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Author Topic: Dingoo A-380 Custom Firmware V2.11.09 "RetroDD"  (Read 284987 times)

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Dingoo A-380 Custom Firmware V2.11.09 "RetroDD"
« on: January 25, 2012, 09:03:07 pm »
Dingoo A-380 Custom FirmWare


Dingoo A-380 render by Santo


New in CFW V2.11.09:

Moved swap to External MicroSD card to improve read/write speed.
Added SDL VICE 2.4.6 with sound fix for the Dingoo A-380.
Added new UAE4All build with sound fix for the Dingoo A-380.
Fix CFW Emulators Super Nintendo.


Game ROM compatibility list:

Emulators - CAPCOM System 1 - "game" sub folder "cps1" - ROM format .zip and .fba
Emulators - CAPCOM System 2 - "game" sub folder "cps2" - ROM format .zip and .fba
Emulators - FinalBurn Alpha - "game" sub folder "fba" - ROM format .zip and .fba
Emulators - NEO-GEO - "game" sub folder "neogeo" - ROM format .zip and .fba (neogeo.zip with the BIOS files is necessary to use zip format)
Emulators - Nintendo - "game" sub folder "nes" - ROM format .nes
Emulators - Super Nintendo - "game" sub folder "snes" - ROM format .sfc and .smc
Emulators - Game Boy - "game" sub folder "gb" - ROM format .gb
Emulators - Game Boy Color - "game" sub folder "gbc" - ROM format .gbc
Emulators - Game Boy Advance - "game" sub folder "gba" - ROM format .gba
Emulators - SEGA Mega Drive - "game" sub folder "md" - ROM format .bin, .gen and .smd
Emulators - SEGA Master System - "game" sub folder "sms" - ROM format .sms
Emulators - SEGA Game Gear - "game" sub folder "gg" - ROM format .gg and .sms (rename your .gg ROM to .sms for SEGA Master System compatibility)

CFW Emulators - FinalBurn Alpha - "game" sub folder "fba" - ROM format .zip
CFW Emulators - Nintendo - "game" sub folder "nes" - ROM format .nes and .zip
CFW Emulators - Super Nintendo - "game" sub folder "snes" - ROM format .fig, .sfc, .smc and .zip
CFW Emulators - Game Boy - "game" sub folder "gb" - ROM format .gb
CFW Emulators - Game Boy Color - "game" sub folder "gbc" - ROM format .gbc
CFW Emulators - Game Boy Advance - "game" sub folder "gba" - ROM format .gba
CFW Emulators - SEGA Mega Drive - "game" sub folder "md" - ROM format .bin, .gen, .smd and .zip
CFW Emulators - SEGA CD - "game" sub folder "scd" - ROM format .iso, .bin and .cso/mp3
CFW Emulators - SEGA Master System - "game" sub folder "sms" - ROM format .sms
CFW Emulators - SEGA Game Gear - "game" sub folder "gg" - ROM format .gg and .sms (rename your .gg ROM to .sms for SEGA Master System compatibility)
CFW Emulators - Atari Lynx - "game" sub folder "lynx" - ROM format .lnx, .lyx and .zip


Note: You need an External MicroSD to use firmware V2.00.25 and later or you cant use the Audio Player, Video Player, Pictures and E-Book because the folders to store the files are moved to the external MicroSD card. I did this to have more space for game ROMs on the internal MicroSD card. Open-Source Emulators is linked to the "emulator" folder on the external MicroSD card. Open-Source Games is linked to the "game" folder on the external MicroSD card. SDL Games is linked to the "sdlgames" folder on the external MicroSD card. They show only the dge files. I've used an online translation program to translate Open-Source Emulators, Open-Source Games and SDL Games for the firmware. Let me know when it's wrong so I can fix it.


NEO-GEO zip format:

Download and extract the Dingoo A380 FBA Conversion Tool from Dingoo Technology. Copy the neogeo.zip from the rom folder to your Dingoo A380 "game" sub folder "neogeo" with your neogeo rom zips. Don't try to rename the zips or it won't work.


