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[raghugs]

Hello

why don't you try your SD Supercard to a Gameboy Advance SP?

[Radiator]

I'm fairly certain this item is DOA and who knows how long it will take to resolve (negotiate an exchange, ship, etc.). I'm pretty bummed about all of this. I've now contacted HopeBuy and am awaiting a reply.

These cartridges (and their shipping charges from China) are not cheap. Any other ideas or input are still welcome.

I've pretty much given up any hope of getting it working now as well. I sent Hopebuy a second email yesterday - so far no reply

You're not the only one feeling bummed about this. Like you say, it wasn't cheap. Hopefully people will read this thread before deciding to make the purchase. If Hopebuy come through, no problem. If not, well I know I wouldn't deal with them after reading this.

So yeah, it is looking like the process to resolve this will be pretty painful. Let us know how you get on!

[Radiator]

why don't you try your SD Supercard to a Gameboy Advance SP?

Hi again Raghugs.

Believe it or not I have tried it with the DS, SP and now a regular GBA, all with the same results! Thanks anyway for the suggestion.



Further update:

Hopebuy have got back to me again and recommended I try the "hold L&R, turn on" test. It didn't get past the GBA logo. Again. Ah well.

I have replied basically saying I think the unit was DOA, and asking for a replacement or a refund. Fingers crossed.

[analogduck]

I have received email replies from both HopeBuy and SuperCard:

romman wrote:

>Dear Sean Crawford,
>
>　　Thank you for your email, but I can not confirm the problem. I guess it's the insert problem when SD Supercard insert into NDS. You can try GBA or GBASP to test the SD supercard.
>
>romman

I just sent the following reply to SuperCard:

I must say that what you are proposing is absurd. I read all of the material on your web site and researched the SuperCard SD in many places prior to purchasing from you.

I do not own a GBA or GBA SP. I own an NDS. Your web site clearly displays several photographs of the SuperCard SD running on an NDS. The first question in your FAQ is in regards to whether your SuperCard SD will run on an NDS and you say it will. I did not buy the SuperCard to use with a GBA or GBA SP. I bought the SuperCard SD to run on my NDS. If the unit does not work in an NDS, it is a bad unit and of no use to me.

The attached picture was taken from your web site and displays your SuperCard SD running on an NDS.

The following quote is taken directly from your site:

***Begin Quote**************
Question: Does Supercard support NDS?
   Answer:

Yes. All version of Super Card support GBA, GBA SP and NDS.
***End Quote*************

I will, only for thoroughness, attempt to find some people who can lend me a GBA or GBA SP. Unfortunately, I am an adult, not a kid, so I don't happen to know an abundance of people with GBA devices. However, even if it does work with a GBA or GBA SP, it is still going to be returned unless it can also be made to work with my Nintendo DS.

I know that many other people have successfully gotten the SuperCard SD to work with their [NDS] systems, and so I have good reason to believe that this unit is defective. That is fine with me, but if it cannot be made to work it must be exchanged for a good unit.

Again, you should be aware that there is a forum discussion regarding this item which is apparently not only affecting me but another HopeBuy customer as well. It is possible that you may have manufactured a bad batch of these:
http://supercard.mine.nu/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2547

If you wish I can provide screen captures of me using the SuperCard SD software and the contents of the SD flash card along with photographs of my NDS, the cartridge the SD card, and the message being received.

Please let me know if you would like all of that.

-- Sean

I also received the following email from HopeBuy today:

Hopebuy wrote:

> Dear Sean Crawford！
>  
>  
> I'm sorry that I can not open the link.
>  
> Did you use Supercard Software V2.30 to exchange the GBA files?
> You may download it here.
> http://www.supercard.cn/eng/download.htm
>  
> If you did, please mail me again.
>  
> Thank you.
>  
>  
> Best Regards!
>  
> Hopebuy
> 2005-07-08 16:51:11
>  
>
> ~~~~~~2005-07-08 00:03:01~~~~~~

I replied:

Yes. I used that exact link to download my software:
SuperCard SoftwareV2.30 (2005.6.20 update)

I opened a .gba file and the software patched the file successfully. (There is a column which says whether the patch fails or succeeds in the SuperCard Software).

Do I need to put anything else on the SD flash card besides the patched .gba file? Shouldn't the SuperCard show up on the NDS so I can select it and then display a loader menu to select which .gba file?

Are HopeBuy and SuperCard the same company? Are you the same person that I am writing to at SuperCard?

If the unit is bad, will you exchange for another good unit? If so, who pays for shipping? Also, if unit is exchanged can you test the new unit before you ship it to me so that it is confirmed working in good condition?

Thank you for your time in this matter.

Again, you should be aware that there is a forum discussion regarding this item which is apparently not only affecting me but another HopeBuy customer as well. It is possible that there may have been a bad batch of these SuperCard SD units manufactured:
http://supercard.mine.nu/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2547

-- Sean

[Radiator]

Ouch. I feel your pain.

I think I've got slightly further than you - Hopebuy have agreed the unit sounds faulty and have given me a Chinese address to return it to.


I was reeeeally hoping it wouldn't come to this.

Firstly the cost of securely shipping something to China is not instubstantial. I wouldn't like to send it by unregistered post, as if it gets lost I stand to lose the $70-odd I paid for it in the first place.

In the past when I have received faulty goods from overseas, a return on my part has not been neccessary for this very reason. Hopebuy have talked me through various checks and have said that they are satisfied that the unit is not functioning... But they still want it back.

Secondly, there was no mention of WHO was paying for the return shipping. I'm guessing me! You can understand why I'm not happy with this arrangement - I am in no way at fault here.


As an aside, Hopebuy mention in their latest mail that they test every single unit they ship out, and if I do have a faulty SC, it must have been damaged in transit. Interesting as it was very well packed.


Anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm very reluctant to go ahead with this. I've ordered a fresh SD card for one last try. If that fails, I guess I've got no choice but to brave the Chinese postal service.


:-x


Incidentally, I've also tried directing them to this thread. They have been quite good with me so far, but I'm pissed off about this development. Up until now I've been optimistic this would all turn out OK.

I'm going to calm down before I reply to their last mail I think...

[analogduck]

Well, it's both good to know that they test each unit prior to shipping and a little strange. The shipping package looked prettry rough, but the retail box inside (wrapped in bubble wrap) and the cartridge within looked to be in good condition. I can't imagine how it would be physically damaged. Maybe the cartridges were in the vicinity of something large and magnetic on the way here? Who knows? Not I!

The unit definitely appears dead. Please keep me posted as to what happens with your new SD card. Also, could you post what brand and size SD card you have already used, and which one you have bought? So far I have tried Kingston and Sandisk, each were 512MB.

[Radiator]

Will do.

ATM I have a 256MB PQI. I've also tried a borrowed Sandisk 512MB.

I've ordered an Adata (I hear Adata are generally very good for compatibility) 1GB capacity (why the hell not?).

Should arrive in a couple of days.

[analogduck]

I have now also tested my cartridge in GBA and GBA SP units. Both yielded a halt at the Gameboy screen. Radiator, I'm not certain that this is the same as your issue, because you said you get a white screen. Admittedly, the Gameboy screen is all white except for the Gameboy logo.

In any case, I have taken photos of the problem on all three systems. I'll post them to my web site and then post the links here, for anybody's reference that might care.

I am probably going to contact HopeBuy for an exchange (as opposed to a return) with fingers crossed. I would still like to have a working unit.

[raghugs]

blaming or asking help Hopebuy is not far,
because they are just a reseller,
how can they troubleshoot or verify a product that has been sent to them for selling from a third party,
i suspect the problem lies in manatacturers of Supercard.
they seems not done that much Q&A and compatibilty testing for SD Supercard.

i hope you already done the following, if no, do this.

contact ftogba@hotmail.com and romman_tan@hotmail.com via email or Messenger,

and point them to this thread,

[Radiator]

Radiator, I'm not certain that this is the same as your issue, because you said you get a white screen.

No, mine stops at the Gameboy logo as well. I have heard other people complain about a "white screen" issue, but it wasn't me!

Have you got any further with Romman/Hopebuy?

blaming or asking help Hopebuy is not far,
because they are just a reseller

i hope you already done the following, if no, do this.

contact ftogba@hotmail.com and romman_tan@hotmail.com via email or Messenger

As far as I'm concerned, Hopebuy have a responsibility to replace any goods they've sold that turn out to be defective, which is why I went straight to them.

I know Analogduck has been in touch with the Supercard people and is under the impression Hopebuy is a part of the same organisation (I would tend to agree).

But yeah, I am interested in what Romman would have to say about this (Hopebuy have refused to read this thread), so I may well take up your advice!

[Radiator]

OK, I've now emailed the Romman tech support address (cftogba@hotmail.com).

I'm not sure what good it'll do as Hopebuy have already offered me a return (although I'd rather not post anything to China...), but I'd like to have their feedback on this all the same.




EDIT: Erm.... Mail undeliverable error. Trying szsale@163.com instead.

[cory1492]

The SC SD that I have here came with the most recent kernel already installed - 1.44 (likely its the only one available at the moment anyway)...

The DS should at least say "option pak inserted" if it cannot find the full/proper gba info (header IIRC) when it queries the gba slot for a game pack.

Hopefully HopeBuy is a decent seller and can reimburse shipping when you exchange it as they did send you a not working out-of-the-box unit to begin with... seems that QA is not what it used to be nowadays..

[stupid2ass]

My Supercard SD is currently only working with my GBA:SP and GBA.
Thank goodness I didn't sell it yet.  
With the DS, it only comes up to the "Option Pak inserted" being mentioned in the DS's menu.  
The firmware I got is already 1.44 so I don't know what is up.  My SC CF version played just fine on the DS.  This sucks.  I've noticed some speed improvements (Mario Kart looks/plays near perfect) but not being able to play on the lovely DS screen is truly annoying.

[cory1492]

My Supercard SD is currently only working with my GBA:SP and GBA.
Thank goodness I didn't sell it yet.  
With the DS, it only comes up to the "Option Pak inserted" being mentioned in the DS's menu.  
The firmware I got is already 1.44 so I don't know what is up.  My SC CF version played just fine on the DS.  This sucks.  I've noticed some speed improvements (Mario Kart looks/plays near perfect) but not being able to play on the lovely DS screen is truly annoying.

what happens when you set the DS to autoboot from the gba slot? Have you tried reloading the kernel (1.44) with one of the gbas? Are you certain it is making proper contact (clean pins, fully inserted)? Makes me sad to hear so many others are having problems with this great SD version, did you also get yours from hopebuy? (I got mine from kicktrading.ca - could it be that the earlier batch sent to hopebuy had alot of faulty carts?)

[stupid2ass]

What do you mean reloading the kernel from one of the GBAs?
I couldn't get the kernel upgrade to reload at all since it's already at 1.44 from the manufacturer.
I do have my DS set to autoboot (I hate that damn DS nag screen).  Believe me the pins are clean.  They boot all my GBA games just fine and I've wiped the connectors with isopropyl alcohol.  
I think it's firmware related.  Here's hoping the next one will fix it.  I can play off the GBA:SP so I guess that's ok for now since I'm playing Riviera on the DS pretty much fulltime anyhow
And no, I didn't get mine from hopebuy but from one of the HK ioffer folks.  I' not doing that again.  It took far far longer for my HK order to arrive than my CF version order direct from Shanghai.