Q & A:
#9905 NEXUS 4M DC Memory
Card
About the #9905 NEXUS 4M DC Memory Card
This product is designed for Dreamcast only as a memory unit.
Moreover, please note that the memorise size is four times of the
original one and it may compatible with personal computer for saving and
download the game saving files from the internet.
About the programme "DC
Linker"
The programme is designed for the EMS accessories "NEXUS
4M/16M DC Memory Card" and "Double Power", which written by EMS
Production Limited. User can download those updated English
and Chinese Version 2.3b from the Download Area of EMS' web-site,
and can be used for upload / download the game saving files easily
with the above accessories.
By the way, please be informed that the programme "DC Linker"
only supported by operation system Windows 95, 98 & 2000 only, it
still not supported by other OS at the moment.
About the button on the
NEXUS Memory Card
Please be informed that there is one button on the right
side of the unit for the page changing of using. User can find out
the page status from the lights which on the top of the #9905
NEXUS 4M DC Memory Card as shown below:
1) Page 0 = Both lights on;
2) Page 1 = Left (Red) light only;
3) Page 2 = Right (Green) light only;
4) Page 3 = Both lights off
How to copy the game
saving files into the NEXUS Memory Card?
1) Insert the #9905 NEXUS 4M DC Memory Card into the slot
of Dreamcast controller, which connected with the Dreamcast main
unit.
2) Connect the DC Cable with the #9905 NEXUS 4M DC Memory Card
and the personal computer. Switch on both of the Dreamcast and
personal computer.
3) Start up the programme "DC Linker". Your accessory details
and page status (memory status) will be displayed on the window
after detected and connected.
4) Click the "DCI" or "DCM" icon, which on the top of the
window and the path window of your computer system will be
displayed.
5) Select and double click the file name, which you want to
download and the process will be started and finished
automatically.
Why do the words "Link Error" or "No Device" appear when I use the programme "DC Linker"?
To
overcome the above situation, please follow the procedures below
Q.) How
can i format the nexus 4 meg dc memory card ?
A1.)
Please hold the button(on the top of the
memory card) and plug into the joypad, so that the card will be
formatted! During this process, you will see the LED will flashing
,about 30 sec. But please notice that the card would be formatted after
this process and all the memories will be deleted, also all the screen
in the main will have a red "X" marking again! Pls select any icon,the
format is ok!
A2.)Please
screw and disengage the shell, take out the inner mother board and use a
hot blower to blow the big and circular black parts around 3-4 minutes.
Since the weather is dampness, there would be a problem of the
electronic parts! A3.)How I got my card working....(From
Asdfzxcv)
3-21-2001 23:55
I bought the Nexus 16mg card and had all
sorts of problems. Took me hours to figure it out... and
then, all of a sudden, it worked. So I've compiled a list
of all the possible things that could go wrong. I'm
assuming your 4mg card is pretty much the same as my 16mg
card. If you go through this entire list, and you still
can't get it to work, then I think you're fucked. You got
yourself a defective product (and from this forum, it
seems there's a lot of them floating around). Hope you can
return it.
1) Enter the BIOS setup and set the parallel mode to
normal (SPP) or EPP mode before the system boot up to match the
"DC Linker". Adjust the "DELAY TIME" figure (0 - 2400) from the
"DC Linker" in the way of big figure for high speed PC.
2) Accessories disconnect - Please kindly check your #9905 NEXUS
4M DC Memory Card, Dreamcast Controller, Dreamcast Main Unit, DC
Cable and Personal Computer carefully.
3) Please make sure the power supply is on when using the #9905
NEXUS 4M DC Memory Card and programme "DC Linker"
4) Please make sure you are using the most updated version of the
programme "DC Linker", which can be downloaded from EMS Production
Limited' wep-site:
Download
NOW.
A. First check to see if your Nexus can act like a NORMAL
memory card.
1.) Begin with your card unattached to anything.
2.) Turn on your Dreamcast without any games in it and
with one Sega controller attached to the first input. You
should see your Dreamcast menu.