Note: A list of Neo-Geo games that work as a zip can be found here: http://boards.dingoonity.org/dingoo-technology-a380/games-confirmed-to-work-on-dingoo-a380/msg49383/#msg49383

Thanks to retrodd and Santo for making this list.


Original Dingoo A-380 emulators:

It's now possible to change and save the emulator settings. Changing brightness doesn't work with FC/Nintendo. Frame skipping isn't possible. The setting always returns back to 0.



Warning: Don't update the firmware if it's important for you to have the equalizer settings for the Audio Player. Dingoo Technology removed it in firmware V2.0016.

 

Firmware download:

Download Old Firmware V2.11.04 "Exmortis II": http://dl.openhandhelds.org/cgi-bin/dingoo.cgi?0,0,0,0,42,721

Download New Firmware V2.11.09 "RetroDD": http://dl.openhandhelds.org/cgi-bin/dingoo.cgi?0,0,0,0,42,724

Download Original Dingoo A-380 Firmware V2.001: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_3jEC5DoqDMlZha2RaZDFDUE0/view?usp=sharing

Download Original Dingoo A-380 Firmware V2.0016: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_3jEC5DoqDT0E4WlJCVnRCMHc/view?usp=sharing


Note: Use "Restore Default Settings" the first time you use a new firmware. Run every application in the firmware to create the necessary folders and sub folders on the internal and external MicroSD cards. To make the swapfile put Swap to On and wait patiently till you hear the sound and icon animation continues.


CFW Emulator Pack download:

Dingoo A-380 V2.11.09 Emulator Pack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_3jEC5DoqDd20yOENsRnRsWFE/view?usp=sharing

New in the emulator pack: SDL VICE V2.4.6, UAE4All (sound fix), PSX4All (fix), ScummVM 1.7.0 and CFW Super Nintendo (update).


Note: Boot the factory kernel before you charge the battery with an USB wall charger. Charging the battery with the new kernel is slow.


Tools:

Roadkil's Disk Image: http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=12&Action=NewOSID&DownloadVersion=9&Installer=NO

MiniTool Partition Wizard: http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html


SEGA CD - BIN to CSO/MP3 converter: http://dl.openhandhelds.org/cgi-bin/dingoo.cgi?0,0,0,0,115,656


Tutorials:


Windows


You need Mini Tool Partition Wizard and Roadkil's DiskImage. You can find a download link in the Tools section.


Start Mini Tool Partition Wizard and Delete all the partitions on your MicroSD card. Right click on your MicroSD card disk in Mini Tool Partition Wizard and choose Wipe Partition. Choose Fill Sectors with Zero (Quick) and click OK.

After wiping the entire MicroSD card start Roadkil's DiskImage. Select your MicroSD card (it's probably the bottom Physical Disk) and browse to the CFW image. Start the writing of the CFW image to the MicroSD card.

After writing the CFW image with Roadkil's DiskImage open Mini Tool Partition Wizard and resize the FAT32 partition labeled ALIEN_GREY1.


Linux/Ubuntu


Start Gparted to know what the disk name is. This can be mmcblk0 or a sd depending on what you're using to connect the MicroSD card to the computer. As an example I'm going to use mmcblk0 but of course you've got to change that to your disk name.

The first thing to do is unmount the partitions on the MicroSD card. You can do that in Gparted by selecting a partition and right click than choose Unmount. After unmounting the partitons close Gparted.


The next thing to do is erase the MicroSD card.

To erase the MicroSD card use this command in the terminal:
Code: [Select]
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1M

After erasing the MicroSD card go to the directory with the CFW image.

Use this command to write CFW image to the MicroSD card:
Code: [Select]
sudo dd if=CFW-V21109.img of=/dev/mmcblk0

After writing the CFW image to the MicroSD card remove it from the computer.


If you want to resize the FAT32 partition labeled ALIEN_GREY1, connect the MicroSD card again to the computer and  resize it with Gparted.


