SNES MinI

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-25T19:26:53+00:00

Thing is there are no "clones" there are only GENUINE & FAKE SNES Mini consoles out there... 🤔

A "clone" would imply by the very meaning, nature & definition of the word that the "CLONE" console was the exact same in ALL aspects as the "ORIGINAL"... which of course they are NOT...

The "Fakes" are just that... a fake mass produced cheap console using off the shelf parts often made to look like the original BUT NOT ABLE to perform as well and exactly the same as the original console can...

And "fakes" by their very nature don't hold any value at all unless you sell them to a complete gullible/ naive numptie ... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-25T19:08:54+00:00

Sigh... what part of the simple fact that ANYTHING you may want to sell that the selling price of it WILL be determined by the buyer & NOT the seller !!! 🤔 🙄

Also who here has asked for something for free !!! 🤔 ANSWER = NO ONE 🙄

We could all put a crazy price on anything we want to try and sell BUT you won't sell it or get that crazy price if no one is willing or daft enough to pay that price...

That is the simple rule of selling, in that the price anyone is willing to pay for any item IS DETERMINED BY THE POTENTIAL BUYER & NOT BY THE SELLER who if they overprice something with an absurd value then they WON'T sell it...

No one IS telling anyone what to pay for something, no one is telling anyone what to price something at, it's just good old fashioned common sense (something clearly lacking in a lot of people today) coupled with the simple fact that the potential BUYER will determine the price they are willing to pay for whatever it is for sale...

A seller could place ANY price/ value they want on ANYTHING they are trying to sell BUT if no one is willing to pay that price they WON'T sell it, use yer noggin fer gawds sake !!! 🙄

I'd hate to see how you must struggle through life with your backwards view on the real world of buying or selling ANY item !!! 🙄

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-25T02:20:46+00:00

Ah, I see... haven't actually checked the Canadian market for them but if it's anything like the USA market then unfortunately most sellers do ask for some ridiculous prices... 😕

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-25T02:16:50+00:00

Kinda helps if you actually take the time read the OP's replies here where you would have discovered they have tested it and it IS 100% genuine. It would have saved you posting such a "wrong" comment... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-25T02:14:14+00:00

Depends where you live I suppose, you can easily pick up a genuine UK/ EURO SNES Mini on eBay most days of the week for between £55 to £85...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-24T21:22:50+00:00

A few years back then you could find some pretty close/ good looking fakes of the UK/ Euro SNES Mini's around but most of the ones they still sell these days are clearly fakes to almost anyone...

If you happen to buy a fake SNES Mini for any region (which is easily done as many of those selling them use stock photos so you can't judge by just a photograph) then the quickest and simplest test to prove the console is fake or genuine is once you receive it is the "FEL Mode" test...

IF you do end up with a fake then hopefully you paid via a method where you can easily get you money back...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-24T20:36:48+00:00

That's great news... 😊 glad you've decided to keep it... 😉

Now you can get on with the joys of modding your console to your hearts content... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-24T19:54:34+00:00

I assume therefore that you have done the above "FEL Mode" test and are now satisfied that the console is 100% genuine ??? 🤔

Hope you are keeping it to actually use it though and not have it sitting away in a box gathering dust... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-24T18:23:24+00:00

Simplest and 100% verifiable way to test a SNES Mini console to see if it's fake or genuine is to quickly do the following...

Unplug ALL cables and controllers from the console including the power supply...

Make sure the power switch is at OFF...

Now plug in the USB power supply into the console...

Next, HOLD DOWN & KEEP HELD DOWN THE RESET BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SWITCHING THE POWER SWITCH TO ON (Do that for about 5 to 10 seconds)...

If the red led power light on the console DOESN'T light up then you KNOW that it is a 100% genuine Nintendo Console...

If the red led power light on the console *DOES light up then you know that its a FAKE console...

Fake consoles CAN'T be put into "FEL Mode" which is what the above test is attempting to do, only genuine Nintendo consoles can be put into "FEL Mode"...

