Sega Saturn Cartridge Firmware Flasher - readme
By cafe-alpha --- http://ppcenter.webou.net/pskai/
Made from USB dev cart flasher utility by antime.
Last updated : 2015/10/05


Description :
This utility allows to flash your Saturn cartridge with
Pseudo Saturn or Action Replay/Game Shark/etc firmwares.
As a bonus, some save data are included with some firmwares.


Some useful links :
Pseudo Saturn sources :
 - https://github.com/cyberwarriorx/pseudosaturn
 - https://github.com/cyberwarriorx/iapetus
Latest Flasher utility :
 - http://ppcenter.webou.net/pskai/


How to change/restore firmware :
 1.  Burn flasher_ARP.iso contents to CD-R.
 2.  Turn your Saturn OFF.
 3.  Plug cartridge into your Saturn.
 4.  Insert flasher CD-R into your Saturn.
 5.  Turn your Saturn ON.
 6a. From multiplayer screen, push on "load CDROM" (top left) icon.
    (Memory Cart Plus only)
 6b. Start game from Action Replay menu.
    (Action Replay / Game Shark only)
 7.  Follow instructions displayed on screen.


Extra : Flash vendor/device IDs are shown at the top of the screen in order
to indicate if your cartridge is correctly inserted or not in its slot.
Basically, if vendor/device display is green, you have high chances that
cartridge erase/flash ends successfully. And if vendor/device display is yellow
or red, please slightly move your cartridge in its slot until display becomes green.
You can do this "cartridge slightly move" operation when firmware selection menu is displaying.
Note : "slighlty" = 1-2mm, nothing more.
       You don't need to remove/insert your cartridge. It's not a NES game cartridge :D


Remark 1 :
Even if the cartridge is displayed as detected, it doesn't guarantee that
erase/flash process will end successfully.
If erase/write failure happen, please slightly move your cartridge in its 
slot and retry to flash until "Write Verification Success" is displayed
after flashing.


Remark 2 :
Flashing your Saturn cartridge will erase all the data on it, including your external 
backup data managed by Action Replay / Memory Cart Plus / Game Shark firmwares, 
so use only after saving external backup data to Saturn internal memory.


Remark 3 :
Some firmwares are designed to work only with specific flash chips, so they
probably won't function correctly on other cartridges.


Test Report :
 - cafe-alpha BFBF/0707 SST29EE010 "Write Verification Success" (v3.745)
 - TabajaraLabs 0101/2020 AM29F010 "Write Verification Success" (v3.745)
 - A Murder of Crows 53BF/4707 Mix of counterfeit/SST29EE010 chips ? "Write Verification Success" (v3.746)
 - nastyvandal 5345/4741 SST29EE010 counterfeit ? "Write Verification Success"(3.746)
 - Bruno BFBF/1010 SST29EE020 "Write Verification Success" (v3.751)
 - Zorlon : BFBF/1010 SST29EE020 "Write Verification Success" (v3.751)
 - A Murder of Crows 0101/2020 AM29F010 "Write Verification Success" (v3.747)
 - A Murder of Crows : 1F1F/D5D5 AT29C010 "Write Verification Success" (3.751)
 - cafe-alpha BFBF/0808 SST29LE010 (GameShark) "Write Verification Success" (v3.750)
 - Sonic Dreamcaster 1F1F/D5 AT29C010 "Write Verification Success" (v3.751)
 - Bruno 53BF/4707 SST29EE010 "Write Verification Success" (v3.751)


Changelog :
 2015/10/05 (V4.725) :
 - Added Pseudo Saturn 0.830, 0.832, 0.832 (no logo) firmwares.
 - Added Pseudo Saturn sources in .iso file (FW\PS_SRC.7Z file).
 - Removed USB dev cart firmware, in order to reduce executable file size.
 - Cosmetic changes in firmware selection menu.
 - Tested on real hardware (Thank you Zorlon and A Murder of Crows !).
 2015/09/15 (V4.629) :
 - Allow 3D pad usage (untested).
 2015/08/20 (V4.338) :
  - Added Pseudo Saturn 0.832 firmware.
  - Added Test Report.
 2015/03/26 (V3.777) :
  - Tested on around 30 Action Replay cartridges. It was working fine for all known flash chips.
  - Ask for confirmation before returning to multiplayer screen.
  - Return back to initial screen in the case user don't want to go to multiplayer screen.
  - Retrieve and display chips IDs when firmware selection menu is displaying.
  - Fixed erase/flash operations for AT29C010 flash chips.
  - Minor fix about text display.
  - Fix for BFBF/1010 flash chips.
  - In the case Action Replay flash chips is supected, display disclaimer
    before flashing as a typical Action Replay flash device (SST29EE).
  - Refresh vendor/device IDs display during error/disclaimer message display
    in the case flash is not recognized.
  - Major changes in menu related routines.
  - Added key auto repeat feature : holding Up/Down button should scroll automatically now.
  - Added erase verification test.
  - If erase/write verification test failed, display informations about failure.
  - Use FRT-based delay during flash write/erase.
  - Changed highlight color in menus.
  - Change color of vendor/device strings according to chips flashability.
     - Hopeless   : red
     - Maybe OK   : yellow
     - Recognized : green
 2014/09/02 (V3.416) :
  - Added support for SST29LE010 flash chip.
  - Added memory verify after flashing.
  - Fixed erase/write operations AM29F010 flash chip.
  - On startup, inform user that 3D pad and multitap pad are not supported.
 2014/08/24 (V3.324) :
  - First public release.
 2014/08/22 :
  - Changed title colors.
  - Various text positions fix.
  - Added USB dev cart firmware (can't flash on Action Replay).
  - Added erase progress display for BFBF/1010 flash chips.
 2014/08/20 :
  - First beta release.


Thanks :
 - Sonic Dreamcaster for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - nastyvandal for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - Zorlon for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - SatunrAR for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - A Murder of Crows for beta testing and picture & videos while running on real HW.
 - TabajaraLabs for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - gameofyou1 for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - antime for original flasher utility and USB dev cart.
 - CyberWarriorX for Pseudo Saturn firmware.
 - r1cola for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - Zorlon for beta testing, feature addition suggestion, and videos while running on real HW.
 - dgist71 for beta testing and picture while running on real HW.
 - XeCuTioNR for beta testing and video & picture while running on real HW.
 - Darius for his Action Replay full of save data.
 - Sega and Datel.


Disclaimer :
I'm not responsible of damages that this utility may cause to your game save data, Saturn cartridge or Saturn itself.
Please do eveything at your own risk !

