Hacking Unbricking unknown clone cart?

[Sono]

Hi!

I got my very first flashcart ever, but I accidently bricked it after like 5minutes of usage.
Is it possible to somehow unbrick this mysterious cart? (considering that I can't have another flashcart)

Here are some images:
Warning! Huge resolution and bad quality images!

Spoiler

There's this written on the chips, in order, from the bigger to the smaller:
- PD910B 1251 (?)
- winbond 25Q168VSIG 1236
- 564RK (some logo) K30

Also, there's the text "Z2" written just above the sdcard slot, and there's a "1" on the front cover's back, and a downwards-pointing number "4" on the back cover's back. And if you missed it, there's "SDHC" printed just above the pins.

And this is the original folder structure:
http://puu.sh/kMD7d/8c0d3b574c.zip

Spoiler

|   _DS_MENU.dat
|
\---__rpg
    |   backlight.ini
    |   engi.ne2
    |   extinfo.dat
    |   globalsettings.ini
    |   infolib.dat
    |   lastsave.ini
    |   r4_sd.dldi
    |   savesize.bin
    |   sqpth.bin
    |   TTMENU.SYS
    |
    +---cheats
    |       usrcheat.dat
    |
    +---fonts
    |       liberation.pcf
    |       ugulim12.pcf
    |       wenquanyi_9pt.pcf
    |
    +---icons
    +---language
    |   +---Czech
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Deutsch
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---English
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Espanol
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Français
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Italiano
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Magyar
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Nederlands
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Portugues
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Român
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---Svenska
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---??????? (RU)
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---??? (JP)
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---???? (CN)
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   +---???? (ZH)
    |   |       language.txt
    |   |
    |   \---??? (KO)
    |           language.txt
    |
    \---ui
        +---gbatemp
        |   |   brightness.bmp
        |   |   btn2.bmp
        |   |   btn3.bmp
        |   |   btn4.bmp
        |   |   card_icon_blue.bmp
        |   |   custom.ini
        |   |   folder_up.bmp
        |   |   gbaframe.bmp
        |   |   lower_screen.bmp
        |   |   menu_bg.bmp
        |   |   progress_bar.bmp
        |   |   progress_wnd.bmp
        |   |   spin_btn_left.bmp
        |   |   spin_btn_right.bmp
        |   |   Thumbs.db
        |   |   title_bg.bmp
        |   |   title_left.bmp
        |   |   title_right.bmp
        |   |   uisettings.ini
        |   |   upper_screen.bmp
        |   |
        |   \---calendar
        |           clock_colon.bmp
        |           clock_numbers.bmp
        |           day_numbers.bmp
        |           Thumbs.db
        |           year_numbers.bmp
        |
        \---zelda
            |   brightness.bmp
            |   btn2.bmp
            |   btn3.bmp
            |   btn4.bmp
            |   card_icon_blue.bmp
            |   custom.ini
            |   folder_up.bmp
            |   lower_screen.bmp
            |   menu_bg.bmp
            |   progress_bar.bmp
            |   progress_wnd.bmp
            |   spin_btn_left.bmp
            |   spin_btn_right.bmp
            |   title_bg.bmp
            |   title_left.bmp
            |   title_right.bmp
            |   uisettings.ini
            |   upper_screen.bmp
            |
            \---calendar
                    clock_colon.bmp
                    clock_numbers.bmp
                    day_numbers.bmp
                    year_numbers.bmp

I think/know that it's bricked, because after the bricking happened, i didn't take the cart out, and it wasn't showing up. I also tried it on my DSLite, so I can confirm that it is bricked.

I also have SudokuHax, so I can run small .nds files if there's a way to reflash this mysterious flashcart.

 

[x65943]

When was the last time it worked? What did you do to brick it?

 

[Sono]

It worked when I got it

And ran YSmenu.nds from RetroGameFan, and it dark-gray-screened out. And after restarting the 3DS it was not showing up.

Edit:
I installed a DSTT firmware from RetroGameFan, because that had the most similar folder structure. I placed TTMenu.dat and YSmenu.nds on the root of the sdcard, and replaced 4 .dat files and an engi.ne2 file. After it bricked, I restored the contents of the sdcard, but it was no longer working.

 

[x65943]

Go to the manufacturer's website and download the latest package and place that on the sd card.

Do you have a dsi you can test it on? My guess is that you updated your 3ds since you got it and they patched out your flashcart.

 

[Sono]

This card has an unknown manufacturer And the site the theme's background has (r4isdhc.com) don't have any info regarding this type of cart.
Also, as I said, I tested this on a 4.5.0 3DS, and on a DSLite, and it worked before the bricking. And no, I have no DSi

 

[x65943]

If you think you bricked it by changing the files on the cart, the only option is to faithfully restore every file.

But you said you already did that. I think your only hope is to find the manufacturer somehow.

 

[I8UrMum]

Its a bootleg I would be surprised if this worked. (It was probably meant to brick.)

 

[Sono]

Ye, it's a bootleg, but I'm 100% that it's not meant to be eventually bricked, I just wanted to use a bit newer firmware, because the current was very dodgy and hardly-usable.

I just bought this cart, because it was the cheapest available in my country (it was ~17.7227068 Euros with shipping according to Google Calculator), and I wanted to buy from a local instead, because I always had bad experience with online shopping, so I wanted to avoid that.

