Neo Flash Cart for Dummies - Help!

[D-Lite]

One more thing that I need to say is that this cart has allowed me fully enjoy Tongueman's Logic.  It's just some awesome work.

[schnuth]

I guess you could say it's the price of playing R0Mz.s

At least a Core is cheap as the flash cart gaming system. 

     Thanks for checking Dean.  I just wanted to make sure it wasn't just my card.  So no ROMs in S-video for me.  No biggie.  The only game I ever got working on the flash cart with the region mod was Devil's Crush.  All the others either had some graphical issues or would not play at all.

[SNKNostalgia]

It could just be some of the roms themselves not being perfect, try alternative ones. What is this about no S-video with the flash cart mention? Does it not work? Plus my system is region modded with the mini pcb from grahf. I am thinking of getting one of these carts for games like Magical Chase, Bonk 3 and some rare and obscure PCE titles.

[D-Lite]

It could just be some of the roms themselves not being perfect, try alternative ones. What is this about no S-video with the flash cart mention? Does it not work? Plus my system is region modded with the mini pcb from grahf. I am thinking of getting one of these carts for games like Magical Chase, Bonk 3 and some rare and obscure PCE titles.

His S-Video modded Duo also happens to be his region-modded Duo.

[geise]

Man I'm sorry everyone has been having so many problems with their flash cart.  I was thinking about ordering one of these months ago, but wanted to search for more feedback before shelling out the dough.  Here's a question that I have.  Will this work on my US Duo?  I figured I'd have to use my Kisado ver.B converter, but the flash cart seems a bit long.  I'm not sure it will fit.

[nat]

geise, it will work 100% fine in your US Duo.

You don't need a converter, either.

You can set the region of the flash cart when you put the ROMs on it. You can change it any time.

[Mortis]

1. What's with these dinky little CDs? My everyday 2GHz Mac has a slot-loading DVD+RW drive so I can't insert this disc into it. It just disappears into the slot and doesn't do anything. I had to use a paperclip to pry it back out. Then, I had to go boot up the ol' PowerMac 6300 (which has a tray CD-ROM) and copy the contents of the CD over my LAN to the new Mac. After I removed the little piece of crap disc, a huge chunk of the reflective foil just ripped off in my hand! I couldn't believe it. Talk about cheap. Luckily I got the files off in time. I can at least burn them to some real media now. Did they really save that much by putting the support files on these tiny discs? I've never even seen these for sale anywhere. It almost seems like you'd spend more time and money seeking out these small CD-Rs than if you just used crappy regular media that comes pennies a piece. Jeez.

2. Does anyone else's setup not look new? The back of my flash cart has lots of those scratches HuCards get after being inserted and removed a zillion times from systems. It even has a 1/2" dirty smudge on it. It was the first thing I noticed when I took it out of the package.

Aye! We just received ours and indeed the mini-CD is totally covered in oily dirt and scratched to the point where you'd think it was rubbed in a pile of nails. And what do you know, a strip of foil also got stuck on my brother's hand when he was handling the disc! It's a miracle the CD still read - I instantly made a backup .iso of the CD in case it decides not to work later (wouldn't be surprised at all). My brother's CD drive didn't read the disc at all, either - good thing there's more than one computer in the house.

Secondly, you're right about the cart looking used, ours too looks like it's been "tested"... whatever that means.

I got the same errors others have had, but strangely enough the peripheral works fine on my brother's computer. The only difference in our installation method was that he ran "Update USB Driver.exe" where I didn't bother with it. Who knows...

[nat]

1. What's with these dinky little CDs? My everyday 2GHz Mac has a slot-loading DVD+RW drive so I can't insert this disc into it. It just disappears into the slot and doesn't do anything. I had to use a paperclip to pry it back out. Then, I had to go boot up the ol' PowerMac 6300 (which has a tray CD-ROM) and copy the contents of the CD over my LAN to the new Mac. After I removed the little piece of crap disc, a huge chunk of the reflective foil just ripped off in my hand! I couldn't believe it. Talk about cheap. Luckily I got the files off in time. I can at least burn them to some real media now. Did they really save that much by putting the support files on these tiny discs? I've never even seen these for sale anywhere. It almost seems like you'd spend more time and money seeking out these small CD-Rs than if you just used crappy regular media that comes pennies a piece. Jeez.

