Hardware GBA SuperCard GBA not working (._.)

[Marc36801]

OK

so i recently repaired my DS Lite, and someone gifted me a SuperCard for the GBA last Christmas...

But... i can´t make it work...

Once it loaded just fine Pokémon Sapphire and now... well, it kind of refuses to run anything... It Opens the Menu... loads the roms... but after it finishes loading the rom it crashes...

And its forever stuck in the White Screen until I reset



I looked for info everywhere, but none is clear on how to proceed, and the videos with attached files don´t work either

I´ve tried a lot of things... but I´m stuck with this thing for a Week, and each post I read about it

i lose a bit more hope in making it work

I've tried a lot of things... even the Custom Firmware for it (it only loaded once)

THE ONLY THING I HAVEN´T TRIED is using the R4 to mod it...

But the instructions on it are a bit unclear, so i don´t feel comfortable jumping on it without a clear view... I also saw a Reddit Post on someone using the Godmode9 in the R4 to back up the Firmware before hacking it


If anybody can give me the files they use and the programs they use... That would be amazing

Or explain how to Update the firmware or downgrade it...



Important Stuff:??...

So the Cardtridge has never been opened since it still has the Sticker in its place

When i Press the L + R Buttons, it keeps a black screen until i let them go

Does not loads patched games i tried 3 different versions of the program

same with NES

Turns on in both DS Lite and Gameboy Player

Please Help

 

[Nikokaro]

When i Press the L + R Buttons, it keeps a black screen until i let them go

So the self-test mode does not work? This is a bad sign: if it freezes right at the beginning of the procedure, analyzing the Flash memory, it means that it has a hardware defect. Often some of these flashcards turn out to be defective. But the subsequent purchase turns out to be positive. C'est la vie.
Anyway, are you using a micro SD of 2 gb maximum? Have you formatted it correctly?

 

[Marc36801]

So the self-test mode does not work? This is a bad sign: if it freezes right at the beginning of the procedure, analyzing the Flash memory, it means that it has a hardware defect. Often some of these flashcards turn out to be defective. But the subsequent purchase turns out to be positive. C'est la vie.
Anyway, are you using a micro SD of 2 gb maximum? Have you formatted it correctly?

Using a 2gb memory card i´ve tested some already

but it seems to be a different problem ._.

Post automatically merged: Apr 28, 2025

So the self-test mode does not work? This is a bad sign: if it freezes right at the beginning of the procedure, analyzing the Flash memory, it means that it has a hardware defect. Often some of these flashcards turn out to be defective. But the subsequent purchase turns out to be positive. C'est la vie.
Anyway, are you using a micro SD of 2 gb maximum? Have you formatted it correctly?

No suggestion on how to proceed?

Post automatically merged: Apr 28, 2025

So the self-test mode does not work? This is a bad sign: if it freezes right at the beginning of the procedure, analyzing the Flash memory, it means that it has a hardware defect. Often some of these flashcards turn out to be defective. But the subsequent purchase turns out to be positive. C'est la vie.
Anyway, are you using a micro SD of 2 gb maximum? Have you formatted it correctly?

 

[Nikokaro]

No suggestion on how to proceed?

Did you read well my previous message? In my opinion, since it crashes immediately, at the beginning of the self-analysis test, I think it is a hardware damage, and therefore difficult to fix by those who do not have knowledge of electronics. The easy solution is to buy another one; they are certainly not expensive online.

Anyway try to do the self-analysis again, both with and without the SD card inserted.

And in any case try to carefully consult this guide, and check if you have correctly created the gba roms and their save files.

 

[Marc36801]

Did you read well my previous message? In my opinion, since it crashes immediately, at the beginning of the self-analysis test, I think it is a hardware damage, and therefore difficult to fix by those who do not have knowledge of electronics. The easy solution is to buy another one; they are certainly not expensive online.

Anyway try to do the self-analysis again, both with and without the SD card inserted.

And in any case try to carefully consult this guide, and check if you have correctly created the gba roms and their save files.

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2025

Did you read well my previous message? In my opinion, since it crashes immediately, at the beginning of the self-analysis test, I think it is a hardware damage, and therefore difficult to fix by those who do not have knowledge of electronics. The easy solution is to buy another one; they are certainly not expensive online.

Anyway try to do the self-analysis again, both with and without the SD card inserted.

And in any case try to carefully consult this guide, and check if you have correctly created the gba roms and their save files.

Ok...

First of all... Thanks for the help...

