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Multiboot guide

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Alexey 'Cluster' Avdyukhin edited this page Feb 22, 2018 · 4 revisions

Since version 2.30 you can now turn your SNES Mini into a NES Mini/Famicom Mini and vice-versa on the fly! You can even change the SNES Mini into a Super Famicom Mini, or a Japanese Super Famicom Mini!

Multiboot

It's easy to do. First of all, if you just updated to version 2.30, make sure that you installed latest custom kernel:

Custom kernel

Also you need the firmware image (NAND-B partition image) of the target console (don't confuse this with the kernel image!). So if you want to boot the NES Mini image on a SNES Mini you will need the firmware image of an NES Mini. Usually it has the ".hsqs" extension. It's not legit to share it on the net because it contains games and other copyrighted data. You can dump it yourself using the “Dump decrypted NAND-B partition" command in Kernel menu.

Dumping NAND-B

Of course you need a real console to do this dump. So if you want to boot an NES Mini on your SNES Mini, you will need to dump the decrypted NAND-B partition image from the NES Mini. If you do not have an NES Mini and still want to do it, you should be able to find the image through torrents, or ask your friends with target console to dump it for you.

Add this ".hsqs" file as you would normally add a game: via "Add more games" button or just drag'n'drop it onto the hakchi2 window.

.hsqs added

You can rename it and assign an image to it, just like with any other added game.

.hsqs added

Please note that command line must begin with "/bin/hsqs".

Now, sync. It should work already.

Multiboot

But you want to customize your virtual console too, isn't it? At the very least, you should add a shortcut that lets you return to the original firmware. To do this, select your target console using Settings -> Console type -> (choose your console type). So if you have an SNES Mini and want to boot to the NES Mini firmware on it, select "NES Mini" in the menu.

Console type

Now you can customize games for the target console. You can add any games as usual.

Other console mode

But first of all, right click on the games list and select "Create custom command".

Other console mode

Now type into the command line field "/bin/hsqs auto" (without quotes). This command will return you to your consoles original firmware. Also you can change name and image for this menu item.

Other console mode

Connect your console to your PC, turn it on, wait for the green icon in lower left corner and then sync. Now you can switch back to original firmware.

Return icon

That's all! Now you can switch between different consoles and customize every virtual console individually.

Please note:

  • All consoles/firmwares share added modules, so you don't need to install them multiple times.
  • All consoles/firmwares share the same configurations, with one exception: global command line arguments.
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