Hacking Process on getting DSTwo and Acerkard 2i to work for my 3DS

[nutsnbolts]

Ok,

• I have two 3DS wrapped ready for Christmas.
• I have two 16 gig Class 10 Micro SD cards
• I have a DSTwo
• I have an Acerkard 2i

Obviously I haven't opened any of it yet. Although I'm tempted to prep one (the one for my son) so he can start playing with it when he opens it up for Christmas.

So I understand how all this works.

Basically, here is the process I'm going to go through, please let me know if I'm missing something or... I want to get ahead of the game.

1. Open Packages!
2. Visit AcerKard website, download, format SD card, install firmware (I'm assuming AKAIO)
3. Drop games into the appropriate folder on the SD Card.
4. Don't update the Firmware on 3DS.
5. Put in the Cart into the 3DS
6. ALL DONE!?

A couple questions:

• What is the latest version of the 3DS out there? I want to make sure my 3DS isn't like 10 versions behind. I guess I just need to know what version I should or shouldn't be at?
• I'm assuming that going to the AcerKard and DSTwo website and downloading the latest firmwares, ensures me that I have the latest and greatest from them. So it should be relatively straightforward.
• Does 3D roms that you can download playable? Just not in 3D? Like Super Mario Cart 7, etc.?

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[frogboy]

1. Visit AcerKard website, download, format SD card, install firmware (I'm assuming AKAIO)
2. Drop games into the appropriate folder on the SD Card.
3. Don't update the Firmware on 3DS.
4. Put in the Cart into the 3DS
5. ALL DONE!?

Nope, you'll want to actually INSTALL the card firmware once you put the card in your 3DS. Usually the "in_DSi_3DS" version. Then your card will be running on the latest firmware, and you'll be able to update your 3DS.



And no, you can't run 3DS roms. Only DS games and homebrew.

The latest 3DS firmware is 3.0.0-5, which will be installed if you choose to update your 3DS.

Hope this helped!

 

[nutsnbolts]

Nope, you'll want to actually INSTALL the card firmware once you put the card in your 3DS. Usually the "in_DSi_3DS" version. Then your card will be running on the latest firmware, and you'll be able to update your 3DS.

Ok I'm not understanding this. So I should do the following:

1. Open packages
2. Put the AcerKard 2i into the 3DS and update the cards firmware? Then update the 3DS?

I don't understand sorry. I don't have a preloaded microSD card so...I guess I'm not understanding the process altogether.

And no, you can't run 3DS roms. Only DS games and homebrew.

The latest 3DS firmware is 3.0.0-5, which will be installed if you choose to update your 3DS.

Hope this helped!

Then update the 3DS to 3.0.0-5? Is that compatible with the DSTwo or Acerkard? Do I need to or is it a significant update to make it worthwhile to update?

 

[frogboy]

Ok I'm not understanding this. So I should do the following:

1. Open packages
2. Put the AcerKard 2i into the 3DS and update the cards firmware? Then update the 3DS?

I don't understand sorry. I don't have a preloaded microSD card so...I guess I'm not understanding the process altogether.

There will be 2 NDS files that you need to put on the root of your SD card. Once you put the card in your 3DS, run either file, though preferably the "DSi_3DS" version of the file. This will install the latest card firmware to make the card compatible with the latest 3DS firmware.

Then update the 3DS to 3.0.0-5? Is that compatible with the DSTwo or Acerkard? Do I need to or is it a significant update to make it worthwhile to update?

If you installed the Acekard's latest firmware (using my little guide above), It will be compatible with 3.0.0-5. I STRONGLY recommend updating your 3DS to that version.


Remember: ALWAYS update your card BEFORE you update your 3DS.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Is it normal practice to update to the latest version that is available for the 3DS?

I haven't opened anything so I'm assuming the 3DS I have isn't the latest version. I'm hoping I guess it's in the 2.x version.

So...

I would take the files that I have downloaded from the AcerKard/DSTwo website and run it with the 3DS. (whichever version that matches the 3DS). If I were to upgrade to the latest version, I should then update the card first then update the 3DS.