Mac OS X


Use this command to become root:
Code: [Select]
su

Use this to know the disk number for the MicroSD card:
Code: [Select]
diskutil list
As an example I'm going to use disk1 but of course you've got to change that to your disk number.


The first thing to do is unmount the MicroSD card:
Code: [Select]
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk1

To erase the MicroSD card use this command:
Code: [Select]
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/disk1 bs=1M

After erasing the MicroSD card go to the directory with the CFW image.

Use this command to write CFW image to the MicroSD card:
Code: [Select]
dd if=CFW-V21109.img of=/dev/disk1

After writing the CFW image to the MicroSD card remove it from the computer.


Videos:


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwc8qr2YKjE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwc8qr2YKjE</a>
Video tutorial from retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht3LUsfvFTs" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht3LUsfvFTs</a>
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.01.04 video by retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT3kcd00qbI" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT3kcd00qbI</a>
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.05.03 video by retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zBIO-RVZ_Q" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zBIO-RVZ_Q</a>
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.06.01 video by retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVKonXgQgkY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVKonXgQgkY</a>
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.08.03 video by retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYkh3iDXr6M" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYkh3iDXr6M</a>
Testing new kernel video by retrodd


<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urTvl4dO0yM" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urTvl4dO0yM</a>
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.10.28 video with MAME4All from slaanesh by retrodd



Special Thanks:

Dingoo Technology for releasing the source code.
Carlos Wong for making the source code public available.
d_smagin for all his help with the CFW.
slaanesh for the Dingoo A-380 MAME4All.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2014, 02:58:40 pm by Alien Grey »
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

chaddwith2ds

  • Guest
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2012, 10:18:42 pm »
good work.

cypresstwist

  • Posts: 39
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2012, 07:03:08 am »
I was also tinkering with that EXT2 partition yesterday and also saw the lack of free space on it. What could be done is to edit the partition and enlarge it, giving it an extra 30-50 megs. Also, I also noticed the problem of editing files on that partition. I wanted to add an extra menu to my firmware so that i can launch my favourite games without having to scroll through menus. I edited the CFG file accordingly but the system kept rebooting itself. Had to restore from backup.
What could be done with a larger EXT2 partition is to add more wallpapers and name them c4.png, c5.png, c6.png and so on.
I was also thinking about modifying some scripts so that the language menu turns into a theme-switcher. Themes would be residing on the FAT32 partition (because of the lack of space on the EXT2 one) but they would be hard-coded on the EXT2 partition, since there are some scripts that need modification. I'll think of a way to circumvent this and enable theming support without the need to specify each theme in a script residing on the EXT2 partition. It could be done with an .INI file on the FAT32 that is invoked from a script residing on EXT2.

Regarding the emulator settings not being saved, there could be two reasons for this. One is that the files might be read-only (haven't checked, but this would be my first guess). The second would be that once created, new files have to be made part of the same group (nogroup) and attributed to the same user (nouser). In Linux you can do this with chown username:groupname file .
Nonetheless, the first thing that I would do if I were you would be to make that EXT2 partition larger.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2012, 07:10:37 am by cypresstwist »
Dingoo A380, 8GB MicroSD card inside

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2012, 10:35:06 pm »
I've tried to make the EXT2 partiton larger with gparted but it didn't fix anything. There's still only 2% free space available and the partition is bad and can't be fixed.


It's important to know that when you want to use NEO-GEO zip format, to store your ROMs on your Dingoo, you can't rename them or the games won't run anymore.  :(
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

Pottzman

  • Posts: 34
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2012, 03:07:00 pm »
I was able to copy files to that partition. in linux just use the terminal and sudo copy the files you want. i had the same problem you are experiencing but using the sudo command seemed to help.

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2012, 04:38:31 pm »
I was able to copy files to that partition. in linux just use the terminal and sudo copy the files you want. i had the same problem you are experiencing but using the sudo command seemed to help.

