Dexdrive <=> Project 64 questions?

[Rcj8993]

I have a few questions,
perhaps a few of you are familiar with the N64 Dex Drive.

Well I also have a Game shark Pro 3.3 (so I can take save data off of a Game cartridge and put it onto my Memory card, and use the dex drive to back it up on my computer)

my questions are,

How do I take a project 64 save for a game like Paper Mario, and convert it and install it to the cartridge copy of Paper Mario (via dex drive and Gameshark 3.3 pro)?

and how do I get a Native N64 save from the cartridge to work with project 64 (Specifically Zelda OOT v1.2)

and how do I manipulate the save data (aka hack it)

im really a noob when it comes to this, so im sorry for asking :/

[RPGMaster]

Can't help with dexdrive stuff but here's some good links for OOT's save file documentation, if you ever want to play around with save file data.

http://oot.cloudmodding.com/wiki/Save_Format

http://wiki.spinout182.com/w/z64_wiki:Community_Portal

I actually attempted to fully document save file data, but eventually lost interest.

[Rcj8993]

To be honest, id prefer just to load the native save in project 64,
but nothing seems to be working, even renaming the save to "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA.sra" (which is the name of the save... for oot through P64)

[RPGMaster]

Originally Posted by Rcj8993

To be honest, id prefer just to load the native save in project 64,
but nothing seems to be working, even renaming the save to "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA.sra" (which is the name of the save... for oot through P64)

You may need to byteswap the save file. When I check in hex editor, the ascii text shows "˜...Z!..ADLE...." for the first row. What does yours look like?

It's also possible, you may need to edit the contents of the save file. You should upload the save file you wish to run, so that someone can take a look and possibly fix it for you.

[Rcj8993]

I just uploaded it but... it says it needs to be approved by a moderator...
im guessing you meant via attatchment huh?

I found a hex editor and it reads at the top in text
"123-456-STD"

[RPGMaster]

Doesn't even look like a valid save file at all. Hopefully someone more knowledgable than me can help you.

[Rcj8993]

Originally Posted by RPGMaster

Doesn't even look like a valid save file at all. Hopefully someone more knowledgable than me can help you.

well I ripped it from my cartridge and dumped it with my dexdrive, its possible it needs work...

[RPGMaster]

Try doing some googling. I don't think you'll get much help here. Try asking on other forums too.

[Rcj8993]

so far all im finding is to use Nrage's pluggin or Muppen 64

but nothing about how to use a save you pulled off of the cartridge, just off of memory pack saves...

I tried to open it using the .n64 file type for mem packs but I get
"Unknown memory action

Emulation now stopped"

its also showing its called "ZLZL"
Country: UNKNOWN
15 pages

[HatCat]

No it is a valid save format, just a custom one. Typically it will take something like an EEPROM and store it as 2 pages within a mempak-based format.

If you fiddle around with N-Rage's DirectInput 1.83 (not 2.x which removed this feature) you should be able to export the notes as related a64 files, which contain the text as hexadecimal for the binary contents of the Adaptoid-based mempak format, to what the actual flashram save data should have been for Paper Mario. As for converting hex. text to binary, tl;dw busy watching stuff.