Provided by ferchl

How do I get started with the EFA cart?

1. Download and install a program that can extract RAR files such as WinRAR: http://www.winrar.com
2. Download the latest EFA software from http://www.efa.cc/support.html
3. Extract the downloaded EFA software to any directory you like.
4. Plug one of the supplied USB cables into an available USB port on your computer.
5. Do NOT put the EFA cart in your GBA.
6. Plug the EFA cart into the end of the USB cable. Make sure it is in all the way.
7. Windows Plug and Play should detect the new device and prompt for drivers.
8. When prompted, browse to the file efaw.inf and click OK.
9. When given a choice of files, select efawinit.sys (efainit2.sys for newer carts).
10. Plug and Play will install the driver and then appear to repeat the whole procedure.
11. Again, browse to the file efaw.inf and click OK.
12. When given a choice of files, select efaw.sys.
13. That's it. The green light in the EFA should now come on.
14. Let the EFA cart charge for 8 hours. Use this time to read this FAQ and/or organize and select your GBA ROMs.
15. Once the EFA cart is all charged up, use the EFA_Client program to Add and Write ROMs.
16. Wait until the EFA light changes from red to green and then remove the cart from the USB cable.
18. If you encountered any problems, check the rest of this FAQ and, if necessary, ask for help on the forum.
17. If no problems, plug the EFA cart into your GBA and play!

Games played from EFA have graphic/sound glitches or stop with a blank screen. How can I fix this?
This can be caused by a poor connection between the USB cable and the EFA cart when the ROMs were written. Try removing the cable from the EFA cart and reinserting and then format the EFA cart and write the ROMs again. If this doesn't fix the problem, try again while running in Safe Mode. If possible, also try on another computer. If none of this helps, contact your dealer to arrange an exchange.

Where can I buy the EFA?
See this page:
http://www.efa.cc/dealers.html

What colors of EFA carts are available?
Any color you want as long as it's purple.

What sizes of EFA carts are available?
Dealers currently have 256Mb carts. 512Mb carts will be available from dealers soon (Summer 2004).

How much is 256Mb?
256Mb (megabits) equals 32MB (megabytes).

Why does a 256Mb (32MB) EFA cart cost so much more than a 32MB flash drive?
Completely different technology. The memory in Flash drives is inexpensive NAND memory. The memory in GBA flash cartridges, such as the EFA, is much more expensive NOR memory. NOR memory is extremely fast for reading (and relatively slow for writing). The GBA has very little RAM and therefore runs code directly from the cartridge, requiring very fast memory on the cartridge. NAND memory is not nearly fast enough for the GBA. Also adding to the cost are other features required to support all GBA games properly, such as a real time clock, battery backed up SRAM that holds all game saves, and ability to emulate all GBA cartridge game save types.

How many games fit on a 256Mb cartridge?
Commercial GBA ROMs typically fall into one of three size categories; 32Mb, 64Mb, and 128Mb. Therefore, you can typically fit 2-8 commercial ROMs on one 256Mb EFA cart. However, PD (Public Domain) ROMs and NES ROMs (which can be bundled into GBA ROM files using PocketNES) are very small, so it is possible to put dozens of these on one 256Mb EFA cart. Even if you have large commercial ROMs, it is so easy and fast to format and rewrite the EFA cart, it's not a big deal to be limited to a few at a time.

How long does it take to write an entire 256Mb EFA cart?
An entire 256Mb cart can be written in just over 4 minutes. This may sound slow compared to flash drives, but it's very fast for the type of memory required in GBA flash cartridges. In fact, the EFA cart and loader provide the fastest writing of any GBA flash cartridge on the market.

What operating systems can be used with the EFA software?
Windows NT/2000/XP and Windows 98/Me.

Does the EFA software work on Linux?
No.

Does the EFA software work on the Mac via an emulator?
No.

Does the EFA cart support the GB Bridge for playing old GBC only games?
No.

Is EFA compatible with PocketNES (Nintendo Entertainment System emulator)?
Yes.

Is EFA compatible with Goomba (emulator for old GB games)?
Yes. This will allow you to play GB games and GBC games that also worked on the old GB mono.

Is EFA compatible with PogoShell?
No. Currently, PogoShell runs, but saves do not work.

Does EFA work with the Famicom Mini or Classic NES series games.
Not directly. These ROMs also do not work on VisualBoyAdvance. However, there are ROM files available on the Internet that provide all of the Famicom Mini and Classic NES series games in two GBA ROMs that work just fine on the EFA.

What is VisualBoyAdvance and why would I want it?
VisualBoyAdvance is a GBA emulator for the PC. It allows you to play GBA games (ROMs) on your PC. This is great for testing out the games before you write them to your EFA cart. It is available here: http://vba.ngemu.com

With EFA, can I backup my game save data to my PC and restore it later (or to another EFA cart)? Can I take a .SAV file from VisualBoyAdvance and write it to the EFA cart?
Yes. The EFA client provides "Backup Save" and "Write Save" for this purpose. These functions are available AFTER the ROM is written to the EFA cart. Just select the ROM and then use either button.

