n64 save file backup

[gamerheart93]

Im trying to back up my save file for super mario 64,but it keeps saying this error code. I have backed up a game like ocarina of time successfully, but games without the save battery like mario 64,mystical ninja keep showing this error code. They are both fully working games, and are both legit games too. I have the cart reader set to 3v and eep are both on while the other two are switched off. What am I doing wrong? It creates a folder called super mario 64 and then 32 and if I click on folder with whatever number its empty.

[notwork-2000]

I have what I believe to be the same or similar issue. “Error:no data received" when trying to read N64 saves from DK64 (and others).

-Running V14.7 on V3-ALTER (STHB) cart reader (have tried multiple versions, only v10.2 and older work)
-Tried Adafruit CLKGEN board (and Starshade CLKGEN/RTC board with #define ENABLE_RTC on or off)
-CLK1 on, 3V on, EEP on (have tried different combinations of CLK1 or CLK0 on or off)
-Have tried #define OPTION_N64_FASTCRC on or off
-Have tried #define OPTION_CLOCKGEN_CALIBRATION and #define OPTION_CLOCKGEN_USE_CALIBRATION with snes_clk.txt dialing in the three numbers very close what is listed here https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki/Calibrating-the-ClockGen and https://blog.jllab.info/en/product/cartreader-cartridge-reader-clock-gener-calibrate-boardator/
Everything gets me "Error:No data received", with the only solution I have found being to downgrade to V10.2.

Can anybody please help? I have probably spent 8 hours troubleshooting this over the past year on and off.

BAD_14.7_OSCR_LOG.txt
GOOD_10.2_OSCR_LOG.txt
snes_clk.txt

[gamerheart93]

I’ll contact sanni tonight and see if it’s possible to downgrade. They recently upgraded the firmware on mine when I sent it in for a repair.

[notwork-2000]

I’ll contact sanni tonight and see if it’s possible to downgrade. They recently upgraded the firmware on mine when I sent it in for a repair.

I am able to downgrade/upgrade my V3-ALTER STHB cartreader without issue between versions. Even went all the way down to 2.7 as part of my struggles over the past year getting N64 saves to work properly.

However, I want to run the latest versions, V14.7 or V15.0 and still need help getting N64 saves to work on anything newer then V10.2.

[sanni]

I don't sell any Cart Readers so I highly doubt you send it to me for repair. 😳

As for the issue:
After V10.2 the function to read out eeprom saves was combined with the function that reads out the n64 controller. It's possible that this led to a new bug that only happens for some.
To hunt it down one would need to connect a logic analyzer to the EEP pin and record what the Cart Reader sends and what the eeprom responds when the error occurs.

I'll try all the carts I have again maybe I can reproduce the error if not I can make a short tutorial on how to use a logic analyzer if anyone wants to get involved.

[notwork-2000]

Hi @sanni. I did obtain a logic analyzer (details below) and am happy to provide this information. However, I don't have any experience using a logic analyzer and would greatly benefit from a short tutorial. Thank you in advance if you can please provide this short tutorial, and I would in turn provide all the debugging information you would need.

"USB Logic Analyzer 24MHz 8 Channel 24M/seconds Logic Analyzer Debugger For ARM FPGA Logic Analyzer Logic 24M 8CH"

[SAVE-THE-HERO]

Hi
I have received similar error reports in my store's chat, and after verifying with store users, I received the following information.

They even tried downgrading the firmware, but still having issues. When we try to read save data it says error no data. It does this for games that don’t have a save battery like super Mario 64. Games like Mario golf that do have a save battery I can read the save data fine and it back it up.
(He tested the clock generator with both the real-time clock and the Adafruit module, and also tried calibration. I don’t think the clock generator is faulty, and I don’t believe the main unit or any other hardware is defective either.)

