Selfboot to non selfboot REZ problems

thatguy128 · #1 18-03-2003, 11:56

I've looked around the forums and the net and could only find really old information on how to do this that doesn't seem to work.
I have a selfbooting backup disk for REZ that is only 450MB. Towards the end of the game, there is FMV that starts to skip and eventually freeze on a white screen. What I want to do is un-selfboot it, dummy the file to 77mins then re-selfboot it.
I used disk juggler and Nero to rip a cdi and an nrg. Then I tried to use CDMage to extract the image. It failed on both accounts. I've also used CDIRip but then auto dummy wont recognize a multisession disk. Any tips on how to accomplish this would be greatly appreciated!

Megalexxx · #2 18-03-2003, 23:57

I wonder why people want to convert selfboot games to non boot games just to add a dummy. Sometimes, things are just too easy; people need to get them complicated.

Anyway, a bit of theory.
What makes a DC CD selfboot ?
1) 2 sessions, because DC looks at a file located in the boot sector of 2nd session (ip.bin)
2) a small value in 1st_read.bin (8 bytes before "CD001") that tells the DC where to find ip.bin (LBA value). This value can be modified with binhack.

So, if you want to convert a selfboot game to a non boot game, simply extrat all your files to a directory (using windows explorer for example), create a correct ip.bin and burn all your files just as it. I'm not even sure if you need to binhack 1st_read.bin...

BUT, if you only want to add a dummy :
1) extract all your files from your CD (windows explorer if you already burnt it, or CDMage if the image is supported, or CDIRip + ISOFix + CDMage if it isn't)
2) extract CDDA if there are some (still CDMage, or CDIRip, or my tools : http://home.tiscali.be/nomax/PALPatcher/ if it's a CDI image)
3) create a correct ip.bin or extract it from your image (with CDRWin or my tool). You don't even need this step if you use Bin2Boot...
4) create your dummy file
5) follow Echelon's tutorial to make a selfboot game, or use Bin2Boot.

thatguy128 · #3 19-03-2003, 23:24

Thanks for your help, but I'm still a little confused about a couple of things:
Can I use CDMage to view a cdi, then just add in my dummy file "000dummy.dat" or can CDMage only extract files? What I mean is, is there anyway just to add a file to a .cdi?

And if I can't do that, how do I make a .bin file from the files I extract with windows explorer? CDMage doesn't seem to like the cdi's I'm creating, it freezes up for long periods of time. I'm also downloading REZ again to see If that helps.

Thanks again!