Emulation Problem with Zelda LttP/FS Save (VBA)

[crissyw]

Okay, so I downloaded a save file from here for Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past & Four Swords.

This one: http://filetrip.net/f957

I've been trying for hours to get this save to work on Visual Boy Advance. It says in the file description that it does work with VBA but whenever I load the battery and reach the file selection screen, they are all empty as if the battery was fresh.

This file DOES work with no$gba, but I need it to work with VBA since I want to play this on my Wii with VBAGX.

There are 3 options that I've been trying that would work but so far no luck.

1. Get the thing to run with VBA.

2. Load the battery on no$gba and then convert it to a VBA battery file.

3. Load the battery on no$gba and save a snapshot (.SNA) and convert it into a VBA snapshot (.SGM)

From what I've researched. One problem is that the save file is 64kb, but vba save files need to be 8kb. After I load the battery, although it doesn't work, it automatically shrinks the file down to 8kb. I've tried to trim the file to 8kb with File Trimmer, but that doesn't change a thing.

Could someone please help me out with this problem?

 

[DanTheManMS]

Well, I'm thoroughly stumped. I've tried saving it as uncompressed from no$gba and using a converter to put it in VBA format, tried flipping every 8 bytes (as it looks like VBA is expecting) at various stages, but simply can't get it to work right.

Pretty sure a major issue is the whole thing with every 8 bytes being reversed. But that's not the only issue, and unfortunately I can't find the cause.

 

[DanTheManMS]

Oh for the love of...

Alright, figured it out. After about 50 trials, two hours, several old versions of no$gba, and pulling out my Flash2Advance Ultra cart for testing, I found that like most answers, it was ridiculously simple and was staring at me in the face from the beginning.

So I was right in that every 8 bytes needs to be flipped. What I didn't realize is that VBA doesn't like it when you give it a save file larger than what it expects. I thought it could import the flipped 64 KB file and simply discard the 3/4 of the file it didn't need, but I was wrong. After manually cutting down the flipped file to exactly 8,192 bytes, VBA accepted it just fine. So the final process is: download the save file from the website, flip every 8 bytes, then cut it down to 8192 bytes.

Now, I've got two scripts that can flip every 8 bytes for you, one of which is implemented in Perl and the other in MATLAB, neither of which you're likely to have access to. A Google search reveals a much more accessible method that Destructobot made using Hex Workshop - http://gbatemp.net/t53867-a-gba-save-conve...st&p=694180. For stripping down the file, I use the free XVI32 hex editor, going to Address - Go To - Hexadecimal $2000 (which is decimal 8192, use Windows Calculator in Scientific mode to confirm this if you don't believe me), and then Edit - Delete From Cursor, then save as a new file. Of course, you said you had this "File Trimmer" program which will probably also work just fine.

Regardless, here's your save file: http://www.zumodrive.com/share/6TjPN2IxNz

 

[crissyw]

cant believe someone actually figured it out. im amazed.

btw that was actually the wrong file heh. i needed -beg not -end. but i just did what you said with the other file and it worked perfectly.

thanks for the help

 

[DanTheManMS]

No problem, glad it helped. I'm just curious why no$gba simply refused to output a clean save file no matter what I set in the no$gba.ini file. That alone is what threw me for a loop.

 

[Deleted User]

I've been wracking my brain all day trying to figure out why these very files don't work for vbagx. I was hoping somebody would share that beg.sav file with me? I'd be eternally grateful. I'd do it myself as well but unlike crissy I don't have a flash cart to use to implement the script changing hullabaloo.

 

[DanTheManMS]

You don't need a flash cart. You just need the save file and a way to flip the 8 bits and trim it to 8 KB. Hex Workshop should be able to do both of those.

 

[ddddddaaa]

.sav file on zelda link to the past / four swords with thug save file on VBA Visual Boy Advance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just thought I'd reply in case anyone is searching google to get this save file to work on PC. As many people seem to have difficulties.

I spent a good few hours trying to get it to work (I've not used this emulator for years which doesn't help)

I used the VBA emulator version 1.7.2

1. Download a (U) version of the zelda link to the past rom and put in ur VBA folder (can remain zipped if you so wish). NB: mine has a hack screen at the beigning but works fine.

2. Download the save file zip which is listed at the top of this thread (by thug4life) and extract all of it's files into ur VBA folder.

