8Mbit Flash HuCard FAQ

[ooPo]

This may be helpful:

https://pcedev.wordpress.com/downloads-and-links/

Specifically the 'PCE cribsheet page 2 (ver 1.0.4)', this part in particular:

[thesteve]

that is helpfull, and explains the mapper

[NightWolve]

Good news (or no news), false alarm on Krizz's Turbo Everdrive flash card! He said he already detected this and pointed out that Batman, which he loaded in his test youtube video, was a 384KB game, which I verified (yup!), so looking good...

[gameofyou]

Uhm... guess you forgot about this issue in the other thread 2 months ago:
 
I just got the flash card today and though the COM port seems to be mapping fine (COM4), the software again times out...  (on my Win XP SP2 machine.)  Time to try with a Windows 7 machine...

You are correct, I forgot.  I have about a million irons in the fire right now. 
 
If you can't get your setup working, send me an email & we can try a few things.

[ConHuevos]

I'm having issues with my serial port right now and may need to send this card back to gameof, so I can't finish writing/testing the COMM connection portion.  I can however add a write rom function so it can convert the roms for you automatically, but you'll still need to use the original card software to upload.

Right now, when I try to upload, it'll only sometimes erase the data already on the card.

[ConHuevos]

I can't work on this further until I receive my card back, in the mean time here's the other portions I had already written and slightly modified so that it saves to a file rather than uploads.  It will strip the rom header, mirror the rom, and remove the region protection on USA roms (all options are optional), it'll also notify you if the rom doesn't require modification.  It does not flip the bits on the ROM file, you still need to select that option (If you need it) using Gameof's Hucard uploader. 

snag.gy/7Fg3b.jpg


It's written in C#, so Microsoft .NET required (if not already installed):
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa569263.aspx

Binary:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0c11femytltmry/Hucard%20Rom%20Converter.zip

Source:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rt4xd8i1zz3kgwa/Hucard%20Transfer%20Software%20%28Source%29.zip

Hope this helps!

[_Paul]

You're awesome.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I thought they already had programs like this on the NeoFlash page, lol.

Or maybe I am hallucinating.

[ConHuevos]

I thought they already had programs like this on the NeoFlash page, lol.

Or maybe I am hallucinating.

No idea...never go there .  This also didn't take very long to make.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Agreed.  I just could have sworn there were some already.

To be fair here, it's hard to even check, because NeoFlash's site structure is a mess and you can never find the most recent crap. 

[spenoza]

In all honesty, I'd rather have more than one tool to solve a problem floating around anyway, especially since this new one is basically generated within this community and should be easy to change or adjust if needed.

[burn_654]

With the combination of ConHuevos's tool and the Hucard flasher things are working brilliantly for me, Win 7 x64
My system is a region switch modded PCE-Duo.

The first game I tested, Ninja Gaiden (j) worked just fine after a header removal. Although strangely, in the 'American' mode of the switch. Perhaps my rom was encrypted to run on American consoles? (for instance I use this mode of the switch to play the english ver. of Military Madness) I've done the internal pin-lift as well.

Regardless it seems to be working well for me, very easy to use! Cheers!


P.S. If at all possible I'd make a popup/note after it's finished flashing that it's safe to unplug the card...I figured it out after the Transmission bar was full but it'd be nice to have the reassurance.

[ConHuevos]

Which switch didn't work? Pretty sure I tested that game specifically with the removed header and it worked fine.  This was from the 'Good' set of roms.  Since those are the only roms for the duo that I have that contain headers.  People should really be looking for the no-intro set when they get ROMS though, they contain no headers.

[burn_654]

Apologies, I meant the American position of my physical mod switch.
I have a japanese console.
Ninja Gaiden was burned after removing the header with ConHuevos' tool (fairly sure mine is from a GoodSet), but only works when the physical console switch is in the American position.

It works, it's just odd.

[_Paul]

Would it be possible to have the software detect what country the ROM is for and display that?

