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OERG866'S LIVE RAM DEV CART 
(C) 2012 OERG866

RECEIVE CODE BY MASK OF DESTINY
CABLE DIAGRAM BY MASK OF DESTINY
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This is the base folder. It contains the source to the base program.

To build it, run BUILD.BAT on windows. On Linux, use WINE to do that. 

Flash RAMDEV_BUILT.BIN to a cartridge, or burn an eprom or do whatever to get the program working on the hardware. From then on you can do everything from the console's memory, using the suite provided here.

Its purpose is to live-test code. This has practical uses like...

... researching the console. Poking around undocumented bits, etc., this might help to clear up the many remaining mysteries about how the console is constructed.

... just learning to program the console. No worries, I've provided some basic routines to get you started!

... just.... testing code. Running benchmarks. Etc, etc.. It's so simple!

!!! WHAT YOU NEED !!!

* The program on something you can run on the MD, as stated above.

* The Mask of destiny cable, for which you can find the diagram HERE: http://www.retrodev.com/transfer.html

Thanks to him for his groundwork to make this possible!

Contrary to Mask of Destiny's solution, you do not actually need a sega CD to run any code on your Mega Drive, nor do you need to work around any menus. This approach uses the same cable and software on the PC-side, but is raw and just works. If you put a RTS at the end of your RAM blob, you can make small tests, return to the base program, update your code and send again. All without a single reset inbetween.

Check the RAM program folder, it has another readme to get you started writing some code that runs from RAM. The RAM has a preset layout, which you can get used to very quickly, so you don't accidentally run into any surprises. 

So, you got your RAM blob programmed and are ready to test it.

STEP 1: Get the base program running on your Mega Drive / Genesis.

You could, for example, use a flash cart, burn a ROM, or use any kind of weird approach. 

STEP 2: Boot your console!

As soon as it works, you see a message on screen, prompting you to start a program and send your RAM blob.

STEP 3: Start the included "transfer.exe"

This program was written by Mask of Destiny for his transfer suite. Since we're using the same code to handshake and receive data on the console-side (it is included in the sega CD ISO from him), we can use it.

It asks you to type in a filename. Type in the filename to your RAM blob and press enter.

Now it asks you to type in the base adress. Since we aren't on the sega CD with stuff being able to run from, like, EVERYWHERE and we don't have the Sega CD's RAM.... we need to ignore that. Put in any value, doesn't really matter, and press enter.

Now it should say that it successfully shook hands. If it doesn't --- Bad luck. Normal parallel port diagnostics should be applied now. I found that the same mode setup in BIOS etc, that you do for TOTOTEK flashcarts works well with this cable.

Now, 6 HEX digits appear on screen. This is for debug purposes. If anything goes wrong, tell me if these appear and if so what they contain. 

And thats it! as soon as it's done, the program is loaded into the console's memory and should start. Gegeeee!!

Cheers,
Oerg866