This is the official No$gba thread. Do not start a new thread for problems with No$gba. All questions go in this thread. Anyone starting a new topic will have points deducted and will be eligible for a warn.
No$gba is a pretty decent emulator, that is recommended for older and slower computers (for faster ones try DeSmuME). Most roms can be played with decent speed and save support, when No$Zoomer and external BIOS and Firmware files are used.Below are the instructions to run the emulator and a FAQ. Take a look at the emulator screenshots in section 3 further below, they may be useful to illustrate and indicate where some functions are.
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Read the instructions properly and thoroughly. Anyone who asks a question where the answer is posted here already will have points deducted.
1. How to Use No$gba?
- STEP 1: Download the emulatorThe latest version of No$gba can be found here. Download the latest version, then create a new folder and extract it there.
- STEP 2: Additional Files (YOU MUST USE THESE)
- BIOS and FIRMWARE - These help to fix freezing/black screen and other emulation problems. Download, extract and place them in the SAME folder as your emulator.- Download here
- NO$Zoomer - Download and extract the content in the SAME folder as your emulator:- Download & Information on NGEmu *READ* (needs registration to download, and 7-Zip to extract) - Provides a lot of useful features, such as screen size adjustment, volume control, rotation etc., and significantly improves emulation.
- STEP 3: Download the roms - All NDS roms can be found on DGEmu.
- STEP 4: Run the roms - IMPORTANT: Unzip the rom. Zip files are ostensibly supported, but it is better to use uncompressed files.Click on No$Zoomer.EXE. A window will pop up asking you which file to load. Chose a rom and click on 'OK'. Should the menu bar only contain kanji (japanese letters) or empty boxes, open the second menu from the right, then the third option from the bottom. Here, you can set your language, preferably to English (Squall Leonhart).
- STEP 5: Save type * Can be skipped, read for troubleshooting - It should be okay to leave it at Automatic, which should be the default. If, however, you get a "failed to read data" or "reinsert cartridge" error message, you might need to change the savetype
- Go to Options -> Emulation Setup and under NDS Backup Media, choose the correct save type.
- You can find the save type at AdvanScene or at PocketHeaven.
- If the information is not available, try all possible save types until you find the good one.
- Save the setting (Options -> Save options) so that the save type is saved.
- Go to File -> Reset Cartridge. If you skip out this step, the rom still won't save. The rom must be reset for the new save type to take effect. Now you have in game save support.
- If saving still doesn't work, try using the size eight times smaller than the one listed. For example, EEPROM 64kb (notice the lower case 'b') is the same as EEPROM 8kB (notice the upper case 'B'). This is because there are eight bits ('b') in every byte ('B').This a chart for save types:EEPROM - 4Kbit = EEPROM 0.5KBytesEEPROM - 64Kbit = EEPROM 8KBytesEEPROM - 512Kbit = EEPROM 64KBytesFLASH 2048Kbit(2Mbit) = FLASH 256KBytesFLASH 4096Kbit(4Mbit) = FLASH 512KBytesFRAM 256Kbit = FRAM 32KByte
- STEP 6: If all else failsEnsure you have Unzipped the ROM, that you are using No$Zoomer 2.3.0.2, that you have downloaded both BIOS files plus the Firmware file.Ensure that all of these files (the .nds ROM, No$Zoomer.exe, No$gba.exe, both BIOS files, Firmware.bin) are in the same folder.If it still does not work:
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2. Additional FeaturesFOR NO$ZOOMER:- Open No$Zoomer. Open the ROM with it.
- Press F11 to go to Emulation Setup. Change the Reset/Startup Entrypoint to "GBA BIOS". Then go to Options -> Save No$gba settings.
- Reset the ROM using File -> Reset.It should work now.
- Increasing Emulation Speed: No$gba offers you the possibility of choosing the speed of your play, just go to Options->Emulation setup and in "Emulation speed", choose one of the options, the fastest being "Unlimited MHz, Disaster 10%".
- Microphone Support: No$gba supports this feature, but it is not 100% reliable. To make it work, go to Options->Emulation setup and in "Sound output", choose either "Mono" or "Stereo" (not "None").
- Taking Screenshots: Just go to Utility->Screenshot. Next open any image editing program (such as MSPaint) and go Edit->Paste.
- Cheats: The latest version of No$gba supports Codebreaker and Action Replay cheats. Turning on codes may affect performance, most notably speed. You should not turn on the codes until you need them.
- Press F2 or go Utility -> Cheats
- Click "Add new".
- Paste the code into the first textbox, name your code in the long textbox, select Codebreaker or Action Replay depending on the type of code, and click OK.
- Double click the code to activate/deactivate it.
- Pausing the emulator: Under File -> Pause
- Volume Controls: Options -> Volume. Previously No$gba only allowed sound to be "ON" or "OFF", and OFF affected emulation of some games. Now you can adjust the volume.
- Screen Size adjustment, Rotation, Savegame dumping, Microphone settings, Extras: Please refer to the NGEmu thread.It is highly recommended to read through it, as it is very informative.
Note that the savestates in No$Zoomer are not working, despite the options being present under the File menu.
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3. Emulator Screenshots
Emulation and Controls Setup Window
No$gba Recommended Settings
Credit for image above: Tin Dog
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4. Frequently Asked Questions - (also see the excellent NGEmu's No$gba FAQ)
Q: Is No$gba a good emulator?
A: Yes, though it's rather outdated it can still emulate many ROMs using No$Zoomer and the BIOS and Firmware files.
Q: Where can I download it?
A: Read Step 1 above.
Q: Can it play all roms?
A: Not all but most.
