Need help finding a proper firmware for this strange R4 I bought recently

[terebee]

hello, I got this R4 (ADVANCE WIFI 3DS R4 V1.6) today and tried some youtube videos at first formated my sd card both with sd card formatted and windows, and tried a lot of lots of kernels to see if the R4 will work or not but it's just a white screen and sadly that's all I got when I try to use it. then I tried waybackmachine (Because its website is dead )) and was able to download the proper (as the website said) kernel in it, but unfortunately, it did not work as well and any kernel that I test will show me a white screen in the startup. any help would be really appreciated thanks a lot!

notes: the white screen that I get is just like the one in this video the only difference is that for me it happens on my 3DS

 

[Sypherone]

Try this one:
https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/r4i-advance.com/
Else some cards are clones of anotherone. So if u find out wich it is you can try this kernel/firmware files, too.

For example the readme file says:
Also compatible with r4ds-a.com (kernel 1.27 is UNTESTED! 1.22 known working)
So they can be tryed:
https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/r4ds-a.com/
And also gives this site:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140905051809/http://r4i-advance.com/en/index.asp

 

[CoolMe]

yes i have tried R4i-SDHC and R4SDHC but unfortunately none of them worked neither

No, not the kernel of those carts. I meant this.

 

[Kwyjor]

More specifically, you should be looking at https://gbatemp.net/threads/retrogamefan-updates-releases.267243/ , which does indeed have an entry for www.r4i-advance.com .

 

[Sypherone]

Another Question. Is your microSD Card properly formated? With fat32 and 32k size?
Best is fat32formatter or this one for Cards up to 32Gb https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/

BTW what says the "How to install.txt" on your Card to have a correct filestructur?

 

[Sypherone]

If you would have a timebomb, your kernel would expire at a specific date. They have a lifetime from one year. Then there would be a notification on the screen. So if u use latest your fine.

Run please a error check with Powershell -> chkdsk /f.

 

[Sypherone]

I was thinking this, too. That the Card has a missfunction. But this is the last thought to take till everything is tryed. I Would first think of some incompatibilty, because some firmware of the R4Cards only run with specific kernel of the Card or firmware of the 3ds.

Here are file versions from v1.19 till 2.00 for your Card. If u get timetomb notification you can change the time in your 3ds to get it run. In this case you flash a actuall firmeware to card. https://www.linfoxdomain.com/nintendo/ds/

 

[The Real Jdbye]

oh yes of course I watched some youtube videos yesterday and used SD Card Formatter to overwrite the memory and did it several times for different kernels (the memory card was new though so nothing was on it before)

SD Formatter will format as exFAT if the card is larger than 32 GB, DS flashcarts don't support this. If you use a larger card you need to use guiformat, EASEUS or Minitool Partition Wizard in order to format as FAT32.

 

[Sypherone]

That no kernel works, is .......
The last idea that i have is that the firmware on the Card needs a specific firmware on the 3ds to run.

So i searched and this what i found. The R4i-Advance is a NDSTTi Clone Card and seems to be from 2011/12. The firmware v1.6 of the Card supports DSi 1.43/1.44 and 3DS V4.1.0-8. Very low firmware. We dont know wich is installed and wich 3DS firmware is supported.

Spoiler: R4i Advance details

Source: https://www.prlog.org/11920169-r4i-advance-revolution-v16-for-dsi3ds.html

R4i Advance Revolution V1.6 For DSi/3DS​

This R4i Advance V1.6 3DS/DSi 1.43/DSi 1.44 is compatible for all NDS.www.r4i-advance.com perfect running on the 3DS console. Backward compatibility NDSI NDS/NDSL/NDSILL/NDSIXL / 3DS console. Strong technical team, support all DS games

Spread the Word:

July 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Buy R4i Advance Revolution V1.6 For DSi/3DS

News:

R4i Advance V1.6 Revolution Support Nintendo 3DS/DSi 1.43/DSi 1.44 Card/3DS V4.1.0-8 (J,E,U) Perfectly

This R4i Advance V1.6 3DS/DSi 1.43/DSi 1.44 is compatible for all NDS.www.r4i-advance.com perfect running on the 3DS console. Backward compatibility NDSI NDS/NDSL/NDSILL/NDSIXL / 3DS console. Strong technical team, support all DS games (brand trustworthy).

$5.99 Buy the R4i Advance Revolution V1.6 For DSi/3DS
# http://www.gamecardsource.com/r4i-advance-revolution-v16-for-dsi3ds_p1042.html

R4i-Advance V1.6 Revolution for DS (NDSIXL/NDSILL/NDSI/NDSL/NDS)

R4i-advanceis a SLOT-1 flash card designed for Nintendo DS/DS Lite/DSi handheld consoles. As the successor of the famous R4i-advance flash card, it now supports the new DSi console, can use SDHC storage card, and have even better compatibility than R4i-advance with NDS ROMs and homebrews.
Fits right into the SLOT-1 like an original NDS game card, it's a very convenient tool for any NDS series owner that want to explore the full potential of their handheld console.R4i-advance is a flash card for NDS series consoles (R4i-advance supports,DSi,DSiLL,DSiLX).
R4i-advance is an upgrade version of R4i-advance. It supports SDHC, has multi-media features, and can run that most games and homebrews. It is a equipment that have to been owned for the global NDS series player.