Second... the file was near useless...

all the links for it are down and I have just no idea where to find a reliable one
but after removing the screws and inspecting I noticed a black small dot.. i removed it and now I can see the test options

i checked all the parts and none of them seem bad...


this resminds me a post someone else made

so this was his-her post


https://gbatemp.net/threads/sdram-test-error-supercard-gba.670133/


Pressing L+R on boot and doing the test, I get:

Test SRAM
SRAM ok!

Test sdram
sdram error:
010000020001030002040004050008
0600100700200800400900800a0100
0b02000c04000d08000e10000f2000
104000118000120000130000140000
150000160000170000180000190000
55ff80aaff8178ff829a000

Test flash
flash id ok!
flash ok!

Test SD/MMC
SD/MMC ok!
not find test file

Now SC Version: 1:85

When I try to boot any game (patched with Supercard software in order to get those 3 files for a single rom) I get blank screen after loading the rom.
I tried 3 different sd card, 1gb, 2gb and another 2gb. All of them formatted FAT16 64kb cluster

Any way to fix this?






and the post never came out with a solution... any ideas?

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2025

Did you read well my previous message? In my opinion, since it crashes immediately, at the beginning of the self-analysis test, I think it is a hardware damage, and therefore difficult to fix by those who do not have knowledge of electronics. The easy solution is to buy another one; they are certainly not expensive online.

Anyway try to do the self-analysis again, both with and without the SD card inserted.

And in any case try to carefully consult this guide, and check if you have correctly created the gba roms and their save files.

oh yeah....

i read on a post that someone was able to fix it by swaping that Battery...

since the SDRam test is poorly made and apparently sometimes refuses to work if the battery run out...


the quote is this

I fixed the SDRAM error by reinstalling the SD card firmware... and Changing the battery... Installed a CR2032 Holder.. Ok its outside the gba cartridge... but whatever works... make sure you put in a good battery.. like energizer.. or Duracell.. i tried with thoses cheap ones and they dont last long... resulting in a SDRam error...



you think its a good solution?

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2025

Did you read well my previous message? In my opinion, since it crashes immediately, at the beginning of the self-analysis test, I think it is a hardware damage, and therefore difficult to fix by those who do not have knowledge of electronics. The easy solution is to buy another one; they are certainly not expensive online.

Anyway try to do the self-analysis again, both with and without the SD card inserted.

And in any case try to carefully consult this guide, and check if you have correctly created the gba roms and their save files.

in that case you have a suggestion of a battery holder to replace the battery?

its weirdly wired to the system

 

[Nikokaro]

Well, I'm glad that, maybe, you found the actual cause of that issue, but unfortunately I have no technical expertise on it.
Maybe @davidgf or @metroid maniac could help you: they are the major experts on the SupeCard SD at an international level, as far as I know. If they have free time, and moved by compassion, they could help you, God willing.

 

[Gamemaster2022]

OK

so i recently repaired my DS Lite, and someone gifted me a SuperCard for the GBA last Christmas...

But... i can´t make it work...

Once it loaded just fine Pokémon Sapphire and now... well, it kind of refuses to run anything... It Opens the Menu... loads the roms... but after it finishes loading the rom it crashes...

And its forever stuck in the White Screen until I reset



I looked for info everywhere, but none is clear on how to proceed, and the videos with attached files don´t work either

I´ve tried a lot of things... but I´m stuck with this thing for a Week, and each post I read about it

i lose a bit more hope in making it work

View attachment 500945

I've tried a lot of things... even the Custom Firmware for it (it only loaded once)

THE ONLY THING I HAVEN´T TRIED is using the R4 to mod it...

But the instructions on it are a bit unclear, so i don´t feel comfortable jumping on it without a clear view... I also saw a Reddit Post on someone using the Godmode9 in the R4 to back up the Firmware before hacking it


If anybody can give me the files they use and the programs they use... That would be amazing

Or explain how to Update the firmware or downgrade it...



Important Stuff:??...

So the Cardtridge has never been opened since it still has the Sticker in its place

When i Press the L + R Buttons, it keeps a black screen until i let them go

Does not loads patched games i tried 3 different versions of the program

same with NES

Turns on in both DS Lite and Gameboy Player

Please Help

This exact same problem happened to me. I was playing Pokémon emerald and decided to save when the game froze with a weird static sound. After reseting my GBA, I just couldn't load any game anymore. All would end up with white screen. I ran tests just like you did and got similar error. The SDRAM chip must have died because the battery is still fine. They are really old and probably recycled from old RAM sticks (they come from around 2007!). You can never be sure how long they were used. I tried replacing it with a different one I had lying around but that didn't fix it - it has to be the same chip. So I have ordered one online recently (comes from an old stock and should be brand new) and once it comes I will try replacing it and post an update.