3.) Gently slide the memory card into the controller into
Slot 1 (the top slot). Wait 30 seconds before doing
anything. If you see the lights flashing (4mg) or the
numbers flickering (16mg), DEFINITELY DON'T do anything.
Sit and be patient. I don't think this is a perfect
product, so you got to be nice to it. Tell it, "You're
doing a good job" in soft tones. On your Dreamcast menu,
go to Files. See if you can access your memory card. If
you can get into it, and it shows that you have nothing or
something on the card, you're in good shape. Slide in
another memory card into Slot 2 and try copying a file to
the Nexus and vice versa. Try deleting all the files. Try
playing a game and saving a file onto your nexus. If your
nexus card acts like a normal memory card, you're in
really good shape. (Skip to Section B)
MY DREAMCAST SAYS MY NEXUS HAS ONLY 200 BLOCKS. WHAT'S
WRONG?
This is normal! Don't think of your 4mb nexus as having
4mb of memory. Instead, the 4mb nexus is 4 SEPARATE 1MB
cards combined into one card. The 16mb card is 16 SEPARATE
1MB cards combined into one card. You can access only 1MB
at a time! When you first get your Nexus, it is on "Page
0". The Dreamcast (AND the computer) will say your memory
card is only 1mb long (only 200 blocks of memory). In
order for you to "change Pages" you have to press that
button on the Nexus card. Once you let go of the button,
it will begin to load the card. THIS TAKES 30 seconds.
DON'T do anything while it's loading up or you will
"confuse" your Nexus (especially if lights are flashing or
digits are flickering). If you want to go from "Page 0" to
"Page 3", you push the button 3 times quickly (as SOON as
you stop for half-a-second, it will start loading that
page. While it's loading, I wouldn't try pushing the
button or you risk fucking up your card. So if you were
trying to get to "Page 3" but the card started to load
"Page 2" because you didn't push the button fast enough,
just wait until "Page 2" loads up. When it's done, press
the button one more time to get to "Page 3").
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT "PAGE" I AM ON?
For the 4MB card, it depends on the lights:
Page 0 = Both lights on;
Page 1 = Left (Red) light only;
Page 2 = Right (Green) light only;
Page 3 = Both lights off
For the 16MB card, the LED display will tell you:
Page "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,B,C,D,E,F"
Remember, each "Page" has only 1MB of memory, and neither
the Dreamcast NOR the Computer can access other pages. You
have to manually push the button to "switch" pages, and
then, all of a sudden, the Dreamcast will "think" you've
put in a new card. As
soon as you let go, it will LOAD that card. It is
important that you not get impatient. This "loading"
process could take 30 seconds. (the numbers should be
flickering). Wait until it has fully loaded before trying
to do something (note that when your card is loading, the
dreamcast will act like there is no card, or the card will
flash on and off and not let you access it). This might be
superstitious, but before you switch "Pages", I would exit
out Files to the Dreamcast main screen. You don't want the
Dreamcast trying to access the card while you are still
switching pages.
Again, each "Page" is a SEPARATE memory card. So don't
post on this forum "I saved something on my Nexus, and all
of a sudden, It'S GONE!!!). Chances are, you've saved it
on another page. Just press the button and WAIT, and go
from page to page until you find it.
PROBLEMS:
If you're Dreamcast doesn't recognize your Nexus as a
memory card, try these one at a time:
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out.
Push it back ALL THE WAY, so that you're sure it won't go
any farther. Try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out,
and put it into Slot 2. Try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, Pull the card out.
Shut off your Dreamcast. Slide your nexus into the
controller. Turn on your Dreamcast. Try again.
-Use a different controller. Try again.
-Try all of the above combinations on different controller
inputs.
4.) If, after all of this, and your Dreamcast still
doesn't "see" your Nexus, then you have a problem. Or if
you have a 16mg card and see on the LED display an "E."
Then you have to reformat.
The Deadly "E" or ERROR sign.
