
                                X-FLASH 1.2 BETA 3 (15/04/2000)
                                
What's new in X-Flash ?

v1.2 - BETA 3
 - You can now write/flash the entire Xplorer FX eeprom (the full 512kb baby!)
 - You can now copy the data on eeprom to the main memory of the PSX (by pressing L1)
   0x1F0000000  -->  0x000100000  (length 512kb)
   Eeprom paging will be done automaticaly for the Action Replay Pro and Xplorer FX hardware
 - Support for Atmel 29BV020 eeprom has been added

v1.2 - BETA 2
 - Bug fixed with 64 ROM limit in X-Flash (only first 64 ROM's were shown)
 - Autoscroll option added to ROM selection menu
 - Display size of detected eeprom
 - Eeprom size check when upgrading ROM using the ROM selection menu

v1.2 - BETA 1
 - Support for more eeproms (list below)
 - Support for AR/GS Pro hardware
 - Support for non-Xplorer ROM's

v1.0
 - Support for the Xplorer FX
 - You can put ROM files on the X-Flash CD so you don't need a PC + cable to upgrade your Xplorer
 - Download memory (it didn't work properly in v0.1)
 - Execute PSX-EXE files (some exe's don't work)


What is the "ROMFILE.DAT" file used for ?

Because there are too many problems when working with seperate ROM files on a PSX CD,
I decided to make a PC utility that will pack all ROM files into 1 big file --> romfile.dat
You don't HAVE to put the "romfile.dat" file on the CD, but without it you can only upgrade your Xplorer by using a PC + cable + X-Killer, it's much easier if you put a romfile on the CD


How to create the "ROMFILE.DAT" file ?

Use the ROM Build Utility included in this ZIP file, don't use any other version, the generated
"romfile.dat" file may not be compatible with the X-Flash version you are using it with


How to use the ROM Build Utility ?

- Make a new directory
- Copy all the ROM's you want on the X-Flash CD into this directory
- Make sure all ROM's have the ".rom" extension and are decrypted !!
- Copy the "romfile.exe" file into the same directory and run it

! When the program detects an Xplorer ROM file, it will extract information from that file and
  use that as the ROM description for the X-Flash ROM selection menu
! When the program detects an non-Xplorer ROM file, it will ask you if it should be added to
  the romfile and uses the filename without extension as the ROM description for the X-Flash ROM
  selection menu
! You can change the ROM descriptions any time you want by hex-editing "romfile.dat",
  be careful not to change any other data or X-Flash might not work properly
! The current ROM file limit is 128, more ROM's will crash both X-Flash & the ROM builder


How to create the X-Flash CD ?

- Start Easy-CD Pro 95
- Select "New...", select "CD-ROM" and click on "OK"
- Drag and drop the "xflash.exe", "system.cnf" and "romfile.dat" (optional) file onto
  the Data Track window
- Select the 3 files in the Data Track window, right click and and select "reparenting..."
  Enter "\" and click on "OK"
- Select the General tab
- Check the "Write real ISO image only to" box and enter a filename
- Uncheck "Test before writing"
- Set "Session type" to "CD-ROM XA (Mode2)"
- Insert a blank disc in your cd-writer and click on the record button
- Select "Build for a blank disc ..." and wait until the ISO-file is ready

- Start 'Gridfix', select the ISO-file and enter a license screen message (anything you like)
  Click on "License ISO" to convert the ISO
  !! You can also use 'hit-lice' or any other PSX disc licensing program !!

- Go back to Easy-CD Pro 95 and select "File->new"
- Select "CD from an image file" and select the ISO (which is now a valid PSX disc image)
- Click on the "General" tab
- Set "Writing speed" to 1x or 2x (not 4x or higher, it won't work)
- Click on the record button


I don't have Easy-CD Pro 95, can I use Nero or Cdrwin instead ?

No, you should only use Easy-CD Pro 95 to create the X-Flash CD image file (.ISO), the CD image created by Nero/Cdrwin is not compatible with the licensing tools (hitlice/gridfix)


EXAMPLE OF AN X-FLASH CD (31 ROM's)

***********************************************************
*  Volume in drive G is XFLASH_B5                         *
*  Volume Serial Number is C390-A2FA                      *
*  Directory of G:\                                       *
*                                                         *
* ROMFILE  DAT     7,741,440  09-28-99  9:03p ROMFILE.DAT *
* SYSTEM   CNF            59  09-28-99  9:06p SYSTEM.CNF  *
* XFLASH   EXE        57,344  09-28-99  9:02p XFLASH.EXE  *
*          3 file(s)      7,798,843 bytes                 *
*          0 dir(s)               0 bytes free            *
***********************************************************
!! ONLY THESE 3 FILES NEED TO BE ON THE CD, NOTHING ELSE !!


How to use the X-Flash CD ?

  A.  No PC (by using the ROM selection menu)
  
  - Remove cartridge from Playstation
  - Boot Playstation with X-Flash CD
  - Connect the cartridge to the Playstation
  - Press [START] to go to the ROM selection menu
  - Select a ROM by using the UP & DOWN buttons
  - Press [X] to upgrade your cartridge with the selected ROM
  - Reset the PSX after the ROM has been upgraded

  B.  PC + cable + X-Killer (only Xplorer cartridges)
  
  - Start X-Killer (v0.56 or any other X-Flash compatible version)
  - Remove the Xplorer from the Playstation
  - Connect the Xplorer to your PC
  - Boot Playstation with X-Flash CD
  - Connect the Xplorer to the Playstation
  - Press [R1] to enable the communication routines
  - Use X-Killer to upgrade the ROM


What eeproms are supported by X-Flash ?

  Brand    Model     Size  Tested  Used in
               
  ATMEL    29C010A   128K    no     ?
  ATMEL    29LV010A  128K    no     ?
  ATMEL    29C020    256K    no     ?
  ATMEL    29BV020   256K    no     ?
  ATMEL    29C040A   512K    yes    Xplorer FX
  ATMEL    29xV040A  512K    no     ?
  SST      29xE010   128K    no     ?
  SST      29xE010A  128K    no     ?
  SST      29xE020   256K    yes    Xplorer
  SST      29xE020A  256K    no     ?
  SST      28SF040   512K    yes    AR/GS/GB Pro
  WINBOND  29EE01x   128K    yes    ?
  WINBOND  29C020    256K    no     ?
  WINBOND  29C040    512K    yes    Xplorer FX (newer model)

  Notes :
  - Winbond 29EE01x eeprom can be labeled as 'ASD AE29f1008-15'