[$threadinfo[title]]

[elifecyber]

This may be a stupid question, but when I mount the first disc (.mdi) and start chankast, I get a error message saying can't find TOC in Drive G, is this a problem I have done wrong, or is it because the game isn't compatible with it? Thanx in advance. :happy:

[pumpkinlad]

I had this problem, simple fix was go to Options, Configure Drive and select the drive you are using.

If that doesn't work, read the FAQ:

If you get a "can't read TOC from x:drive" error you may have to install ASPI drivers v4.71 from HERE and after that install v4.60 from HERE in order to make it work.
You must not have custom IDE drivers installed when installing the ASPI drivers (use the IDE drivers that come with windows). If you have, the emulator will probably crash. To unistall any custom IDE drivers do the following:
Go into the windows device manager and then to the ATA/ATAPI controllers section. Then select the IDE controller and then the drivers tab and click update drivers. Then select choose driver from list and then check show all hardware. Finally install the 'Standard Dual channel PCI IDE controller' and reboot. After that, install the ASPI drivers.

[elifecyber]

uhm thanx a lot, gonna try it right away!

edit: I can't click on the 'HERES' so I googled them I got something extracted in a adeptec folder but I don't understand what to do there, if I click on install something will come and I have to press a key to continue when I do that it closes the bat file... :plain:

[pumpkinlad]

uhm thanx a lot, gonna try it right away!

edit: I can't click on the 'HERES' so I googled them I got something extracted in a adeptec folder but I don't understand what to do there, if I click on install something will come and I have to press a key to continue when I do that it closes the bat file... :plain:

Sorry about that, I just copied it from the FAQ. Here (for real):

ASPI Drivers v4.71 (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.jsp?language=English+US&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe&sess=no)

ASPI Drivers v4.60 (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.jsp?sess=no&language=English+US&cat=%2FOperating+System%2FMicrosoft+Wind ows+95&filekey=aspi32.exe)

Now, download both and one you have to unzip 4.71 to a temp directory and run aspiinst.exe to install. It will ask you to reboot, please do.

When you restart, install the 4.60 and it will ask you to reboot again, do so.

[elifecyber]

Haha, tnx a lot that helped! But now i get a a error ingame saying: insert AV cable.... but at least the other games work now :P

[pumpkinlad]

Haha, tnx a lot that helped! But now i get a a error ingame saying: insert AV cable.... but at least the other games work now :P

Options, Cable Type, Change to NTSC.

[elifecyber]

Hehe, I love you man, well ready for the next problem :P

It gets stuck atfter the echolon screen...

[PsyMan]

You cannot fix that error. The emulator stucks after some enchelon intros. Use a non-enchelon copy of the game or wait for another Chankast release.

[BountyJedi]

wasnt there some ultra tricky way to get rid of it by going into hex and stuff? but that also was different for different games too i guess...

[aika-san]

It gets stuck atfter the echolon screen...

I found a new 1st_read.bin for this game that says it's Chankast compatible. Not sure if it works 'cause I don't have the echelon version. :yucky:

It looks like someone may have had success though:

http://www.emutalk.net/showthread.php?t=23177

May be worth a try if you can find it. And no, I can't give the location of it. You'll have to try and find it yourself.

[PsyMan]

wasnt there some ultra tricky way to get rid of it by going into hex and stuff? but that also was different for different games too i guess...
Yeap, there is a way to remove the intro with the help of a hex editor. But the procedure is different for each game and needs time and knowledge. You can also run the game if you change the boot file that contains the intro with another "clean" boot file of the game (as aika-san just said).

[Strange]

Hmm, i removed that logo without any hex manipulations - all what you need is just Exoboot program with normal Europe 1st_read.bin(USA one don`t work) + some manipulations, thats all.

[aika-san]

Hmm, i removed that logo without any hex manipulations - all what you need is just Exoboot program with normal Europe 1st_read.bin(USA one don`t work) + some manipulations, thats all.

A few questions:

How do you tell which is the USA and which is the Europe 1st_read.bin?
What are the manipulations you hint at?
Does the game still hang with a black screen (music still playing) when you exit the inventory screen after doing these modifications?

thx

[elifecyber]

awww that sucks, oh well just have to wait...