I see a lot of complaints about the ERROR sign. I never
got it, so I don't know. I suspect it means you're fucked.
This is what people seem to be saying. If you get that
error, sign, you basically have to reformat your card.
Make sure that your Nexus is NOT plugged into your
computer. Try the above directions one more time just in
case. When you reformat, you lose all the memory on the
card. If you just got your nexus, then it doesn't matter,
since you don't have anything saved on it yet.
If your dreamcast still doesn't recognize the card, then
gently pull it out. Turn off your Dreamcast. Turn it back
on. When you see the main menu, hold down the button on
the card, and while you're holding it down, slide the card
back into the controller. As soon as you hear the card
click into the controller, let go of the button. It is now
reformatting your card. Don't do anything. Sit and be
patient. The poor thing's working. When the lights have
stopped flashing (4mg) or the numbers on the card have
stopped flickering (16mg), try to access the card through
your dreamcast. If it says your card is empty, I think
you're in good shape. Try using it as a normal memory card
(via directions above).
Now, if you get the "E" again, then I think you're fucked.
At least for that megabyte. Push the button ONCE. And wait
30 seconds (while it's flickering) .On the 16mg card, the
number should change from 0 to 1 or 1 to 2. The numbers go
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F. Now repeat the whole
process again with that new megabyte. If you get the "E"
on one of memory sections of your card, try repeating the
steps on another section of the card. Hopefully, you'll
only have one defective section out of 16. Remember that
number, and make sure you never save anything on it. For
the 4mg card, you don't have a LED display, but you can
still reformat your card the same way.
If you've tried all of this, and you still can't get the
dreamcast to detect your card, then you probably have a
defective Nexus. Don't bother trying to hook it up to your
computer. It won't matter how many files you download into
your nexus, if your Dreamcast can't read it. Try the
following as a last resort, one at a time:
-Try your Nexus on someone else's Dreamcast.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out,
blow (not spit) away imaginary dust at the input ends.
Push it back in and try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out.
Give it a good flick. Push it back in and try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out,
drop it from a height of 4 inches onto something hard.
Push it in and try again.
-Turn off your Dreamcast. Give the card it good flick
while it's in the controller. Turn the Dreamcast on.
-Shout really loud, curse and threaten your Nexus card.
Try again.
-Return your card for a replacement.
-Send irate email to
sale@hkems.com. Threaten to register them with the
Better Business Bureau.
-Write to the Better Business Bureau.
-Spam HKEMS mercilessly.
B. Setup your computer for interface with your Nexus. If
you've gotten this far, then you're almost there!
1. Download the most recent software. Go to
http://www.hkems.com and click on "Download" on the
left column.
Download "241.exe"
Download "DC Linker V2.3B" (these are the most current as
of this writing)
2. Unzip these files onto your Desktop (or wherever you
want them).
3. Plug your cord into the Printer port of your computer.
4. Plug the cord into the back of your Nexus card.
5. Turn on your dreamcast. Wait for the menu to come up.
6. Gently slide your Nexus card (already attached to your
computer) into your Dreamcast controller.
7. Start the DC Linker Program by clicking on
"DCLink23.exe." On the Left side of the Screen, you should
see "EMS, www.hkems.com, DC Linker V2.3b for ____________"
Now just pray that it doesn't say "No Device".
8. On the lower left part of the screen you will see 5
buttons: File, Slot 1, Slot 2, Setup..., Exit. Click on
the "Slot One" or "Slot TWO" button and then REFRESH and
hopefully it will recognize your card. If you get an
error, see below.
9. Once it recognizes your Nexus, it's a piece of cake.
First, you press the "File" button and then click on "Open
DCM File" Choose the "241.dcm" file which you should have
downloaded.
10. Now push the "DCI" button on the lower center of your
screen and choose the file you want to download into your
nexus. The icons should appear in the "File" Box.