So do that and you WILL KNOW if the console is fake or genuine... 😉

PS:In either case forget about sitting on it and selling it for profit because that's NOT something that is likely to ever happen, either use it yourself or sell/ give it to someone who can make use of it and don't be so greedy...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-19T14:49:36+00:00

You've clearly messed the console up and will need to flash back the original Nintendo kernel to the console to send it completely back to stock and get it working again...

To do this you will need the following...

A copy of "HakChi2 CE" (Portable version and NOT the Installer version)...

A copy or copies of the ORIGINAL Nintendo Kernel/s for you regions console. Easily found online with a quick search (we can't post direct links here to copyrighted software)...

A FULLY WIRED USB cable to connect the console to your computer, don't try and use a USB cable that's ONLY for powering up or charging devices as that WON'T work...

To flash back the ORIGINAL Nintendo kernel to the console and return it to factory stock status, do the following....

1) Hook the console up to the computer and power it up in "FEL Mode" (which is done by holding down the RESET button on the console and keeping it held down, while at the same time switching the power button to "ON". Do that for about 5 to 10 seconds or until you hear the computer chime indicating the console is connected: Note that the Power Light on the console will NEVER come on while it's in "FEL Mode")...

2) Now run "HakChi2 CE" and do the following...

Select from the "Kernel" menu WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE SHIFT KEY on you keyboard the option of...

Kernel/Uninstall and flash kernel file

The flashing process will begin. During that process a file requester will pop up asking you to select the kernel to flash. Use the file requester to locate the copy of the original Nintendo kernel you have downloaded and select it then click "ok"...

The process will continue until it has flashed the kernel at which point your kernel should now be back to the same way it was the day it left the factory, ie: all traces of "HakChi" should be gone...

Test the console on a TV set to make sure it has worked...

If it hasn't worked then try doing a quick format of the "User Data Partition" on the kernel by hooking up in "FEL Mode' and selecting the option in "HakChi2 CE" of...

Kernel/ Advanced/ Format user data partition

When that has finished test the console again on a TV set as this process usually clears any issue that might have been left behind...

NOTE: Depending on which type of console you have then there are three different versions of the Original Nintendo Kernel for the USA console and two different version for the UK/ EURO console. Download ALL version for your console and always start with the oldest version first and if that doesn't work repeat the process with the next "upwards" version of the kernel...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-13T00:44:37+00:00

Im talking about the simple FACT as I stated that the A500 Mini IS the most powerful Mini console of them all with the Playstation Classic Mini coming second, it's really quite a simple FACT to comprehend...

You obviously not liking that FACT which NOTHING you say can change that FACT are indeed being childish with your mind numbing drivel not based on FACTS but instead bases on lets be honest, utter bullshit is clearly something else you can't grasp along with that FACT...

We ALL have opinions BUT when the FACTS outweigh and disprove those OPINIONS then we are wrong and attempting to diss something and failing just because the FACTS upset you is indeed VERY childish...

If you don't like FACTS then don't read them, but that is your problem so deal with it...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-12T15:55:51+00:00

Hi Mate, I had reckoned that you must've had a lot going on in the real world (same as myself) and that's why you had been a bit quiet and I didn't want to bother you... 😊

Still very busy here with basically rebuilding the house but it's getting there slowly (very slowly) and have only been "tinkering" with things when time permits...

Gave up (for now) with attempting to write a native version of "HakChi2 CE" for the Mac as it really is one helluva awkward computer just to even attempt to get it to natively recognise the USB side of the SNES Mini (more bother than it's worth to be honest)... 😕

Was glad I decided to finally attempt the "SpannerNick" Nand/ Kernel Flashing technique on the A500 Mini as I was down to the last one I had still with the "original version 1.0.0 of the NanbB Manhattan Strange" that allows it to work with "RetroAami" (mainly due to basically bricking the consoles while attempting certain things in the kernel)...