[Strange]

How do you tell which is the USA and which is the Europe 1st_read.bin?
I don`t know - my 1st_read.bin was Europe and its working, but 1 man tryed it with another 1st_read.bin and it didn`t work(but after trying with my bin file game start working) - so thats how i know about USA bin file.
Does the game still hang with a black screen (music still playing) when you exit the inventory screen after doing these modifications?
No, game working just brilliant - there is no any kind of bugs what you are talking about... Looks like only USA versions have that bug...
Well, about manipulations:
1)Download Exoboot from here
http://www.emutalk.net/attachment.p...achmentid=17341 and install it.
2)Copy ALL files and directories from your Eshelon disk in Exoboot folder "DATA"
3)Replace old 1st_read.bin with your normal 1st_read.bin file.
4)Lunch Exoboot and choose "Mode3"(Data to CD or image) and push "continue"
5)Set a "bird" to "Create image from the data files" and enter the name of the that image in "Game name" field.
6)Push continue and program will create fixed image file.

[elifecyber]

hmm can't download :(

[Strange]

Looks like i gived a wrong link =) here you go http://www.emutalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=17341

[elifecyber]

''Replace old 1st_read.bin with your normal 1st_read.bin file''

what do you mean with normal bin file?

[Strange]

I mean you must have normal 1st_read.bin file(Europe ofcourse) from NONE Eshelon version, i cant give you link here in that thread, but you can always ask me in PM...

[aika-san]

Thankyou for all of your help Strange. At least now those who have the echelon version can get this problematic game going.

Apologies for not replying sooner. The caffeine ran out and sleep took over. :whistling

Thx heaps. :icecream:

:party: :party: :party:

[aika-san]

One last thing:

Is it possible for u to post an IPS Patch file that patches/converts the Echelon 1st_read.bin to the European non-echelon 1st_read.bin?

As I understand it, this is allowed, as it contains none of the original code.

[Strange]

Hmm, i really don`t know how to make PPF/Ips patch... If you(or anybody else) explain how, then i can make it...

[aika-san]

Hi. You will need:

1. an IPS patcher. I have attached Lunar IPS (LIPS)
2. The echelon 1st_read.bin
3. The non echelon european 1st_read.bin

Here's how to do it:

1. Load LIPS
2. Select 'Create IPS Patch'
3. You will be prompted with a requester to select the ORIGINAL UNMODIFIED file. You will need to select 'show all files' on this requester otherwise you won't see any files. Now select the echelon 1st_read.bin.
4. Now a second requester will appear prompting you to select the NEW MODIFIED file to use. You will need to select 'show all files' on this requester otherwise you won't see any files. Now select the non-echelon european 1st_read.bin.
5. Now a third requester will appear, asking you the name you want to save the patch as (it will have the .ips extension).

There. You have now created an IPS patch which will change the echelon 1st_read.bin into the non-echelon european 1st_read.bin

You can now upload this IPS patch, and everyone can use the LIPS patcher to translate their non-working echelon 1st_read.bin into the working non-echelon one.
:party:

[BountyJedi]

me wants ips patch!! =P
is it possible to mae the patch with the selfbootable for the patch so it gets ready and patched to selfbootable

[Strange]

Hmm, i create patch(its original size 3,4Mb - is it normal?) and 1 more thing - my Eshelon version was modified by rus pirates, so inside my eshelon 1sr_read.bin was rus alphabet and maybe some more things, in that case i can`t garanty what this patch can work with "normal" Eshelon binaries... If that don`t work, then i need none modified eshelon 1st_read.bin to create normal patch...

[aika-san]

The size of your patch is fine. IPS patches are almost always different to both the files you use to create them with.

However, your right. If you created the patch using a rus modified version of the echelon file then it will only work again on the exact same rus modifed echelon file.The way around that problem is to create a patch based on a small file which is identical on all versions of SoA.

On my non-echelon SoA there is a file called bonito.drv which is exactly 36,256 bytes long. If this file is present on your echelon version then you could create an IPS patch which works on ALL versions of SoA as it is unlikely that bonito.drv would be hacked by the echelon/rus pirates. Heres how:

1. Load LIPS
2. Select 'Create IPS Patch'
3. You will be prompted with a requester to select the ORIGINAL UNMODIFIED file. You will need to select 'show all files' on this requester otherwise you won't see any files. Now select the echelon bonito.drv.
4. Now a second requester will appear prompting you to select the NEW MODIFIED file to use. You will need to select 'show all files' on this requester otherwise you won't see any files. Now select the working non-echelon european 1st_read.bin.
5. Now a third requester will appear, asking you the name you want to save the patch as (it will have the .ips extension).

There. You have now created an IPS patch which will change the bonito.drv file into the non-echelon european 1st_read.bin

This will result in a patch which will work on ALL versions of SoA.

Sorry for annoying you about this so much, but I think this game should really be going on Chankast for everyone, as it is one of the few excellent RPG's for Dreamcast.

Your time and help are both greatly appreciated. :happy:

[Strange]

Hmm, i really can`t understand how that bonito.drv file can help... And yes, i have this file on disc... But Ok, i can do it... Tomorrow...