11. Now, you just click and drag the file to the box
"Slot1" or "Slot2" part of the screen depending on whether
your nexus is in Slot1 or 2 of your dreamcast controller
(top or bottom)
12. This might be superstitious, but I would drag only one
at a time for now. You don't want to freeze up your memory
card and cause it to crash. Then you'd have to reformat
it. Once you've downloaded it, close out of the DC Linker
program.
13. Now, on your dreamcast menu, go to files, and look to
see if it worked. If you see those icons on the screen,
then congratulations, you've downloaded files to your
Dreamcast!
C. Problems
More likely than anything, your DC Linker program probably
said, "link error 1, please check Connection speed in
Setup, DC power and cable connection". This is a list of
possible things that might be wrong.
1.) On your DC Linker page, click on "Setup..." On the
dial from "More Speed" to "More Compatible", you want to
drag that bar all the way right to "More Compatible". Make
sure the "Auto Refresh Mode" is checked. Then push OK. On
the main menu, click on "Slot1" or "Slot2" (depending on
where your nexus is) and click on "Refresh".
2.) If you still get the Link-Error, Push Exit. Restart
the Program. And try again. Make sure the settings above
haven't been changed to something different.
3.) You have to make sure that your Parallel Port setting
in your BIOS is set to EPP or SPP: Close the program. Pull
your Nexus out of the controller and shut off your
Dreamcast.
Here you have to be REALLY careful. If you do something
wrong, you could really fuck up your computer (and it
would still be messed up even if you tried reformatting
your hard drive). So go slowly. Take your time. And make
sure there aren't any small kids around that might
"accidentally" slam their hands on your keyboard.
Just remember, if you aren't sure whether you did
something or not, always pick the option "Exit without
Saving settings" and start over. It's better to try again,
than mess up your computer. If you did something by
accident, and saved it to your BIOS, you might have
trouble trying to find how to change back what you did.
However, most BIOS have an option called, "Default
Setting" in which it changes back to the original
settings. This might not help though, if your computer has
gone through some changes since you got it.
OK. First, you close out of all operations. And then you
Restart your computer or Shut Down and turn on your
computer back on. Usually the first screen that comes on
has the name of the company of your computer and "BIOS".
You will usually see something that says "Press F2 for
settings". Every company's BIOS is different - so you have
to read what it says. My computer at home has me push the
"DEL" button to enter the BIOS. Sometimes it's F1.
If you don't see anything, and then Windows boots up, then
you're too late. You have to restart your computer again.
Try pushing F2 or F1 or Del right when it boots up- that
usually will bring you to the BIOS screen. If Windows
boots up anyways, shut down your computer again. When you
turn on your computer, hold Ctrl and lightly press down on
all of the buttons of your keyboard with the palm of your
hand (it's gotta be one of them). As soon as you see
something happen, stop pushing any buttons. This is where
you have to be really careful. (Again, if you think you
might have done something unintended, select the option
"Exit without saving settings" and start over again. On
some computers, you have to press "ESC" to exit, and then
it will give you the choice whether or not to save
settings.)
Like I said, every BIOS is different. So I can't tell you
exactly what to do. As long as you just push ONLY the
arrow keys (up, down, left, right), it shouldn't change
any settings - so you're free to explore the screen using
these buttons.
You should see stuff like System Time and Date, Diskette
A, B or Primary Drive... and a whole bunch of crap. Keep
pressing the down arrow to see the complete list. You're
looking for something called "Integrated Devices" or
"Peripheral Devices" or something like that. When you find
it, (or think you do), go down to that line and press
Enter once. A new screen should come up with more crap.
Now, what you're looking for is something like "Parallel
Port". When you find this, press Enter Once. Now, you
should be given a choice of the modes - either SPP or EPP
or EPC or whatever. After you've pressed enter, you should
be able to use the arrow keys to change it to "SPP" or "EPP".
(If you have the choice between these, use SPP first. If
that doesn't work, try EPP. But I think they are the same
thing). Once you've changed it, press enter.
If you've gotten this far without changing anything else,
you want to "EXIT and save changes". Sometimes you have to
press one of the F-buttons (read what it says on the
screen). If it doesn't say anything, then you probably
should press Esc - and then it will give you the option of
exiting with or without changing settings.
