-Dex Drive Informational Guide-
-Final Version - December 8th 2000-
-Author: Drew "Kasket" Guirey-


       For most people who have a Play Station or a Nintendo 64, the Dex Drive
is a key component for saving multiple game files. With the Play Station and
Nintendo 64 Library library falling into the hundreds, the need for memory
storage is more important than ever before. The Dex Drive is an alternate
means of storage by taking the file they have stored on the Memory Card, and
placing it on a filing system on their computer. This guide is meant to help
people understand, and use every function of the Dex Drive program and to
answer most of the questions that I receive in E-Mail about the Dex Drive
every day.

       This guide will cover the basic functions, as well as transfer issues,
error messages, and more advanced questions that the user might have. I'll
also explain some of the hardware needed, and some tips on how to use the Dex
Drive to the best of its potential. My hope is that people will find a good
use for this guide and find enjoyment in using their Dex Drive system, as well
as perhaps having some people choose to use this device to further their game
playing.

       Unless otherwise noted, this guide covers both the Nintendo 64 version
and the Play Station version of the Dex Drive. There is only one feature that
seperates the actual program the Dex Drive uses, and that is the creation of
Data Files. When you purchase a Dex Drive for both systems, you will notice
that the program the Dex Drive uses is the same program and the same menu set
up. The only real difference, is the casing that the Dex Drive uses, in which
the Play Station has a slot for a memory card on the side, and the Nintendo 64
version has a slot on top. Both Dex Drives use the same power cord adapter,
and both use the same serial port plug {usually Com 2}


-Table of Contents-

-Section 1: The Dex Drive
-1.1: Dex Drive Menu
-1.2: Copying Game Saves

-Section 2: The Basic Functions
-2.1: Deleting and Undeleting Save Files
-2.2: Memory Card Back Up
-2.3: Memory Card Restoration
-2.4: Memory Card Duplication
-2.5: Memory Card Re-Formatting
-2.6: Changing Multi-Page Memory Cards {PSX Feature}
-2.7: Data Files {N64 Feature}

-Section 3: Transfer Tips
-3.1: Uploading Game Saves
-3.2: Downloading Game Saves

-Section 4: Error Messages/Troubleshooting
-Section 5: Frequently Asked Questions
-Section 6: Credits
-Section 7: Copyright Information


-Section 1.1: The Dex Drive Menu

       The Dex Drive Menu Bar is an easily navigated menu that allows you to
use the various functions of your Dex Drive. Located on this Menu along the
bottom row, starting from left to right:

-Backup: This option allows you to save all of the information that you have
stored on your Memory Card, onto your hard drive, or a floppy disk. Any back-
ups of the N64 game files, will automatically have the .N64 file extension
name placed at the end.

-Restore: This option allows you to restore a specifically chosen Game File to
your Memory Card. Note that this option only works if you have a back-up file
located somewhere on your computer. The restore option is particularly useful
if you have a corrupted Memory Card and are forced to re-format.

-Duplicate:  This option allows you to take everything from your Memory Card
and transfer it to a new file within your Dex Drive program. While this
function may seem simple to use, it's much easier to go ahead and create
single game save files instead of lumping them altogether.

-Re-Format: This option allows you to erase an entire Memory Card of Game
Files. While this option may seem a last resort, it's helpful in quickly
wiping a Memory Card of corrupt files, or files that you no longer need. As a
personal tip, I would suggest that you use this only if you've transferred
Game Saves from your Memory Card to your computer.

-Refresh: This option allows you to clear up the connection to you Com Port.
Particularly useful if you have a slow transfer time, or the program freezes
on you.

-E-Mail: Self-explanatory. You can open your E-Mailing program by clicking on
this for Internet Game Save transfers. This is helpful when uploading Game
Saves to a web site, or to other Internet Users.

-Change Page: If you have a Mega-Memory Card, then you'll be able to change
the pages by clicking this option. This feature is disabled when using the N64
Dex Drive, as there hasn't been much of a market for Multi-page Memory Cards
for the N64.