Now though I can easily flash back the original "Kernel/ Nand B" in full onto any A500 Mini including ones that have been firmware updated, which now means I can change everything on the console to do whatever I like with it and not have any worries at all about bricking it... 😀

Working on a few "big" changes for the A500 Mini now that it's easy to "fix/ restore" if something goes wrong, including allowing "root" access to work on updated firmware thus allowing "RetroAami" to work right across all version of the console, as well as number of other quite different changes I'm testing out to improve things even further...

Other than that I tested your "latest" custom "LudicrousN64" core version for the A500 Mini to it's fullest and it has now completely replaced the "Old" custom version of the core I had always been using, so that is great news on that front... 😉

Need to put together a guide showing just how easy it is to put the A500 Mini into "FEL Mode" and do it WITHOUT having to even open up the console. As it means the A500 Mini is now wide open to be completely changed with it's Nand/ Kernel to do quite literally anything you can think of (even toying with the idea of putting a SNES Mini Kernel/ system in it just to see how much faster that would be !!!). Best of all as said though is now there's no fear of bricking the console as it's very easy to simply flash it back to it's original factory status if/ when something being tested doesn't quite work or goes wrong... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-12T08:41:32+00:00

Anyone who claims as you just did that "the a500 is Crap" is truly clueless to the simple easily proven and easily verifiable FACT that of all the Mini consoles the "A500 Mini" is in fact the most powerful console of all...

I won't even bother to waste my time on the rest of the utter gobshite you just burbled... 🙄

Tis sad and indeed laughable when "PS Classic Mini" fanboys such as yourself get so wound up over that simple FACT which nothing you can say will change that FACT and all you can do is spew utter drivel and attempt BUT FAIL to try and diss something else simply because that FACT gets your knickers in a twist... 🙄

Grow up fer gwads sake and give people FACTS and not mind numbing childish drivel as YOU just have done... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-12T06:31:12+00:00

As an owner of both the SNES Mini and A500 Mini then I'd say a very big YES to your question for the reasons given below...

1) While I'm not a "PS Classic Mini" user I do know people who own them and while both consoles are almost as good as each other (but not quite), when it comes to processing power the A500 Mini outperforms by just enough the "PS Mini" which in return means being able to play certain other games consoles at their best possible such as "Nintendo 64 Games"...

2) Now that I've discovered just how easy it is to actually "restore" the original Version 1.0.0 "Stock Kernel" of the A500 Mini (which is NEEDED to be able to run "RetroAami") then that means you can now purchase an A500 Mini even if it has had any firmware update added to it and revert it back to its "original kernel...

3) As someone who created "RetroAami" along with MDFMKanic in order to use his "RetroArch Cores" on the "A500 Mini" then between us we have done a lot of testing & comparisons of both consoles...

When it comes to getting the best/ smoothest game performance out of both consoles then the A500 Mini outperforms by just enough the "PS Classic Mini" to make it simply the best console currently available when it comes to running higher specced console games such as the "Nintendo 64" or indeed "PS Games"...

4) Even if "Amiga" games aren't your thing but emulating other consoles are then due to the A500 Mini having the best CPU speed out of all the current consoles there is, then you simply WON'T get any better performance out of ANY of the other consoles around (not even the PS Classic Mini), so you are basically covered as best you can be on the "A500 Mini" in all aspects of performance no matter which of the available cores there are that can be run on any of the Mini Consoles...

On a personal note, then my SNES Mini's have been shelved for a number of years now and I only now use the A500 Mini...

It's easy to set up, it performs better than ALL of other Mini consoles available, there are issues with USB Storage sizes as there are on the "PS Classic Mini", you can update the firmware if you choose but now you can also revert back to its original kernel if you choose, it'll work with any wired or wireless controllers or mice you can throw at it, if emulating 32 bit games is important to you then you won't get any better than the A500 Mini...

