[Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver] Emulation Help Thread

[doctordoom61]

Make sure you are using the correct code that corresponds to the particular version that you are playing! I'm playing the US SoulSilver btw!
SAVE AND RESTART EMULATOR OFTEN! I'm on the way to union cave! So far the only crash i've had was upon leaving the Ruins Of Alph research house!

Sorry for double posting, but I'm no expert and i just tried something new, I entered the Ruins with codes for BOTH games on. Entered and left Ruins of Alph research house with no problems. Tried to save in the Ruins and No$GBA started running at 50% and didnt finish saving! Restarted emulator and to my suprise, the game DID save! With only the SoulSilver code on, I entered the Research House again over and over again with no problems! Did not attempt to save again! Can or someone else experiment with both codes on post their results?!

EDIT: I think that activating the HeartGold cheat in SoulSilver only causes the aforementioned saving problem! Saved normally with it off but froze during save with it on and still loaded properly from where the game froze! (i believe that the game saves all data then freezes before saying ------- saved the game! which is why the game still pulls up properly!)

 

[Destiny.]

Wow this US version AP is killing me -.-

I don't think we're allowed to upload BIOS, that's the part that's normally illegal :/
You can Google it, BIOS 7 and BIOS 9 should be the files you need

Hey, has anyone else tried activating the cheat to bypass black screen, deactivate and then play as normal? It seems to crash less for me :/

HOW TO USE JAPANESE .SAV WITH USA VERSION ROM!
1) Rename your save file to the name of your new US rom
2) Play the game

I think this means you can use the same Pokesav with US HGSS as well :3

Rom runs for me at 90-28% overworld on No$gba
Runs at around 175% in battles
Using the following No$gba setting:
Unlimited MHZ 100%

 

[doctordoom61]

^ i definitely will try that if I start having problems again! (After Witney and Morty)
I have used POKESAV!!! Doesn't seem to have caused any problems!
How far have you gotten Destiny?!

EDIT: After saving in one spot multiple times then saving once with the HeartGold cheat on, the game froze! Reloded and the game said that the save file is corrupted, previous save will be loaded! Not a problem since I saved at the same spot!

 

[Avegaille]

Hmm, I suppose I should share to you guys how I was able to run my USA HG ROM with only the minor problems like the Battle pausing and then a one-time crash (always remember to save often and close the emulator afterwards to be safe).

Anyways... here's what I used:

- eNDryptS Advanced (for encrypting/decrypting your ROMs)
- NDS Top System (for checking if your ROM is encrypted/decrypted)
- Firmware files from your NDS (these includes: BIOSGBA.ROM, biosnds7.ROM, biosnds9.ROM, firmware.bin, key.cfg) Make sure you have all of these.
- no$GBA ver. 2.6a
- Clean HG/SS ROM (if you've got yourselves the patched ones, you're pretty much screwed)

1. Check if your HG/SS ROM Header is clean via NDS Top System. If it says it's corrupted, you will need to use eNDryptS Advance. If it says the header is correct and encrypted, head to Step 3.

2. If your ROM is decrypted, run the eNDryptS Advance. Make sure it's in the same folder as your ROM. Just follow the on-screen instructions, going with option 1 and it'll do the rest for you. After that, exit.

3. Open up any ROM with no$GBA 2.6a. Go to Options -> Emulation Setup.

4. Look under Reset/Startup Entrypoint and select GBA BIOS (Nintendo Logo) and press OK.

5. Go at Options again and then "Save Options".

6. Close the emulator, open up this time your new encrypted ROM and start playing.

Finally, the reminder of saving and closing the emulator itself after saving is a must. Other than that, the game runs smoothly for me, I'm about to get to Clair's gym now.

No patches, no cheat codes, no nothing. Just these should be enough.

 

[Abnegation]

Any news of an Anti-Freeze as of yet?
Using R4, just got to my 3rd badge and it's been getting progressively worse and freezing constantly.
I checked around google and got no results. Anyone know if there's one available?

 

[Silver_Wind]

Been using No$GBA,

Using a AR Code referenced from 'Rageman". So far I have captured 4th badge. Gamplay freezes here and there from time to time. Also pieces of areas glitch up, usually turning black.

