Contents

Running an ISO from an 'ISO/MP3'

Nothing happens when I boot my ISO!
Backup RAM not initialized?
My game locks up!
There's no music!
Your help isn't helpful!

Running an actual Sega CD game or CD-R copy

Nothing happens when I boot a Sega CD game!
Gens is not detecting my CD-ROM drive!
Backup RAM not initialized?
My game locks up!
There's no music!
Downloading & installing ForceASPI
Your help isn't helpful!

This page is an extension of "Gens Tutorial"

Running an ISO from an 'ISO/MP3'

Nothing happens when I boot my ISO!

1. First of all, do you have Gens set up the Sega CD BIOS? If you haven't then go here for directions.

2. Secondly, your ISO/MP3 most likely came compressed within a WinRAR file. If you're attempting to load the ISO by clicking on the RAR file, then that's why it's not working. You're supposed to extract the ISO and MP3s from it, then load the ISO.

3. If you've set up the Sega CD BIOS and have already extracted the ISO/MP3 RAR file, and now when you attempt to boot the ISO you get the screen you see toward the right, then that means Gens is not detecting the ISO as a valid Sega CD game. Hence, the ISO you have is corrupt. The only thing you can do is either re-downloaded it or download it from somewhere else.

Backup RAM not initialized?

You need to format the memory. Click here for directions.

My game locks up!

• You need to have Perfect Synchro enabled. Click here for directions.

• If locking up still continues, in most cases it means your ISO is partially corrupt. Try re-downloading it or download it from somewhere else.

There's no music!

• Are the MP3s that came with the 'ISO/MP3' in the same folder where the ISO is? They need to be. Everything that came with the ISO/MP3 archive must be extracted and placed in the same folder.

• If everything's together in the same folder and you're still not getting any music, in most cases it means your ISO is partially corrupt. Try re-downloading it or download it from somewhere else.

Running an actual Sega CD game or CD-R copy

Nothing happens when I boot a Sega CD game!

First, I have two questions:

1. Do you have Gens set up the Sega CD BIOS? If you haven't then go here for directions.

2. Do you have more than one CD-ROM? If you do then click on the Option menu then Current CD Drive. Click on the drive that you have your Sega CD game in.

Still no luck? Then try installing ForceASPI.

Gens is not detecting my CD-ROM drive!

That means you're having ASPI issues. The remedy is installing ForceASPI.

Backup RAM not initialized?

You need to format the memory. Click here for directions.

My game locks up!

You need to have Perfect Synchro enabled. Click here for directions. If the game still locks up, then that means it could be one of the following:

1. Is the game you're using a CD-R copy? If it is then it's a bad burn or it was burned wrong. I suggest using the following burning software: Nero Burning Rom (considered the best), Easy CD Creator, Fireburner.

2. Is the game you're using a CD-R burned from an ISO/MP3? You burned it wrong. Refer to the forum of the place you downloaded it from for proper burning instruction. Also, you don't have to burn ISO/MP3 to a CD, Gens can run the game directly from it. Refer to the Gens Read Me file for more info.

3. It's probably not fully compatible with Gens yet. Click here for a Gens Sega CD compatibility list.

There's no music!

Obviously, this'll only happen if you're using a CD-R.

1. If this CD-R is a burn from a CD image on your hard drive, then that means the CD image was made without tracks. Try using different software.

2. If this CD-R is a burn from an ISO/MP3 then that could mean you're using the wrong burning software, it's a bad burn or you burned it wrong. Refer to the forum of the place you downloaded it from for proper burning instruction. Also, you don't have to burn ISO/MP3 to a CD, Gens can run the game directly from it. Refer to the Gens Read Me file for more info.

Downloading & installing ForceASPI

The following is a backup of this web page (but don't go there because it's full of ads). I also have a backup of ForceASPI right there (it's 150 KB).

ForceASPI v1.7

This page last updated: 16dec2003. If you dropped in here from a search, you can find more detailed info about ASPI posted here: ASPI Layer Drivers.

ForceASPI is a suite of scripts designed to install v4.60 of Adaptec's ASPI layer on your 32-bit Windows operating system. Many people report that this version of ASPI layer drivers offers the BEST COMPATIBILITY with the greatest number of software programs, regardless of which Windows operating system they are used with. This nearly universal compatibility is what makes ForceASPI so attractive.

ForceASPI allows you to install Adaptec ASPI layer v4.60 (1021) on your PC regardless of your hardware or software configuration.

The scripts which comprise ForceASPI automatically detect your operating system and install the appropriate files into their proper directories. The following operating systems have been tested:

Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows ME
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000
Windows XP

Why use ForceASPI?

The reasons ForceASPI was created, and why you might want to use it:

No ASPI Layer in Windows 2000 or XP
Windows 9x and Windows ME ASPI Layer sucks
Many CD Digital Audio rippers require a working ASPI layer
Many DVD Rippers require a working ASPI layer
Most CD-R wirting applications require a working ASPI layer
I have been applying this hack manually on my own systems and decided to automate the process and let everyone benefit
Some people (such as the folks at Sony and Adobe) find that these drivers offer better compatibility than newer versions of Adaptec's ASPI layer drivers (such as v4.71.2).

Installation

Extract the forceASPI17.ZIP file to a directory. Alternate link posted HERE (listed under Support Utils, near bottom). Open a Command Prompt and run the appropriate *.BAT file(s).

Usage and Instructions

Here is what each script does.

		instASPI - Installs v4.60 (1021) of Adaptec ASPI layer on Win9x,
		           WinME, WinNT, Win2K and WinXP. Existing ASPI layers will
		           be overwritten.

		dumpASPI - Creates a backup of your existing ASPI layer, or parts thereof.
		           Some Win32 operating systems do not have an ASPI layer, in this
		           situation you will create an empty backup.
		
		restASPI - Restores the ASPI layer backup created with 'dumpASPI'.
		           WARNING! If your ASPI backp is empty this will completely erase
		           your currently installed ASPI layer.
		
		killASPI - This completely removes your installed ASPI layer.
		
		killDUMP - The deletes your dumped ASPI layer.

I recommend using ForceASPI this way:

Run dumpASPI to backup your current ASPI layer
Run instASPI to install the new ASPI layer
Reboot
Run aspichk to see if everything worked OK
Some people report better success by running killASPI before running instASPI when newer ASPI drivers (such as v4.71.2) have been installed.

aspichk.exe

aspichk.exe is a tool provided by Adpatec to report what version of the ASPI Layer you have installed and checks if everything is working OK. To test your ASPI Layer with aspichk.exe just download it and then run it.

Here are some screenshots of what aspichk should look like after a successful install. NOTE! The number of Host Adapters detected is dependant on your hardware configuration.