Hacking How to Patch Games with an arm7.bin file..

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HOW TO PATCH GAMES THAT HAVE A "SAVE DATA CANNOT BE ACCESSED" SCREEN

This was taken Directly from my other topic, The Incredible Hulk - Patched and Working.. But due to people not knowing that games that come up with this message need to be patched, I thought I would create another topic.. If this is not needed, Just delete it, But I think that this IS needed because other people do not know where to go..

Most Games that come up with this message, "Save data cannot be accessed, Please Restart" means that the game needs to be patched..

We will be using the Max Crass Method to patch this rom..

First of all, download this pack containing:

DSLazy
Max Overload 1.2
arm7.bin
README.rtf

LINKS REMOVED! ARM7.BIN PRESENT.

Next, we will extract this to a convenient place (Desktop for instance)

Open DSLazy which is in the DSLazy folder..

Click the ... button and browse for your Name Of Rom Here.nds file.. Click OK

Click on NDS UNPACK and that will bring up a folder..

Next, we have to copy the arm7.bin file into this folder that has popped up.. Replace the one that is already there..

Next, we will click on NDS PACKER and choose a place to re-pack that folder (desktop again for example)

Now, we will open up the Max Overload 1.2 folder and then open the Max Overload patcher

Click on OPEN and find your Name Of Rom Here.nds file that you just replaced the arm7.bin file with (make sure you do not get these confused)

It will come up with something like this for example

Arm9
Rom offset: 00001000
Entry addr: 02000700
Ram addr: 04000000
Rom size: 000CAS58
Card read end not found

That is basically it, close all of these programs and copy the newly patched Name of Rom Here.nds file onto you flash cart..

It should work but I only have an r4.. And I can tell you that most games work on that..

I hope this guide has helped you guys out

...and I would just like to thank acevampire whose video on youtube was very helpful.. And also the forums at max console where I got the Max Overload 1.2 and DSLazy files from.. And also our very own Rayder for giving me the hint to Google Max Crass Method


Enjoy..

EDIT: Just found out that you do not even have to patch it with the Max Overload Patcher!! Thanks for that find cosmiccow....

Steps in this colour do not have to be taken because they do not contribute to it working.. It does not make a difference but if you like, You can patch it if you want..

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Recently a few people have been having some trouble with opening DS Lazy.. There is a solution..

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to terminate the application.

Solution
90%+ of the time this error message occurs because you do not have the latest version of the Microsoft .NET Framework installed on your computer. By default, the .NET Framework comes installed on Windows XP computers, and can be downloaded for free for older operating systems (like Windows 2000). DDT requires atleast version 2.0 of the .NET Framework (your Windows XP may have an older version - v1.1). The easiest way to remedy this problem is to download & install .NET 2.0 from the following link:

Download .NET 2.0

If you're sure you have an adequate version of .NET, the problem may be with a corrupt or mis-installation of .NET. This does not happen often, but it is possible and will prevent you from running the DDT. I'm no expert on "fixing" .NET issues (just like an engine guy usually can't fix your transmission), but I did find this article which gives some helpful information about repairing a .NET installation:

EDIT rscarrab found a fix for DS-X users.. Here it is..

Success!! METAL SLUG 7 WORKS ON DS-X*! (*to a certain degree)
Use the "Max Crass Method"; Further info & Max Crass zip package https://gameparadise.org/threads/the-incredible-hulk-working.1014/

Basically i extracted MS7 using "DSlazy" and manually pasted the "arm7.bin" file contained in the "Max Crass zip package", re-packed and patched using "Max Overload 1.2 patcher".
When Max Overload 1.2 patcher is finished you should see this in the dialog box:

Arm9
Rom offset: 00004000
Entry addr: 02000800
Ram addr: 02000000
Rom size: 0004D7B8
Card read end not found

It created a .PAT file which was identical to said .nds in terms of file name (ie. Metal Slug 7.PAT) but not size (should be 1kb).
I patched the file while it was on the DS-X so there was no need to copy anything over.
The .PAT file was present in my "apps/metal slug 7/" folder after patching.
I forced the EEPROM to save (loaded up CV: POR, saved, switched off then turned it back on) and it was done.

Please note: (1)I removed the save file, make sure no save file is present. (2) It seems that you need to use the arm7.bin provided in the Max Crass zip package.

I didnt want to use DSlazy, I have been using a donor/patient type patching program (arm7 injection) that uses "Sim City (J)" to arm7 patch the patient rom (props to Bad_Ad84 for making that program, who in turn thanks others for the method and so on and so on...). It seems most likely the Sim City (J) arm7.bin file is useless for injecting the newer releases. Back to using DSlazy...

Aside from all of that iam pleased to be playing MS7. Iam aware that there is supposedly meant to be issues regarding freezing after using sleep mode (this did not happen for me, though the bottom screen dissapeared... not a bother though, the map looks shite). Others mentioned issues such as in-game resetting... so far i have beaten the first boss and reached the 2nd level, with not a hiccup. Of course one-play through without significant issue isnt enough to warrant MS7 to the status of "100% working" on the DS-X catalogue of compatible games... Im sure if Simon "Scorpei" van de Berg says it "works with problems" than i should expect a hiccup any minute now... ->(Scorpei's DS-X Compatability List) http://wiki.scorpei.com/index.php/DSX_compatibility_list

EDIT: For any of you that are aware of this method already than fine, others, such as my fellow DS-X users in this thread, may not be aware of this fix and so im saving time for those who dont want to read up on; "Max Crash", "Incredible Hulk: a guide to patching the rom" and the "Max Overload 1.2 patcher".