-Section 1.2: Copying Game Saves

       There are several methods of copying Game Saves, however, these are the
easiest three, and are explained in the Dex Drive Manual:

-Method 1

Click on the game save that you want copied and drag it into any game save in
the opposite display panel. The same game save cannot appear twice in the same
display panel.

-Method 2

-Right click on the game save that you want to copy.
-Choose Copy.
-A message box will appear. Click Yes to continue or Cancel to stop the
process.
-If you choose Yes, a processing bar will appear(for copy left panel only)
indicating that the Copy process has started. When the bar disappears, the
game save will have been copied and stored in the memory buffer of the Dex
Drive.
-Right click on any game save that IS NOT in the same panel as the game save
that you just copied.
-Choose Paste.
-A message box will appear. Click Yes to continue or Cancel to stop the
process.
-If you choose Yes, a processing bar will appear(for copy left panel only)
indicating that the Paste process has started. When the bar disappears, the
game save will have been pasted onto the panel you chose.

-Method 3

-Click on the game save that you want to copy.
-Click the Edit heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Copy.

OR






-Press these keys on your keyboard simultaneously: Ctrl+C
-A message box will appear. Click Yes to continue or Cancel to stop the
process.

-If you choose Yes, a processing bar will appear (for copy left panel only)
indicating that the Copy process has started. When the bar disappears, the
game save will have been copied and stored in the memory buffer of the Dex
Drive.
-Click on any game save that is not in the same panel as the game save that
you just copied.
-Click the Edit heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Paste.

OR

-Press these keys on your keyboard simultaneously: Ctrl+V
-A message box will appear. Click Yes to continue or Cancel to stop the
process.
-If you choose Yes, a processing bar will appear(for copy left panel only)
indicating that the Paste process has started. When the bar disappears, the
game save will have been pasted on the panel you chose.


-Section 2.1: Deleting and Undeleting Game Saves

       When Deleting Game Saves, this is the method to go about doing such:

-Click the icon or folder of the game save that you want to delete.
-Click the Edit heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Delete,

OR

-Click the Delete button on the Bottom Panel,

OR

-Right Click your mouse and then choose Delete.

A Warning Message will appear

-Click OK to delete the save or Cancel to stop the delete process.
-If you choose OK, a processing bar will appear. The deletion process is
complete when the bar disappears.
-Repeat the procedure from Step 1 if you want to delete another game save.

NOTE: You cannot stop the deletion process once it has begun.

--Undeleting Game Saves

-Immediately after you have deleted a game save, click on the Edit heading on
the Menu Bar.
-Choose Undelete.

The deleted game save will appear in the same display panel from where it was
deleted.

NOTE: If there are no available NULL Folders within the panel from which the
game save was deleted, you will not be able to undelete that save until you
allocate space in that display panel to store the save.




-Section 2.2: Memory Card Back-Up

-Click the Memory Card heading on the Menu Bar , then choose Backup

OR

-Click the Backup button on the Bottom Panel.

-The Backup Memory Card dialog box will appear
-Type in the name of the new backup file that you want to create and save onto
the hard disk or floppy disk

OR

-Click the Browse button, and the Select New Game dialog box will appear. Type
in the name of the file that you want to create and save onto the hard disk or
floppy disk.

-(If you select an existing .N64 file, the warning message "Replace existing
file" will appear)-

-Click the Start button to begin the backup process.


-Section 2.3: Memory Card Restoration

-Click the Memory Card heading on the Menu Bar , then choose Restore

OR

-Click the Restore button on the Bottom Panel.
-The Restore Memory Card dialog box will appear
-Type in the name of the data file that you want restored from the hard disk
or floppy disk,

OR

-Click the Browse button.  The Select New Game dialog box will appear.
-Select the data file that you want restored from hard disk or floppy disk.
-Click the Start button.
-A reconfirm message will appear.
-Click OK to continue or Cancel to exit.
-The Restore process will begin once the processing bar appears.

NOTE: You can stop this process at anytime by clicking the Cancel button in
the Restore Memory Card dialog box. However, if you do so, the memory card may
contain invalid information.