Rom has crashed on several occasions, but I can deal with it now. Saving most of the time is the best way to go.

Still waiting on updates. But progressing through the game decently.

-Silver

 

[Team Rocket's Raichu]

Any news of an Anti-Freeze as of yet?
Using R4, just got to my 3rd badge and it's been getting progressively worse and freezing constantly.
I checked around google and got no results. Anyone know if there's one available?

Maybe you should buy the game instead. There is the best anti-freeze patch you could ever get. :3

 

[slnkmt]

Hi, im matt, long time reader, but first time poster. I was getting frustrated with this crashing business, so i used some trial and error solutions for the no$GBA. What i found was as follows:

1. To stop the "fainting" glitch, make sure that you did not turn the sound off on the emu

2. Do not move your mouse outside the emulator screen, or at all, during saving, or it will crash.

3. Do not save the control settings, if u did, it will crash. This is my most exciting find, as i just got the 3rd HM and it kept crashing when i saved.
So like you should do if you set the starting point on BIOS and it keeps crashing, delete the configuration settings (NO$GBA.INI) file and it should remove the saved settings and fix the crashes (hopefully).

I hope this is helpful to some, and if it makes sense at all. Sorry if this is spam or repeating someones post....

 

[orelkayam]

do any other emulated versions are supposed to be realeased soon?

 

[Avegaille]

3. Do not save the control settings, if u did, it will crash. This is my most exciting find, as i just got the 3rd HM and it kept crashing when i saved.
So like you should do if you set the starting point on BIOS and it keeps crashing, delete the configuration settings (NO$GBA.INI) file and it should remove the saved settings and fix the crashes (hopefully).

...? Perhaps you don't have the firmware files if your emulator keeps crashing like that when using the BIOS start up? I was able to run a clean ROM just fine with the BIOS start-up along with firmware files on the same folder as no$GBA. Also, my version is 2.6a.

 

[mmiller235]

So I am having this problem where I will be playing, the ROM will crash, and I will lose massive amounts of progress. So I figure I'll just keep a backup of the save file every time I save the game just in case. So I do this. The ROM eventually crashes, and I attempt to revert to the backup. It makes no difference. I still lose a whole bunch of progress. How the hell is it possible that the ROM crash destroys not only the regular save file, but also a copy of the save file that i keep in a completely different directory that no$gba has no way of knowing about? WTF!

 

[slnkmt]

@Avegaille I was under the impression that you had to set the emu settings to bios, then run the game....

 

[Avegaille]

@Avegaille I was under the impression that you had to set the emu settings to bios, then run the game....

Yes, I do. Also, the ROM's header needs to be encrypted before you can run said ROM under BIOS mode with firmware files.

So, basically, I use NDS Top System to check if the ROM headers are encrypted or decrypted while using eNDryptS Advanced to decrypt/encrypt ROMs. In order for me to go back to the usual Start Cartridge Directly, I have to open up an encrypted ROM and change my setting from there, otherwise, I get the emu crash.

(also, my post from the previous page will direct you to how I was able to run the ROM smoothly, without any patches, but there's still the save every 10 mins and close the emulator ordeal.)

 

[Destiny.]

This thread contains EVERYTHING that we know so far about the ROM and its constant troubles.

[https://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=213557]

A summary of the facts from the thread
Anti-Piracy
The US version of Soul Silver has different AP from the Japanese ROM. This means that almost all the fixes we've applied to the Japanese ROM won't work for US. The freezes depend on the number of badges you have.

The freezes

Spoiler:

US version
There is no fix as of yet for the US version. These codes will prevent the black screen when loading a save file for US:

Pokemon HeartGold (U) black screen fix code:
020DD9E4 E1A00000
020D3820 E1A00000

Pokemon Soul Silver (U) black screen fix code:
020DE16C E1A00000
020D3FA8 E1A00000

How to prevent freezes US

Spoiler:

Method 1) Because freezes are event/badge based, you can use POKESAV HGSS version to edit your save file to remove badges.
You have to use the latest HGSS Pokesav which must be NORMAL, following this Tutorial
[HOW TO REMOVE BADGES!]