[aika-san]

Thankyou Strange.:happy: Don't worry, I will type a document up explaining precisely how to use this new bonito.drv patch so that everyone with the echelon version can finally get the game working properly. :saint:

I just want to see the SoA problem resolved. I might get some more sleep then. :P

[BountyJedi]

ah i c waht he means he means making a patch selecting bonito.drv as the file for orignal then you can use bonito.drv with the patch to make it the 1st_read.bin (better make a copy of the orignal bonito.drv)

[aika-san]

ah i c waht he means he means making a patch selecting bonito.drv as the file for orignal then you can use bonito.drv with the patch to make it the 1st_read.bin (better make a copy of the orignal bonito.drv)

Hopefully we will have this long-running problem with Skies Of Arcadia resolved soon BountyJedi.

It's always a good idea to keep backups of any files you modify, because one day you might need them. Then you will regret the decision to delete them. ;) I should know, because I've been caught like this once before. :ranting: Never again though. I now make a point of keeping backups of the unmodified versions of anything I have altered as well as my modified versions. :saint: Websites move, get closed down, or they take files off, so you may not be able to get the unmodified version anymore, and you never can predict when or for what reason you may need the unmodified version.

[Strange]

Here... But my bonito.drv was 21.8Kb...

[BountyJedi]

mines also that size i think its the echelon compressed one but tahts ok cuz the one wanting to use this patch has echelon anyways.

[mikerock]

hi, i have the echelon cdi image and the corrected 1st_read.bin file. I'm confused as to how to create a new image with the correct bin file :yucky: . Please help, thanks :icecream: .

[dreamer]

i'm confused too, i read all the posts in this thread and tried ExoBoot v1,2.

but ExoBoot v1,2 didnt work, it said it cant find the .iso image, even though i told it to search for the 'DATA' files i copied (with modded First_read_bin) so it gives an error when it tried to make image in dos. someone help please ^_^!

[aika-san]

Edited
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note that a more complete/descriptive version of these instructions have been created in a new thread 'cause these ones are buried 3 pages into this thread. The new instructions can be found here:

http://www.emutalk.net/showthread.php?t=23418
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thakyou so much Strange

Here is the full instructions on how to use the 'bonito.ips' patch provided by Strange.

You will need:

1. The standard echelon version of Skies Of Arcadia

2. Exoskeletor's Exoboot v1.2 : http://www.emutalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=17341

3. Lunar IPS (LIPS) : http://www.emutalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=18848

4. Strange's '1st_read(fix by Str).ips' patch : http://www.emutalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=18859

5. Daemon Tools

Here is how to create your patched copy of Skies Of Arcadia:

1. Mount your echelon version of Skies Of Arcadia using Daemon Tools.

2. Copy all files from your Skies Of Arcadia into the Exoboot data folder.

3. Unpack LIPS to a temporary location.

4. Place an unpacked copy of Strange's '1st_read(fix by Str).ips' patch in the same location as LIPS.

5. Make a copy of the 'bonito.drv' file from Skies Of Arcadia and place it in the same location as LIPS. This file should be 21.8kb in size.

6. Load LIPS. Select 'Apply IPS Patch'.

7. A requester will appear asking for the IPS file to use. Select Strange's '1st_read(fix by Str).ips' patch file which you made a copy of in step 4.

8. A second requester will appear asking for the ORIGINAL UNMODIFIED file. You will need to select 'show all files' on this requester otherwise you won't see any files. Now select the 'bonito.drv' file which you made a copy of in step 5.

9. The patch will now be applied and you will find that the 'bonito.drv' file has got a lot larger. It will probably be around 5MB in size now. Rename this new 5MB file to 1ST_READ.BIN and place it in your Exoboot data folder OVERWRITING the original 1ST_READ.BIN that is already in there. You are finished with LIPS now.

10. Your original 'bonito.drv' file should still be in the Exoboot data folder too. Make sure that you have not modified or removed this bonito.drv file. That's why I told you to make a copy of it in step 5.

11. Now you can rebuild your .cdi. Load Exoboot. Select 'Mode 3 : Data to CD or Image'. Click continue.

12. In this window, make sure that the Exoboot data folder is selected in the folder view.

13. Enable the 'Create image from the data files' checkbox. The other 2 checkboxes should be disabled.

14. Type a name for your new .cdi in the Game Name box.

15. Select Continue. Now Exoboot will create your new .cdi which could take a while. When finished, you will find this .cdi in the Exoboot folder. If you selected 'SoA' as a game name in step 14, then it will be called SoA.cdi.

Now you are finished. Try running this new .cdi with Chankast. You should find that there is no echelon problem anymore.