[ConHuevos]

Sure, but it would only work if the region protection is on every single USA game.  The roms contain no region information, but only the USA roms have the region protection.

EDIT:

Just thought about this...if you modified the region protection, the next time you load the rom there would be no way to tell it's not a USA rom with the protection removed....So I guess this wouldn't be practical.

[gameofyou]

P.S. If at all possible I'd make a popup/note after it's finished flashing that it's safe to unplug the card...I figured it out after the Transmission bar was full but it'd be nice to have the reassurance.

There is a popup, after download is complete.  Does it not come up on your system?
 

[gameofyou]

Apologies, I meant the American position of my physical mod switch.
I have a japanese console.
Ninja Gaiden was burned after removing the header with ConHuevos' tool (fairly sure mine is from a GoodSet), but only works when the physical console switch is in the American position.

It works, it's just odd.

This is something I'm still trying to figure out also.  My instructions for the 'Bit swapping checkbox' may be wrong.  I'm starting to think that the box needs checked if you are playing on a JPN system (regardless of whether it is a USA game or not).
 
Hopefully, we can come to a concensus on this as people report back what they are finding on their systems.

[ccovell]

Perhaps obviously, the wiring of the flash on the Card is set up the same as the US-style card?  Thus the contents of the flash are of course NOT bit-swapped, but since the data lines are US-style on the card (I presume) the game will appear bit-swapped on a JP console.  That's my guess.

gameofyou, first of all, what data line wiring did you use to the Hu connector, US-style, or JP-style?

[gameofyou]

This is the HuCard pinout that I used.  I could never find clear confirmation if this was the Turbografx or PC-Engine.  I believe, based on the results, that it must be a USA pinout.
 
http://www.gamingenterprisesinc.com/temp/HuCard_Schematic_V01.pdf
 
So does that mean the bits need to be flipped for both USA and JPN games on a PC-Engine?  It appears so.

[thesteve]

lol
it means all the roms tried are US mode.
the swap check box works perfect

[thesteve]

wahhh
i cant run the converter (dotNET4 not an option)

[ConHuevos]

can you use .NET 3.5?

I can compile in VS2008 if so.

[thesteve]

i run win2k
2.0 i think

[ConHuevos]

i run win2k
2.0 i think

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjeagm0juugkx8v/Hucard%20Rom%20Converter%20.NET%202.0%20.zip

Try that.

[cabbage]

steve- you could just use ucon64 for region-patching. it's open source and well-ported. nice tool worth having in this hobby.

[thesteve]

i run win2k
2.0 i think

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjeagm0juugkx8v/Hucard%20Rom%20Converter%20.NET%202.0%20.zip

Try that.

that works

[thesteve]

didnt work on neutopia......worked when bitflipped

[ccovell]

This is the HuCard pinout that I used.  I could never find clear confirmation if this was the Turbografx or PC-Engine.  I believe, based on the results, that it must be a USA pinout.
So does that mean the bits need to be flipped for both USA and JPN games on a PC-Engine?  It appears so.

Confirmed, your pinout is the US-style pinout.  You can see both pinouts here:  http://wiki.pcengine.info/pmwiki.php?n=HuCard.HuCardPinout

US/JP games do not matter; The ROM data should, ideally, be unscrambled, even for US ROMs (makes hacking, HES ripping, etc easier).  With unscrambled ROMs on a US Turbografx, users will not have to do any bit-swapping, right, since the Flash chip->pinout is what the US Turbo expects.

The PC-Engine expects the reverse bit order, so us PCE users will have to swap the bits every time.

This is probably what sets apart your flash card from all previous ones: Tototek, etc cards were developed to run on PCE hardware primarily.  Yours is expecting Turbo hardware.  It's up to you to say whether that's a good thing or bad.  ;-)

[spenoza]

It's up to you to say whether that's a good thing or bad.  ;-)

Considering how easy this is to fix I'm not sure good or bad comes into play.

[ConHuevos]

Glad that's figured out.  So basically we'll just have the change the description to that option depending on the system you're going to run the ROM off of, not the ROM itself.  Right?