 

[Gamemaster2022]

So, an update.

All parts I needed (SDRAM chip and an SD card slot - had to replace it because I accidentally melted the old one) came in the mail today so I got to fixing.

And guess what? It worked. The cartridge now loads games like before and works just fine. So this is most likely what you will need to do - replace the SDRAM chip on your cart. You can also try reflowing solder on your chip's legs, it could have cracked if you dropped the cart some time in the past and that could have caused the chip to have bad connection with the board.

Or you can just get a new cart. I saw one selling for 11$ on ebay. The choice is yours. Hopefully you get this resolved soon.

 

[Marc36801]

So, an update.

All parts I needed (SDRAM chip and an SD card slot - had to replace it because I accidentally melted the old one) came in the mail today so I got to fixing.

And guess what? It worked. The cartridge now loads games like before and works just fine. So this is most likely what you will need to do - replace the SDRAM chip on your cart. You can also try reflowing solder on your chip's legs, it could have cracked if you dropped the cart some time in the past and that could have caused the chip to have bad connection with the board.

Or you can just get a new cart. I saw one selling for 11$ on ebay. The choice is yours. Hopefully you get this resolved soon.

View attachment 505622

WOW
GOOD PAL!

Now... can you tell me where you found the chip?... i want to buy one to hopefully fix this too

maybe we found the solution after all!


It was aliexpress?... alibaba?... ebay ?

 

[Gamemaster2022]

WOW
GOOD PAL!

Now... can you tell me where you found the chip?... i want to buy one to hopefully fix this too

maybe we found the solution after all!


It was aliexpress?... alibaba?... ebay ?

I can send you the link. I bought it off aliexpress. It wasn't too expensive. The SD card slots were fairy cheap as well.

I bought this exact chip: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.15.7bab1802MkTP94
It does not have "TG" written on it because it's from a newer batch (circa 2015) that used leadless solder (that's what "P" means). I have seen some supercards have it too and it works perfectly. You can also be sure it's brand new.

Here is also a link for the SD card slots I recommend buying too just in case. They are fairly cheap: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.10.7bab1802MkTP94

Now, how I replaced the chip. I used hot air station to melt the solder on one side of the chip. I added flux to help it. Then I picked it up with tweezers and quickly heated up the other side. Then I could remove the chip without damaging the pads. Be careful, there are small components around. Do not knock them off.

Next I cleaned the pads with solder wick to remove all remaining solder. Then I applied some new on all of them.

Finally, I positioned the new chip on the pre-tinned pads and melted it with hot air station. It has to be put the same way!!! Do not heat it for too long otherwise you risk damaging the chip. Make sure all legs have good contact - push them with tweezers and ensure they are not moving. I had to redo some legs with my soldering iron because not all of them were connected properly (cart booted but it acted like there was no SDRAM chip).

And that was all I did. The cart booted in the firmware and I was able to load a ROM again. Boom.

It might seem scary but really, it's not that difficult and not much work either. I was done in half an hour.

Best of luck and let me know if you get your cart running again!

 

[Marc36801]

I can send you the link. I bought it off aliexpress. It wasn't too expensive. The SD card slots were fairy cheap as well.

I bought this exact chip: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.15.7bab1802MkTP94
It does not have "TG" written on it because it's from a newer batch (circa 2015) that used solderless solder (that's what "P" means). I have seen some supercards have it too and it works perfectly. You can also be sure it's brand new.

Here is also a link for the SD card slots I recommend buying too just in case. They are fairly cheap: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.10.7bab1802MkTP94

Now, how I replaced the chip. I used hot air station to melt the solder on one side of the chip. I added flux to help it. Then I picked it up with tweezers and quickly heated up the other side. Then I could remove the chip without damaging the pads. Be careful, there are small components around. Do not knock them off.

Next I cleaned the pads with solder wick to remove all remaining solder. Then I applied some new on all of them.

Finally, I positioned the new chip on the pre-tinned pads and melted it with hot air station. It has to be put the same way!!! Do not heat it for too long otherwise you risk damaging the chip. Make sure all legs have good contact - push them with tweezers and ensure they are not moving. I had to redo some legs with my soldering iron because not all of them were connected properly (cart booted but it acted like there was no SDRAM chip).

And that was all I did. The cart booted in the firmware and I was able to load a ROM again. Boom.

It might seem scary but really, it's not that difficult and not much work either. I was done in half an hour.

Best of luck and let me know if you get your cart running again!

I forgot to thank you for your help...

and hopefully this post gets to more owners of this card so they don`t waste this card just because of this error

Have a good day, here is 1 AM I should sleep