Hacking Homebrew GCN PicoBoot - GameCube IPL replacement modchip using Raspberry Pi Pico

[impeeza]

And im using small cables compared to most, keep that in mind if bending. This is safest way so far. Ty to all! Theres many ways to eat a vegan sandwich.

Or many ways to skin a cat

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Or many ways to skin a cat

 

[Clector]

Does it work if you remove it?

I forgot to reply here again; yes, one of the wires wasn't making a good connection.

Fixing it made PicoBoot and the console too work fine again, albeit the side effect was really amusing to hear.

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Or many ways to skin a cat

Just skinned me a new pussy: (Anyone need a repair in USA message me)

@Gallaer​

 

[Minatavrus]

Installed PicoBoot and it works great. But there is a problem: I have a JP version of the console and I turned it into US by soldering a jumper on the pad R6 next to the CPU. So, after installing PicoBoot, the console reset to Japanese when I load the vanilla IPL. Is there a solution??

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Installed PicoBoot and it works great. But there is a problem: I have a JP version of the console and I turned it into US by soldering a jumper on the pad R6 next to the CPU. So, after installing PicoBoot, the console reset to Japanese when I load the vanilla IPL. Is there a solution??

Pico is region free.

 

[Minatavrus]

Pico is region free.

I soldered a piece of wire as a jumper and converted the console from Japanese to American version. But after installing Pikoboot, the interface returned to Japanese again, even with this jumper

 

[rs1n]

I soldered a piece of wire as a jumper and converted the console from Japanese to American version. But after installing Pikoboot, the interface returned to Japanese again, even with this jumper

Remove the R5 resistor. Source: https://www.gc-forever.com/wiki/index.php?title=Region_Switch

 

[urbanman2004]

Meet PicoBoot - the ultimate IPL modchip for GameCube.

• open source
• uses off the shelf hardware
• cheap, Pico costs only $4
• very easy to program and update
• easy to install, only 5 wires to solder
• doesn't require any boot disk to work
• can boot multiple applications depending on the button pressed

I highly recommend watching below videos to learn how to use it:

• PicoBoot Modchip Will Unleash The POWER of Your Nintendo GAMECUBE! | Installation Guide and Overview
• This new Gamecube Modchip is a GAMECHANGER - PicoBoot

Downloads, installation guides: https://github.com/webhdx/PicoBoot

I applied the mod onto a separate GC I acquired recently [w/in the last month], but what sucks is it wouldn't work till I trimmed down the cables to 4" (after researching solutions on reddit and troubleshooting), what's up w/ that? But for whatever reason, I can't get any of my homebrew/emulation apps to recognize the file path on my SD2SP2. I use the following apps: Not64, Enhanced mGBA, FCE Ultra GX, Genesis Plus GX, Snes9x GX, and Visual Boy Advance GX. Anybody else run into this issue?

 

[Donnie-Burger]

I applied the mod onto a separate GC I acquired recently [w/in the last month], but what sucks is it wouldn't work till I trimmed down the cables to 4" (after researching solutions on reddit and troubleshooting), what's up w/ that? But for whatever reason, I can't get any of my homebrew/emulation apps to recognize the file path on my SD2SP2. I use the following apps: Not64, Enhanced mGBA, FCE Ultra GX, Genesis Plus GX, Snes9x GX, and Visual Boy Advance GX. Anybody else run into this issue?

Those are working here using default paths.

 

[urbanman2004]

Those are working here using default paths.

Which version of those apps are they that you use?

 

[Donnie-Burger]

Which version of those apps are they that you use?

Newest

 

[urbanman2004]

Newest

That doesn't help b/c that's what I was using, the latest version of those apps.

 

[Donnie-Burger]

That doesn't help b/c that's what I was using, the latest version of those apps.

Newset with default directories is working.

 

[koffieleut]

So I tried to install Picoboot, but when I soldered the wires on to the Mobo (not yet on the Pico) I decided to check if the cube would still work. The LED turns on and the fan spins, but that's it, no disc spin or AV.

Could it be that I destroyed the bios chip while soldering the two wires on it?

I haven't used any flux (because I didn't have flux) though, but I want to try desoldering the chip, clean it and solder it back on. Maybe it fixes my mistake.

 

[CoolMe]

So I tried to install Picoboot, but when I soldered the wires on to the Mobo (not yet on the Pico)

You should complete the soldering process, set up the Picoboot then test if it's working or not. I think the system is just confused with the soldered wires (you soldered) that go nowhere.

Could it be that I destroyed the bios chip while soldering the two wires on it?

You can't really know that until you solder everything and the Picoboot is set up..

I haven't used any flux (because I didn't have flux) though, but I want to try desoldering the chip, clean it and solder it back on. Maybe it fixes my mistake.

The bios chip? I don't recommend it. Just look if all the leg pins are not broken or bridged. Same for all the soldering work that you did so far.. If they are (on the bios chip), then it depends if it's completely ripped with no trace left, or if there's still a tiny piece left on it, if that's the case you can solder a wire from the leg to the pcb..

 

[SylverReZ]

You should complete the soldering process, set up the Picoboot then test if it's working or not. I think the system is just confused with the soldered wires (you soldered) that go nowhere.

I prefer checking the connections using a multimeter to see if everything was done correctly.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

So I tried to install Picoboot, but when I soldered the wires on to the Mobo (not yet on the Pico) I decided to check if the cube would still work. The LED turns on and the fan spins, but that's it, no disc spin or AV.

Could it be that I destroyed the bios chip while soldering the two wires on it?

I haven't used any flux (because I didn't have flux) though, but I want to try desoldering the chip, clean it and solder it back on. Maybe it fixes my mistake.

If you wired as expected, you are already shorting pins (the ground wire touches two pins), so maybe it's intentional.

Anyway, you don't need paste nor flux to do this job, and soldering points ate large, if you messed up it would be visible.

 

[hdx]

Definitely don't go further if something is not working at this stage. Post pictures.

 

[koffieleut]

Definitely don't go further if something is not working at this stage. Post pictures.

I've tried it a few days ago, and removed all the wires. I'll try it again next week when I have a bit more time.