I can copy files to it as root but not all. I'm still trying to fix it.

I removed the backup image because I think that it's bad. I tried to restore the backup image and it didn't seem to work. I'll upload it again when I'm sure that it works or when someone confirms that it worked for him.
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

cypresstwist

  • Posts: 39
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2012, 04:49:06 pm »
One thing you could do is archive the files from the EXT2 partition (to preserve attributes and permissions), delete the EXT2 partition, recreate it and resize it, then copy the files back. See if that works.
Dingoo A380, 8GB MicroSD card inside

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.0016 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2012, 07:34:46 pm »
I'm making progress. I deleted the EXT2 partition and created a new one and copied all files back from my other MicroSD. Now I've got around 72MB free space.  :)

Saving the emulator settings is now working. Changing brightness for NES (fc) games still doesn't work.  >:(


Is there anyone that can confirm that changing brightness with NES (fc) works on his Dingoo A380?
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2012, 12:01:27 am »
Updated the firmware to V2.00.18
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

cypresstwist

  • Posts: 39
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2012, 07:59:24 am »
Brightness settings are not saved with the NES emulator on my A380.
Dingoo A380, 8GB MicroSD card inside

zipaway

  • Posts: 54
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2012, 07:23:29 pm »
Thank you very much for your work.

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2012, 09:46:49 pm »
Thank you very much for your work.

You're welcome. I saw your post in the old firmware backup/unbricker thread but I see that you already found the new one.  ;D


We can use some nice custom backgrounds in the firmware so where are cg artists?
« Last Edit: January 28, 2012, 09:50:23 pm by Alien Grey »
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

zipaway

  • Posts: 54
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2012, 10:12:15 pm »
What resolution/size/format do the backgrounds have to be in?

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2012, 10:21:58 pm »
What resolution/size/format do the backgrounds have to be in?

400 pixels x 240 pixels png format and maybe it's a good idea to use Dingoonity in the backgrounds.
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

zipaway

  • Posts: 54
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2012, 11:04:19 pm »
I'm assuming that when you mean use dingoonity in the background it means to include the dingoonity logo somewhere in the background, or does it mean make a dingoonity themed background?

Well anyways for the hard work you people have put in l will create one or two backgrounds by tomorrow.

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2012, 12:16:48 am »
Logo and name. See left corner on top of the webpage.
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2012, 10:47:45 pm »
Firmware V2.00.19 BETA 1 is available. You can find the download link in the OP.

New backgrounds and icons.


Discuss it in the Custom A380 Backgrounds! thread.
http://boards.dingoonity.org/dingoo-technology-a380/custom-a380-dingoonity-backgrounds!
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller

zipaway

  • Posts: 54
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #17 on: January 31, 2012, 12:12:28 am »
Quote
It takes some time to have a firmware image ready to share so it probably won't be before next weekend.

Haha I thought it was ganna take a week  ;)
Good job though.

I have plans for a few other backgrounds/designs but It will probably be awhile though since im busy with exams the following weeks.

zipaway

  • Posts: 54
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2012, 11:37:00 pm »
Alien, I want to get an 8gb micro sd, so will your img be okay since its only 4gb or do i need to get an 8gb img fom you, im really confused.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2012, 11:45:34 pm by zipaway »

Alien Grey (OP)

  • Posts: 1438
Re: Firmware V2.00.18 with NEO-GEO zip support
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2012, 07:04:52 am »
Alien, I want to get an 8gb micro sd, so will your iso be okay since its only 4gb or do i need to get an 8gb iso fom you, im really confused.

Remove the FAT32 partition and make a new one with all the available free space.

For Linux use GParted and for Windows use Mini Tool Partition Wizard.


Download Mini Tool Partition Wizard: http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
« Last Edit: February 02, 2012, 07:13:48 am by Alien Grey »
Dingoo A-380 CFW V2.11.09 "RetroDD" - 2 x SanDisk SDHC 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Inside - 2 x Dingoo F-16 Wireless Game Controller