Method 2) I've already tried encrypting the ROM, can't say whether it works or not, my current save file is past the first badge and I haven't experienced freeze yet. Loading a ROM from GBA BIOS only works if it has been encrypted!
YOU DO NOT NEED THE BLACKSCREEN BYPASS IF YOU HAVE USED ENCRYPTION! After you have saved the No$GBA 2.6a options, exit the emulator THEN run the ROM, therefore bypassing ROM IMAGE CRASH!

Here is Avegaille's encrytion method

Spoiler:

Hmm, I suppose I should share to you guys how I was able to run my USA HG ROM with only the minor problems like the Battle pausing and then a one-time crash (always remember to save often and close the emulator afterwards to be safe).

Anyways... here's what I used:

- eNDryptS Advanced (for encrypting/decrypting your ROMs)
- NDS Top System (for checking if your ROM is encrypted/decrypted)
- Firmware files from your NDS (these includes: BIOSGBA.ROM, biosnds7.ROM, biosnds9.ROM, firmware.bin, key.cfg) Make sure you have all of these.
- no$GBA ver. 2.6a
- Clean HG/SS ROM (if you've got yourselves the patched ones, you're pretty much screwed)

1. Check if your HG/SS ROM Header is clean via NDS Top System. If it says it's corrupted, you will need to use eNDryptS Advance. If it says the header is correct and encrypted, head to Step 3.

2. If your ROM is decrypted, run the eNDryptS Advance. Make sure it's in the same folder as your ROM. Just follow the on-screen instructions, going with option 1 and it'll do the rest for you. After that, exit.

3. Open up any ROM with no$GBA 2.6a. Go to Options -> Emulation Setup.

4. Look under Reset/Startup Entrypoint and select GBA BIOS (Nintendo Logo) and press OK.

5. Go at Options again and then "Save Options".

6. Close the emulator, open up this time your new encrypted ROM and start playing.

Finally, the reminder of saving and closing the emulator itself after saving is a must. Other than that, the game runs smoothly for me, I'm about to get to Clair's gym now.

No patches, no cheat codes, no nothing. Just these should be enough.

Japanese Version
There is no fix, but you can play up to 14 hours without freeze. Fix under spoiler tags

Spoiler:

Use the Pokemon Heart Gold or Pokemon Soul Silver Roms from the "HG/SS ORIGINAL Rom" folder to do the following:

STEP 1 - Patch Original Rom with the "No-Freeze RUDOLPH PATCH".

STEP 2 - [Optional - ONLY if you want the menus, Pokemon, attacks, etc. in English]
Patch with the ENGLISH PATCH

(I use KAZOWAR's english patch v6)

STEP 3 - Patch with the CHEAT PATCH.
[It patches the No-Black Screen AR cheat into the game to stop the Black Screen.]

sTEP 4 - Use the ROM DECRYPTER.

STEP 5 - Go into No$GBA's Emulator Settings and make sure the Reset/Startup Entrypoint is set to "GBA BIOS (Nintendo Logo)" before playing.

--------------
As it happens, I think I'm not allowed to post the links. These are easily found on the Internet, do a Google search. If you become tired of enabling DS cheats manually every time you start up No$GBA download an auto trainer called DSATM. It can patch a rom PERMANENTLY with an anti-black screen code, like this one:

020DD9E4 E1A00000
020D3820 E1A00000

Patches? Rudolph's anti freeze is the best. Follow the instructions above for the best result.

Save often and exit when you do. No$GBA 2.6a only writes SAVs when you exit the emulator. ROM running slow?

Set the EMULATION SPEED in options to Unlimited MHZ disaster 50% NDS catridge backup to Auto. Put Sound Output to DIGITAL MONO and Sample rate to LOW.

