Two Versions ?


adrifter

Still Fresh
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
82
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Website
Visit site
Ok... thanks to dozer and some other guys I was able to get ahold of the free launcher software through IRC after I had (literally) spent the entire day yesterday trying to register and download the free launcher...

now I check back... and find out that the version with only two start up options is the European version... and doesnt need it?

THATS THE ONE I HAVE!!! it is not the BLU... it is a FLU but the options availible when i turned it on were GAMES and PCLINK with that funny eye looking thing bouncing like a ball (with pretty impressive graphics i might add)...

Is this why I havent been able to do anything with my unit since yesterday? After I finally used IRC to get a free launcher equipped with my PDUID the the PC connection program has indicated that there is some error when it tries to connect to the GP32 so I can install my Emulators... and Roms... (it looks cool enough i admit... but i bought the thing to USE it).

So--- this Euro firmware doesnt even need the launcher?

would it be better if I didnt use it?

More importantly-- Does anyone have any suggestions about how I get the unit ready to play my games?

I click the copy option for the files I want to put on the SMC card in the PCLink software... click on the gp32 icon so I can paste them and that is when the error message comes up. (whenever I try to access the gp32 icon it happens).

I do not have a card writer-- just the USB connection to the gp32...

Any suggestions?

thanks again

D
 
Uhm, where did you get the gp?
Can it be that the last owner have flashd a mfw? that would explain the not working pclink.
pleas thry holding select when turning it on.
 
I purchased the unit new from lik sang....

and since I basically assumed that since i had the FLU... i needed to register.

but i did note that while the instruction booklet tells me I need to register-- the pictures of the unit do not look like mine. It looks like the standard firmware... with the little PC icon... and the CD for the MP3player.... (where my MP3 player is... I have NO IDEA!) but mine is just PCLINK and PLAY

which either means-- that I have an instruction booklet for a different firmware... or that im just dumb... this is how its supposed to be....

so-- what does everyone think? Is my unit some odd hybrid or something?

more importantly.... how can i get to playing my unit? It looks SOOOO cool...

thanks again...

David
 
I've heard one of the versions of PC Link doesn't work with the Euro firmware, which is probably what you have. (I'm not sure why they're distributing old manuals with the new firmwares.) The Euro firmware doesn't need FreeLauncher; all the programs, free and otherwise, are on the menu that comes up when you choose "Games" (if you have an SMC with some programs on it inserted of course). Much better than the original firmware, which did need FreeLauncher. :)

The Euro firmware doesn't contain an MP3 player like the original does, but there are a number of them out there. In fact, I believe one comes with the newer PC Link that works with the Euro firmware, but I don't know where to get it; I use a card writer. ;) Quite a bit more convenient, and they're pretty cheap. If you don't want to get one, I'm sure someone can link to the version of PC Link that I'm talking about.

Oh, and a Euro firmware GP doesn't need to be registered, except with JoyGP (which requires a separate program than the main GP site), an online store for commercial GP games, and that's only if you want to buy software. (It might also be required for their free downloads; not sure.)

So, in summation: you probably have the wrong PC Link, so either have someone point you to a newer one or get a card writer. :)

Hope I've helped. :)
 
If you have two simple menu screen, it's NEW FIRMWARE.

and new firmware doesn't need a free-launcher.

You can check it with L-R-R-L-R-R-L-L
(firmware config menu loading, maybe it shows 1.6.6)

and Download GP Manager @ www.gp32eu.com. It's new pc-link.

I recommend Gpdrive or Phodrive for file transfer.

It's fastest solution for r/w that makes gp32 as a usb-drive.
 
by the way... I am using a PC with windows 98 and a laptop with windows 2k... the laptop seems better...

but the 98 pc has a DSL connection-- makes surfing easier.

Is it compatible?

d
 
thanks vader... you have been a lot of help...

the gm manager appears to be a better program... but I am still getting the same process error.

I have been getting it ever since I installed the free launcher... which I apparently do not need because I aparently have the Euro firmware version? (two options... no mp3 player)

Is there anyway to delete everything on my SMC without having a card writer? I think this would solve my problems.

HELP ME!

thanks...
d
 
Now all the gp32 units at lik-sang are upgraded to european firmware, just take a look at the description page ;) you dont need freelaucher any more :D

GPManager is nice looking but worse program that pclink.

