NeoGeoX Hacking and Mods

[topher]

All the information gathered so far from the original NGX thread.

Hopefully I didn't miss any of the relevant posts so far.

Long time lurker, first time poster here. I took one for the team. For now I'm not digging any deeper than this, but the battery is soldered directly to the board.

Also when I plug the NGX in to my windows 7 laptop, while powered off, it comes up as a removable disk. Total capacity is .99GB (or 1 gig). and 156MB is in use.

Inside is one file, "sys_update_file". I opened it in word expecting the usual gibberish but my notepad stopped responding.

Ok, this may be of use to someone who is more familiar with Linux. If you hold the start button while plugging the handheld into a pc it comes up as a JZ4770 USB Boot Device.

It actually seems to be an Ingenic XBurst CPU as seen here http://en.ingenic.cn/product.aspx?CID=9

this might help

http://tabletrepublic.com/forum/pala...amer-1485.html

Heh, I found the same thing. INF file doesn't match the device, and the inf itself says 4740, not 4770, along with the VID/PID differences. Thanks though. Im still hunting for the 4770 DFU driver, assuming it'll work with the usbtools executables I got in the same package.

Nuts. Couldn't get that driver to work, but the other inf in the non-specific folder had 64bit compatible drivers for the 40, 50, and 60. Just not the 70.

I'm guessing with the USBTools program would allow access to the internal storage where the roms are kept. Provided working drivers are found.

Found a seemingly working 4770 driver! Maybe. It installed for me.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tijvvdmuu9jcjir/32Q53KaCnG

taken from ftp://ftp.ingenic.cn/2soc/4770/JZ4770_ds.pdf

[VRC-SID]

looks like if we use boot select 2 we could boot a bios from SD...assuming we had one handy.

[nerdstick]

I imagine getting inside the Ninja Master's SD would be the easiest method. Seems to be a 64MB card, RAW? Tried a few recovery programs and supposedly it has 4 files on it but none can get them out.

[SlickDizzy]

I will be following this thread closely. Really hope someone is able to hack the Neo Geo X or at least crack the SD card. If Ninja Master's is only a 64MB card, it would theoretically be possible to load up a much bigger card with multiple games and never need to swap cards. Also hoping someone can come out with a few UI tweaks, the standard one is so basic it hurts.

[Lectoid]

Took my NGX fully apart, pictures incoming... and a nice surprise

[Spoonman]

Took my NGX fully apart, pictures incoming... and a nice surprise

Hmm.. a nice surprise?
1. You figured out how to output scanlines in perfect 1080p
2. You were able to switch the country code to JPN for blood in Metal Slug
3. Secret debug menu with work memory card saves enabled
4. You were able to get every ROM to work from an SDcard?

OK.. just guessing. :P

[topher]

This was a pleasant surprise to wake up to! You guys are awesome!

I have a feeling we are going to see this completely hacked before the New Year...

[68k]

This would make an awesome MAME portable if the software is completely cracked. The hardware is pretty damn powerful.

[68k]

Also, would be interesting to attempt a CPU speed increase if the software is cracked.

You can see the 512.00 MHz oscillator located next to the SoC.



Won't be useful for Neo Geo emulation, but if MAME/Dreamcast/etc emulation is added in the future...

[HitokiriRyu]

Not to mention being able to use the dock for tv output with the emulation and possibly supporting other usb controllers.

Also, would be interesting to attempt a CPU speed increase if the software is cracked.
Won't be useful for Neo Geo emulation, but if MAME/Dreamcast/etc emulation is added in the future...

[broken]

This would make an awesome MAME portable if the software is completely cracked. The hardware is pretty damn powerful.

That's what I am holding out on.

I would buy one of these once someone sorts out how to open it up and run other stuffs on it.

[werejag]

is there a copy of the microsd around?

[lantus360]

ya it could be a really sweet emulation/homebrew device

i am excite

[topher]

Where is firmware version shown?

[nerdstick]

Where is firmware version shown?

Pressing Menu in the menu.

[Lee Gray]

The good thing about this is, If there is something needed doing to the machine itself and some people (me inc) have no clue how to do it, it will be easy and cheap enough to send of the handheld to an expert.

[SSS]

Has anyone tried comparing the ninja masters card to a normal SD card? Might be easier to read.

[topher]

I have a 337 also

[mr_e]

Someone should take a dd dump image of that internal SD card and upload it for me. Anyone with a mac or linux can do it. If I can get a peek at the filesytems and figure out what they are. And even better, get them mounted, shits on. Its going to be large, if someone is willing to dump it, I can provide a place to host it.

dd overview and usage found here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dd_%28Unix%29

[Lectoid]

I made a DD image of whatever it is when you hook the NGX up to your computer, I don't know if that 1GB partition is from the internal SD card or what. It was late when I did it and I was able to mount it with daemon tools, but I couldn't access it. I only tried once then went to bed. I have an open weekend ahead of me to dive in to this more.

[Bunkhouse Buck]

You can take a look at this in windows fairly easily.



Download and install FTK imager ( http://www.accessdata.com/support/product-downloads )

Add the card as an evidence item
Acquire an image in RAW (dd)format.
When done, you can proceed with looking at the file tree, also. you should be able to view the filesystems on the card.

You now have an unaltered, safe copy of your card and the ability to browse and file carve the contents of the image. You can also do this for the system if that's not the same card that is presented.

[GohanX]

Lectoid:

You're awesome for doing all of this!

[GohanX]

Tommo shouldn't worry too much. I can't speak for everyone, but I'll buy every Neo game they release, whether my NGX is hacked or not.

I was wondering about what the FBA community was going to say myself.

[fenikso]

Tommo shouldn't worry too much. I can't speak for everyone, but I'll buy every Neo game they release, whether my NGX is hacked or not.

+1 to that. I'm really hoping for the Last Blades to be among the first releases.

[Mr. Zurkon]

Tommo shouldn't worry too much. I can't speak for everyone, but I'll buy every Neo game they release, whether my NGX is hacked or not.

Same here, but I really hope they make cases for the games from now on. That blister card they used for Ninja Masters is a terrible way to sell future games. Little shockboxes would be glorious, but I'll be happy if they have something similar to DS or Vita game cases.