Ultra CD Backup RAM cart save issue with Dark Wizard

[whitezombie]

The Ultra CD Backup RAM cart will only hold two saves for Dark Wizard. When I have more than two saves of Dark Wizard on the Ultra CD Backup RAM cart the other Dark Wizard saves will corrupt when I load the game after a power cycle. The 2+ saves will work fine while you're playing the game and if you reset. But once you power it down for about ten seconds, power it up, boot the game up, the saves will show as corrupt, and will only show two saves as playable. All the the saves will still show in the BIOS memory screen but once they get marked as corrupt, they'll be unplayable, and when they get marked as corrupt, even if you transfer them to internal RAM they'll be corrupt, even though you can see the saves in the BIOS memory manager. It seems to only hold on to two saves as playable. I have a near 20 year old official CD backup RAM cart and have never had this problem. I purchased the Ultra CD Backup RAM cart to move all my saves to this cart so I could replace the CR2450 battery in my official RAM cart. I discovered the issue after transferring all my saves to the Ultra CD Backup RAM cart and testing all my saves. I have a lot of saves on my official RAM cart and none of my other games with multiple saves behave this way, Lunar 1, Lunar 2, Vay, ect. I have tried formatting it a couple times but it doesn't help. I decided to purchase a Mega EverDrive since it can function as a RAM cart and I have no problem putting more than two Dark Wizard saves on it. I have a model 1 Genesis with the HD Graphics print and model 2 Sega CD. Can anyone out there with the Ultra CD Backup RAM cart test this and see if you have the same issue? @db Electronics can you test this if you read this?

[SegaSonic91]

That's very strange. If it never happened with the official cart, it must be some kind of weird incompatibility problem.

Is the battery easy to replace? I dug out one of my 2 Jp RAM carts and it did still have all my saves on it, BUT, once I turned the system off and on again the next day, the cart was blank I hope the other is not the same. I will definitely get some new batteries for them in the future so they'll be right for another 20 years

[whitezombie]

Does anyone on this forum have a Ultra CD Backup RAM cart and could you test Dark Wizard? I have 25 days left of the 30 day return window. If I don't hear from anyone in the next couple weeks I will return the device to Stone Age Gamer.

[db Electronics]

Does anyone on this forum have a Ultra CD Backup RAM cart and could you test Dark Wizard? I have 25 days left of the 30 day return window. If I don't hear from anyone in the next couple weeks I will return the device to Stone Age Gamer.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why it would behave this way. I don't own this game - I could however burn a copy to test this. Are you using the US game?

[whitezombie]

Yes it's the US game. I've owned a copy since the 90's. I would appreciate it if you could burn and test this. It shouldn't take no more than 10 minutes to get into the game and create 5 saves. Shut it down for a little bit and then fire the Sega CD back up.

[db Electronics]

No problem, I'll have time to check this out over the weekend!

BTW thanks for pointing out this issue!

[whitezombie]

Have you started cutting the circuit boards properly yet as described in another thread, with the angle? This device is extremely difficult to pull out of my model 1. I'm curious if Stone Age Gamer has the new cut boards.

[db Electronics]

Have you started cutting the circuit boards properly yet as described in another thread, with the angle? This device is extremely difficult to pull out of my model 1. I'm curious if Stone Age Gamer has the new cut boards.

Yes I have been doing this on newer batches but Stone Age Gamer is still on his first batch of boards for the Backup RAM (this doesn't sell nearly as well as the Power Base Mini). The update hasn't trickled down yet I guess...

[whitezombie]

If I don't return the device is there anyway I can get it swapped or cut?

[db Electronics]

When I found out about the issue I simply grinded down all of my assembled stock with a Dremel grinding stone. You could also use sanding paper if you're nervous about taking a dremel to your board. You don't really need to grind/sand it down precisely by any means to relieve the insertion stress - and with sanding paper there really isn't any damage you can do if you're even remotely careful about it...

If we happen to find out that I can get the Dark Wizards saves to work on my end, then you have a defective product and we'll discuss privately (with Stone Age Gamer) how we'll replace your unit.

[whitezombie]

Thanks, I appreciate your help.

[whitezombie]

Did you get a chance to test this db Electronics?

[db Electronics]

I tested with Dark Wizard today. I created 6 game saves on my Backup RAM Cart.

When I powered off the Genesis, it corrupted the first two game saves. The last four were still loadable.
When I reset the console and only powered off at the BIOS screen, it corrupted only the first game save (out of 6 still).
Meanwhile, other save files on the Backup RAM Cart are unaffected...

Same results on Sega CD BIOS 1.10 and 2.00.

I have to do further testing to find out what is happening here.

[whitezombie]

Good to know it's not just me having this problem. I have a 2.00 bios. I created more saves too and it seems to corrupt random Dark Wizard saves.

[whitezombie]

db Electronics any thoughts on the corruption issue with Dark Wizard? The 22nd is my 30 day return window with Stone Age Gamer. I'm probably going to return it since Dark Wizard is one of my favorite games for the Sega CD. I hope you figure out the issue though.

That's very strange. If it never happened with the official cart, it must be some kind of weird incompatibility problem.

Is the battery easy to replace? I dug out one of my 2 Jp RAM carts and it did still have all my saves on it, BUT, once I turned the system off and on again the next day, the cart was blank I hope the other is not the same. I will definitely get some new batteries for them in the future so they'll be right for another 20 years

The battery is very easy to replace in an official cartridge. Just desolder the old battery and put in the new one. It uses a CR2450, part # P661-ND. I don't think I could fit a battery holder in there.

http://www.digikey.com/product-searc.../394467?k=2450

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