If you couldn't figure out how to do it, write down some
of the things you saw on the BIOS screen, and post it
here. Maybe we can figure out where you need to go in the
BIOS (every BIOS is a little different).
When you do this, your computer should be rebooting again.
When it does this, make sure your Nexus is plugged into
the printer port of your computer - but don't plug it into
your dreamcast yet.
(Note, when you do this, your computer might prompt you to
reinstall the drivers for your printer. Don't panic. This
won't mess up your computer or printer. Just do what it
tells you to do).
Now first, make sure you've downloaded the most up-to-date
version (I think 2.3B) of the linking program found on
this website.
Next, turn on your dreamcast. Then slide the card into the
controller (the cartridge is already plugged into your
computer, right?). Do this slowly and gently NOT pressing
that button on the top of the cartridge.
When you hear the click, sit and wait patiently. Don't
press anything. The number on your memory card should be
flickering. Whenever it's flickering - don't do anything.
Just wait or risk fucking it up. If you see an "E", than I
think you're fucked and you have a defective card. Read
the directions above under "The Deadly "E" or Error sign".
Now start up the link program. And try it. Note, you have
to download that DCM file first, I think. Then click on
the "Slot One" or "Slot TWO" button and then REFRESH and
hopefully it will recognize your card. (Make the settings
are on "Most Compatible").
4.) If it doesn't work, pull your card out, shutdown your
computer and go into the BIOS again to make sure you
really saved it on EPP mode. Try again.
5.) Go back to your BIOS and try it on any other mode it
has for the printer port.
6.) If it still isn't working, close out of the program.
Pull your Nexus out of the controller (if it isn't
"flashing" or "thinking"). Shut off your dreamcast. Shut
Down your computer. Make sure the Nexus is attached to the
Printer port of your computer snuggly. Turn on your
computer. Make sure the printer port is back to EPP. When
you see your desktop (and your computer has stopped
"thinking"), turn on your Dreamcast. Gently push the card
into the controller (it's already plugged to the computer,
right?). Open the DC Linker program and try again.
7.) If it still isn't working, close out of the program.
Pull your Nexus out of the controller. Shut of your
dreamcast. Slide the card into the Controller. Turn on
your dreamcast. Open the DC Linker program and try again.
8.) If it still isn't working, close out of the program.
Pull your Nexus out. Shut off your Dreamcast. Shut down
your Computer. Slide the card in. Turn on your Dreamcast
and Computer at the same time. Open the DC Linker program
and try again.
9.) If you still get that Link Error, try it on another
computer. Maybe your computer is messed up. My computer at
work does it OK, but not at home (don't tell them I did it
at work!). And don't do it on company time. Nothing would
be more stupid than getting fired for trying to do your
Dreamcast thing at work.
10. ) If it still doesn't work, these are some last resort
options:
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out,
blow (not spit) away imaginary dust at the input ends.
Push it back in and try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out.
Give it a good flick. Push it back in and try again.
-When the Nexus has stopped loading, pull the card out,
drop it from a height of 4 inches onto something hard.
Push it in and try again.
-Turn off your Dreamcast. Give the card it good flick
while it's in the controller. Turn the Dreamcast on.
-Shout really loud, curse and threaten your Nexus card.
Try again.
-Return your card for a replacement.
-Send irate email to
sale@hkems.com. Threaten to register them with the
Better Business Bureau.
-Write to the Better Business Bureau.
-Spam HKEMS mercilessly.
I've read other people saying that when you're done, you
should pull the memory card out before you shut off your
dreamcast. I think this is good advice. But make sure you
don't pull out the memory card while it is "thinking".
That could really confuse and fuck up the memory card.
If it actually DOES work, CONGRATULATIONS!!. But remember,
these things aren't reliable at all. Constantly save
everything to a "normal" memory card or better yet, onto
your computer.
Well, good luck.
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This Is Not A
Sega Official Product
email :
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