To say the truth, I had not expected to find myself here, since I had stopped playing video games, and left Pokémon a few years ago, however I did want to try out the RTCRead program, and I have the EZFlash Writer (I am not sure whether it is version 1 or 3, it came with an EZFlash II (Not sure which one)) that my friends gave me a few years ago (and I did not get to use it until now) (they had lost the flashcart, hence I do not remember the exact model), so I ordered a dark-red (since it reminded me of Pokémon Ruby) GBA cartridge from AliExpress.
Since there is no Linux-compatible software for the EZFlash series, I booted Windows FLP on an old IBM ThinkPad T22 that I got as a present from my boss (I like to revive old hardware) and upgraded (from 256MB 100Mhz SDRAM to 384MB 100Mhz SDRAM, and working on modding the plate of a DVD writer that works with the ThinkPad), installed the drivers and launched the EZClient (the single USB1.1 port is causing me problems with such hardware, even the CH341A programmer does not get enough power for both itself and ICs that I connect to it), and surprisingly, the cartridge (which had some leftover glue from someone removing it's sticker, plus the CR1616 battery was removed, but aside from those, it certainly appears legit, down to the year (2003)) had Pokémon Ruby (which was my favorite Pokémon game back in the day) on it.
I used the EZClient to back up the ROM (which turned out to be the rare US 1.2 revision) and .sav file, and copied the files over to my current laptop (the IdeaPad 300-15ISK, which is trash when compared to the Vostro 3568, and costs around 250 dollars more, after rough conversion from my local currency), and ran VBA-M (I have decided to test out HomeBrew apps, since I am considering getting a GameBoy Advance (much more comfortable in my hands), modding it, and using it as an eBook reader, and perhaps a bit more) to test it.
Sure enough, the game runs, without any "dry" or "corrupted" battery messages, the clock in the game moves as it should, and everything seems fine, however whenever I try saving the game, the saving process never ends.
I tried downloading a 1.1 US version from the web and saving it (no issues there), and then moving the .sav file over, whereupon there is a message that the save file had been deleted, and once again the saving process never ends.
I also tried saving without any .sav file in the directory, however when I try doing that, the game complains about the internal battery being missing, and tries to find a backup, a process which also, never ends.
I had tried taking the steps outlined here, which did not appear to cause issues, however the situation did not change at all.
Could someone please help me out here, both with fixing the issue, and removing the requirement for the existence of the original save file (If that does not cause issues for it being reflashed on the original cartridge)?
Update: It turns out, upon additional reading, that this really was a bootleg cartridge.
However, I am hoping that someone can still help me out here, since this may help me (as unrealistic as that is) help people who run into the "berry glitch" and for some reason come to the computer repair shop I work at.
If this post infringes upon the terms of service, I'll be glad to remove it upon notice