One last thing, I don't have the echelon version, so I would really appreciate if someone could test whether this all works. Also check for the bug where the game locks on a black screen when exiting the inventory. Also, please post the results of your tests back here, so I can address any further problems. If, and when, the game works, I will re-post this document in a new thread with a more suitable title so everyone can find it easily.

Special thanks must go to Strange and Exoskeletor. Without their help, this attempt at running the echelon version would not have been possible.

Cheers
aika-san

[aika-san]

i'm confused too, i read all the posts in this thread and tried ExoBoot v1,2.

but ExoBoot v1,2 didnt work, it said it cant find the .iso image, even though i told it to search for the 'DATA' files i copied (with modded First_read_bin) so it gives an error when it tried to make image in dos. someone help please ^_^!

Read step 12 of my document. Exoboot starts with the Exoboot folder selected, not the data folder. So you will need to make sure the data folder is selected and open, like in the first screenshot, not like in the second screenshot. Also make sure there are no spaces or wierd characters in the pathname to your Exoboot data folder.

[mikerock]

ahh i found the problem :P , when I extracted exoboot it leaves a space in the directory name. Just deleted the space and everything worked fine :icecream: . thanks :party:

[aika-san]

ahh i found the problem :P , when I extracted exoboot it leaves a space in the directory name. Just deleted the space and everything worked fine :icecream: . thanks :party:

Excellent!!! Cool!! :happy:

[elifecyber]

uhm I'm getting this:

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/9357/SoA.jpg

[aika-san]

Are you sure you are using the standard echelon version of SoA? This is the one which is most popular?

Have you tried rebuilding other .cdi's using Exoboot? Does that work?

Have you tried just copying the cd into the data drawer and rebuilding a .cdi from that without modifying anything? Does that work? If it does, then you must have a different version of the echelon SoA and it won't ever work for you unless you can get the standard echelon SoA version? :yucky:

However, if you can't even rebuild the .cdi without doing any modifications then you must be doing something wrong, or you haven't set everything up correctly. :yucky:

In short, I can't really help you 'cause I don't even have the echelon version. If you can eliminate all the possibilities though, you can narrow the problem down. You know, trial-and-error.

It seems to have worked for mikerock though, so you must either have the wrong echelon version, or you're not doing something correctly. Did you try the instructions contained in my new Skies Of Arcadia thread, as they are a bit more descriptive than the ones in this thread?

[elifecyber]

yes I have the echolon ver. but how do I change the extension to BIN?

[Strange]

What extension? BTW, check your mail...

[aika-san]

yes I have the echolon ver. but how do I change the extension to BIN?

ahhhh!! Now we're getting somewhere :happy: :

If you can't see '1st_read.bin', but only '1st_read' and you can't see 'bonito.drv', but only 'bonito' then do this:

1. Open explorer window and browse to where 1st_read is located.

2. On the explorer window menu, select 'Tools -> Folder Options'

3. A new window will open. Select the 'View' page.

4. On the view page, uncheck the 'Hide extensions for known file types' setting. Also select the 'Show hidden files and folders' option.

5. Click Apply and then OK.

Now you should be able to see all the extensions in whatever folder you browsed to. You should also now be able to change the extension by doing a normal file rename. Windows will warn you when you attempt to change the extension, because this is not normally the right thing to do. In this case however, you must change bonito.drv to 1st_read.bin

[elifecyber]

:D thanx to both of you!!

edit: now it says to me that it can't find dummy.BIN in the data folder :plain:

[aika-san]

:D thanx to both of you!!

edit: now it says to me that it can't find dummy.BIN in the data folder :plain:

Is there a 'dummy.bin' file on the original .cdi? If there is, then why haven't you copied it over to the data folder? Are you sure you are seeing all extensions properly now?

I'm suspecting there is no 'dummy.bin' on the original .cdi though. If that's the case, you could try creating your own 'dummy.bin' in the data folder. Just copy any small file to the data folder. Make sure extensions are visible and rename the small file to 'dummy.bin'. If you need to do this, then it reinforces my suspicions that you have a different echelon version because if it didn't need dummy.bin before the patch, then all of a sudden it does, that's an indication that the new 1st_read.bin you have made is meant for a .cdi that did already have a dummy.bin present on it. Phew!!! Hope your still with me...

By all means keep going, but I think when you finally get to rebuild the .cdi, it will probably not work because the patch is for a different echelon version to what you have (at least I'm pretty sure it is). I really do hope it works for you though, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't.

[elifecyber]

doesn't work, if I try it, it always says it can't find things like IP.BIN, and stuff...and I do h ave have the correct version... :(

edit: hahaha now when I finally got the files it gives me access denied...