A first guide in making selfbootable dc games DATA+DATA(mode2)

[@mt@]

After two days something happened

The secret in making this new selfbootable method working is to merge the latest track with
the first one.
It is possible using CDrWin or using Cdrecord, personally I chosen Cdrecord.
Before I start I have to say that it is a tedious procedure and not perfectly matching the
LBA 45000 offset of the 2nd track.
I am not certain of it but surelly new console hardware, I am referring to new Dreamcasr
console, require the LBA 45000 offset for the 'boot' file.

My idea:
For having an offset of 45000 you should do this calcolous:
1 st track must be of 68.812.800 bytes that means 33600 sectors(68.812.800/2048)
The remaining 11400 sectors will be used by the lead-out track I suppose.
So thereoretically we have an offset of 45000 sectors (33600 sectors used by our track
and the remaining 11400 used by the lead out).
In practice when you will go to burn a blank cd with a track of this size you will find
that the LBA will be of 45002...2 sectors greater.
I think that the only way to fix a data track in manner to reach the 45000 offset is to
make it of 68.780.032 bytes(32kbytes smaller) and hack it then.
Actually I am thinking about writing some data code in making it possible but my ideas are
too vanishing at this moment.
Do not try using Isofix to hack it...this program cheats only the initial offset(LBA) not
the layout offset!
So let's start in making our games selfbootable from LBA 45002:

-It is necessary to select game data to be stored in the first track, generally they may not
exceed ~ 67.677.490 bytes.
-It is a good solution to create a 000DUMMY folder that will be written with the other game
data files chosen for the first track. The reason is simple: if your data chosen do not
match the ~ 67.677.490 bytes value you have to create in it a dummy file in manner to reach it.
You can make the '1st_read.bin' file part of the first track but I do not suggest it...it
will be a lot more tedoius work as it just is.
--Now it is time to create our first track:
Suppose to have made a directory called 'DATA' and stored in it all files selected for the
1st track you have manage this:

\root\mkisofs -V LABEL_ID -T -l -o TRACK01.iso \root\DATA

then:

\root\cdrecord -dev=x,x,x -multi -xa1 -speed=y TRACK01.iso

after this it is needed to check the layout offset:

\root\cdrecord -dev=x,x,x -msinfo

Hope it will be: 0,45002
At this time the first track has been written.

--Time for binhack and the 2nd track creation:

From all game data files that was not chosen for the 1st track you have to take apart the '1st_read.bin' and the 'ip.bin' files
(take any ip.bin file from any not-selfbootable game if you can not extract it from the
boot sector) and do this:

\root\binhack.exe
(for the first parameter type: 1st_read.bin, for the second: ip.bin, for the third: 45002)

Now you have to create a second track data with the other game files you left before
(including the 1st_read.bin).
Suppose to have created another directory called DATA2 with all the other game data inside
(those data you have left before)
This folder must also contain the '1st_read.bin' file hacked before.
So write on your command line:

\root\mkisofs -C 0,45002 -V LABEL_ID -M TRACK01.iso -l -o TRACK02.iso \root\DATA2

then:

\root\ipins.exe (first parameter: ip.bin, the second one: TRACK02.iso)

And finally:

\root\cdrecord -dev=x,x,x -xa1 -speed=y TRACK02.iso

After burning fineshed try it in your Dc.

To understand all I have wrote you have to refer to the Echelon's selfboot guide.
Some steps I have wrote are not explaining all in detail!
To use this method you have to download the Echelon's selfboot kit!
Please do not say it is too difficult I have tried making it much simplier possible.




In particular I want to thank Jorg Schilling who has shown me the right way

[@mt@]

Want only to say that for making the LBA to 45000 you have to make the 1st track of 33598 sectors.
Games that have tried to convert are:
-Rayman2
-cd no.2 of shenmue2(as I have sayd I had to remake it from 0 cause some errors were on it)

That' all.
Enjoy it

[@mt@]

If someone has a doubt I will be happy to answer to any question.
Ah...when I say "I have tried to convert ..." I want to tell you that the procedure works.
Bye.