Hardware GBA FLASHMP SuperCard micro SD?

Egoistamamono · Aug 18, 2024

I need help..

My SuperCard was accidentally blank when I installed SC CFW, now it can't be used. Even when re-flashing using FLASHMP it gets stuck at 'programming 524288 bytes'.

When I force reset, sometimes the SuperCard is detected as a gba game, sometimes as a pack option but when detected as a gba game, it stays blank white when selected, both on my GBA SP and on my NDS phat.

Since I only have an NDS phat with a broken top screen, can it be repaired? What software should I use?

I used R4 SDHC Dual-Core & SuperCard Micro SD (but it labelled as SD)

Thank you

OmDRetro · Aug 20, 2024

Egoistamamono said:
I need help..

My SuperCard was accidentally blank when I installed SC CFW, now it can't be used. Even when re-flashing using FLASHMP it gets stuck at 'programming 524288 bytes'.

When I force reset, sometimes the SuperCard is detected as a gba game, sometimes as a pack option but when detected as a gba game, it stays blank white when selected, both on my GBA SP and on my NDS phat.

Since I only have an NDS phat with a broken top screen, can it be repaired? What software should I use?

I used R4 SDHC Dual-Core & SuperCard Micro SD (but it labelled as SD)

Thank you

Your flash chip is faulty and requires a replacement since you're not able to access the entire flash memory.

You're left with a few options here:

Replace the flash chip marked U1 (requires soldering expertise)
Stick to SCFW (consumes minimal flash memory space)
- A.K.A. - Delaying the inevitable (Flash chip will eventually wear out completely)
- Caveat here is that official GBA units( incl. NDS/NDSL ) may not be able to boot the cartridge and it will stay stuck on a white screen.
- It will, however, have a higher chance of booting on clone GBAs (just not consistently) despite the cart having a faulty flash chip.

This issue is also mentioned here

SuperCardDeepFan · Aug 21, 2024

Where we can buy those flash chip?

Egoistamamono · Aug 21, 2024

OmDRetro said:
Your flash chip is faulty and requires a replacement since you're not able to access the entire flash memory.

You're left with a few options here:

Replace the flash chip marked U1 (requires soldering expertise)

Stick to SCFW (consumes minimal flash memory space)

A.K.A. - Delaying the inevitable (Flash chip will eventually wear out completely)

Caveat here is that official GBA units( incl. NDS/NDSL ) may not be able to boot the cartridge and it will stay stuck on a white screen.

It will, however, have a higher chance of booting on clone GBAs (just not consistently) despite the cart having a faulty flash chip.

This issue is also mentioned here

For the first option seems difficult, can you tell the type of flash memory used for the replacement?

then, is it possible to go back to SCFW without replacing flash memory or soldering? if so, how? Thanks

moon_rabbit · Aug 21, 2024

https://gbatemp.net/threads/scfw-custom-firmware-kernel-for-supercard.647238/#post-10346626

It is MX29LV400BTC-70 with an ID of “c2ba”.
However, the chip currently in production is named MX29LV400CBTI-70.

According to the datasheet, it should be 22BA, but yours says 22B9.
There is a boot block difference.

This could be the problem.
Can you check your chip name?
-------------
After doing some more research, it doesn't seem to be this issue.
In conclusion, if problem is with FLASH itself, then replacement is the only answer.

OmDRetro · Aug 21, 2024

In addition to what moon_rabbit mentioned, the new SuperCard SD's we see nowadays come with varying levels of durability where the same product from different sellers/distributors is more expensive than others due to the chips used on them.

My currently dead SuperCard SD has the following:

U1 chip / Flash chip: "29LV400TC-90PFTN"
- NOTE: This flash chip is commonly found in bootleg famicom carts.
- Package type is 48-pin plastic TSOP
  - The marking side (Chip label) is on the top side
- One well known brand is "Spansion" having the part number MBM29LV400TC-90PFTN
- Flash ID shows as 0x422b9

As for your question, there's actually not much you can do. The first sign of failure usually means it's too late to salvage(I already tried with mine and it's clear that the flash chip is worn out). The chips that come with the SuperCard SD are either generic chips(unbranded / not well known) or known but is not meant to last long.

If you do plan on restoring it, I assume you already have the tools to desolder/solder chips then flash it afterwards with sckill. Otherwise, you'd be spending a lot more than just buying a new SuperCard SD.

SuperCardDeepFan · Aug 22, 2024

It's this one the one that works

Hardware GBA FLASHMP SuperCard micro SD?

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