GBARunner2

GBA BIOS Dumping

While most GBA emulators have no issue playing GBA games by itself, some emulators and hypervisors, such as GBARunner2, may need the BIOS file to properly playback some titles.

There are two distinct ways to achieve this, using:

  • a 3DS with custom firmware, OR
  • a GBA/DS/DS Lite with a GBA-mode flashcart

Part 1: Getting the required files #

  1. Download open_agb_firm (the .7z file)
  2. Download Bios_Dumper.gba
  3. Create a folder named payloads inside the /luma folder if it does not already exist
  4. Copy open_agb_firm.firm from the open_agb_firm .7z file to the /luma/payloads folder
  5. Copy Bios_Dumper.gba to the root of your SD card
  6. Reinsert your SD card into your device

Part 2: Bios_Dumper #

  1. Press and hold START, and while holding START, power on your device
    • This will launch open_agb_firm
    • If it loads the Luma3DS Chainloader, select open_agb_firm from this menu
    • If it loads to something else, you did not copy open_agb_firm.firm to the correct folder on your SD card
  2. From open_agb_firm, launch Bios_Dumper.gba
  3. The screen will flash red, then it will flash green
  4. Wait for about five seconds
  5. Power off your device

Part 3: Unpack the BIOS from the generated save file #

  1. Insert your SD card into your computer

Part 1: Getting the required files #

  1. Download Bios_Dumper.gba
  2. Copy Bios_Dumper.gba to the root of your flashcart’s SD card
  3. Reinsert your SD card into your flashcart
  4. Reinsert your GBA flashcart into your cartridge

Part 2: Bios_Dumper #

  1. Launch your flashcart, then launch Bios_Dumper.gba
  2. The screen will flash red, then it will flash green
  3. Wait for about five seconds
  4. Power off your device

Part 3: Unpack the BIOS from the generated save file #

  1. Insert your SD card into your computer

A bios.bin file will automatically download. This is the final GBA BIOS file.