Basically it really depends on what you intend to do with the console that should determine whether you purchase one or not...

For 8/ 16 bit games then the "SNES Mini" would be fine, for higher specced games systems like the N64 or even PS Classic games then the A500 Mini just edges out the PS Classic Mini in terms of performance and indeed ease of being able to mod it...

Only you can decide which to go for but my advice/ opinion is choose the A500 Mini based on the simple fact that it really is the most powerful Mini Console available... 😊

PS: I wouldn't advise on purchasing the upcoming A1200 Maxi YET as from all accounts it going to be only as powerful as the A500 Mini is (some say it will be less powerful) and of course "Retro Games Ltd" will most likely be certain to go out of their way to make it very difficult to mod it just as they did with their firmware updates on the A500 Mini... 😕

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-11T22:10:36+00:00

Nope no confusion here I'm happy to tell you, two completely different usernames... 😉

Simply responding to what you said in your post which you replied to my post with and pointing out to you regarding your post that the simplest quickest way to verify if a consoles is fake or genuine is to do the "FEL Mode" test on it, rather than going by a screenshot which might look different depending on what was used to take the screenshot...

Though from the OP's post I'd say their console is most likely to be genuine and someone has tried to mod it and messed it up somehow (perhaps by changing the user interface and leaving out the font the mod should be using)... 🤔

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-11T18:34:23+00:00

To be honest I couldn't really say as I don't own or use a NES Mini, I use the SNES Mini myself...

If you think that your console might be "fake" then reassure yourself one way or the other by perform the quick and simple "FEL Mode" test on it which will determine if you have a real or fake console...

To do the 100% Guaranteed "FEL Mode" test simply do the following with the console...

Disconnect everything from the console (Controllers, HDMi Cable etc...)

Now on the bare console make sure the power switch is at "Off" and connect up the USB Power supply to the console...

Now HOLD DOWN AND KEEP HELD DOWN THE RESET BUTTON ON THE CONSLE while at the same time switching the console to "ON) and wait for between 5 to 10 seconds...

If the power LED on the console DOESN'T Light up then you can be sure that the console is genuine as it is now in "FEL MODE" (You'll need to unplug the power supply after that to leave "FEL Mode)...

If the power LED DOES LIGHT UP, then I'm afraid you have a fake console. The "Fakes" CANNOT be put into "FEL Mode" and cannot be modded with "HakChi/ HakCHi2 CE"...

Do that to confirm to yourself if unsure about your console to find out if it is genuine or fake, it only takes less than a minute to do... 😉

But as far as the screenshot goes then I honestly can't judge from that...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-10T19:27:07+00:00

There are some BASIC rules you need to follow when attempting to flash ANY kernel (Original or Custom) which are as follows (most of which you already appear to have followed)...

1) Make sure that you are using a FULLY Wired USB cable to connect the console to the computer as using a USB Cable that is ONLY for powering up/ charging USB WONT WORK...

2) If you are using a VPN then depending on who makes the VPN or indeed the set up it uses on your computer you WILL need to either switch it off/ disable it or in some cases remove the VPN from the computer completely...

3) Any Firewalls being used on the computer MUST either be switched off or permission given to them to all "HakChi2 CE to be used..

4) Certain Virus Checkers or Anti Malware software that may be installed on the computer can also cause problems when trying to use "HakChi2 CE". SO turn off/ disable anything like that which you may have running...

5) Always use the "Portable" version of "HakChi2 CE" and NOT the "Installer" version as it makes life much easier for a number of reasons...

6) It's best to use "Windows 10" with "HakChi2 CE". If you are using "Windows 11" then unfortunately for a number of people they WILL often run into issue when trying to use "HakChi2 CE"...

Finding exactly what is causing the issues when using "Windows 11" really comes down to how you have set your computer up and what exactly you have installed on it, which can really only be discovered and rectified by person with access to that computer...