-Section 2.4: Memory Card Duplication

-Click the Memory Card heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Duplicate

OR

-Click the Duplicate button on the Bottom Panel.

-The Duplicate Memory Card dialog box will appear.
-Insert the Source memory card that you want to copy into the Dex Drive
-Click the Start button.
-A processing bar will appear to indicate that the reading process has
started.


-Wait until the reading process is completed.
-Another dialog box will appear requesting that the Target memory card be
inserted into the Dex Drive.
-Take out the Source memory card and insert the Target memory card.
-Click the Start button.
-If there is data already stored on the Target memory card, a message box will
appear stating that "The Target Memory Card contains some game saves".
-Click OK to overwrite these saves or Cancel to abort the process.
-If you choose OK, another processing bar will appear to indicate that the
writing process has started.
-When the process is finished, another dialog box will appear telling you that
the card has been duplicated.
-Repeat the procedure from Step 6 if you want to duplicate the contents onto
another Target memory card.

NOTE: You can stop the duplication processing at anytime by clicking the
Cancel button in the Duplicate Memory Card dialog box. However, if you do so,
the memory card may contain invalid information.


-Section 2.5: Memory Card Re-Formatting

-Click the Memory Card heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Re-Format

OR

-Click the Re-Format button on the Bottom Panel.

-The Re-Format Memory Card dialog box will appear
-Click the Start button in the Re-Format Memory Card dialog box.
-A message box will appear asking if you are sure that you want to proceed.
-Press OK to start reformatting or Cancel to stop the reformat process.

-A processing bar will appear.
-When the processing bar disappears the card is reformatted.

NOTE: You cannot stop the re-format process after you have pressed OK.


-Section 2.6: Changing Multi-Page Memory Cards {PSX Feature Only}

-Click the Memory Card heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Change Page.
-The following functions are listed in the pull down menu:

Next Page

-Allows the user to move forward one page on a multi-page memory card.

Previous Page

-Allows the user to move backward one page on a multi-page memory card.

Fast Forward

-Allows user to move forward 10 pages on a multi-page memory card.

Fast backward

-Allows the user to move backward 10 pages on a multi-page memory card.

Jump Relative

-Allows the user to move forward or backward by more than one page relative to
the current page.

-Insert the number of pages that will be jumped.
-Click the Forward or Backward button to move.


-Section 2.7: Data Files {N64 Feature Only}

The DexPlorer program recognizes the following type of data file:

Nintendo 64 data file represented with the .N64 extension

How to select a .N64 (Nintendo 64) data file

1.      Make sure your Nintendo 64 Dex Drive is plugged into Serial/COM port 1.


2.      Click the Data File heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Select .N64
File.


3.      Find the .N64 file that you want to open, then press Open.


4.      The .N64 file that you selected will appear in the Right display panel.



How to create a .N64 data file

1.      Make sure your Nintendo 64 Dex Drive is plugged into Serial/COM port 1.


2.      Click the Data File heading on the Menu Bar, then choose Create .N64
File.


3.      Choose the place that you want to store this new file and name the file
using the .N64 extension, then press Open.


4.      The .N64 file that you created will appear in the Right display panel.


-Section 3.1: Uploading Tips

       The only tips that I can provide here, is to upload these files one by
one. By trying to upload more than one Dex Drive Game Save, you run the risk
of corrupting one or more of the Save Files. When you upload, it's important
to use an ISP with a good connection. With an ISP that is running slow, you
run the risks of corrupting game files, and even causing your Dex Drive
program to crash without warning. I know this on a first hand basis.

       Also, with the uploading, you may want to upload these files to a
reputable Internet site, such as GameFAQs, or even the actual Interact site.
Be aware though, that when you upload, you're sending information that is
going to be used by others, so make them good Game Saves. When uploading, make
sure that your computer is free of any and all virus files and otherwise, you
certainly don't want to infect someone else's computer by accident.