If you have purchased a device from our store and notice any hardware abnormalities, please contact me. I will take responsibility for repairing the device.
savetheherobuilders@gmail.com
If the error is caused by the program, please upload detailed information about the symptoms along with the log file here
🙏

[sanni]

Thank you in advance if you can please provide this short tutorial, and I would in turn provide all the debugging information you would need.

Logic 1.2.18 (needs to be Win32): https://downloads.saleae.com/logic/1.2.18/Logic+1.2.18+Win+32+Standalone.zip
N64 Analyzer Plugin (extract and move to Analyzers folder): N64Analyzer.zip Source code: https://github.com/lunixbochs/n64-saleae-logic

Install drivers

Connect to Clock, Reset, Data, GND from logic analyzer to Cart Reader.
I use a modified SNES import adapter but you can also stick the probes into any of the free slots or solder to the Cart Reader points

Start Logic, disable all channels but the connected three.

Add Analyzer to DATA

Go into N64 menu, start the Logic Capture and then press button to Read Save. You should see clock line continuously pulsing, the data being send and received and the reset at the beginning.

If you zoom in the N64 analyzer should give hex values above the wave lines.

The first couple of hex values should be the read command, address, then stop command (analyzer sees stop as 0x1) and then the data send from the eeprom.

In my case I filled the eeprom with 0x64 prior to reading to make it easier to see faulty transmits.

My readout:
16 MHz, 1 B Samples [2].zip

Now for you it would be interesting what v10.2 does differently than v15.0. Maybe a pause is longer or something.

[notwork-2000]

Hello @sanni
Thank you. I followed your instructions and have attached some saves from logic analyzer.
I could not get N64 EEPROM saves to work again with 10.2 this time after going to 15.0 and back down to 10.2, and provided the output when it hangs on "Reading EEPROM...".

16 MHz, 1 B Samples [14]-10.2-HangsOnReadingEEPROM.7z.zip
16 MHz, 1 B Samples [3].-15.0-NoDataReceived.7z.zip
16 MHz, 1 B Samples [4].-15.0-NoDataReceived.7z.zip

[sanni]

Clock and Reset are working but your Data line is not. It could be the data pin or the eep switch that is broken.

Does the N64 controller test work? (needs to be enabled first in config.h)
It uses the same data pin but does not need neither the eep switch nor clock.
If the controller test works then maybe the eep switch has an issue.

Also if the Controller test works do a capture with the logic analyzer to verify the data line is connected to the logic analyzer correctly.
Example capture of Controller Test:

You can also try reading the eeprom without a cartridge inserted, after the gamepak error just select 4MB size and then use the Force Savetype menu option to set the save to eeprom 4k then read the save, it will fail ofc.
It should look like this, just the OSCR sending the request over the data line without any response:

To test the eep switch, with a multimeter in Ohm mode, the EEP switch set to ON and the OSCR turned OFF check the resistance between red and yellow pins on the N64 cart slot in this picture and between red and pink.

Between red and yellow it should be around 1000 Ohm and between pink and red it should be anything as long as it's significantly more than 1000 Ohm, I have 3000 Ohm on my HW3 and 2200 Ohm on my HW5.
If you have an soldering iron you can reheat the 3 pins of the EEP switch too, to make sure the connection is good.

[notwork-2000]

Thank you for all of this great information.
While connecting the probes from the logic meter, I damaged the pins on my SNES cart slot connector and need to get it repaired.
Would you happen to have any details on how to make the "modified import adapter" so I can simply connect dupont connectors to the pins of the SNES slot like your picture?

