A simplistic guide to pnach files (aka pnach for dummies)

[vsub]

When using cheats and you get TLB Miss,it means that pcsx2 don't like those codes and the game won't work.
Does the game work if you disable the cheats?

Also try starting the game with cheats disabled=>load your save(or save state)=>press Esc=>enable the cheats=>resume the emulation

[Vasquez93]

It will start with cheats disabled, but when i load my save and press esc, it only goes to black screen when i resume it after enable the cheats :/

[jlwmanagement]

You may want to create your own thread to keep confusion to a minimum in this thread

[chemicalknight]

Hi All,

I couldn't find a concise guide for converting most (if not all) of the different kinds of codes out there so I decided to make this one. Hopefully it can help alot of folks and cut down on the "how do I make pnach files" threads. I am breaking this down into sections to make it easier to read.

I am hoping to get this stickied...pretty please? < /shameless plea>

This guide applies to all of the following code types:
Action Replay
Action Replay MAX
CodeBreaker
GameShark
Xploder


SECTION 1 - Converting the codes

Ready? Let's do this!
Step 1: Download OmniConvert and PCSX2CE. As of the time of this writing they can be found here:
OmniConvert
PCSX2CE
I did not make either of those tools but they are widely used for cheat conversion and pnach creation.

Got those 2 files? Awesome. Moving on!

Step 2: Find your codes. Just go to their website and snag them.

Got your codes? Awesome. For this example I am using ARMAX codes for Dragon Quest VIII (U) found here:
Link

Step 3: Open OmniConvert and paste your cheats on the left side. Then choose your type of input cheats by clicking Input > and choose your cheat type and version. I am using ARMAX for this example so I chose Input > Action Replay > MAX. See image below for clarification:



Step 4: Choose the Output type from the menu bar as Unencrypted > Standard. No matter what types of cheats you are using, the Output type will ALWAYS be Unencrypted > Standard. See the pic below:



Step 5: Click Convert on the lower left and copy the converted RAW codes to your clipboard. See image below:



Not so bad right? We are almost done!

Step 6. Close OmniConvert (you remembered to copy those RAW codes right?). Open PCSX2CE and click "Open Cheat File" on the bottom to open your pnach. Dont have a pnach for this game yet? No problem. Jump to Section 2 and come back when you are ready! Back? Great, let's continue. Paste your codes on the left hand side. Click "Convert" on the bottom right and then click "Save". See the image below for clarification:



That's it! I know it was a few steps but it was SUPER easy right? Now you can make pnach files for all your games!


SECTION 2 - How to make a pnach

To create a pnach you need to make a text file in the Cheats folder in PCSX2. The default location will be in one of these 2 paths:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\PCSX2 1.0.0\Cheats
  
• C:\Program Files\PCSX2 1.0.0\Cheats
  

If the Cheats subfolder does not exist go to the 1.0.0 folder and right click and select New Folder. Name it Cheats. Now go inside the Cheats folder and right click in the empty space and choose New Text Document.



It should make a file named "New Text Document.txt". If it just says "New Text Document" without the .txt you need to make a small adjustment in Windows. Click Start > Control Panel > Folder Options. A window will pop up. Click on the Vew tab and uncheck the box that says "Hide extensions for known file types". Click OK and close the Control Panel.

Now you see New Text Document.txt right? Awesome!

Let's leave that file alone for now and open your game in PCSX2. Let it run long enough so the main screen of the game pops up then press ESC (the escape key in the far upper left of your keyboard) to see the main screen of PCSX2. You are looking for the CRC of the game. It looks like this:



All we need is the CRC itself so we don't need the 0x part. In this example that means we want the F4715852. Copy that to the clipboard and go back to the Cheats directory. You remember that right? If not go up a few paragraphs. Ready? Great!

Right click on New Text Document.txt and choose to Rename it. Paste the CRC as the file name and change the .txt to .pnach (dont forget the period). So now instead of New Text Document.txt we have a file named F4715852.pnach Remember each game has a different CRC so dont just copy mine.

You just made a pnach *high five*

Did everything you said here and Still didn't work. I have tried over 15 different ways of doing this and I still do not have infinite gil. Several Forums, Youtube Videos Ect. Nothing works.

[KeyToTruth12]

It's best to create your own thread.

[jlwmanagement]

Indeed. Create your own thread and post your pnach so we can help

[ToadKnight13]

Alright I did all of this and it works but now the game crashes within a minute of playing.

[vsub]

This probably means that the values you are freezing,the game is using for something else and when the values are set to something not correct for the moment,the game may crash.

[ToadKnight13]

This probably means that the values you are freezing,the game is using for something else and when the values are set to something not correct for the moment,the game may crash.

Alright. Thanks, I'll try figuring it out. =)

[arcieres]

PCSX2SE have only files with extension ".class" and I cant open them; so I have no idea how to do Step 6. Thanks anyway