-Section 3.2: Downloading Tips

       Only download Game Saves from a reputable gaming site, such as GameFAQs
or Interact.com. When downloading, you'll need to save these files into your
Dex Drive program, with it being either Play Station, Nintendo 64, or
Dreamcast. Dreamcast Saves work differently than the Dex Drive saves, and you
will need a Nexus Card in order to use them. Once I have the opportunity to
find one, and use it, I'll make a better FAQ for the Nexus Card alone.

       Downloading a Game Save can be a little tedious at first. It takes time,
and most of the files are only 131 KB, so you need not worry about taking up
massive amounts of space on your computer. When you download the files, be
sure to run a Virus program over them just to be sure that there isn't
something else attached to the Game Save before you put it into your computer.


-Section 4: Error Messages - Trouble Shooting

       From time to time, you'll run into an error that you won't understand,
and other times, you might run into an error message that you can't get
around. This section is basically here to help you understand what these
messages are, and what they mean:


-Message: Memory card not recognized. Please insert a proper memory card.

-Problem: The inserted memory card is not recognized as a formatted Nintendo64
memory card, so the DexPlorer program cannot recognize the data format.

-Solution: Insert a formatted  Nintendo64 memory card.


-Message: Memory card not found. Please insert a memory card and click
"Retry".

-Problem: A memory card has not been inserted into the Dex Drive

OR

The inserted memory card is not securely positioned into the Dex Drive.

-Solution: Insert a memory card into the card slot of the  Dex Drive

OR

Make sure that there is good contact between the inserted memory card and the
Dex Drive


-Message: Error was found while reading memory card.

-Problem: The directory area or the data area of the memory card is not
correct.

Solution: Use the "Re-Format" function to format the memory card (all data on
the card will be erased). Restore information from a .N64 data file again. If
the problem still exists, stop using the memory card and have the memory
card's manufacturer to check the problem.


-Message: Dex Drive not found!  Please check whether Dex Drive is connected to
a COM port.

-Problem: The DexPlorer program cannot detect which COM port the Dex Drive is
using.

-Solution:  Make sure the Dex Drive is securely connect to a COM port

AND

Make sure that there are no other programs using the same COM port.


-Message: The memory card has not been formatted and does not contain any
information.

-Problem: The inserted memory card is not a formatted Nintendo64 memory card.

-Solution: Insert a formatted Nintendo64 memory card or re-format a card using
the DexPlorer software.  If you use the Re-Format function, all of the data on
the memory card will be deleted.


-Message: The Target memory card contains some game saves!

-Problem: When using the Duplicate function, the Target memory card will be
overwritten with the data from the Source memory card.The DexPlorer program
will display a warning message stating that the Target memory card contains
game saves.

-Solution: Make sure the data on the Target memory card is no longer needed
before continuing with the duplication process,

OR

Use another formatted Nintendo64 memory card that does not contain any game
save.


-Message: The selected folder contains valid information

-Problem: When using the Delete function, the DexPlorer program will delete
the contents of the selected folder. A warning message will stating that the
folder contains game saves.

-Solution: Make sure the data in the folder is no longer needed before
continuing the operation.


-Message: Sorry! The selected item is a NULL folder.  Please select another
item.

-Problem: The DexPlorer program tried to copy the contents of a NULL folder.
You cannot copy a null folder because it does not contain any game save data.

-Solution: Select a folder that contains valid game save data.



-Message: Graphic display of this program will be distorted if 256 color mode
or lower are used.

-Problem: The DexPlorer program should run in High Color (16 bit) mode or
better. The graphic display will be distorted if the color mode is set to 256
Colors or lower.

-Solution: Set the display mode to High Color (16 bit) or better.


-Message: Destination does not have enough space to paste the game save.

-Problem: This message will be displayed if the destination folders that you
want to Paste a game save onto, does not have enough space to store the data.

-Solution: Cancel the operation and paste the game save into a folder that has
ample storage space.


-Message: You can't select all the games.

-Problem: The user has selected more than one game save and attempted to
select other saves.

-Solution: Select one game save at a time and then repeat the operation for
the remaining game saves.