R4i-advance_03.jpg
The Functionality of Advance:

Support SDHC memory cards ( compatibility up to 32GB) ;
Change language of menu as you want without any limit;
As same size and thickness as original card;
No need to flash. Build-in launch Slot-2 (gba) function;
Support DMA read and no lag when using any microSD card;
Support FAT16 and FAT32. Can transfer files with PC, PDA, Cellphone and Camera;
Support clean rom and drag-drop to play. Fast loading;
Support NDS and iDS games. Run iDS games on any version of DS;
Write save files to TF card directly and no need manual backup or restore them;
Auto save type detection and no need to update save type list database;
Support moonshell and home brew;
Power saving design. Enter optimization mode automatically;
Double screen UI. Support display thumbnails of games;
Easy to use and setting ;
Support button and touch operation both;
Support Wi-Fi and rumble package and browser expansion;
Support change back ground picture of menu;
Support change font color of menu;
Support brightness adjust (DS Lite only);
Support soft-reset;
Support AR cheat code;
Support soft-reset of moonshell 2.0 (back to main menu of R4i-advance) ;
Support DLDI auto-patching;
Support Download play;back to R4i DS List

- U can try using TWLmenu++ on the Card. Your Card seems to be supported https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/twilightmenu/installing-flashcard

- Else, i dont know atm if its possible to create a emunand on the 3ds and downgrading it to a specific low firmware. Then trying if the card runs.

- The other possibility would be flashing a firmware with ntr-flasher, if possible and supported to the Card to meet the actual firmware of the DSi/3DS. There may somewhere wich available (v4.3 from 2019) also some modified and for use with YS-Menu. (There is also a bootlader listed to whitelist your cart)
https://www.thetechgame.com/Downloads/cid=176/sort=desc-title/start=320.html
Or identify other similar Clonecards (based on NDSTTi Card ) to get latest version for latest 3DS firm that works.
https://www.r43ds.org/pages/r4-3ds-firmware.html

- Just for clearens:
Kernel is the menu which allows more game capabilty (if timebombed it needs regulary updated)
Firmware allows updates on the console to be bypassed

How much i like to solve the Problem. Iam not sure atm, without investing more time for a clear solution.
My Advice. You can try more to get it run or get a (nearly) actual Card without messing longer with it around for 20€/USD.
And if its because u want to run DS Games or Emulators. Get easy way and use nds-bootstrap with Twightlight++ and Retroarch for Emulators.

 

[CoolMe]

Have you tried YSMenu?

 

[terebee]

Have you tried YSMenu?

yes i have tried R4i-SDHC and R4SDHC but unfortunately none of them worked neither

 

[terebee]

Try this one:
https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/r4i-advance.com/
Else some cards are clones of anotherone. So if u find out wich it is you can try this kernel/firmware files, too.

For example the readme file says:
Also compatible with r4ds-a.com (kernel 1.27 is UNTESTED! 1.22 known working)
So they can be tryed:
https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/r4ds-a.com/
And also gives this site:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140905051809/http://r4i-advance.com/en/index.asp

thanks a lot for your help I tried both links that you send me just now it seems like the second one should be the proper version for the card because it contains all of the files and folders that its own website said it needed but still it gives the white screen, i tried the original website kernels (because some of the links still work) still the same problem occurs.

 

[impeeza]

using the search function of gbatemp you can find 2 threads about firmware for many R4 carts.

 

[terebee]

No, not the kernel of those carts. I meant this.

thanks for the link, tho I think it's my bad I described it badly because the ones i used are really similar to the ones you send, they were from a youtube video about ysmenue. or maybe I'm installing it the wrong way ? I copied the files in those folders straight into my sd card.

 

[terebee]

More specifically, you should be looking at https://gbatemp.net/threads/retrogamefan-updates-releases.267243/ , which does indeed have an entry for www.r4i-advance.com .

I tested the R4i-SDHC YSMenu that included r4i-advance.com and unfortunately the same happened

 

[terebee]

using the search function of gbatemp you can find 2 threads about firmware for many R4 carts.

yes, indeed but the problem is that still none of them worked for this card. I'm not sure but might it be because of a time bomb or something like that? it's my first experience with R4s and I really don't know how time bombs look like

 

[terebee]

Another Question. Is your microSD Card properly formated? With fat32 and 32k size?
Best is fat32formatter or this one https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/

BTW what says the "How to install.txt" on your Card to have a correct filestructur?

oh yes of course I watched some youtube videos yesterday and used SD Card Formatter to overwrite the memory and did it several times for different kernels (the memory card was new though so nothing was on it before)

 

[terebee]

If you would have a timebomb, your kernel would expire at a specific date. They have a lifetime from one year. Then there would be a notification on the screen. So if u use latest your fine.

oh, now I know thanks for the information, by the way, is there a possibility that all of the products of this company are broken or it has a lost kernel? because I saw some other people online with my problem and apparently unfortunately they were not able to fix it either

 

[CoolMe]

I have to ask you @terebee.. since you're using a 3DS, is it modded/ has CFW installed?
If not, and your flashcart is whitelisted, that could be the reason why it's not appearing/working for you.

 

[Kwyjor]

I tested the R4i-SDHC YSMenu that included r4i-advance.com and unfortunately the same happened

But did you follow the instructions? Your screenshot suggests you did not.

Extract the files from the DSONEi SDHC YSMenu folder and copy to root of your µSD :

Games folder
TTMenu folder
R4.dat
TTMenu.dat