arcade124 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 A bit of a noob question here, but I've never ordered from the site before and am extremely confused. I recieved the 1 MB MaxFlash today, but I didn't receive the adapter to load roms onto it. From what I've seen, this is supposed to be included and necessary for transferring roms onto it. Is there something I'm missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+H454 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 So, you ordered a 1MB cart AND the programmer and didn't get one of the TWO products ordered? Or, you order the 1MB cart and didn't realize you needed to order the cart programmer? All of the products are separate. https://atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheddy Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 If you already have a cable that links the Atari to use your PC as a drive, you can program the cartridge in the Atari and don't need the programmer unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 Crap, didn't realize that. What's the point of having just the cartridge as an option, then? I can't find any kind of cable ports or anything on the cart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 First there was a perl application to build the xex files wanted into an ATR that is used to flash the MaxFlash cart. And now there is a downloadable file called Maxflash Cartridge Studio used to build the xex files into cartridge form ATR flashable with the Atari and a SIO2PC (SIO2SD,SDRIVE) and others.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 But how do I connect the cart physically? I can't find any cable ports or anything. Is there anywhere I can buy the programmer separately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR> Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 You can program the cart right in the computer. You just plug it in and boot a pre-built ATR that contains the flashing program and the image to be flashed. You can download some from the Atarimax forum, or you can build your own with the studio software rdea6 mentioned. One way to boot your computer from ATR images is with an SIO2PC or SIO2USB cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjlazer Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) You program the cartridge using your Atari computer! How cool is that!! You need a SIO2PC to program it, or you can also create an ATR disk image to write to a real disk and do it that way, but you need a way to copy the ATR to disk so might as well use the SIO2PC way! Edited April 15, 2018 by tjlazer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 So I need an actual Atari computer? I thought you meant my computer I'm using now. Since I don't have an Atari computer, does that mean this is useless to me? Is there anywhere I can buy the programmer by itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR> Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) I'm confused. The only reason I can think of to own one of these carts, is to use it to run programs on a real Atari computer. How are you planning to use it? Edited April 15, 2018 by JR> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 So is the USB programmer device only optional, not necessary? I have a cart (SIC or maybe xegs ramcart) that you use software on your PC to create a list of games and then it compiles it into an .atr file. You then reboot with the cart in the slot, boot this new .atr file and it flashes the 'creation' to the cart Is the maxflash a similar system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 So is the USB programmer device only optional, not necessary? I have a cart (SIC or maybe xegs ramcart) that you use software on your PC to create a list of games and then it compiles it into an .atr file. You then reboot with the cart in the slot, boot this new .atr file and it flashes the 'creation' to the cart Is the maxflash a similar system? Exactly. As the .atr file is larger than any common "old" Atari storage medium you need some kind of "modern" storage solution (such as a SIO2SD or SIO2PC) for that .atr file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 many thanks for the info, it was the thought of needing the programmer that put me off 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 I'm confused. The only reason I can think of to own one of these carts, is to use it to run programs on a real Atari computer. How are you planning to use it? What I'm asking is: I have an XEGS. I bought the MaxFlash to play roms on it. Do I need the programmer to get the roms onto it, and if not, what other methods are there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 What I'm asking is: I have an XEGS. I bought the MaxFlash to play roms on it. Do I need the programmer to get the roms onto it, and if not, what other methods are there? read a few of the posts several have this information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 to get the roms onto it use SIO2SD (device that connects from atari serial port to box with sdcard slot) or SIO2PC (device connects from atari serial port to PC) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 What I'm asking is: I have an XEGS. I bought the MaxFlash to play roms on it. Do I need the programmer to get the roms onto it, and if not, what other methods are there? You have two options 1) buy the optional programer 2) use an SIO2PC to program the cart via the XEGS Read the information on the ATARIMAX website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR> Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 The XEGS IS a real Atari computer and can be used to program the cart. You'd probably need the optional keyboard though. Do you have the keyboard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 A bit of a noob question here, but I've never ordered from the site before and am extremely confused. I recieved the 1 MB MaxFlash today, but I didn't receive the adapter to load roms onto it. From what I've seen, this is supposed to be included and necessary for transferring roms onto it. Is there something I'm missing? You should read this post. The first couple topics will be very helpful. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/176545-topic-for-newbies/?do=findComment&comment=2199612 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 You have two options 1) buy the optional programer 2) use an SIO2PC to program the cart via the XEGS Read the information on the ATARIMAX website What I mean is, where can I buy the programmer by itself? I don't see it listed anywhere. The XEGS IS a real Atari computer and can be used to program the cart. You'd probably need the optional keyboard though. Do you have the keyboard? Unfortunately, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 https://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 The XEGS IS a real Atari computer and can be used to program the cart. You'd probably need the optional keyboard though. Do you have the keyboard? Is the keyboard needed to boot an ATR to flash the cart? To keep things simple he should just get the Atarimax programmer. Once programmed, he can navigate the cartridge menu with the joystick. But then a lot of games do use the keyboard for various functions, so it's not a bad idea to get one eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR> Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Is the keyboard needed to boot an ATR to flash the cart? To keep things simple he should just get the Atarimax programmer. Once programmed, he can navigate the cartridge menu with the joystick. But then a lot of games do use the keyboard for various functions, so it's not a bad idea to get one eventually. You need to verify that you want to proceed, so yes. All you really need is Y, N and Enter, so it would probably be easy enough to modify the flasher to use left, right and fire as alternative inputs, for XEGS owners without a keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcade124 Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 https://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/ Ah, so the top listing is just the programmer, I thought it was a bundle for the programmer and the flash cart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 I recommend picking up a keyboard, there are a lot of games that make use of it. It will make your life a lot easier - failing that you can buy a TKII XEGS adaptor and use a ps2 keyboard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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