To NanoTeam and Drummaster

[Meonlyeviler]

I just want to set the record straight about the the differences between Gpbios and Aquafishes Multi Firmware and Gpbios, because obviously the last thread never did this.

Aquafish 4.8 Multifirmware
---------------------------------
+ Pacrom, Euro FW, smc recovery, and Windups or Yafl built in
+ Password Protection
+ Menu with background
+ Faster loading time of built in programs and firmwares
+ One button Access to built in programs and firmwares
- No one button access for non-built in programs and firmwares without new flash
- Need tools to change most aspects of the boot.ini
- pclink and gpdrive not built in


Gpbios
-------------------------------
+ First time flashers are presented with original firmware at first
+ setup to run any programs and firmwares you want without any fancy programs, just rename files
+ PClink and GPdrive built in, access with L or R
+ Sexy Website
+ GPbios allows you to use new updates without reflashing
- no firmwares or smc tools built in
- no password protection
- non built in programs load a little bit slower when launching off of smc
- Menu (+ in my opinion)


As you can see, Gpbios is actually better in some ways, IMO I prefer Gpbios, because it actually is the last time I'll ever NEED to reflash, unless of course the make an update, that I'm all for. Thats just me though, some people may prefer a program that comes with a nice menu and password protection. Either way, its your choice and neither one is better(or makes the other useless) than the other.

 

[dgnadt]

Well stated. Those are the same reasons I prefer GPbios.

 

[reeced]

Nice and Clear - Thanks
Must admit, I stayed away from flashing up to now, but having read the very clear info on the GPBios site, I decided to give it a try - and it's great - e.g. I ve got Lazy Reader as the default boot on one SMC, and because Lazy Reader has an autostart function, when I switch on the GP32, I get the page I was reading last - just like a real book !

 

[PinkSpider]

I have Spivs MFW. It came with my gp32 (gbax) and I aint gonna risk flashing

Anyways it does everything I want it to do, I use pacrom 99% of the time and its fast and easy

But both of the above fw's sound good ^_^

edit: because mr spivs is good doesent mean aquafish's is uselss or gpbios . Its good to have alternatives. B)

 

[Tobriand]

Yeah, I'm a multi-fw 2 person also, for the moment. I'll probably switch to something else once there's something better than Pacrom out there; like something as easy and fast to use, with as many (and hopefully a few more) features, but possibly quite a bit more graphical pzazz .

Not going to happen for a while, though, methinks...

 

[Zap]

I found the best solution : make your own firmware (that's what I did) and you'll get everything you need/want

 

[MaDsk8tard]

GPBioS is very nice and cool for the gp32 because you can easily change your bios via your SMC^^
i'm using it and it's the best for me^^
so big thanks to nanoteam !

 

[thingley]

A fantastic Firmware - especially good for a first release

Anyone thats new to flashing can flash with this and try out some of the other multifirmwares by putting them on a card. I've tried spiv, aquafish and the euro firmware and they are all worth a go. (there isn't a BAD firmware out there!)

In the end tho' I'll stick with GPbios.

 

[Axeman]

I've reflashed with GPBios just an hour or so ago, and it's great to finally be able to properly try all these firmwares without reflashing all the time.

And gotta say - the Euro Bios certainly does look fancy

 

[lek]

Aquafish 4.8 Multifirmware
---------------------------------
- No one button access for non-built in programs and firmwares without new flash

Um, if I make 2 of Aqua's custom menu items:

"Custom firmware"
"Custom program"

and have them pointing to, say, gp://boot.bin, and gp://gpmm/app.fxe respectively, then surely I gain the same ability that GPBios offers?

All I would have to do is replace boot.bin on the SMC whenever I wanted, then select the "Custom firmware" option I'd added to Aqua's firmware.

Or replace the app.fxe with the (renamed) program that I wanted to run, then select the "Custom program" option.

Surely this would give the same functionality as GPBios? So in fact Aqua's FW does allow access to non-built in programs without requiring a new flash. Its just how you set it up that matters. Am I right?

 

[lizard808uk]

yeh I have Aqua FW booting Spiv's MultiFW2 with GP cinema on it (the one you pay for)

 

[PinkSpider]

Stop tempting me.. Ill fuck it up. Wants to try it but I know something will go wrong... ill be drunk and throw gp32 at wall or something.

 

[Hooka]

PinkSpider, just be sure to put in new batteries and put fw.fxe in gp:/gpmm and the bios rename it to fw.bin and put it in gp:/ and all you have to do is hit the buttons it says to and wait for it to tell you to reboot your gp32 (once the blue bar is finished it'll say it on the bottom)

But if you don't feel comfortable doing it then don't! MultiFW2 by Mr. Spiv is an excellent multifirmware! if you make it autoboot to pacrom you can set it ot autoboot any program you want from pacrom

 

[Dozer]

I still prefer aquas firmware. You can boot another firmware, the .bin file as a default on that as well. You can also just edit a txt file to change which file's you want to be able to auto boot. GPBios is good, and nice as an alternative, especially with the built in gpdrive. But you could have that as a boot option in aquas firmware anyway. Also, you don't *have* to have the password protection on aquas. I dont . I think gpbios is basically a slimmer version of aquafishes firmware. Better suited for newbies.

Thats my oppinion anyway.