[gameofyou]

Glad that's figured out.  So basically we'll just have the change the description to that option depending on the system you're going to run the ROM off of, not the ROM itself.  Right?

It seems like this is the case.  Thanks everyone for the input.  I will modify my instructions, to make it more clear for people.

[gameofyou]

By the way, ConHuevos, your converter tool is awesome.  I played around with it last night.  This will make it a LOT easier for people to get up and running with commercial games.  I have added a link to it from my website.

[burn_654]

Just wanted to say I've been enjoying your flash hucard quite a bit! Been running US and Japanese roms (and some homebrew tests) successfully!

All this is in the 'US' position of my mod switch, strangely, but that doesn't bother me. The aforementioned clarity of what options should be set for what console would help that out I would think. Maybe a wizard/option at the launch of the program? "What region console are you using?"

Oh! The message stating that the flash finished did show up - it must have been a fluke that first time.

[thesteve]

for the most part i have been able to use any rom as US or JAP mode
the exception is neutopia, which didnt work in either till i checked bit flip.
then it worked in US mode

[ConHuevos]

for the most part i have been able to use any rom as US or JAP mode
the exception is neutopia, which didnt work in either till i checked bit flip.
then it worked in US mode

Region protection wasn't removed perhaps?

[thesteve]

for the most part i have been able to use any rom as US or JAP mode
the exception is neutopia, which didnt work in either till i checked bit flip.
then it worked in US mode

Region protection wasn't removed perhaps?

wouldnt matter, as pin29 is grounded

[gameofyou]

Just wanted to say I've been enjoying your flash hucard quite a bit! Been running US and Japanese roms (and some homebrew tests) successfully!

All this is in the 'US' position of my mod switch, strangely, but that doesn't bother me. The aforementioned clarity of what options should be set for what console would help that out I would think. Maybe a wizard/option at the launch of the program? "What region console are you using?"

Oh! The message stating that the flash finished did show up - it must have been a fluke that first time.

Awesome!  Thanks for the feedback!  I'm glad you are up and running.
 
Now that I have completed the build of the first 48 boards, I am actually getting to play around with the card, myself.  I was finally able to try out Bloody Wolf & it is awesome.  It has been on my purchase list for a long time, but the JPN version is surprisingly difficult to track down.  I will definately be buying it, when I find one.

[owen2471]

i have tried several roms. they seem to transfer fine. but when inserted into my pc engine i just get a pale blue screen.

[thesteve]

bit flip them

[esteban]

Well, in the past two months this project has reached fruition! Yet one more thing to try and budget for...

gameofyou: how many Flash HuCards do you have left? Thanks in advance...

[gameofyou]

Well, in the past two months this project has reached fruition! Yet one more thing to try and budget for...

gameofyou: how many Flash HuCards do you have left? Thanks in advance...

I still have about 10 left from this first batch.  I'm not sure when I'll get time to make more, but I will make some more to keep on hand, when these sell out.
 
Also, I have made a very small update to the PC software.  The text-tip for the checkbox is changed to be less confusing.  Also, there is text stating when it is safe to disconnect the HuCard from USB (after download is complete).  For people that have already installed the original version, you can just copy the new "HuCard_8M.exe" over the original one.

[esteban]

Well, in the past two months this project has reached fruition! Yet one more thing to try and budget for...

gameofyou: how many Flash HuCards do you have left? Thanks in advance...

I still have about 10 left from this first batch.  I'm not sure when I'll get time to make more, but I will make some more to keep on hand, when these sell out.
 
Also, I have made a very small update to the PC software.  The text-tip for the checkbox is changed to be less confusing.  Also, there is text stating when it is safe to disconnect the HuCard from USB (after download is complete).  For people that have already installed the original version, you can just copy the new "HuCard_8M.exe" over the original one.

Thank you for the prompt response. 

[Dreamstate]

Thanks for everyone's hard work on this stuff.  Facinating to read through.