[sanni]

You can upload this zip file to a PCB fab like https://jlcpcb.com/ and choose PCB Thickness 1.2mm (this is important, default is 1.6mm but that won't fit into the SNES slot): snes_import.zip

Then cut standard 1x40 2.54mm pin headers to size and solder it like so:

Note:
This is a modified version of the SNES import adapter found here, I just added the OSCR's pinout to the silkscreen: https://circuit-board.de/forum/index.php/Thread/14477-Cartridge-Slot-Verl%C3%A4ngerung-f%C3%BCr-SNES-Super-Famicom-basteln/

[notwork-2000]

Thank you again for all of this great information. I will proceed to place the order and have the import adapters created using a 1.2mm thickness. Apologies, I was able to access the image, please disregard my last comment. I will then cut standard 1x40 2.54mm pin headers to size and solder to the created import adapters.
Once I have this adapter created, and have my SNES cart slot repaired, I will provide more information based on the troubleshooting steps you outlined above and provide additional logic analyzer results.
Thank you!

[sanni]

I have finished testing all my cartridges. With original cartridges I could dump every single eeprom save without any issue with all three clock generators I own but the one aliexpress repro game I have required a perfectly calibrated clock generator and would also only work with 2 out of 3 clock generators.

You can see the points where the repro would mess up in the logic analyzer.
Top image: Calibrated clock gen with mostly uniform wave pattern.
Bottom image: Same clock gen as above but uncalibrated with two sections where the clock signal is slower for a couple of clocks, like at 0x01.

So that might be something to watch out for.

[notwork-2000]

Thank you for confirming that you are able to read eeprom saves from original n64 carts. I don't have any repros, only original carts. This seems to point to a potential hardware issue with my cart reader and will continue to troubleshoot once I have the SNES slot repaired and create the modified import adapter. I will also follow the troubleshooting points you provided above such as the n64 controller test, eep switch, etc.

[notwork-2000]

Hi @sanni
I finally got the proper tools and parts to build a modified import adapter with connectors for the logic analyzer, and to replace the snes slot that I damaged when I tried this without the modified import adapter.

tl;dr version: Following your troubleshooting steps above, i was able to completely fix my V3. I can now read N64 saves consistently, along with self test passing the 1k resistor test (passing all tests). Also, I can read SA1 SNES that i had issues with prior. It all came down to reflowing the solder on the EEP switch.

long version:
Controller test worked. Testing the points above with the EEP switch on, and power off, I would get inconsistent readings. Sometimes 0 some times 1027 ohm between yellow and red, sometimes 0 sometimes 6000 or 2200 ohm between pink and red. The self test would always fail on the 1k resistor test. The readings with the meter were 1k on the resistor itself. While the solder joints on the EEP switch looked fine, I took your advice and reflowed as well as added some fresh solder to the EEP switch pins. This solved everything. Consistent 1k readings on yellow/red and 2200 on pink/red. N64 saves read 100% of the time, SA1 SNES reads perfect, Self Test passes. The logic analyzer readings appear healthy (clock/data/reset) seem to match your examples. I've attached captures of two n64 save readings. One thing to note the following Switches have to be on to read N64 saves: 3V, EEP, CLK0, CLK1.

4 MHz, 400 M Samples [6].zip

4 MHz, 400 M Samples [5].zip

@sanni, I can't thank you enough. The time you took to help me troubleshoot is so appreciated, and it inspired me to learn a ton about electronics in general, but also the OSCR specifically.

[sanni]

Thanks for the follow up, I'm happy you got it working. 😃

[gamerheart93]

Do you offer repairs for save the hero? I tried reflowing the eep pins on mine, but it still says no data received.

[SAVE-THE-HERO]

Hi, Sanni san does not perform repairs, so please contact me if the main unit requires repair.
savetheherobuilders@gmail.com

[notwork-2000]

Do you offer repairs for save the hero? I tried reflowing the eep pins on mine, but it still says no data received.

Do you have switches 3V, EEP, CLK0, CLK1 on?

Do you pass self-test?

Have you tried the n64 controller test?

Do you have a meter? Test the ohms on the points listed in this thread.

[SAVE-THE-HERO]

Sorry, We don't offer repair services for those units, but we can guide you on ordering a new one.
By the way, are you the person who previously ordered a new unit and asked about fixing the old one?