 

[Meonlyeviler]

Aquafish 4.8 Multifirmware
---------------------------------
- No one button access for non-built in programs and firmwares without new flash

Um, if I make 2 of Aqua's custom menu items:

"Custom firmware"
"Custom program"

and have them pointing to, say, gp://boot.bin, and gp://gpmm/app.fxe respectively, then surely I gain the same ability that GPBios offers?

All I would have to do is replace boot.bin on the SMC whenever I wanted, then select the "Custom firmware" option I'd added to Aqua's firmware.

Or replace the app.fxe with the (renamed) program that I wanted to run, then select the "Custom program" option.

Surely this would give the same functionality as GPBios? So in fact Aqua's FW does allow access to non-built in programs without requiring a new flash. Its just how you set it up that matters. Am I right?

I'd like to start by saying that is pretty confusing for most people, but anyway. If you do that you have to redo the boot.ini each time you want to switch from having the custom options be a firmware or a program, and what button do you press when starting up to have it automatically launch one of these?

The main problem I have with Aqua's MFW is that you can't change the options very easily one the gp32 or with OS's other than Windows.

 

[reeced]

Aquafish 4.8 Multifirmware
---------------------------------
- No one button access for non-built in programs and firmwares without new flash

Um, if I make 2 of Aqua's custom menu items:

"Custom firmware"
"Custom program"

and have them pointing to, say, gp://boot.bin, and gp://gpmm/app.fxe respectively, then surely I gain the same ability that GPBios offers?

All I would have to do is replace boot.bin on the SMC whenever I wanted, then select the "Custom firmware" option I'd added to Aqua's firmware.

Or replace the app.fxe with the (renamed) program that I wanted to run, then select the "Custom program" option.

Surely this would give the same functionality as GPBios? So in fact Aqua's FW does allow access to non-built in programs without requiring a new flash. Its just how you set it up that matters. Am I right?

I don't think Meonlyeviler is arguing about the functionality of GPBios vs Aqua.
What's important is how you achieve that functionality. In fact with GPBios you can have a NO-BUTTON access to non-built in programs i.e. switch on your GP32 and your program is running.

 

[Dozer]

Aquafish 4.8 Multifirmware
---------------------------------
- No one button access for non-built in programs and firmwares without new flash

Um, if I make 2 of Aqua's custom menu items:

"Custom firmware"
"Custom program"

and have them pointing to, say, gp://boot.bin, and gp://gpmm/app.fxe respectively, then surely I gain the same ability that GPBios offers?

All I would have to do is replace boot.bin on the SMC whenever I wanted, then select the "Custom firmware" option I'd added to Aqua's firmware.

Or replace the app.fxe with the (renamed) program that I wanted to run, then select the "Custom program" option.

Surely this would give the same functionality as GPBios? So in fact Aqua's FW does allow access to non-built in programs without requiring a new flash. Its just how you set it up that matters. Am I right?

I don't think Meonlyeviler is arguing about the functionality of GPBios vs Aqua.
What's important is how you achieve that functionality. In fact with GPBios you can have a NO-BUTTON access to non-built in programs i.e. switch on your GP32 and your program is running.

You can do that in aquas too...

 

[lek]

I'd like to start by saying that is pretty confusing for most people, but anyway. If you do that you have to redo the boot.ini each time you want to switch from having the custom options be a firmware or a program, and what button do you press when starting up to have it automatically launch one of these?

The main problem I have with Aqua's MFW is that you can't change the options very easily one the gp32 or with OS's other than Windows.

Why do you have to redo the boot.ini?

Aqua firmware has 4 custom slots. 1 for a firmware, 3 for programs.

By having them all point to generic names on the SMC (as GPBios does), you can then just copy across a new firmware, etc, renamed to "boot.bin" (for example), just like you have to do with GPBios. In terms of automatically launching one of them, well thats why Aqua's FW presents you with a menu. You then get a choice of up to 4 customized options (boot.bin, app1.fxe, app2.fxe, app3.fxe, for example).

Just copy across (renamed) FW and apps (as with GPBios), no need to alter the boot.ini again. It may not be as quick as just holding down a button, but it gives you a wider choice of custom launch options. Also having PacRom, Euro FW, and Windups built into the BIOS saves space on SMC's, no need to copy them across to try out.

Only having a Windows boot configurator is a problem, somone could make a boot.ini as above for people to download though.

 

[Meonlyeviler]

I said you have to redo the boot.ini in order to switch a custom slot from a firmware to a program, Gpbios does this automatically. It also seems like this makes gpbios have more custom firmware slots.

 

[Drumaster]

Hello! (oh no, not Drumaster... )

As you can see, Gpbios is actually better in some ways, IMO I prefer Gpbios, because it actually is the last time I'll ever NEED to reflash, unless of course the make an update, that I'm all for. Thats just me though, some people may prefer a program that comes with a nice menu and password protection. Either way, its your choice and neither one is better(or makes the other useless) than the other.

With Aqua fw, no need to reflash too, except for update (as GPBios).
I don't really see the advantages of GPBios because with Aqua fw you can boot on .fxe or .bin too without reflashing, so please explain clearly to me (in a simple english 'cause I'm french ) : what are the advantages of GPBios (please this time don't see any offense in my words, it's a serious question)?