Hacking Xtreme Linker - Unknown Cartridge

[Olevall]

Hi, I recently found my old GBA with the flash advance linker xtreme that I bought a couple of years ago. I am running a Virtualbox on Windows 10 as host and Windows XP Home as guest. I installed the XtremeLink software and the drivers for the device. The program detects the linker but says "Unknown cartridge" on the bottom. I can't write to the cartridge, when I try to read the contents of a regular GBA cartridge I get an error message at the end of the reading saying that the program has stopped working. I have tried three different versions of XP with no success and at this point I'm out of ideas on what to do.

 

[Olevall]

I have also tried the Windows XP mode form microsoft's website without any luck.

 

[Olevall]

XtremeLink shows my USB version to be v7fffffff, I can't write or read data. I've tried to wirte to the 128M flash cartridge and to read from an ordinary GBA cartridge with the same problem.

 

[Olevall]

When using the parallel port with a 9V power supply the program doesn't even recognise the linker.

 

[alcab]

So many years later, I can provide a proper answer. I have had the same problem for a week, configuring different Windows Vista, 95, XP and 98 virtual machines in Oracle's Virtual Box. And, after I figured out how connecting devices and installing its drivers works in these virtual machines, I always ended up experiencing the same problem: Flash Advance Linker was recognized, but nothing changed after inserting the cartridge, even when pressing compulsively the refresh button. "Unkown cartridge" kept showing up all the time on the bottom of the app, and USB version was recognized as v7fffffff...

I was going to quit because I was pretty sure that the flashcard or the linker (or both) where too old and most probably they weren't working properly, when I finally had an interesting idea: downloading a different virtual machine app. I finally downloaded VMware Workstation, installed Windows Vista SP2, the Xtremelink tool and the drivers and, oh surprise, everything worked!!!! It is like a miracle!



Watch these video if you are having a difficult time when trying to understand how USB detection works in these virtual machines.

It has been 20 years since I registered in GBAtemp. Most probably searching for help trying to understand how this flashing tools worked back in the day. It is nice being here again, remembering those good old times.