Bricked InterAct Gameshark for PS1

[neSneSgB]

Hello,
I have a non-working Gameshark for PS1 (not Pro, just original gray version).
I downloaded the BigWave 4 update disc and used it to update my Gameshark from v2.3 to v2.42.
However, on restart after "unit upgraded OK", it now only goes to a black screen, and even requires me to remove it to start the PS1 up at all.
Is there anything I can do to reflash it, or is it permanently dead?

EDIT: I should mention that I did also select to add a few games' codes to it. Maybe that was what killed it?

[neSneSgB]

UPDATE: I've successfully used X-Flasher and successfully flashed "ZIPPY33E.ROM". All I need now is the Gameshark 2.3 ROM file, which I am unable to find anywhere. It used to be at http://xianaix.net/filez/gs23.zip, but that site has been offline for a while. If I can get that site's files, then I will be all set.
Thanks so much in advance!

[dlevere]

Can't find 2.3, here's 2.4:

http://web.archive.org/web/201411111...filez/gs24.zip

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://xianaix.net/filez/*

[neSneSgB]

Thanks for the link, but WayBack Machine doesn't seem to be hosting the file, or rather, "The machine that serves this file is down. We're working on it."
Hopefully that means that they do have it, and will fix that. I'd be willing to wait for those files to come back, or for someone else to have them, as Zippy has brought my GameShark back to life, so I'm not as worried.

Interesting thing is that X-Flasher said that "GS242.ROM" that I downloaded (decrypted) had failed to flash, but the BigWave 4 claimed it successfully updated it. I'm guessing that the BigWave 4 just kept going, even though it failed for whatever reason.

[rimsky82]

http://gamehacking.org/disc

This page might help you. I have collected almost all of the gameshark upgrade discs. Missing BigWave #1, and I'm not sure the 2.4 ISO is correct.

Perhaps if someone wants to upgrade their gameshark and dump the rom, you can have whatever version you want. Maybe we should dump them all and offer the roms with the isos?

[neSneSgB]

Is there any way to run those without using the Enhancement CD option on a Gameshark BIOS? Because I have no GS BIOS that I can install, so I am unable to use those for now.
Also, will X-Flasher (Windows 9x tool) work with this GS? It'd be nice to use so that I don't have to burn discs for X-Flasher (especially when I don't have very many discs left)

[rimsky82]

I'll try to help you out today, I have like 6 gamesharks. If you want v2.3, I'll upgrade one of mine to it and attempt to dump the rom for you.

I'm not sure about XFlasher, but I have a feeling I might need it myself since a couple of mine might be bricks. We'll get this figured out for you.

[Helder]

I have a bricked one myself and I have desoldered all the chips off of it, I might just reprogram the flash memory with the GS hex and see it if it comes back to life with my chip programmer (now where the hell did I put the lose parts to it?).

[rimsky82]

Well, I thought it would be easy but I forgot you need a comms link to talk to the non-pro gamesharks.

Not sure how to do this then.

[neSneSgB]

Yeah, unfortunately you do need that link to rip the BIOSes.
That being said, I'd be glad to (after I get a GS BIOS, maybe 2.0 or 2.1) to run all the upgrade discs, and rip them all, so they can be uploaded here or something.

[Helder]

Rimsky do you happen to have the actual hex files of the updates? I'd like to manually write to the flash with my programmer and see the end results.

[neSneSgB]

I have the hex file of update 2.41 (the one that fails to flash on mine) if that is helpful to you

[Helder]

I was able to get the 2.42 but sure I can use that one as well. If I have time tomorrow I'll flash these on my GS and see if it's working and might look into acquiring some larger flash so you can use massive cheat lists (more useful for the GS Pro with V Memory).

[neSneSgB]

My bad... I have only 2.42 as well, I should check what I have before posting...

[Helder]

Well I won't be able to do shit since I found the PCB but I can't find where I put the chips, oh well.