In addition, i recommend you use gpdrive or phodrive if you are using XP.

Aiken
 
i understand the theory... im not that computer illiterate....

as one of my professors would say.... I am just proficient enough with computers to be dangerous

(implying that I know enough to think i know more than i do... and end up doing dumb things that cause me even more hassle than I started with)

I try to format the smc with both programs... but it still says there is "process error" on the GP32 screen.

The computer seems to be trying to format... but something is just not working...

and when i turn the unit on again... the free launcher (the one i apparently didnt need) is still there...

I cant get rid of the free launcher (which i dont seem to need)

I cant add anything to my card (or delete) so I have no games or files

and since this is the Euro Firmware... i dont even have an mp3 player!

is there anyway to do this short of getting a new smc card?

the pclink worked fine until i added the free launcher-- in case that helps anyone figure out my situation.

thanks

D
 
plug cable, turn on gp32, go to pc-link mode, and run GP-Manager.

and delete it with uninstall program menu. (somthing like that)

or click 'GAME' button, try to delete freelauncher.
 
Would I be right in thinking that you actually can't even retrieve, say, the properties of the card, or its contents and such? If so, then make sure you're doing things in the right order to get a connection (there certainly was one with PC-Link - not so sure about GPM)

With PC-Link you had to turn on the GP, load up PC Link until it said "plug in the GP32", then plug in the GP32, THEN go into PC-Link mode on it, and finally click OK. I think. Its a while since I've given advice on the order cables need to be plugged in...

You may also need to install Firefly's USB driver if you're on Win 2K/XP - http://users.skynet.be/firefly/gp32/projec...32usb/index.htm. There is an official driver for '98 that works fine iirc. Can't for the life of me remember where it is, though. Try http://www.gp32news.com ; they tend to have a fairly good archive of crucial files..
 
I am sorry to be bothering everyone here again and again... i really am.

But no matter how thick headed you might think i am being... remember I am the one sitting here with a 200 dollar paper weight until i get this working.

That said...

neither the PClink or the GP manager can seem to access the GP32. Its not a matter of I cant figure out what option to use. No matter what option i choose. Either the computer says "an error occured in GP32 in process" or the gp32 screen says "process error."

or Both

I know that my drivers must be working and interfacing with the computer because the instant I close either the PClink or GP manager... my GP32 blips back to the PCLINK GAME menu.

The SMC appears to work fine because the GP32 loads the (apparently unnecessary) free launcher perfectly.

Is there anything else I can do?

thanks

D
 
Only one other problem---

thought of another dumb thing i could be doing.

When i turn on the unit... since the free launcher is there... it loads up automatically. No menu... no nothing.

But if i turn on the unit without the card i get the standard firmware (because im smart enough to realize that the free launcher is just software on the card itself)

then... (dumb or not) i have been inserting the card after I have access to the firmware menu....

and from there accessing the PC link.

if the process is so sensitive to order--- maybe I am screwing it up by inserting the card with the power on.

(please dont just vent on me for doing this... its the only way i can EVEN get to the PCLINK icon.... please provide an alternative for getting to the PCLINK...)

in response to Tobriand.... I tried your order (with the exception of inserting the smc with the power on)

and no go... any more suggestions?

d

PS thanks to everyone... i really do appreciate the help.
 
You mentioned that you had two computers - try the other one, use it to put GPDrive or Phodrive on, and then use that for the time being. Perhaps. Unless the other computer is as borked as this one seems. I do remember I had a situation where my GP32 wouldn't be recognised on my own computer, but worked fine with my dad's, so that could be worth a shot.

It started working after a re-install of Windows, but I doubt you can be bothered to go through that.

Once you've got one of the drives on, you'll need a mass storage driver to use it in Win 98; there's one on the M$ homepage, I think.

Otherwise, grab yourself an SMC reader/writer, and just use that. They're a LOT faster anyway, and not that pricey :D
 
I see.... I actually have been using both computers the whole way...

hopping back and forth between them-- trying the ideas i have been getting on both...

but thanks for actually suggesting it.... i know everyone must be running out of ideas.... and since you cant see what I am doing on my end.... that just makes the whole process weirder.

I am prepared to buy a reader/writer if i have to... i have invested too much money here not to try... but i want to make sure I am not leaving any potential solutions out....

still hoping for a miracle...

d
 
Back
Top