth vader theme (the ezfla_up.bin with theme0 i just need the damn extractor XD

Here, this is pulled from the old v1.73 Kernel. I modified the desktop screen slightly so it was better suited to the newer Kernels (probably v1.75 and newer). I also removed some unneeded files.
You will also find in the zip all the original bitmaps inside the folder 'EZ IV Darth Vader Skin for Older Kernels' (I'd probably only use the skin in the 'Older' folder for Kernels before v1.75).

 

[Megamanx4]

omg, thank you so much dude!

 

[Torci2008]

I do not understand what's the matter ... I changed the pictures, added patches from kernel pack 2.03.zip, but the font did not change to clearlooks (((