Neo PC-E Flash Card Help

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 11:02 AM

First post! I just wish it wasn't a request for help.

I have a Neo PC-E Flash Card for my TurboDuo (One of these: http://www.neoflash.com/img/PC-E-new_1.jpg), but I can't quite figure out how to get it to work. I finally got the software that came with it installed and working (which wasn't easy) and I can write to the card, but I get nothing when I try to use it on my Turbo-Duo. I've tried it through my Kisado adapter just in case it was actually in PC-Engine format, but still nothing. I've tried both US and JPN roms. I also tried it on my Turbo Express just to make sure, and I get the same blank blue/gray screen.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I installed the kit, then I ran the USB writing system. I selected PCE as the writing style (only choice), added the rom (I've tried both TG16 and PCE format), then select write. The program said it wrote it to the card successfully but it doesn't work when I try it out. If it makes a difference the two roms I'm using for testing are Darkwing Duck (US) and Bomberman 94 (JPN). Both are good and work in the emulator.

I'm doing this all in Windows XP (via dual booting), but my main OS is now Windows 7 64-bit. Does this software work on Windows 7 64-bit?

Oh and if this isn't the correct forum for this I apologize in advance.

Tempest

NecroPhile · 03/04/2010, 11:31 AM

Welcome aboard, Tempest. Sorry you're having troubles with your flash cart, but hopefully you'll soon get 'er up and running.

Have you tried cleaning the Turbo end's contacts? It's somewhat common for them to be dirty/corroded and in need of a good scrubbing (mine did), so have a go at 'em with some Deoxit (or similar product) or rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. An eraser might also get the job done. Good luck.

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 11:44 AM

The Duo seems to work just fine with games, so I don't think it's the contacts on the board. I generally keep the little lid down and it was new when I got it (TurboZone NOS).

Tempest

NecroPhile · 03/04/2010, 11:51 AM

I meant the contacts on the flash cart. The contacts on the slim loader side of the cart are likely fine, else it would've spit out an error when writing, but the contacts on the Turbo side of the cart might be dirty.

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 12:14 PM

It was brand new when I got it so I doubt it, but I'll check.

Tempest

kattare · 03/04/2010, 02:14 PM

Hate to say it, knowing where these things ship from and how much you probably paid for it, but it could just be DoA on the HuCard side...

Arkhan Asylum · 03/04/2010, 02:48 PM

did you test and make sure the kisado is working too? maybe it needs a little cleaning also?

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 02:51 PM

The Kisado works, I know that. I suppose it could be DoA, but the tool says it's programming. Who the heck knows?

Arkhan Asylum · 03/04/2010, 02:53 PM

look at the connectors very carefully. see if any look like they dont look like the other ones. Mighta just got a dud.

which would suck since those things aren't cheap.

offsidewing · 03/04/2010, 07:05 PM

So, uh, pardon the up coming ignorant question (first week back since a three year hiatus) but what is a Neo PC-E Flash card? Do you load roms onto it, slap it into your Duo, and play them?

I'm not rocket surgeon or brain scientist, but you have to operate that thing through a Kisiado adapter to get it to work on a US system? Yikes.

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 07:34 PM

Quote from: offsidewing on 03/04/2010, 07:05 PMSo, uh, pardon the up coming ignorant question (first week back since a three year hiatus) but what is a Neo PC-E Flash card? Do you load roms onto it, slap it into your Duo, and play them?

Yep that's pretty much it.

Quote from: offsidewing on 03/04/2010, 07:05 PMI'm not rocket surgeon or brain scientist, but you have to operate that thing through a Kisiado adapter to get it to work on a US system? Yikes.

No actually, not unless you're playing JPN games from the flash cart. I've tried it both ways just in case I was wrong though.

Tempest

Arkhan Asylum · 03/04/2010, 08:16 PM

Quote from: offsidewing on 03/04/2010, 07:05 PMSo, uh, pardon the up coming ignorant question (first week back since a three year hiatus) but what is a Neo PC-E Flash card? Do you load roms onto it, slap it into your Duo, and play them?

I'm not rocket surgeon or brain scientist, but you have to operate that thing through a Kisiado adapter to get it to work on a US system? Yikes.

http://www.ic2005.com/shop/product.php?productid=107&cat=0&page=1

Is one of these.

It sounds like either the roms youre writing are dodgy, or you got a dud card. Do the roms work in mednafen/ootake?

nat · 03/04/2010, 08:52 PM

The ROMs being "dodgy" won't have any effect on the actual operation of the cart: he should still get the menu screen when he boots it up on his console.

Sounds to me like a DOA cart.

Tempest · 03/04/2010, 08:57 PM

Could be. I looked at the pins and they all seem ok. What I really need to do is find someone who has a working cart and have them try and program mine. It could all be that the software isn't working right for me (the software is almost impossible to install and figure out).

Tempest

Arkhan Asylum · 03/05/2010, 03:41 AM

Quote from: nat on 03/04/2010, 08:52 PMThe ROMs being "dodgy" won't have any effect on the actual operation of the cart: he should still get the menu screen when he boots it up on his console.

Sounds to me like a DOA cart.

oh.

I thought he was getting to the menu at least and it was gimping at load-rom-stage.

If the menu isn't loading even, its definitely broken. I mean all the software does is writes to the flashrom. The boot menu should come up either way.

Gogan · 03/05/2010, 09:20 AM

Can this card cause any type of damage to your system?

I know some cdrs aren't good for it, just wondering about playing roms through the hucard...

Tempest · 03/05/2010, 09:36 AM

Ok so even if the roms are bad and not programming right I should be getting some sort of menu when I plug it in? Crap. No way to fix it either I suppose? Oh well, I did get it for about half price so it's not as big a loss.

I guess I should get another one. What brand/type is recommended? Is this still the only one on the market?

Tempest

unclebugspayton · 03/05/2010, 09:38 AM

Were can you buy a flash card? also is it good for one game or muti-games?

NecroPhile · 03/05/2010, 11:56 AM

Quote from: Gogan on 03/05/2010, 09:20 AMCan this card cause any type of damage to your system?

Maybe if it were damaged and causing a short across the pins, but not really otherwise.

Quote from: Tempest on 03/05/2010, 09:36 AMIs this still the only one on the market?

Besides the three different Neo Power cards, Tototek also makes one, though I can't really recommend it. It only has 32mb of memory and is rather primitive in comparison, both in looks and design (it uses a parallel port instead of USB). On the plus side, it is cheaper and has a cheat function, but winners never cheat and cheaters never win.

Quote from: unclebugspayton on 03/05/2010, 09:38 AMWere can you buy a flash card?

Get 'em here.

Quote from: unclebugspayton on 03/05/2010, 09:38 AMalso is it good for one game or muti-games?

They'll hold up to 63 games, though realistically far fewer due to file sizes.

unclebugspayton · 03/05/2010, 01:56 PM

sorry one more question will the flash card work with my imac? Thanks

nat · 03/05/2010, 08:30 PM

Only if you install Windows either in a Boot Camp, Parallels or similar situation. I have a Mac, and I have to load the flash cart through a Parallels WindowsXP installation. The hardware is definitely compatible with a Mac (as long as the Mac has a USB port), but sadly the drivers/software is not compatible with the Mac OS directly.