Hacking EZ Flash IV Tips, Suggestions, & Precautions?

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So I ordered an EZ Flash IV of rhs 5 days ago (still waiting), and I was reading about the EZ Flash on the wiki here:

• EZFlash IV has a battery that it uses to save. When you save in game, it saves to a temporary memory, kept alive by this battery. If the battery dies, game functionality wont cease, but your progress since last boot will vanish every time you power off the DS. Do not overcharge the battery, it will die. If you do kill the battery, the battery you need for the EZFlash IV 'Phat' is a Panasonic VL2020. It is a 3volt, 20mAh battery with soldering pins. The EZFlash IV Lite models all use a similar 3v, 20mAh battery, but with smaller dimensions.

So, does that mean every time I'd be done playing a game I should "soft reset" it to save the game so that when I power it off it's not using that battery? Am I reading this right?

Also, I would love to hear any suggestions or tips on running, using, and how to properly take care of the cart so that I don't need to get another one or repair it. Thanks!

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[FAST6191]

It mainly means you should not leave it months at a time without it being in a powered GBA/DS if you expect the save to stick around.
The soft reset thing is a workaround in the case of a dead battery though it would not hurt you either.

Tips on running, using and proper care taking... don't tread on it is the main one. More seriously the pins do occasionally get a build up of whatever on them, when this happens you will typically see games not work where they did before, it might not boot to the EZ4 menu and the GBA sits there without a proper Nintendo below the GBA logo (absent or corrupt) and general unreliability. Clean the pins (be they the ones that go into the DS or the ones that the miniSD goes into. Cleaning can be done however you would normally clean consumer electronics (which is to say do not go in for the heavy duty contact cleaner intended for vehicles and such like) though most people do not tend to have proper stuff so a cotton bud/qtip and some rubbing alcohol or pure acetone nail polish remover do well here.

I assume you also saw those microSD to miniSD adapters have caused a lot of hassle for would be EZ4 users so best to get a miniSD if you can.

 

[abcdaaabbbcccaaa]

It mainly means you should not leave it months at a time without it being in a powered GBA/DS if you expect the save to stick around.
The soft reset thing is a workaround in the case of a dead battery though it would not hurt you either.

So even if the battery does end up dying, I can play the game, soft rest and it'll still save? Can the cartridge be played if the battery dies?

And thanks for the tip about the mini sd card. I was planning to use a microSD, but I think I'll try to get a hold of a miniSD.

 

[Videomanman87]

Yep, if you soft reset, it will save and prompt you it is doing so. Sometimes though the soft reset sequence won't work (if the game already uses that key sequence for something) and you have to alter it for that game. Which is easy to do in the EZ Flash desktop software. Just change it and repatch/download to the mini SD.

At least that has been my experience so far.

Also, if you bought your EZ Flash recently, you likely have a non rechargeable battery installed. You can easily confirm this, if the battery inside is a CR-2025 then it is non rechargeable. Apparently the life of the battery is 5 years give or take.

 

[abcdaaabbbcccaaa]

Yep, if you soft reset, it will save and prompt you it is doing so. Sometimes though the soft reset sequence won't work (if the game already uses that key sequence for something) and you have to alter it for that game. Which is easy to do in the EZ Flash desktop software. Just change it and repatch/download to the mini SD.

At least that has been my experience so far.

Also, if you bought your EZ Flash recently, you likely have a non rechargeable battery installed. You can easily confirm this, if the battery inside is a CR-2025 then it is non rechargeable. Apparently the life of the battery is 5 years give or take.

Thanks for the tip! So if it were rechargeable, would I have to take it apart, take the battery out and recharge, then solder it back in or something? And, just double checking, if the battery dies, the cart still works (with no automatic save)?

 

[Videomanman87]

Thanks for the tip! So if it were rechargeable, would I have to take it apart, take the battery out and recharge, then solder it back in or something? And, just double checking, if the battery dies, the cart still works (with no automatic save)?

Nope the battery recharges when it is in a powered GBA or DS. You don't take it out to recharge. You would only replace it if it no longer charged. For example: you play a game, turn off the GBA without doing a EZ Flash reset, when you power it back on if you don't get a saving pop up then your battery is too low or toast. If it is a rechargeable just leave it in the GBA powered for a while (probably all day) and then do the same thing to see if it saves. If not well time to replace it.

If you bought a EZ-Flash recently then it is not a rechargeable. The original run was in a wooden box and had a rechargeable battery. The newer runs don't. And as I said, you can look inside to confirm the battery type as it is written on the battery (refer to the numbers I posted earlier). But in short, no wood box, not rechargeable.

Removing the battery should it die, involves soldering, although there is a sticky post about how to replace without soldering, but won't be as reliable as the battery is then held with tape instead of a hard and fast connection (solder). But even if it should die, you can still save by doing a reset to the main EZ-Flash menu instead of shutting off the GBA. When you do a reset back to the main menu a popup will occur saying "saving". At this point it is saving to the mini SD card, which of course is power independent. The save is automatic if you reset back to the main menu. BUT also keep in mind you needed to save in the game you were playing if it doesn't have some sort of automatic save.

As long as the EZ Flash has battery power, just turning off the GBA and back on will start a save (unless you say no when the popup happens). If it don't then just make sure to go back to the main EZ Flash menu before you turn off the GBA and it will save.

 

[abcdaaabbbcccaaa]

Nope the battery recharges when it is in a powered GBA or DS. You don't take it out to recharge. You would only replace it if it no longer charged. For example: you play a game, turn off the GBA without doing a EZ Flash reset, when you power it back on if you don't get a saving pop up then your battery is too low or toast. If it is a rechargeable just leave it in the GBA powered for a while (probably all day) and then do the same thing to see if it saves. If not well time to replace it.

If you bought a EZ-Flash recently then it is not a rechargeable. The original run was in a wooden box and had a rechargeable battery. The newer runs don't. And as I said, you can look inside to confirm the battery type as it is written on the battery (refer to the numbers I posted earlier). But in short, no wood box, not rechargeable.

Removing the battery should it die, involves soldering, although there is a sticky post about how to replace without soldering, but won't be as reliable as the battery is then held with tape instead of a hard and fast connection (solder). But even if it should die, you can still save by doing a reset to the main EZ-Flash menu instead of shutting off the GBA. When you do a reset back to the main menu a popup will occur saying "saving". At this point it is saving to the mini SD card, which of course is power independent. The save is automatic if you reset back to the main menu. BUT also keep in mind you needed to save in the game you were playing if it doesn't have some sort of automatic save.

As long as the EZ Flash has battery power, just turning off the GBA and back on will start a save (unless you say no when the popup happens). If it don't then just make sure to go back to the main EZ Flash menu before you turn off the GBA and it will save.

Awesome, thanks a million man!