Do I have to patch GBA ROMs to save properly with EFA?
No. All games should save properly without the need for patches. In the EFA forum, some people have reported that they need to patch the occasional game, but others run the same games without any patches.

Can EFA be used to backup commercial ROMs?
No. Since you can get backup copies of all commercial GBA ROMs that you own via the Internet, this has not posed a problem for our users.

Does EFA support the ability to download small games into the GBA RAM without writing the cartridge?
No. This feature is typically of interest to GBA developers. If you need this feature, you should consider an alternative product such as the EZFA.

Can using the EFA cartridge damage my GBA or void its warranty?
No. The EFA cartridge is as safe to use as any normal GBA game cartridge.

Is it legal to purchase/use the EFA?
Yes, of course. It is just a cartridge that you can load with games of your choice. Just as a hard drive on your computer can be loaded with software of your choice.

Why does the EFA come with two USB cables?
Use whichever one you prefer. The short one is great for laptop users. The long one is probably the best choice for everyone else.

Where can I get copies of GBA PD (Public Domain) ROMs?
You can find these easily with a Google search. One good source is http://www.gameboy-advance-roms.tk

Where can I get backup copies of commercial ROMs that I own?
There are many sources on the Internet. You will have to do your own reserach to get further details. You should be able to find the information you need via a search engine such as Google. NOTE: Copying of commercial GBA ROMs, that you do not own, is illegal and is not condoned by EFA.

How do I know if I have "clean" commercial ROM files?
You can check the ROMs with ROMCenter and the GBA No Intro Dat file:
http://www.romcenter.com
http://www.gbadat.altervista.org/dl-dat.htm

I tried to add a PD ROM to the EFA cart, but it doesn't show in the Loader. What's wrong?
Most likely that PD ROM does not have a proper header. Try adding or rewriting the header using Flash Advance Toolkit:
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/FAT.zip

Is the source code for the EFA drivers and client available for developers?
Not at this time.

Is technical information available for developers to create their own EFA drivers or client?
Not at this time.

Can I leave the EFA cart in the GBA when it is connected to the USB port?
No. The EFA cart must be removed from the GBA for charging, reading, and writing.

Can I plug the EFA cart into any USB port?
You can use any USB port that is directly on your computer. You can also plug into a USB hub that has an external power supply. IMPORTANT: Please do all initial testing while connected to one of your computer's onboard USB ports, before trying on a hub.

Does the EFA cartridge have to be charged for 8 hours before first use?
Yes, this is the current recommendation from EFA. In theory, it should not matter if you don't need the real time clock and none of your games save, but why take a chance.

Can I start writing to the EFA cart before the battery is fully charged?
Yes, but please let the battery fully charge before using the EFA cart in your GBA.

Does the EFA cart battery recharge while the GBA is on?
Yes, but not enough to maintain the battery in the long run.

How often should I fully recharge the EFA cart battery?
You should plug the EFA cart into your computer's USB port overnight about once a month to ensure a full battery charge and no loss of game saves.

Can I select more than one ROM at a time (using Ctrl or Shift key) when Adding ROMs with the EFA client?
Yes, but you will then have no control over which order they appear on the menu. Also, if there is an error, such as not enough ROM or RAM space, it will be harder to figure out what to change.

Why would I want to change the Save Size for a ROM?
You should not change this value unless it shows Save Type as "Unknown". Games, such as SpongeBob, that have no save option will show as "Unknown". In this case, you can reduce the save size from 256Kb to 0Kb since a game that doesn't save will not need any SRAM save space. By setting the value to 0, you free up more RAM space for games that need a lot of save space, such as Super Mario Advance 4.

Why do I get a message that there is not enough space to add ROM even though there is plenty of space left?
You have run out of RAM save space, not ROM space. If you have any ROMs in the list that do not save (Save Type "Unknown") then set their Save Size to 0. This may free up enough RAM space to add another ROM.

How can I return to the EFA menu without powering the GBA off and on?
If you wrote the ROM with the "Cheat" option checked, then pressing Select+Start+A+B will return to the menu.

If the Cheat option is available for a game, does this guarantee that it is fully compatible?
No. The cheat option works with most games, but will cause problems for some, such as the inability to get past the game's title screen. It also breaks linking for some games. If you don't mind turning the GBA off and on to switch games then you are better off always unchecking the Cheat option for every game to ensure the highest compatibility. Otherwise, it's simple trial and error to find out if a game works with the Cheat option enabled.