 

[exangel]

Is it normal practice to update to the latest version that is available for the 3DS?

I haven't opened anything so I'm assuming the 3DS I have isn't the latest version. I'm hoping I guess it's in the 2.x version.

For very popular cards such as the Acekard 2i, you will pretty much always wind up getting blocked with 3DS System Firmware updates if you don't make sure you have the flashcart's firmware updated first. So far these updates have always been optional, except that some recent official games (Mario titles) forced updates to be playable.

The Supercard team has usually been faster about releasing updates than Acekard has, but the Supercard DStwo updates are usually internal (invisible, part of the kernel software) and rarely do anything to the game icon displayed in the 3DS/DSi Home Menu (which is something that will change every time you flash a firmware update to the AK2i)

As far as your 3DS' versions, you probably don't have 3.0.05x preinstalled.

So...

I would take the files that I have downloaded from the AcerKard/DSTwo website and run it with the 3DS. (whichever version that matches the 3DS). If I were to upgrade to the latest version, I should then update the card first then update the 3DS.

Yes, I'd also recommend bookmarking these two subforums in GBAtemp which you may not have seen; as the two flashcarts you have are actually DS carts they don't have forums in the 3DS section. There are good stickies in both forums!
http://gbatemp.net/forum/172-acekard/
http://gbatemp.net/forum/92-supercard/

 

[nutsnbolts]

Thank you very much!

The information you provided with the links is definitely helpful. I actually stumbled upon those links earlier and bookmarked them.

On the other hand, I think I'm getting it. The cart has to be updated with the firmware the 3ds has but the cart has to be updated first. Latest version is 3.something for the 3ds so I would have to update the cart to the latest supported version of the cart, before updating the 3ds. Of course that is if the cart supports the latest version, hence, why I shouldn't prematurely upgrade the 3ds when a new update is released. I should wait till the cart updates itself.

Is this right?

Another question, the latest version 3.something for the 3ds. Should I upgrade? In other words, anything significant to upgrade to the latest?

 

[niftey]

Ok download AKAIO 1.8.9 and Firmware Update of AK2i for console 3DS3.0 and DSi1.4.3 found on the acekard web site.

Format SD card and unpack AKAIO files and the ak2ifw_update_3ds30_DSi143_onDSi_and_DSXL_and3DS.nds to the SD card.
Put SD card into your acekard and put it in the 3ds
Then select the firmware upgrade from the cards menu it will then update (make sure you have enough battery on the 3ds)
Make sure you chip ID is HW 8181 and not HW 44 as this will brick your card.

Then repeat these processes for the supercard DSTWO by downloading the files from the DSTWO site BEFORE updating your 3DS.

If you get an error upgrading the acekard check this link.

http://gbatemp.net/t...68#entry4025268

 

[exangel]

On the other hand, I think I'm getting it. The cart has to be updated with the firmware the 3ds has but the cart has to be updated first. Latest version is 3.something for the 3ds so I would have to update the cart to the latest supported version of the cart, before updating the 3ds. Of course that is if the cart supports the latest version, hence, why I shouldn't prematurely upgrade the 3ds when a new update is released. I should wait till the cart updates itself.

Is this right?

Another question, the latest version 3.something for the 3ds. Should I upgrade? In other words, anything significant to upgrade to the latest?

Sort of, close enough.

Yes, when you confirm that your carts are updated, there were some significant changes in 3.x that will make it more fun for the gift recipients to play with built in Mii Plaza and also to be able to record short 3D videos with their 3DS's.

Ok download AKAIO 1.8.9 and Firmware Update of AK2i for console 3DS3.0 and DSi1.4.3 found on the acekard web site.

Format SD card and unpack AKAIO files and the firmware upgrade to the SD card.
Put SD card into your acekard and put it in the 3ds
Then select the firmware upgrade from the cards menu it will then update (make sure you have enough battery on the 3ds)
Make sure you chip ID is HW 8181 and not HW 44 as this will brick your card.