Q: I tried to open a rom, but a black screen flashed, then a message box pops up saying "Cartridge not found"
A: Unzip your rom first, like I said in Step 4.
Q: Does it support save?
A: In-game save only, read the step 5 above to set the correct save type.
Q: Can it save state?
A: Not at all, despite the "Load State" and "Save State" options in the File Menu of No$Zoomer.
Q: The game is too slow, how can I increase the speed?
A: There are a couple of things you can do to improve the speed:
- Shut down all unnecessary programs, such as MSN Messenger.
- Go to Options->Emulation setup, then in "Emulation Speed" choose "Unlimited MHz, Disaster 10%".
- Disable the sound in the emulator options. Sound is required by some games however (e.g. Pokemon).
Other than the above, there is nothing more you can do.
Q: How can I use cheats?
A: Read the Instructions above, under "Additional Features".
Q: Can I use link and wifi?
A: No, not at all. Don't ask about it, it won't happen.
Q: How do I emulate hinge close/open?
A: Minimize No$gba to emulate hinge close. Click it again to emulate hinge open.
Q: How can I enlarge or rotate the screen?
A: Use No$Zoomer as indicated in Step 2.
Q: Where did the compatibility list go? I can't see it anymore.
A: It wasn't updated anymore and pointless in the end. If you really need one, however, the NGEmu Forums still has a list here: http://forums.ngemu....hot-thread.html
Q: Some games require microphone support. Does No$gba have it?
A: Yes. No$gba should be able to recognize any microphone that is plugged into your computer automatically.
Q: Some characters/items/etc. are transparent. How do I fix this?
A: Use v2.6a, this should fix the transparency problem for most games. If it doesn't work then there's nothing that can be done.
Q: Does No$gba have a Mac or Linux version?
A: No, only Windows (and DOS). There is a way to run the Windows version on Mac or Linux using Wine.
Q: How can you solve the "Microphone Wave Failure"?
A: Use No$Zoomer, go to Options and uncheck "MIC ON". If you don't/can't use No$Zoomer (which is not a good idea!):
You mean "Microphone Wave Failure" right? The most common cause of this is no$gba's mic emulation picking up sounds from other applications. You're best bet is to mute everything else. Another solution would be to open your "recording settings" in windows volume control and select a source like AUX, Line-in, or something you don't use if you don't have a microphone. That way, no interference will get in the way.
Or just turn off sound and turn it on only when you need to use the MIC.
Q: How can you play a game without a MIC?
A: Please read this post from ngemu about Audacity:
Okay slightly less confusing explanation of what I did. You don't need a microphone to make this work. I have this free open source audio recording program called Audacity. In it you can select which source to record from in that drop down box from the top (as seen in the picture). It defaults to microphone, selecting Stereo/Mono mix makes it record from what's playing in your speakers. However instead of just just doing that, it seems to change what's being played directly into mic input in windows itself. Meaning if you leave it on Stereo/Mono Mix and close the program, put on some music and open anything else that records from the mic (teamspeak, windows sound recorder, skype) and you will notice it to will instead of grabbing mic input, grab what's being played. So if you don't have a mic, you can just leave it on Stereo Mix and any sound/music being played No$gba should think is mic input (as I said the music in Phoenix Wright 1 was good enough to blow away the fingerprint dust). Of course since mic input in No$gba only works if sound is on, you can't stop it from accepting the music as input at will (well you could probably just turn sound off for a second then turn it back on, I've no game that requires that to try it out on). This of course probably will make your mic useless, however simply setting the drop-down box in Audacity back to Microphone should make it work again in Windows. Hopefully that helps. Apparently Hiei-YYH and sigmax got this to work so hopefully it'll work for others.Super Simple explanation minus the reasoning or observations above. Get Audacity, select stereo mix in the drop down box as pictured. Close the program. No$gba will now pick up sound being played as mic input, the emulator's music will have some effect, play something in an audio player for more noise.
Q: How can you use Gamefaqs saves with no$gba?
A: Read this: http://www.dgemu.com...howtopic=447564
Q: Can you get pass the name screen in Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness?
A: Yes, Read this:
I assume you are using no$gba, cuz i had the same problem as well.The 'end' button isn't visible. But you can still click it.
Q: Can you play Guitar Hero?
A: Yes:
You need a patch in order to play the Rom. The patch will allow you to play using the A,B,X,Y buttons for the notes (depends on what your configuration is really.)Here's one place where you can get it with instructions:http://www.pinoycons...ut-guitar-grip/Follow steps 1-7Tested and works on both flashcart & emulator.
Q: I heard v2.7 is out. If it's not when will it be out?
A: The v2.7 release does NOT exist. Anything that claims to be is either 2.6a or a virus. There is no known date of when 2.7 will be released, or even if it will EVER be released. 2.6a came out many years ago and the developer disappeared years ago (you can't even download No$gba from his official website now), so right now it's assumed that No$gba coding has ceased.
Q: How to I play a game in a different language?
A: Most games load the language based upon the firmware of the DS that's currently loaded. So if a game supports English and French and your DS is selected to French, then the game will often load French. This isn't always the case though - some games use in-game menus instead.To simulate this on no$gba, you need to download firmwares that match which languages you want. The DS supports 6 - English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Japanese.You can also use the nds firmware editor from here: http://forums.ngemu....are-editor.html (registration required)Just edit the DS_FIRMWARE.BIN in the DS_FIRMWARE folder of no$gba. Do note though that you cannot set Reset/Startup Entrypoint in the No$gba Options to "GBA BIOS" (nds firmware) as this will make no$gba crash and renders it unusable unless you change the ini file.
Credits:
