Wiped Smc?

[Tonkenna]

Hi all.

I just got a GP32, and a couple of 128Mb SMCs. After a bit of fannying around, I got many games working, including DOOM, and CaSTaway, which is brilliant. I was a bit worried that the ST versions wouldn't be as good as the Amiga 500 versions, but in the main they're excellent, except for the sound. It is great to play Nitro and Speedball again.

However, the batteries ran out, and it took me a couple of days to replace them. When I did, and restarted the GP32, there was nothing on the SMC! I checked it on my PC card reader, and it's all gone.

I replaced the files on the SMC as before, but now the GP32 still thinks the card is empty. So I reformatted the SMC, but no luck. When I formatted the card (on an XP SP2 machine) I was only given the option of FAT32 or FAT. I chose FAT, as I assume that is the closer to FAT12 (which is what it has to be, right?).

Still no luck, the GP32 won't recognise any of my blank SMCs. The commercial Dungeons & Guarder still works, unfortunately, because it's a pants game, but at least it means that the GP32 isn't broken.

Has anyone had this happen before? Or does anyone have any ideas?

Cheers,

Phil

 

[aapje89]

use the format option in the slubmans firmware

 

[Quiest]

Or pacrom.

 

[Squidge]

Yup, never use the format command in windows, as the gp32 doesn't recognise such a format - you should only ever use the format command in the gp32's bios.

 

[shaddupayourface]

not wishing to contradict anyone....but i've always formatted SMCs directly under XP prof. cheapo card reader (writer) that cost 8 quid.

never had any probs

 

[Drag]

I used PC-Link (the official Gamepark thingy) to format my SMC.

This is very odd, I have no idea why your SMC blanked out. I've taken my batteries out numerous times, and the SMC never got blanked out.

Did you take a magnet to your gp32?

 

[trooper]

I used PC-Link (the official Gamepark thingy) to format my SMC.

This is very odd, I have no idea why your SMC blanked out. I've taken my batteries out numerous times, and the SMC never got blanked out.

Did you take a magnet to your gp32?

​

Flash media, Eg. CF cards, SD cards, SMC`s etc are not affected at all by magnetic fields, So that would not be a problem.

Trooper

 

[Julius]

Since I started to use a smc cardreader, my smcs started to act strangely... sometimes parts of the data or the complete data gets lost, and all I can do to get the space back is to reformat with the PC-link software.

So in other words, I am back to using the slow PC-link software only... but you could try the GPDRIVE programm for your GP32... it probably works too.

 

[Tonkenna]

Thanks for the replies, chaps.

a) I managed to get PC-link working once, and only for long enough to put Pinball Dreams on the SMC.
b) I never managed to get my GP32 registered via the official site - it just didn't work. But the online faqs about the place say that registration, and the freelauncher aren't neccessary on the newer GP32s (like wot I have got)
c) I used an SMC card reader to put most of the files on the SMC. That SMC came with the GP32 (both bought from ebay), and was already formatted.
d) I only mentioned the batteries running out because that was when the SMC committed hari kiri. I'd be extremely surprised if it was the reason.
e) None of the kit was subjected to anything worse than sitting on the floor next to my bed.
f) How do I get the slubman (or pacrom) firmware (or in fact, anything at all) onto my GP32 without being able to format SMCs correctly, given that my PC-link isn't working?
g) What is GPDrive?

I think f) is the most important right now.......

Cheers

Phil

 

[fitzsteve]

Hi, I had the same problem when I first got my GP32 i formatted with win xp then the smc was unreadable, I wasnt even able to format with the pc link it just couldnt see the smc.

However when I formatted the smc on my laptop under win me it worked fine after that.

(i used a normal card reader)

Format with win 98 or ME and it will work again.

Steve.

 

[Drag]

From what I'm able to gather, windows likes to format SMCs with Fat32 or Fat16 or stuff. The GP32 uses Fat12, so you should probably format with Fat12, because Fat could mean Fat16. I'm pretty sure that the GP32's PC-Link program (on the GP32 itself) has an option to format SMCs. I have the Korean firmware, and it says "Press SELECT to recover SMC" whenever I have the USB disconnected, or the SMC removed.

By the way, what's the difference between those numbers?
And why is it called Fat? It's probably an acronym.

Edit:
B) If you have a BLU, I think it comes with a program launcher built-in, so no registration required.
d) I doubt that was the reason your SMC messed up. Well, unless the batteries quit while a program was reading/writing to the SMC. Makes sense, because game consoles with memory cards always tell you not to remove the memory card or turn off the power while the game is being saved or loaded from it.
e) I always keep my gp32 in the carrying case on my side table when not in use.
f) The only option I see is if you download the actual firmware (instead of the fxe), and use a J-TAG cable to flash the bios. Just go onto google and search for gp32 and jtag and you'll find a site, because I don't remember the URL.
g) GPDrive is a FXE. When you run it, connect the usb to the computer, and the computer will think it's just a standard removable drive, so you use windows explorer to transfer the files. I think it only works with XP though.