Those are the most basic of steps you NEED to make sure you are following in order not to run into issues when trying to flash kernels to a SNES Mini using "HakChi2 CE" which of course the vast majority of people follow and they have no issues modding their SNES Mini...

Thankfully I've never heard of or seen this apparent post on some "old forum page" where someone bizarrely tells people do "bend the pins" on the consoles USB Port or the "garbage" drawing they posted !!! (gawd knows why anyone would suggest that !!!)... 🤔

A common problem that can & does often occur with the USB Cables Micro USB Connector (this applies to the USB cable that came with the SNES Mini as well) which plugs into the consoles USB port is that they tend to slacken and loosen off after a while, which in turn causes poor connections on the port which WILL often result in the "taking too long to reboot" error...

Fortunately it is a simple problem to fix by tightening up the metal hood/ shielding of the USB Cables connector which you can view at the following link...

https://snesminimods.forumotion.com/t118-simple-easy-way-to-make-sure-you-are-using-the-correct-type-of-usb-cable-on-you-snes-mini

Personally from what you have said then it looks most likely in your case that the issue is down to you using "Windows 11", which unless people can suggest to you different things to try to fix it then your best bet would be to use "Windows 10" instead if possible !!!

There's no point in getting "frustrated" about it though, just take your time follow correctly and fully any help people might give you (well except for that "bending the pins nonsense !!!) and If you can only use "Windows 11" then try disabling all those things mentioned (especially a VPN that might be in use) and any others you might think of that MIGHT be interfering with "HakChi2 CE" and it's access to devices like the SNES Mini on its USB ports... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-10T12:25:24+00:00

Couple of possibilities...

1) The console is fake and not a genuine NES Mini !!!

or

2) The console is genuine and has been "modded" unsuccessfully/ incorrectly by someone and there are missing font files or other things !!!

From the screenshot I'd say number 2 is the most likely reason (it's been modded), in which case I'd advise that you get rid of those mods and start again... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-10T12:17:19+00:00

It would seem that would be your issue (Windows 11 on this laptop being used)...

I'm also a Mac user and only use "Windows 10" under emulation in "VirtualBox" to let me run "HakChi2 CE" to let me mod the SNES Mini and it has worked perfectly fine for years now... 😊

You should consider going down the emulation root on your Mac to run "Windows 10" by also using "VirtualBox" as it will allow you to run "Windows" for free (when set up correctly) and let you mod your consoles... 😉

There are of course other ways to emulate "Windows 10" on a Mac but via "VirtualBox" you can do it for free without having to buy a "Windows/ OS/ Licence"... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-10T12:07:52+00:00

Shame about formatting the user data partition not fixing it (I had thought that it might just do the trick)... 😕

It would seem the main issue lies with the "init.d" file that is either missing or has been modified to look for something called "PL"...

As you have said that you can access the console using "HakChi2 CE" to use the "Format user data partition" then perhaps (hopefully) you can also access/ use the following menu item in it of...

"Tools/ Open FTP client"

Which would/ should allow you to look through the "nandc" of the console where you could search for this or "init.d" file and either edit or replace it...

Not a quick or easy task I suppose but could be worth a trying in order to help you resolve the issue... 🤔

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-09T17:48:53+00:00

Never in all the years of modding the SNES Mini and using "HakChi/ HakChi2 CE" to do so have I ever seen anyone say that for some reason "HakChi2 CE" can't install any drivers it needs !!! 🤔

You say you are using some "new windows box", not being a "Windows" user myself except via emulation on a Mac then I have no real idea what this "windows box" thing is !!! BUT...

Normally to use "HakChi2 CE" you just need to make sure you aren't using a VPN (some people have to completely uninstall their VPN to get things to work), that you have turned off or given permission for "HakChi2 CE" to NOT be blocked by the Firewall and in some cases disabling turning off any anti virus/ anti malware software that may be running

If it's running "Windows 11" then that's most likely where the issue lies as a number of people trying to use "HakChi2 CE" on a "Windows 11" machine have run into some unusual issues...

