So, I was going over my dats, and I noticed one of my favorite games would come up with an error saying "No iNES header" in Nestopia. I did some searching on this forum, and found a thread that mentioned it. Now, I basically don't know much about dats and emulation in general. I just know I enjoy using No-Intro Dats. Anyway, so the following games were mentioned in the thread I referenced:
Addams Family, The - Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt (Europe)
- File has no iNES header
- Set to Mapper 1, 128K PRG/CHR, and PAL display
Adventures of Lolo (USA)
- File has no iNES header
- Set to Mapper 1, and 32K PRG/CHR
Akira (Japan)
- File has no iNES header
- Set to Mapper 33, 128K PRG and 256K CHR
Akuma-kun - Makai no Wana (Japan)
- Correct mapper in header to #159
Arch Rivals - A Basket Brawl! (Europe)
- File has no iNES header
- Set to Mapper 7, and 128K PRG
Basically my question, is do these games need re-dumps? What exactly is the problem? I have seen working versions of these in GoodNES, so what's different about these? Sorry for my ultra-noobiness.
iNES headers
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C. V. Reynolds
- Datter
- Posts: 275
- Joined: 17 Jun 2009 04:42
Re: Noob Question.
My last message got accidentally erased, so I'll keep this brief.
The headers are not part of the actual NES files, but no emulator will run a NES ROM image without a header yet (to my knowledge).
Get a hex editor (my favorite is HxD) Edit the NES file to add 16 bytes at the start of all NES ROMs without headers. Make sure the header begins with the following four bytes:
4E 45 53 1A
From there, you can research on how to fill the rest of the zeroes in, but Nestopia will probably run the game and fill it in automatically for you at boot. If you don't use Nestopia, then you'll have to configure the header by yourself. I would just use Nestopia, as it's the best NES emulator anyway.
You can fix any headers you'd like using this:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/file/916386/2947
Good info there.
Also, I don't like GoodTools in general, but their GoodNES has a useful feature that can correct headers for you on command.
The headers are not part of the actual NES files, but no emulator will run a NES ROM image without a header yet (to my knowledge).
Get a hex editor (my favorite is HxD) Edit the NES file to add 16 bytes at the start of all NES ROMs without headers. Make sure the header begins with the following four bytes:
4E 45 53 1A
From there, you can research on how to fill the rest of the zeroes in, but Nestopia will probably run the game and fill it in automatically for you at boot. If you don't use Nestopia, then you'll have to configure the header by yourself. I would just use Nestopia, as it's the best NES emulator anyway.
You can fix any headers you'd like using this:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/file/916386/2947
Good info there.
Also, I don't like GoodTools in general, but their GoodNES has a useful feature that can correct headers for you on command.
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Zimbabwe
Re: Noob Question.
Awesome! That actually worked! I was a little confused because I never used a hex editor before, but yeah, I figured it out. Thank you so much!
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Connie
- Datter
- Posts: 218
- Joined: 20 Jun 2008 12:15
Re: Noob Question.
Seeing as you're obviously a quick learner, now you can tag all your NES ROM headers with your Nick and it won't affect emulation.
Starting at Hex offset 0x08, you could change the code (should be 00 anyway) to '5A696D6261627765'. Now you can share the files with your friends knowing that they're tagged with your nick/or name
If you enjoy working with ROM dumps, then alternate hex editors to look at/try are:
'UltraEdit' - good for text based files/dats/comparing file differences and macros.
'Hex Workshop' - as the name implies - great for finding code/hex patterns and applying operands such as byteflip/AND/Shift, etc.
Have fun!
Starting at Hex offset 0x08, you could change the code (should be 00 anyway) to '5A696D6261627765'. Now you can share the files with your friends knowing that they're tagged with your nick/or name
If you enjoy working with ROM dumps, then alternate hex editors to look at/try are:
'UltraEdit' - good for text based files/dats/comparing file differences and macros.
'Hex Workshop' - as the name implies - great for finding code/hex patterns and applying operands such as byteflip/AND/Shift, etc.
Have fun!
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Zimbabwe
Re: Noob Question.
Well, while I'm at it, I'll ask some more questions.
I'm going through my GameGear DAT, and I had another question. The following images don't play on MESS or KEGA correctly:
Castle Of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 59840FD6
Olympic Gold (Japan, USA)
CRC32: A2F9C7AF
Outrun Europa (USA, Europe)
CRC32: F037EC00
Predator 2 (USA, Europe)
CRC32: E5F789B9
Prince Of Persia (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 311D2863
R.C. Grand Prix (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 56201996
I went to the KEGA forum and dug up an old post where someone else had the same games listed as not working, and one of the mods said that the images were actually SMS images. So, are these actually SMS images that are being mistaken for GameGear images?
Also, are the following just bad dumps?
Chuck Rock II: Son Of Chuck (USA)
CRC32: 3FCC28C9
-Gets to title screen, but if you hit start it just plays the title screen again. (Actually, this game works on MESS but not on KEGA, so it might be an emulation thing?)
NFL Quarterback Club (World)
CRC32: 61785ED5
-Screen just turns yellow and purple, but you can hear intro music.
Surf Ninja (USA)
CRC32: 284482A8
-SEGA intro, title, and in-between screens are all messed up, but the levels work fine.
I don't have any hardware or anything, but if these are just bad dumps I would be more than willing to help by keeping an eye out for them and get them for any GameGear dumpers.
I'm going through my GameGear DAT, and I had another question. The following images don't play on MESS or KEGA correctly:
Castle Of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 59840FD6
Olympic Gold (Japan, USA)
CRC32: A2F9C7AF
Outrun Europa (USA, Europe)
CRC32: F037EC00
Predator 2 (USA, Europe)
CRC32: E5F789B9
Prince Of Persia (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 311D2863
R.C. Grand Prix (USA, Europe)
CRC32: 56201996
I went to the KEGA forum and dug up an old post where someone else had the same games listed as not working, and one of the mods said that the images were actually SMS images. So, are these actually SMS images that are being mistaken for GameGear images?
Also, are the following just bad dumps?
Chuck Rock II: Son Of Chuck (USA)
CRC32: 3FCC28C9
-Gets to title screen, but if you hit start it just plays the title screen again. (Actually, this game works on MESS but not on KEGA, so it might be an emulation thing?)
NFL Quarterback Club (World)
CRC32: 61785ED5
-Screen just turns yellow and purple, but you can hear intro music.
Surf Ninja (USA)
CRC32: 284482A8
-SEGA intro, title, and in-between screens are all messed up, but the levels work fine.
I don't have any hardware or anything, but if these are just bad dumps I would be more than willing to help by keeping an eye out for them and get them for any GameGear dumpers.