3. Rename the desired save file (i.e. the begining or end save file, begining has the new dungeon unlocked etc so you can play the game through with extras, end has all equipment etc and saved at the end of the game) to the same as the game file. i.e "Zelda - A link to the Past.SAV" (keep the same case).

4. Load zelda rom

5. File>Import>Zelda Gameshark Snapshot...

6. navigate to 'ZELDAGAMESHARK.SPS'

7. After this you may need to load the save file through 'Import>Battery File...'.

that's it

Although now it seems to be working perfectly fine without having to do all this even if I start again from scratch so who knows. I originally had all the files in the right place but the save files kept getting overwritten by blank ones which many folk seem to experience from what I've read.

so hope this helps someone else with similar problem

cheers

 

[rick_meadows]

Hello

I've reached this topic through Google search.

Is DanTheManMS still an active user? His link is broken and I really would like to use that save file.

I apologize for bumping an old thread, but the save file hosted on gbatemp, like explained on the first post, is still in need of fixing.

 

[DanTheManMS]

Yep, I'm still here. Zumodrive got bought out by Motorola Mobility and then they killed the product, rendering all my old links useless. Lemme see if I still have that file handy.

Try these:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP save files for emulator.zip (I don't know if these are the fixed files or the original ones).
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP-4S complete- by nicko aura thug4life -end.sav (the one I know is fixed)

 

[Gamble]

There's an easy way to do it on VBA. Just go to Options>Emulator> Save Type and change it to automatic and the game will work fine!!

 

[speedycerv]

Hello there,

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I have spent the last few hours trying to get the -beg.sav file to work or the -end for a while now and no luck. I am having the same issue as the OP, i have the save file named the same as the rom and load up no$gba or vba and it starts as if there is no save file. I also tried on VBA loading battery file and I had the same issue. I tried the 64kb version and the 8kb version and neither work. One thing to note is I was also not able to get the sav file to work in no$gba or vba. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!

 

[MAXLEMPIRA]

Hello, sorry for revive a threat 5 years old, but I'm having too much problem with Pokémon Rojo Fuego (Spanish FireRed Version) on VBAGX for Wii, it works great on VBA in my PC and Verde Hoja (LeafGreen) works great on VBAGX, can't figure how to make it work... tryed diferent method with no results, and nothing on Google... @DanTheManMS , do you know if it's the same problem as Zelda ALtP, and if it can work with the same process??

 

[RianCaio]

Anyone Have A Link To The Past GBA Save File With 4S Complete But ALTTP No Finished

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Anyone Have A Link To The Past GBA Save File With 4S Complete But ALTTP No Finished

An unrelated thread is not the place to ask that. Make a new thread instead.

 

[Markedone]

Anyone Have A Link To The Past GBA Save File With 4S Complete But ALTTP No Finished

I am also looking for a file like this, I am hopeful to find one on this site.

The following thread links an old Download link but it has expired:
"/threads/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-four-swords.505039/#post-7998328"

 

[LordK77]

Yep, I'm still here. Zumodrive got bought out by Motorola Mobility and then they killed the product, rendering all my old links useless. Lemme see if I still have that file handy.

Try these:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP save files for emulator.zip (I don't know if these are the fixed files or the original ones).
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP-4S complete- by nicko aura thug4life -end.sav (the one I know is fixed)

Do you still have this file down? Because the links don't work anymore.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Yep, I'm still here. Zumodrive got bought out by Motorola Mobility and then they killed the product, rendering all my old links useless. Lemme see if I still have that file handy.

Try these:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP save files for emulator.zip (I don't know if these are the fixed files or the original ones).
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59972490/GBAandDS/LTTP-4S complete- by nicko aura thug4life -end.sav (the one I know is fixed)

I'm trying to use the save in the Mgba emulator in new 3ds, the original tried to decrease and it doesn't work at all. In fact some saves give problem. Donkey Kong Country 1, I downloaded 3 saves, none worked. But this one about zelda and what I was wanting.

 

[renegade2k82]

I hate to bump a old thread but i hope your still around DanTheManMS beacuse i can not to get those thug saves to work at all on mgba renaming it to .srm for retroarch or nothing at all.If you can fix the begging file that would be great.i have been banging my head for days to get this save file to work.heres what i have https://www.dropbox.com/s/ef7fs8dcd...4S_complete-_by_nicko_aura_thug4life.zip?dl=0

 

[DanTheManMS]

Here's all the files I can find on it.