NES:Creating Game and Save Backups

Multiple options exist to create backups of your game ROMs and save data for the NES. Depending on what options and systems you need, some options may be better than others.

RetroBlaster
The RetroBlaster allows for reading and writing of game ROMs and save data with specific mapper support.

The RetroBlaster supports:
 * NES / Famicom
 * SNES / Super Famicom
 * Nintendo 64
 * Game Boy / Game Boy Color
 * Game Boy Advance
 * Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
 * TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine

For more information, check out the RetroBlaster page.

Open Source Cartridge Reader (OSCaR) by Sanni
The Open Source Cartridge Reader (OSCaR) is capable of reading game ROMs and saves.

The OSCaR supports:
 * NES / Famicom
 * SNES / Super Famicom / Satellaview
 * Nintendo 64
 * Game Boy / Game Boy Color
 * Game Boy Advance
 * Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
 * Sega Master System
 * Sega Mark III (with Raphnet adapter)
 * Sega SG-1000 (with Raphnet adapter)
 * TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine
 * Many more systems with custom adapters

For more information, check out the official GitHub.

RetroN 5
The RetroN 5 multi-emulator device can be unofficially modified to add the ability to read game ROMs and saves.

The RetroN 5 supports:
 * NES / Famicom
 * SNES / Super Famicom
 * Game Boy / Game Boy Color
 * Game Boy Advance
 * Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
 * Sega Master System

For more information, see the Backups with RetroN 5 page.

Retro Freak
The Retro Freak multi-emulator device can natively back up game ROMs and saves — however, they are encrypted. Through use of a custom firmware, the Retro Freak can create normal unencrypted game ROMs and saves.

The Retro Freak supports:
 * NES / Famicom
 * SNES / Super Famicom
 * Game Boy / Game Boy Color
 * Game Boy Advance
 * Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
 * TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine
 * SuperGrafx

For more information, see the rfdumper GitHub.

Backing up Famicom Disk System games
Famicom Disk System games can be backed up to PC with a Famicom Disk System and a special cable that can be made with two Multi-AV connectors and a device like the FDSStick and the FDSKey, how to build these cables is outlined on the respective device homepage. The Multi Game Doctor 1 can back up FDS games to PC with a parallel port cable, here is the schematic:



The cable can be purchased from Tototek.