-Message: Restore error

-Problem: The Restore operation cannot be completed due to errors occurring
during the process.  The reason for these may be due to a corrupted data file
or a corrupted memory card.

-Solution: Stop the operation by clicking the Cancel button and then run the
Restore process again. Use another memory card and select another .N64 file if
problem still occurs.


-Message: If you cancel the backup operation, the data file will not be
created.

-Problem: You can stop the Backup process by clicking the Cancel button at
anytime, but if you do so, the data file will not be created.

-Solution: Choose the correct file that you want to backup before starting the
process.


-Section 5: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where do I find a Dex Drive?

A: You can find a Dex Drive in any local gaming store here in the US.
Generally, it runs for about 20 dollars, for the Play Station Dex Drive, and
10.00 for the Nintendo64 Dex Drive.


Q: How do I use my Dex Drive?

A: Well that is what this FAQ is for, to help you use your Dex Drive.





Q: Where do I find Dex Drive Saves?

A: You can find Dex Drive saves at several places, namely GameFAQs.com and
Gameshark.com. These two places have some of the best game saves on the Net.


Q: How do I use my Dex Drive Saves?

A: Once you have downloaded your Dex Drive game file from the Net, you must
open it directly to your Dex Drive program folder, it'll be either the Play
Station file folder, or the Nintendo64 folder. From there, just follow the
program to transfer the file to your memory card.


Q: Can you create me a Save File to use with my Dex Drive?

A: Sure. All I need is the name of the game, and I can create on for you.
Unfortunately, I can't create Japanese or European Save Files. It's not that I
don't want to mind you, it's because I don't have a PSX for those regions. If
you E-Mail me the name of the game at [email protected], what you want in the
game save, I'm sure that I can create it for you. Be aware though, it may take
me anywhere from 3 days to a week, and I'll upload it to GameFAQs.com for
everyone's use.


Q: How many Dex Drive Saves do you have?

A: Currently, I stand at 118 Play Station games, and I'll be moving into the
Dreamcast and Nintendo64 field here pretty quick. I do a wide variety of
games, from Adventure, to RPG, right down to Sports games.


Q: How do you find time to do this?

A: Well I can say this, I have a love for video games, and a love for helping
people. That is how I find the time.


Q: Do you use a Game Shark?

A: With some saves, I do use a Game Shark. It's not considered cheating, but
it is a way to get ahead in a particularly tough game. While there are some at
GameFAQs that give me grief about doing this, there are hundreds of others
that enjoy the saves that I create for them.


Q: My Dex Drive save doesn't work. Help me!?

A: There is probably a reason, and it has to do with a corrupted file. When
you download any file, sometimes you'll get a file that is corrupted. If you
happen to find one on GameFAQs under my name, let me know as soon as possible,
and I'll fix it right away.



-Section 6: Credits

       I would like to personally thank the following people:

-CJayC: The owner and operator of GameFAQs for posting up my saves and putting
up with all of the stuff that I send in on a regular basis. If anyone deserves
a vacation and a case of imported beer, it's this guy

-Interact:  For creating the Dex Drive, the ability to create saves for a
world full of gamers, and for some of this guides information.

-Mary: My girlfriend, and the one who has always said I should keep up on what
I enjoy.

-Slipknotted: For letting me know that my Game Saves kick ass, and to keep
doing them.

-Nemesis: A fellow GameFAQ contributor who said my saves are just Game Shark
saves, but he'd recommend them anyway.

-Gamers Everywhere: Just for supporting me and sending me E-Mail about how to
do things. You ladies and gentlemen are the ones who keep me rolling with any
contributions that I do.


-Section 7: Copyright Information

       I'll say this once, and once only. If you want to use the FAQ, just ask
my permission to do so. This goes for GameSpot, GameSages, GamePro, any site
out there that has anything to do with video games. If you want it, use it,
but ask me first and give me the credit that is due. I'm not asking for a
million dollars, I'm asking for common courtesy. Other than that, this guide
is not meant as a profitable means for anyone, and should be used for the sole
purpose of informing others.

-Copyright 2000: Drew "Kasket" Guirey

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