I was unable to figure out any "smart" method of dumping E-VMU BIOS, so I still need to find the correct entry point to the BIOS procedure I want. Unfortunatelly the only way to do this is a brute-force exhaustive search of all 16384 combinations. Trust me, I've tried out quite a few and the conclusion is: the code in English-based VMUs has been shuffled by the linker and it's layout is completly different from any J-VMU I've seen.

Long story short, if you people hope to get English BIOS for VMU emulation (AFAIK noone has ever dumped it) you better help me I will continue my search anyway but it'll take weeks to months. It's not really required you know, Japanese BIOS will work just fine, but without it the simulator would appear somehow... incomplete.

Here's a list of things you need to have to help:

(1) Dreamcast
It's only required for the initial VMU programming. You might need it few more times if the VMU becomes corrupted, but that's it. Any region console will do.

(2) Spare E-VMU
It's a VMU that uses English to communicate via it's LCD. I'm not aware of any other types of VMU but J- and E- ones, but if you know better please tell me.
Important note: that VMU will be completly erased. Backup it first if it contains mini-game or saves you'll want to use in future.

(3) CR2032 button cells
You'll need some of those to power the VMU in standalone mode. Actually, if you have two able hands you can just connect two wires to the contacts (using sticky tape for example) and power it from external battery pack or even power supply. That's what I'm doing. Anything from 5V to 9V is fine, so a 4-pack of AA or AAA cells or one 9F22 battery will do. There is a diode inside the VMU to protect it in case you get the polarity wrong but be careful about that. And in case you decide on a power supply, make sure it's a quality one. The cheap "wall cubes" with unregulated output have a strong ripple which can go as high as twice the nominal voltage!

(4) Free time and some patience
This whole process is quite boring, really. You'll be repeating the same thing hundreds of times and it's important that you do it throughly. Good news is you can pause and continue at any time.

Interested? If so, please download this small package and follow the instructions below. It contains CDI ready to be burned and a binary file for people who would rather use a serial cable or BBA for uploading executables.

- I'm assuming you know how to burn CD-Rs for your Dreamcast to boot. Google it if you don't. The CDI in the archive is self-bootable, but I've also included the unscrambled binary file in case you'd want to make your own CD with a proper dummy file.

- Boot the disc, or upload it via cable, whatever works for you. Your console should be hooked up to a TV, PAL/NTSC mode will be autodetected. In case you need to override this, keep X pressed during boot/upload to force PAL, or Y to force NTSC. VGA box is another story - I'm pretty sure it'll detect and use proper mode but in case it doesn't use X+Y together. Keep in mind this will not work if normal TV cable is attached.

- You should be using standard Dreamcast controller, although anything that has VMU slot will probably do. Any port will do but I'd stick to Port A and slot 1 just in case. After the application starts you should see this:

VMU blind dialer 1.0
Press A to begin, or B to quit


- If you haven't already, insert a VMU into your controller and press A button. Let me repeat this one more time: AT THIS POINT YOUR VMU WILL BE COMPLETLY ERASED. The screen will change and eventually read like this:

Detecting... found VMU @A1
[Version 1.005,1999/10/26,315-6208-05,SEGA Visual Mem
ory System BIOS Produced by ]
Writing to VMU FLASH memory, please wait...
Processing block 256/256
Done


Take note of the version being displayed. If you have VMU version below 1.004 please contact me, as there's a chance it's different from newer models.

- Once you see "Done" you can pull the VMU out. This procedure is so straightforward that you don't even need to use the TV; just wait a few seconds for the CD to boot and keep pressing A until the exclamation (!) icon on VMU LCD shows up. Then wait for it to go away and it's ready.

That covers priming the VMU. You can produce more then one, give it to family/friends
Now, for the important (and boring) part:

- Turn on the VMU
- Set up date/time if you're asked to
- Select mini-game mode, press A to run
- This will appear on LCD:



There are 4 hexadecimal digits here.

The program goes to flash your PSP. This is never benign and can make your PSP partially or completely inutiisable. NEVER RESTORE A NAND ABROAD AT YOUR PSP. This makes your PSP permanently unusable even with a pandora Kit as the ID Storage of a PSP is unique and can not be used on another.
PSPgen and (or) author (s) from this program will not be held responsible when problems with your PSP.
Note: Your battery must be charged at least 70%

Reminders:

Nandmanager used to dump or restore NAND (FLASH0 + FLASH1 + FLASH2 + FLASH3 + + iDStorage IPL) on your PSP, as allowed Despertar Del Cementario, but it has some functions in addition that are very interesting: on the one hand, it is not necessary to have a battery Pandora to dump its NAND and on the other hand, it may be several NANDs, renowned for his way and install the one you want (a practice to change firmware in a few minutes)


What's New in this version?


Adding to magic / seed unique to each PSP (more or less an "identity card") which helps differentiate dumps several PSP.

Phortail just released version 4.0 (The portal valid!)

New:

- Recode and complete restructuring of the code
- Phortail now valid W3C
- Adding a page Credits
- Repair ties HS
- Remove all games except certain well
New-design itself easier
- Suppression of anti Mosquito (I do not think its really walk)
And plenty of other thing you verré by yourself!!
- Raccourcie to better navigate the menu

As always

- Full of useful software
-3 Games
- Msn
Meteo -
Client-mail Hotmail
Client-mail support: MSN AIM YAHOO! and Google Talk
- News Psp-Gen PSP format


I think the biggest thing to say is that I have all recoded and is a portal VALID the web standards (W3C)