2. Does anyone else's setup not look new? The back of my flash cart has lots of those scratches HuCards get after being inserted and removed a zillion times from systems. It even has a 1/2" dirty smudge on it. It was the first thing I noticed when I took it out of the package.

Aye! We just received ours and indeed the mini-CD is totally covered in oily dirt and scratched to the point where you'd think it was rubbed in a pile of nails. And what do you know, a strip of foil also got stuck on my brother's hand when he was handling the disc! It's a miracle the CD still read - I instantly made a backup .iso of the CD in case it decides not to work later (wouldn't be surprised at all). My brother's CD drive didn't read the disc at all, either - good thing there's more than one computer in the house.

Yeah, Neo Team's packaging/documentation/driver skills need some SERIOUS work. It's a good thing they know how to make a good flash cart otherwise I'd be extremely pissed off. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the worst overall packaging job I've seen in 20 years (and I'm not talking about the plastic package itself).

Secondly, you're right about the cart looking used, ours too looks like it's been "tested"... whatever that means.

Apparently Neo Team's testing regimen includes a game of rugby, using the cart as the ball.

I got the same errors others have had, but strangely enough the peripheral works fine on my brother's computer. The only difference in our installation method was that he ran "Update USB Driver.exe" where I didn't bother with it. Who knows...

That's funny, I ran that program like 65 times and it didn't do a f*cking thing.

[MissaFX]

The only thing iffy about my card package is that the card itself has 50% dirty contacts.  I have no idea what is on them, nor how to clean it off.  It is some kind of substance which makes the contacts look milky.  It is only on the half of the contacts which would be the most outside parts of them if it was inserted into a NEC system.  I am guessing it was glue from the manufacturing process, but I'm not sure.

[Necromancer]

The only thing iffy about my card package is that the card itself has 50% dirty contacts.  I have no idea what is on them, nor how to clean it off.  It is some kind of substance which makes the contacts look milky.  It is only on the half of the contacts which would be the most outside parts of them if it was inserted into a NEC system.  I am guessing it was glue from the manufacturing process, but I'm not sure.

It's most likely glue or some of the white paint that covers the exposed pcb.  I'd take it off with 60 grit aluminum oxide on a belt sander.  Don't use a orbital sander, as it's best to keep the scratches going in the same direction as the contacts. 

Seriously though, are you having any usage problems, or is it just an aesthetic issue?  If everything works fine, I'd just leave well enough alone.

[Paisa49]

This is one of the better threads on here. It's been very informative reading through what you all have experienced in installing the drivers onto your computers. Hopefully, I won't have as many issues when I decide to order mine.

[MissaFX]

Seriously though, are you having any usage problems, or is it just an aesthetic issue?  If everything works fine, I'd just leave well enough alone.

I won't know until the Core Grafx II arrives in a few weeks, but I also don't want to get the gunk in the Core Grafx II if it comes off with use.  No pin is covered 100% though, so I am guessing it will work.

[Turbo D]

when I got mine, it was in new condition. Maybe his work ethic has gone down hill 

[MissaFX]

when I got mine, it was in new condition. Maybe his work ethic has gone down hill 

I don't think that is it.  My guess is lack of clean facilities to produce the cards and some of the CDs might have been exposed to heat.  Because of what people said, I have tried on purpose to get some of the foil to go on to my hand and I cannot.  There was a tiny bit of something black on the card as well, but it cleaned right up by lightly wiping it with a towel.  I really don't think it is used product though being sold at new.

[nat]

I really don't think it is used product though being sold at new.

I agree. I picture an overweight nerdy guy sitting in a room full of empty pizza boxes and half-eaten meals strewn about. Intermingled with all the trashy mess are heaps of those little POS CD-Rs and freshly assembled flash carts, all ready to be packaged up. Between bites of three day old pizza he seals up the driver CD-Rs into those little plastic baggies without bothering to wipe his hands. A few lucky recipients (such as Paisa and myself) get grease encrusted driver discs and carts that look like they were on the front lines over in Iraq.