Problem With Original Gp32

[DreamWeb77]

Sorry if this problem has already been addressed before, but I've already searched through the older topics with no luck. I bought a used GP32(the original one without a front/back light). It works, but it has some weird problems. :huh:

I've installed a version of Free Launcher that's from #gp32. It shows up when I press "Game" on the main menu, then it loads, but suddenly this error message keeps flashing that says "SMC..." plus some Korean text. When I remove the SMC card, the message stops flashing, but it still remains.

What's wrong with the GP32? Am I doing something wrong here or what? I've already bought two SMC cards that show the same problem. Whenever I try to format them using the GP32 manager, you can see a progress bar on the GP32 screen for a while, but then as it starts to format, I get an error message. My PC can detect the GP32, but, it can't do anything else.

Help! Have I been ripped off with a defective unit, or what?

 

[TelcoLou]

Hmmmm, this should be in the "I need Help" forums, but I'll give it a go anyway ...

Did you press the A button after seeing this msg with the Korean characters? I had a FLU with freelauncher, and as I recall, it's just a pop-up message that says "don't pirate any games" .... or something like that.

 

[spaceboygp32x]

Hmmmm at this should be in the "I need Help" forums, but I'll give it a go anyway ...

Did you press the A button after seeing this msg with the Korean characters? I had a FLU with freelauncher, and as I recall, it's just a pop-up message that says "don't pirate any games" .... or something like that.

​

sounds like the cards have lost their format!

make sure you have your freelauncher backed up!!

format the cards in wIN 98 (not xp) with a card reader - then reformat in manager

that should sort it

 

[DreamWeb77]

Hmmmm at this should be in the "I need Help" forums, but I'll give it a go anyway ...

Yikes! Sorry about that. Total n00b here. :rolleyes: Mods, if you see this, please move it to the right forum.

sounds like the cards have lost their format!

make sure you have your freelauncher backed up!!

format the cards in wIN 98 (not xp) with a card reader - then reformat in manager

that should sort it

​

Windows 98? But all my systems are Windows XP. You mean format the SMC to FAT 12? I've done that with a card reader utility, and at the very least, the GP32 can read the SMC I have. The built-in MP3 player plays fine, and the Free Loader application is detected and runs, until that annoying "SMC..." message blinks again and again. What's wrong?! I can't run any FXE files without Free Loader, right?

 

[Hooka]

did you put the .fxe files in the GPMM directory?

Or you could try going to pc-link without hooking up the usb cable and hitting select (i think) to check the smc.

 

[DreamWeb77]

Yes. Free Launcher is supposed to find them there, right? Anyway, here's a picture of Free Launcher showing up on my GP32.

But when I press start to run it, this error message pops up and keeps on flashing.

What's wrong with it? When hooked up to the PC(and I have tried all the other USB ports, and I've done this already on 3 different computers) GP32 Manager says the SMC card is unformatted, but when it tries to format, the "An error has occured..." message appears.

 

[GiG]

First of all update the firmware, you won't regret it!

Why is the SMC in the photo not completely inserted?

 

[DreamWeb77]

I'd love to, but how? Without Free Launcher, I'm stuck. The SMC card is not fully inserted because that's the only way to make the error message stop flashing.

 

[Doctor]

so its blinking, then you PULL the card out while the gp32 is ON?

You're a weird one Clark moron...

 

[DreamWeb77]

That error message just blinks indefinitely, no matter how long I leave the GP32 on. Removing the SMC card was the only way to get a picture of the error message. And, Doctor, I came here asking for help, not be insulted. So if you have nothing useful to add, then STFU. :angry:

 

[BaDToaD]

This may be stating the obvious but have you tried a different SMC?

 

[woogal]

so its blinking, then you PULL the card out while the gp32 is ON?

You're a weird one Clark moron...

​

Pulling the card out while the gp32 is on is perfectly safe, as long as nothing is being written to the card at the time. The official gpsdk even has code for detecting card changes and several apps support this. Do you think people completely power down their computers before removing an smc from a card reader?

 

[DreamWeb77]

Yes. I've bought and tried two already(one a Sandisk, the other unlabeled). In fact, this GP32 also came with another SMC card that has a sticker on it that says "Astonishia Story R", one of the commercial GP32 games, so this one should be working. Unfortunately, it was wiped clean when I got it.

 

[johncross85]

What about if you put an mp3 in the mp3 folder? Does the mp3 player see the file?

Alternatively, is this the 'cracked' version of freelauncher that you are using? If so, try downloading and registering the 'proper' version from Gamepark.

J(ohn)

 

[GiG]

Exactly, you can only try reinstalling the launcher, this should fix the problem.

 

[skeezix]

What happens when you run a free-launcher signed to a different device?

jeff

 

[Thyphoid]

What happens when you run a free-launcher signed to a different device?

Nothing - not booting, no message.

 

[DreamWeb77]

What about if you put an mp3 in the mp3 folder? Does the mp3 player see the file?

Yes it does. It can play MP3 files just fine.

Alternatively, is this the 'cracked' version of freelauncher that you are using? If so, try downloading and registering the 'proper' version from Gamepark.

J(ohn)

Yes, it's the cracked that I'm using. I have registered the GP32 on the English GP32 website and downloaded free loader there. But GP32 Manager always displays the "Error connecting..." messages whenever I try to do anything with it, be it install or format.

 

[spaceboygp32x]

What about if you put an mp3 in the mp3 folder? Does the mp3 player see the file?

Yes it does. It can play MP3 files just fine.

Alternatively, is this the 'cracked' version of freelauncher that you are using? If so, try downloading and registering the 'proper' version from Gamepark.

J(ohn)

Yes, it's the cracked that I'm using. I have registered the GP32 on the English GP32 website and downloaded free loader there. But GP32 Manager always displays the "Error connecting..." messages whenever I try to do anything with it, be it install or format.

​

theres the problem... cracked freelauncher not encoded properly!

honestly - win 98 format will sort the card out so that GP32manager connects!

then use your official freelauncher form the website...

Ive used formatting progs in xp and they dont work right! - Use 98!

h34r:

 

[johncross85]

Yeh, I've had trouble with XP and GP Manager too. I always thought it was the multi-firmware I'm running but my work around may work for the original firmware too. Try installing the 'proper' version of freelauncher then using this order:

1) Plus USB lead into PC (but not GP32)
2) Set GP32 to link mode
3) Plug USB into GP32
4) Start GP manager

J(ohn)