DARKSOFT CPS III Bios and CD Releases

[mikaeltarquin]

I really wish I knew what I am doing wrong. I refuse to believe this is this hard. I've been wicking and reseating for hours but every time I hit Detect, I just get the same "unknown" errors. I even checked continuity and from what I can tell, the adaptor pads and chip pins are lined up properly and making contact. I know @mathewbeall mentioned the voltage needs to be correct, and while I can't tell what the jumpers are supposed to do, I alternated each of them one at a time to see if that would change anything, but nada.

I'm really bad with solder wick, admittedly. I feel like it never does anything when I try it, and doesn't behave like how I see it in videos. I tried your method @Mitsurugi-w with pressing the iron into the wick on the table and sliding the chip into the braid, but I can't tell if it did much. Tried my best to get some closeups of the pins with the limited headmount optics I have, but I can't tell if they're bare metal or tinned with solder that I just can't remove. But to my eye they look clean and straight.

<Chip information>;
ID: 0x4_0x0_0x0_0xfedcfedc
Manufacturer: unknown
Part number: unknown

 

[mikaeltarquin]

Ok now I know I'm not crazy. Or at least not understanding something much more intrinsic to this process. I tried the SMT-NOR adapter instead of the one with the clamping cradle thing. Soldered, checked every connection for continuity and bridges, and placed the mysterious jumpers in the same spots as the non SMT one... And I get the same errors! How!?

 

[mathewbeall]

I haven't used that programmer, I used a flashcat, and a TopMaxII. My only question is if the proman supports that chip? I looked at this ad on ebay, and I don't see fujitsu as tested:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMan-Pro...y-NAND-FLASH-chip-data-recovery-/221826359924

Your pins on the chip look pristine.

Matt

 

[mikaeltarquin]

I haven't used that programmer, I used a flashcat, and a TopMaxII. My only question is if the proman supports that chip? I looked at this ad on ebay, and I don't see fujitsu as tested:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMan-Pro...y-NAND-FLASH-chip-data-recovery-/221826359924

Your pins on the chip look pristine.

Matt

Well that would certainly fall under "fundamental things I'm not understanding"! I was tempted to try the User Defined option in the software, but I held off because I was under the impression this programmer was specifically recommended for the CPS3 kit. I may have misunderstood that it was recommended for the Ultra SIMMs specifically, and not the BIOS as well.

 

[mathewbeall]

I think this is the issue - the programmer doesn't support this chip.

I just took a brand new chip - dropped it in my TopMaxII programmer and flashed it with an ultraBIOS.

I then took the same chip and dropped it in my proman and got the same messages as you - it doesn't know the chip:

<Chip information>;
ID: 0x4_0x0_0x0_0xfedcfedc
Manufacturer: unknown
Part number: unknown
1.Please make sure chip is placed will in socket.
Pin 1 is placed at the correct point.
2.Please make sure the jumpers (if exist) on the adaptor board are correct.
3.For unsupported part number, please use self-defined parameters.
4.If this is a NAND chip, please use software and adaptor board of NAND Flash.


Matt

 

[mathewbeall]

If you want @mikaeltarquin - mail me the flash chip and I can flash it for you. Cheaper than buying a new programmer. DM me.

And you are right - its the *only* way to program the SIMM's - but I haven't seen anyone say they used it to flash the BIOS.

Matt

 

[mikaeltarquin]

@mathewbeall got me all sorted out with the bios flashing, ultra simms are now fully operational! So awesome, and thanks for the huge help!

 

[Epyc]

@mathewbeall got me all sorted out with the bios flashing, ultra simms are now fully operational! So awesome, and thanks for the huge help!

What was issue? I may try flashing my own bios in the future but only have the proman and was hoping to use that.

 

[mathewbeall]

As far as I can tell - that chip isn't supported by the Proman. you can use the FlashCat XPORT with the TSOP-48 (NOR X16) adapter and it works fine.

Matt

 

[Darksoft]

As far as I can tell - that chip isn't supported by the Proman.

Im not sure if I tried myself in the past. It's possible that it can be programmed manually, without autodetect. Just telling the size of the chip.

 

[mikaeltarquin]

Im not sure if I tried myself in the past. It's possible that it can be programmed manually, without autodetect. Just telling the size of the chip.

I tried this, and even got it to say it succeeded and verified, but it didn't actually write anything (still had the old v1 bios screen showing).

 

[Darksoft]

No luck then.

 

[ShootTheCore]

As far as I can tell - that chip isn't supported by the Proman. you can use the FlashCat XPORT with the TSOP-48 (NOR X16) adapter and it works fine.

Matt

That's what I use to program them - the FlashCat. Never had any luck with the Proman with those - I use the Proman exclusively for the UltraSIMMs.

 

[nonosto]

hello, I have this message after few second game boot. is it normal ? I have an original drive and last ultrabios installed in my cart.
THX

 

[Darksoft]

No it's not normal. Which game is giving you this error? All of them? Only one? If you are using an original Drive, many things can happen. Those drives are 25+ years old.

 

[nonosto]

THX, yes will all games, tried with another mobo/simms and cable same issue. maybe cart? So i assume that 99% from cd drive.

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

My guess is your drive isn't accesing the data from the CD fast enough anymore.

 

[nonosto]

THX, fixable at your opinion?

 

[Mitsurugi-w]

Try burning a new CD first at slowest speed. If that doesn't work a new drive or better yet the SCSI2SD is in order.

 

[nonosto]

finally I reburn it with another burner and run perfectly.
THX