Difference between revisions of "Checksum"
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| + | The '''checksum''' is a rather simple security measure meant to prevent pirates from modifying the ROM image of a [[Sega Mega Drive]] game. It may also have been used for internal security, as a method to keep developers from making unauthorized changes to the code. At any rate, it has caused hackers incalculable headache until circumvention methods were discovered. [[sonic:Esrael|Esrael]] wrote a program, [[ESE FixCheckSum]], to correct the checksum. Emulators like [[Kega Fusion]] and [[Gens/GS]] provide an option to automatically correct checksums when a ROM is loaded. | ||
| − | + | The checksum is calculated by adding up every word from $200 to the end of the ROM. This is then compared against the value stored in the header, and if the values differ, the game displays a red screen and stops running. Most modern emulators fix the checksum automatically. The use of cheat devices such as a [[Game Genie (Mega Drive)|Game Genie]] may also trigger a checksum error, which can be mitigated by using a "master code". | |
| − | + | Some games, such as ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'', lack checksum checks, possibly because of the time required to check the entire ROM. | |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
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| + | [[Category:Technical information]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:46, 28 March 2021
The checksum is a rather simple security measure meant to prevent pirates from modifying the ROM image of a Sega Mega Drive game. It may also have been used for internal security, as a method to keep developers from making unauthorized changes to the code. At any rate, it has caused hackers incalculable headache until circumvention methods were discovered. Esrael wrote a program, ESE FixCheckSum, to correct the checksum. Emulators like Kega Fusion and Gens/GS provide an option to automatically correct checksums when a ROM is loaded.
The checksum is calculated by adding up every word from $200 to the end of the ROM. This is then compared against the value stored in the header, and if the values differ, the game displays a red screen and stops running. Most modern emulators fix the checksum automatically. The use of cheat devices such as a Game Genie may also trigger a checksum error, which can be mitigated by using a "master code".
Some games, such as Sonic & Knuckles, lack checksum checks, possibly because of the time required to check the entire ROM.