For games where the EFA Cheat option is not supported, is there any way to enable a Return-To-Menu feature?
You can try patching the ROM using BOMA (Boot-o-mat Advance). BOMA-patched games return to the menu by pressing Select+Start+L+R. BOMA is available here:
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/BOMA.zip

Where can I find cheat files ready to use with EFA?
For many older GBA games, ready to use cheat files come with a program called EMUCheat. It is available here:
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/emucheat.zip

Where can I find cheats for newer games?
You can get cheat codes in Action Replay format from:
http://www.codejunkies.com
These are encrypted and have to be converted to RAW (unencrypted) format before they can be used with EFA. This is done with the ARCrypt program included with EFA. Finally, the RAW codes must be converted to EMUCheat format using Convertor (also included with EFA). For more details, see the Cheat.pdf file included with the EFA software.

Can I use Code Breaker codes with EFA?
Not directly. They must be converted to Action Replay Format first. Not all codes can be converted, but simple ones such as Infinite Lives or Infinite Health (which are usually all you need) can be converted. You can find more detail here:
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/CB2AR.htm

Is there a way to load music (WAV,MP3) files on the EFA and play back on the GBA?
Try these programs:
http://www.gbplanet.net/planetlinker/utils/files/media/gsmplayer-win32.zip
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/GBAMEDIA-eng.EXE

Are Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Saphire compatible with EFA? I get a white screen when I try them.
Yes, they are compatible, but not if you uncheck the "Loader". So, even if one of the Pokemon games is the only game on the EFA cart, be sure to leave the Loader enabled.

Is Super Mario Advance 4 compatible with EFA? I get stuck at the error "Save Data is Corrupt".
Yes, it is compatible, but not if you uncheck the "Loader". So, even if Super Mario Advance 4 is the only game on the EFA cart, be sure to leave the Loader enabled.

How do I fix the error "The system cannot find the file specified" when trying to install the EFA drivers on Windows XP?
Try starting Windows XP in Safe Mode and then reinstall the drivers. To get Plug and Play to reinstall the drivers, plug the EFA cable into a different USB port. If that does not work, you will have to first remove the failed driver install. You should be able to do this by rolling back to a previous restore point (assuming you have not disabled System Restore). To try this, run MSConfig, click the "Launch System Restore" button, and follow the on screen prompts to return to a previous configuration. Alternatively, you can use RegEdit to remove these registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EFAW
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EFAWINIT

I tried the above procedure to fix "The system cannot find the file specified" and it did not work. What else can I do?
Reinstall Windows XP by booting the XP CD and select the SECOND Repair option that is offered. This will reinstall Windows XP without deleting your data or other programs. You will have to reinstall Service Pack 1 or 2 and any hot fixes from the Windows Update site, but it should fix the EFA driver install error. In case this procedure goes wrong, please first backup your critical files.

Writing froze part way and now the red light is stuck on. What should I do?
Assuming the EFA cart is plugged into the computer and not a hub, shutting down and powering off your computer should make the red light go out. If not, your computer probably supplies USB power even with the main power off. In this case, unplugging the computer, after shutting down, will make the light go out. Some users simply unplug the EFA cart when the client hangs and have not had any problem. If you wish to try this, please wait for a minute to be absolutely sure the EFA client is hung.

What can I do to eliminate freezes and/or crashes while writing ROMs under Windows XP?
Ensure that the EFA is NOT plugged into both the USB port and the GBA. Also Ensure that the EFA cart is plugged into a USB port directly on your computer. Then try starting up Windows XP in Safe Mode when writing ROMs with the EFA software. As long as your USB ports still work in Safe Mode, this should ensure no freezing. Since restarting in Safe Mode is inconvenient, you will probably still want to try to get rid of the conflict, but at least you will know that it's only a software problem if it works in Safe Mode.

If ROM writing is reliable in Windows XP Safe Mode, how can I get it working reliably in Normal Mode?
- Ensure you have upgraded to Windows XP Service Pack 1 (or higher).
- Ensure that you have applied the latest security patches from Microsoft.
- Use antivirus software with current definitions to check for viruses.
- Check for Adware/Spyware using products such as AdAware and Spybot.
- Review Services and Stop and set to Disabled any you don't need.
- Review Startup/Run key items and remove any you do not need.

What programs or web sites can help me diagnose problems and/or review services and startup items?
MSConfig.exe
http://www.windowsupdate.com
http://www.answersthatwork.com/TUT_pages/TUT_information.htm
http://www.spybot.info
http://www.lavasoftusa.com
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan
http://www.pchell.com

Are there any processes that are known to crash or hang the EFA client on Windows XP?
It seems to vary from one computer to another, but the following have been reported as problematic:
- BlackIce 3.1
- ThinkPad Power Management
- CPUIdle

Is there a way to completely overwrite the flash cartridge contents with all 00 or all FF?
It is not known if this will help resolve any graphic/sound glitches, but it can be done with these dummy ROM files:
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/Dummy-00.zip
http://users.rcn.com/ferchl/Dummy-FF.zip