GBA ROM FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about GBA ROMs and Flash Advance Linkers

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Are emulators and roms legal?

YES, But there are many restrictions! Read more about Legal issues

Are backup devices like Flash Advance Linker Xtreme legal?

YES. You have the right to make backup of software that you own. Just like with CD-Recorders that you use to copy music you have bought you can use FA Linker to copy and backup games that you own.

Does Flash Advance Linker really works?

YES. Most of the roms that you can download from the internet were made using Flash Advance Linker. Freeware, Public Domain roms and Demos are made exclusively FOR FAL because that is the only way you can play them on Gameboy.

Can I use FAL to write a rom to original Nintendo Gameboy Cartridge?

NO. Not unless you replace the chip with the game on it with a rewritable Flash Memory chip. You see Nintendo cartridges are Read Only Media (ROM). GBA can only read from them, when as Flash Advance Cards are fitted with Flash Memory that can be written and erased like a memory card for PSX or one in the MP3 player. You can use FAL to read and write Save Game data to orriginal GB cartridges that have built in RAM for saving (reading out) games and backuping as roms on your PC.

How many times can I write ROMs to a Flash Card?

Practically infinite number of times. Makers of flash memory chips guaranty that you can write to the flash 10 000 times. That means if you replace the rom games every day the card will last for about 27.5 years... Your children will be able to use it ;)

Should I get Flash Advance Linker, FAL Xtreme, EZ-Flash or Flash 2 Advance set?

FL Advance is the oldest one of GBA backup devices and has the most custom software written for it. Also Home made games in 99% are tested on it. FAL Xtreme is the new generation of the FA Linkers. It adds USB support - faster write times and intelligent savegame handling. EZ-Flash and Flash 2 Advance are newcomers in GBA backup device market but very promissing ones! If all you care is backuping games and playing free roms that get one of them. Right now I would suggest you to get little more expensive Flash Advance Linker Xtreme becouse of all the addicional software you can run on it.

One thing is sure
you must get a Flash Advance Set becouse for the price of 3-4 orriginal cartridges you can open a world where you have thousands of free games and gba software waiting for you!

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