Super card sd micro not working

[Gameduck]

So I’ve just gotten a super card sd micro and I can’t get it to work, I have the super card software for adding Roms and all that happens is the screen on my gba blinks black and does nothing. My micro sd is formatted to FAT and the sd is two gbs in storage. Can anybody help?

 

[Nikokaro]

all that happens is the screen on my gba blinks black and does nothing.

If you use a FAT formatted 2gb microSD, use the Supercard software and it does not even start the initial white menu, unfortunately it would seem that your flashcart is defective.
Maybe you could update its kernel with the installer below by consulting the attached guide, but I don't guarantee it will work. Update it only as a last resort.

 

[Gameduck]

Damn, I waited 3 months for this thing to come from Shanghai china. My firmware is 1.85. Any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[Nikokaro]

1) What console are you using it with? GBA, GBA SP or DS Lite? Please note that it only works with original hardware, and not with cheap Chinese clones.
2) If you don't insert the micro SD in the cart and turn on the console, does it show a white screen with the message "no SD inserted" or something like that? (see photo below). If the black screen appears, and you are using real hardware, then the cartridge is defective.
3) Otherwise, try removing and inserting the flashcart into the console slot again pushing It well, so that it makes good contact, and try it again.

 

[Gameduck]

look at post below

 

[Gameduck]

Ok so I’m using the original gba, the white screen only appears if there actually is not a sd inserted, so at this point I think it may be a issue with micro sd. I will link you to a image that shows the properties of my micro sd, maybe there is a formatting issue somewhere?

 

[Nikokaro]

....maybe there is a formatting issue somewhere?

Try to format it FAT32 and 16 cluster size, or FAT16 and smaller cluster, since it has a capacity of only 2 gb (the maximum that Supercard allows).

 

[Gameduck]

Try to format it FAT32 and 16 cluster size, or FAT16 and smaller cluster, since it has a capacity of only 2 gb (the maximum that Supercard allows).

I still can’t get it to work maybe there just some cheap sd cards that don’t work for the super card sd. Thanks for the help.

 

[Soaplexi]

I still can’t get it to work maybe there just some cheap sd cards that don’t work for the super card sd. Thanks for the help.

i think i is probably a fake card
you got a low amount of space or maybe the hack was trying to read a certain folder

 

[Gameduck]

i think i is probably a fake card
you got a low amount of space or maybe the hack was trying to read a certain folder

Is there a certain folder you need to put roms in?

 

[Nikokaro]

Turn on your GBA with flashcart inserted holding down left + right triggers simultaneusly to initiate the SuperCard self-test. Once the test starts the SuperCard will go through a few screens testing certain hardware functions and it will also display the current firmware version. Check to make sure all tests output an “ok” result.
If this procedure reports errors, then the flashcart is probably faulty.

If this is the case, the only solution is to update the firmware using the .bin file I attached above (together with the PDF that describes how to proceed), assuming you can complete the procedure.

Otherwise wait for someone else to give other, less risky suggestions.

 

[Gameduck]

Turn on your GBA with flashcart inserted holding down left + right triggers simultaneusly to initiate the SuperCard self-test. Once the test starts the SuperCard will go through a few screens testing certain hardware functions and it will also display the current firmware version. Check to make sure all tests output an “ok” result.
If this procedure reports errors, then the flashcart is probably faulty.

If this is the case, the only solution is to update the firmware using the .bin file I attached above (together with the PDF that describes how to proceed), assuming you can complete the procedure.

Otherwise wait for someone else to give other, less risky suggestions.

Huh, I’ve done this and it says everything is ok and until it gets to the sd/mmc part and it does not have an error it just does nothing.

 

[Nikokaro]

Huh, I’ve done this and it says everything is ok and until it gets to the sd/mmc part and it does not have an error it just does nothing.

If I understand correctly, the checking procedure is not completed, and hangs under SD/MMC point...
I'm afraid there might be a hardware defect/damage about the SD slot. Unfortunately this is beyond my competence.

Specifically, when you insert the micro SD into the slot, does it click and stay locked firmly?
Is the ejector spring working properly?

 

[Gameduck]

If I understand correctly, the checking procedure is not completed, and hangs under SD/MMC point...
I'm afraid there might be a hardware defect/damage about the SD slot. Unfortunately this is beyond my competence.

Specifically, when you insert the micro SD into the slot, does it click and stay locked firmly?
Is the ejector spring working properly?

You are correct it just hangs at that area. But it does have a nice click when you insert the sd.

 

[Nikokaro]

You are correct it just hangs at that area. But it does have a nice click when you insert the sd

Unfortunately, you were out of luck. I have purchased 2, for myself and my son, and both have worked "out of the box", without any difficulty.
Maybe some component desoldered, and it is not difficult to fix, but in this area I have no experience and do not know how to proceed.
I'll try to draw the attention of @FAST6191 , who is the most learned and experienced in this area, hoping he won't get annoyed.

 

[FAST6191]

I'll try to draw the attention of @FAST6191 , who is the most learned and experienced in this area, hoping he won't get annoyed.

I don't get annoyed at things, I just don't know much about supercards, and even a working one is still not going to be up to much for GBA purposes -- there is a reason they have not made them in probably north of 13 years at this point but you can still find them, and find them cheap.

 

[Nikokaro]

there is a reason they have not made them in probably north of 13 years at this point but you can still find them, and find them cheap

Thank you for responding. I notice that your dislike and prejudice towards this flashcart persists.
Yet, you may find it hard to believe, via Prefetch Patcher and Fast-Restart Patcher I was able to get 98% of GBA roms running at full speed (except Super Mario Kart and Crash Nitro racing).
Moreover, all Doom Megawads ported to GBA (via PrBoom GBA) work great, as well as all FEUniverse (Fire Emblem) Hacks, including the most sophisticated ones. Evidently, it's not that despicable.

 

[Quarterneck]

I tried to self test the super card and it gives me the error Test SD/MMC - SD/MC error: error code:03 when I don't have an sd card inserted. When I insert the one that came with it it just hangs. Is the SD card faulty or is the super card?

NVM I saw a post from a few back that states this exact issue.

Is it normal for the supercard to fail the sd test if no sd is inserted?

 

[Nikokaro]

Regarding that test I don't know anything, since I have never had the need to do it. So you bought a Supercard that already included a micro SD, didn't you? Do you already know that it should not exceed 2GB in size? Have you already formatted it fat32 with 32 (or 16)kb cluster? If when you insert it, it hangs, without giving any error message, I am afraid it is a defect of the flashcard that does not detect the presence of the micro SD correctly. Let's see what other users say...

 

[zxr750j]

Maybe obvious: try another sd-card. Maybe there's one in a old phone or something?