How to create Dreamcast selfboot images
A short guide on how to create a Selfboot image for all Homebrew applications, emulators etc. for the SEGA Dreamcast console.
First, we need BootDreams 1.0.6c.
After downloading the file, install it. Its default location is C:\BootDreams.
Now we need some homebrew application or game to compile our image. For the purposes of the tutorial, I used the PokeMini emulator in the latest version 0.5.2.
After unpacking the emulator package, you will find a folder with three files: 1ST_READ.BIN, PokeMini.elf and PokeMini.elf.bin
Now start BootDreams, the program is very intuitive. This is what the main application window looks like:
The introduction is over, now it's time for Selfboot ;]
- Select the 'BROWSE' icon and find the path to your emulator folder.
- In the CD label field you can enter the name of your CD.
- In the Disc Format section you have two options:
- a) AUDIO / DATA - For homebrew that have audio files in MP3, WAV, OGG format. For example, some ScummVM games.
- b) DATA / DATA - For the rest of homebrew that doesn't have separate audio files. In 90%, I always choose this option.
- Select the 'PROCESS' icon.
5. After selecting the PROCESS option, such a window will appear. Click on YES.
Steps 6 and 7 are not always necessary, it all depends on the game.
6. Some homebrew files have the Unscrambled attribute on the 1ST_READ.BIN file, which makes it impossible to launch it on the console. 1ST_READ.BIN must be subjected to a Scramble operation. Fortunately, it's not difficult, BootDreams will detect by itself what attribute our BIN file has, if it is Unscrabled, such a window will pop up. Select YES.
7. If our homebrew doesn't have an IP.BIN file (rarely, but it happens), there are two ways to solve it:
- a) You can get IP.BIN from any game, no matter if it's commercial or homebrew. It will definitely work, because IP.BIN is always the same.
- b) BootDreams will detect the lack of this file and create it itself. We will see such a window, click on YES .
8. If everything went OK, after pressing 'PROCESS' (Step 5) a window should pop up showing the progress of creating the Selfboot image.
9. When the bar reaches 100%, such a message will appear. Congratulations, you just created a Selfboot image in * .CDI format ready to be burned or mounted in GDEMU.