Can't help those with DESMUME. The best you can do with this is set the FRAMERATE up higher. Speed up codes for NO$GBA 2.6a (DOES NOT WORK WITH DESMUME):


SPEED UP CODES
*WARNING: DO NOT ENTER TRAINER CARD WHEN USING, results in FREEZE*
Movement 2x (NPC sprites stuffed up, does not affect actual gameplay)
E2000400 00000018
6837AE06 D1012F03
60372709 D0022B02
085F0056 1C164770
02000418 47701C1F
52000418 47701C1F
02061F30 FA66F79E
D0000000 00000000

Make Game faster
1200F798 00002200
1200F7BC 00002200
12002316 00002100
1201FF8E 00001C0C
1201FF90 00004818
1201FFBE 0000BD10
0201FFC0 E7E53C2D
1201FFCE 0000D0DF
1201FFDA 0000E7F1

HOW TO FIX THE INTRO UP
Experiencing Black-Screen? This is because you haven't ENCRYPTED your ROM yet

HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING THINGS I'VE MENTIONED?
I downloaded a compilation of all the aforementioned programs from EVILCLOWNBOBO. *hint hint*

Lol, shouldn't be anymore emulation problems now ^_^

Frequently Asked Questions

Spoiler:

Can I use my JAPN .SAV with USA
Yes you can. Simply rename the .sav to the name of your US rom. Works vice-versa as well.

I can't save my ROM?!
Make sure saving for No$ is set to Auto, and save as per normal. I believe saving only works in No$GBA 2.6a

What do I need to run the ROM?
No$GBA 2.6a (I know you're meant to buy it, but you can't. Search and download free)\ Or DesMuME <This emu crashes more and is MUCH slower>
BIOS (All of it. This means BIOS 7, BIOS 9, key.cfg. It is illegal to distribute them, so you have to Google it for yourself)
EncryptDS (optional, though it helps) or Black screen bypass codes
Pokesav HGSS (also optional)

I can't edit my save file with Pokesav! The save file appears with random characters in Pokesav!
METHOD 1
Download a No$GBA converter: https://gba.mywebcommunity.org/
Then open it in Pokesav

METHOD 2 (without converter)
Alternatively, open NO$GBA Config settings.
Change the following piece of text:
SAV/SNA File Format
to raw
This is what the part of the CONFIG should look like now
SAV/SNA File Format == Raw
Now you can open it in Pokesav and edit.

My emulator settings
Unlimited MHZ Disaster 50%
GBA BIOS (nintendo logo)
24 bit true
nocash renderer
VGA (poppy bright)
Auto (GBA backup)
Auto (NDS backup)
Darkness (solar sensor)
Digital mono (fast) [unless you want the game to be unbearably slow. No sound causes freeze when Pokemon faints.]
Low (10 kHz) [again, for speed]
None/disabled (multiboot)

To prevent the 'Save Settings crash'
Save settings. Exit emulator. Then reopen it and load the Rom. Now it should be fine.

USEFUL CODES (so you don't need your badges as often)
in testing Walkthrough walls
94000130 FCFD0200
1205DAA2 00000200
D2000000 00000000
94000130 FCFD0100
1205DAA2 00001C20
D2000000 00000000

R+B to enable, L+B to disable.

 

[Abnegation]

@Destiny
I input the codes you provided into an R4 (AR cheat database) to see if they would work and I don't think it made too much pf a difference there I'm afraid.
I also must note that the ROM starts to freeze a lot around the time you get your third badge, it's a struggle to get to your fourth with constant warp freezes and also on exiting a menu/saving.

Edit:
Rom totally crashed after 4th badge. Cannot bypass the freeze, I assume that that's as far as you can get unfortunately.

 

[orelkayam]

guys i can't find KEY.CFG File anywhere!
someone found it and can tell me where i can find it or send it to me via email or somehing?

 

[doctordoom61]

I've been playing SoulSilver on no$GBA with ONLY the AR codes! I've only gotten one crash! I will soon be battling Whitney! How many people have problems after Whitney using No$GBA and ONLY the AR codes?!

Also should I ever turn the codes off?!

 

[Destiny.]

Abnegation- The codes only prevent blackscreen, the one you get when you try to load a save game (I left that out, sorry)
Yeah, the freezes get more frequent the more badges you have.
You could continue playing with the Japanese ROM.

orelkayam- https://www.mediafire.com/?m4jmt4wmwoj
doctordoom61- Your going to have to keep using them. Otherwise, you won't be able to load save file :'(

 

[Taichi]

@DestinyEdit:
Rom totally crashed after 4th badge. Cannot bypass the freeze, I assume that that's as far as you can get unfortunately.

Same goes for me unfortunately...

 

[sampika08]

They have japanese versions with almost 100% english patches. Why get this glitch-ridden US version?