Yes, that should do you DStwo is a similar process but it will not necessarily have an interactive confirmation menu for the current update (depends on which firmware is on it when it was shipped to you). If you have one that was produced a longer time ago, you may have to run an additional flasher that does change the game icon.

 

[nutsnbolts]

OK I'm getting there

Lets say I have on my 3ds version 1 (I'm making up the version).

I download the latest version firmware for the card. Load it on the SD CARD and insert it into the acerkard/dstwo then into the 3DS. I would then update the card through the 3ds. Now the card is the latest firmware. I'm assuming I would now update the 3ds to match the cart? Reason being is because 3.0 version has 3d video and other goodies?

 

[frogboy]

Yep, exactly.

And FYI, It's ACEkard, not ACERkard

 

[nutsnbolts]

Out of curiosity. If i don't care about the new features. Do I have to update the 3ds? Despite the carts being updated?

 

[frogboy]

Out of curiosity. If i don't care about the new features. Do I have to update the 3ds? Despite the carts being updated?

If you're going to play new games like Super Mario 3D Land or Mario Kart 7, your 3DS will get updated automatically. It has to be updated to play newer 3DS games. Stay clear of 3DS games, and you'll never have to update.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Great i do plan to play those. Im assuming it will automatically get updated if i pop those specific carts in? No prompts or anything? I have still install/update the acekard/dstwo.

 

[frogboy]

Great i do plan to play those. Im assuming it will automatically get updated if i pop those specific carts in? No prompts or anything? I have still install/update the acekard/dstwo.

You can choose not to update, but it won't let you play the game. It'll be safe to update and then play the game once you have your Acekard/DSTwo updated to the latest 3DS firmware.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Ok i just wanted to make sure. I dont want to pop in a super mario cart / game and it automatically starts updating on me.

 

[frogboy]

Ok i just wanted to make sure. I dont want to pop in a super mario cart / game and it automatically starts updating on me.

Which is why you should ALWAYS keep your flashcarts updated, just in case.

If you ever have any more questions, GBAtemp is always here to help

 

[nl255]

Another thing to note is that the DSTwo can update it's internal firmware/bootloader even if you have already updated your 3DS and it has been blocked (unless the update actually causes the 3DS to cut power to the cart, which no update has done so far). That is not possible with the Acekard (and no, you can't use your DSTwo to update your Acekard on the 3DS because you can't switch DS carts without being booted back to the menu).

 

[nutsnbolts]

Ok i just wanted to make sure. I dont want to pop in a super mario cart / game and it automatically starts updating on me.

Which is why you should ALWAYS keep your flashcarts updated, just in case.

If you ever have any more questions, GBAtemp is always here to help

Yeah my microSd and cart is actually being delivered today. I want to hit the ground running when I get home to start updating everything.

Obviously the DSTwo and Acecard 2i are the first thing Im going to do.

I don't have any of the mario game yet but I plan to get one of them since 3d roms don't play yet for my son.

While loading game on the acecard (for my son) he can play one of the mario games to keep him busy.

I bought another 3ds for me and will be using the DSTwo with that.

Question:
I already wrapped my sons 3ds. Can I go ahead and update the acekard and then update the DSTwo on my 3ds since I will be opening it before christmas? When Im done I would update my 3DS to version 3.x and later on when my son opens his gift all he has to do is update his 3DS to version 3.x and hand him the Acecard and he should be good to go?

In other words the cards wont tie itself to any specific 3ds, etc.

---

 

[nutsnbolts]

Another thing to note is that the DSTwo can update it's internal firmware/bootloader even if you have already updated your 3DS and it has been blocked (unless the update actually causes the 3DS to cut power to the cart, which no update has done so far). That is not possible with the Acekard (and no, you can't use your DSTwo to update your Acekard on the 3DS because you can't switch DS carts without being booted back to the menu).

Are you saying that one of the advantages of the DSTwo was the ability to update the cart despite the 3DS version?

Now, that is currently blocked and the DSTwo can no longer do that?

If that is the case i was going to update the DSTwo anyway the same route as the Acekard. Update before updating my 3DS.

Is what i stated the impression?