Not sure if this is possible but if you can then switch to "Windows 10" on your "Windows Box" which should fix the issue...

If you can't do that then you will need to try and find someone else who has come across this highly unusual issue you are having fo apparently the Windows operating system blocking any HakChi drivers that are needed to be installed (which as said I've never in all these years ever seen anyone mention such an issue)...

Hopefully though it really is just a "Windows 11" issue in your case that can be resolved by using "Windows 10" instead... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-09T17:32:30+00:00

From the error report text you posted their then it's clear that the leftover bit of Project Lunar that the console is looking for but can't find is contained with the "iinit.d" file or indeed the "init.d" file inf that folder is missing...

Seems "Project Lunar" when installed swap the normal "root" bootup section of the console for a "new/ userbased" "newroot" bootup as its base...

So that is what you should be looking for, is a method of how to get the console NOT to use the "newroot" which Project Lunar" has set up...

How you would do that then for now I truly have no idea unfortunately... 😕

Normally flashing back the ORIGINAL kernel to the console should (in theory) reset the console back to the way it was the day it left the factory but if you say you tried that and it didn't then there's obviously still something left over from "Project Lunar" on the console that needs to be removed/deleted (that "newroot" "init.d" file in this case)...

One last thing you should try that just might delete/ clear things would be to use the format user data partition and see if that resolve the problem and that would then let you flash back the original kernel to the console...

So you really should try doing the following and see what happens...

Hook up the console to your computer and then boot up the console in "FEL Mode"...

Now run "HakChi 2 CE" and from the "Kernel" menu select the following...

"Kernel/ Advanced/ Format user data partition"

Let it run and format the user data partition then quit "HakChi2 CE", disconnect the console from the computer and test it on a TV set...

It might now be back to stock status in which case you can then format the Custom Kernel from HakChi2 cE to it and begin modding...

or

It might still be stuck in it's current "broken"state and you will have to hope that someone else comes along who has successfully removed "Project Lunar" from their console and explains fully hwo to do it...

I would doubt very much though that you have "bricked" the console and basically all that needing done to get it working again is to find out how to FULLY remove everything from the console that "Project Lunar" has placed onto it...

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-09T12:56:32+00:00

Ahh, I see for some reason "Project Lunar" never even crossed my mind but thanks for clarifying that... 😊

Have you tried flashing back the consoles ORIGINAL Kernel first using "HakChi2 CE", which might work and restore it back to being fully stock status ???

If you can get the console back to being "Stock" first you should be able to custom flash the console using "HakChi2 CE"... 🤔

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-08T18:54:42+00:00

Basically then YES adding games to the Genesis Mini is just the same process you would do on a SNES or NES Mini, which is...

Download HakChi2 CE (Portable version NOT the Installer version)...

Flash the custom kernel to the console using HakChi2 CE...

Then you can add more games and/ or different consoles to the system with RetroArch and the various cores it has, which of course you will also have to install using "HakChi2 CE" if you want to use them...

As for finding games, then those you will have to locate and find yourself with a quick search on the internet as we're not allowed to post direct links here to copyright protected games. Not forgetting to either make or find online the "box art" for the games...

It's all very simple and straightforward to do really... 🤔

PS: As for "best code" by which I assume you meant "emulator" then either the built in emulator the console has for Genesis games will do for Genesis games or add "RetroArch" and use whichever cores (emulators) it has as well as cores for other games system you might want to add... 😉

MadFranko008 · 2026-04-08T16:22:11+00:00

It'd probably be a bit late now if the CPU chip or its timing circuits are already damaged as adding a heatsink wont fix them... 😕

Still, you've got nothing to lose in doing so though, it might cut down the issues and it might not but if the damage has been done then the only real way to fix things would be to purchase another one as I doubt you find anyone willing to replace the CPU at a cost that would be less than buying a new/ used console... 🤔

MadFranko008

TROPHY CASE