Also, please don't blame me, I know that this is a cheap fake bootleg clone thingy, but I wanted a flashcart for half a year, so I finally had some money, and I bought this.
Is it even possible to reflash this using a .nds file or some soldering stuff? I has 2 COM ports and a LPT port on my computer, so it's possible to reflash it if it's even possible.
Or does someone know a very, very cheap flashcart with shipping that costs me the same amount or less?

 

[x65943]

Ye, it's a bootleg, but I'm 100% that it's not meant to be eventually bricked, I just wanted to use a bit newer firmware, because the current was very dodgy and hardly-usable.

I just bought this cart, because it was the cheapest available in my country (it was ~17.7227068 Euros with shipping according to Google Calculator), and I wanted to buy from a local instead, because I always had bad experience with online shopping, so I wanted to avoid that.

Also, please don't blame me, I know that this is a cheap fake bootleg clone thingy, but I wanted a flashcart for half a year, so I finally had some money, and I bought this.
Is it even possible to reflash this using a .nds file or some soldering stuff? I has 2 COM ports and a LPT port on my computer, so it's possible to reflash it if it's even possible.
Or does someone know a very, very cheap flashcart with shipping that costs me the same amount or less?

http://leafmoon.users.sourceforge.net/xenonnds/pukiwiki/index.php?FlashcartClassification

You could try and find your flashcart here and restore the original files.

I'm sorry I don't know any good websites that sell in Hungary.

Is there any chance you could ask the seller who the original manufacturer is?

 

[Deleted member 370671]

Or does someone know a very, very cheap flashcart with shipping that costs me the same amount or less?

You can buy this one. Costs 10 dollars (~8.5 euros), free shipping. Takes time to deliver (~3 weeks) but still worth it.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Ye, it's a bootleg, but I'm 100% that it's not meant to be eventually bricked, I just wanted to use a bit newer firmware, because the current was very dodgy and hardly-usable.

I just bought this cart, because it was the cheapest available in my country (it was ~17.7227068 Euros with shipping according to Google Calculator), and I wanted to buy from a local instead, because I always had bad experience with online shopping, so I wanted to avoid that.

Also, please don't blame me, I know that this is a cheap fake bootleg clone thingy, but I wanted a flashcart for half a year, so I finally had some money, and I bought this.
Is it even possible to reflash this using a .nds file or some soldering stuff? I has 2 COM ports and a LPT port on my computer, so it's possible to reflash it if it's even possible.
Or does someone know a very, very cheap flashcart with shipping that costs me the same amount or less?

You got ripped off man. You can get a R4i Gold (r4ids.cn model) for less than that, and that's one of the best DS flashcarts on the market. You can even get a working flashcart for $3 that works on the latest 3DS firmware: http://www.eachmall.com/goods-35806-35806.html

Edit: Your cart seems to be some sort of R4 clone that uses Wood R4 or some other derivative of the Acekard kernel. If the theme says r4isdhc.com then I would suggest downloading the kernel from that site as your cart may just be a rebranded r4isdhc.com cart.

Edit2: In fact, according to the "fake" images on their site, this is a fake/clone of a r4isdhc.com cart (they have pictures showing the back with "SDHC" printed on the board as being fake)
It could be this cart: http://www.r4isdhc.hk/r4-download/ (it's mentioned in the "fake" images on r4isdhc.com) which honestly isn't worth more than $5 at best.

 

[Sono]

The sdcard has the exact contents that it had before I even edited anything (I just dd'd it), but restoring it changes nothing. It's the flashcart's internal chip that got corrupted.

You can buy this one. Costs 10 dollars (~8.5 euros), free shipping. Takes time to deliver (~3 weeks) but still worth it.

Thanks! It's very, VERY cheap for a this type of flashcart. And it even comes with a card reader (mine is an old camera that can read regular SD Cards, but it has no high capacity SD support, but it can read the one that came with the 3DS by default)! I think I would never find a flashcart this cheap myself. Thank you! Very appreciation! Much happy. Wow! (I like making Doge references )
I'll still try to unbrick this piece o' dirt, but I'll buy this cart, because it's just amazing

//off-topic: my browser's rendering died again, and the scrollbar looked like like the bottom screen on the 3DS when loading rxTools )

 

[mgrev]

it seems like it's a dual core (of some sort) from r4isdhc.in exact same except for the sticker
EDIT: it must be a ripoff of the card mentioned above
EDIT 2: it must be the card mentioned above with a fake sticker and shady dealer

 

[Sono]

You got ripped off man. You can get a R4i Gold (r4ids.cn model) for less than that, and that's one of the best DS flashcarts on the market. You can even get a working flashcart for $3 that works on the latest 3DS firmware: http://www.eachmall.com/goods-35806-35806.html

Edit: Your cart seems to be some sort of R4 clone that uses Wood R4 or some other derivative of the ard kernel. If the theme says r4isdhc.com then I would suggest downloading the kernel from that site as your cart may just be a rebranded r4isdhc.com cart.

Yes, thanks, but the problem is still that I don't know what, and how to flash the firmware on the cart. Because it behaves like an empty cart, and not like my ripoff Mario64DS that only works on DSLite And I'm 100% sure it's not the pins' contacts, because it worked before.

 

[mgrev]

Yes, thanks, but the problem is still that I don't know what, and how to flash the firmware on the cart. Because it behaves like an empty cart, and not like my ripoff Mario64DS that only works on DSLite And I'm 100% sure it's not the pins' contacts, because it worked before.

lol. my friend also had a bootleg/ripoff mario kart ds from usa(it had a tiny sticker on the back saing ying hong or something) we never got it to work on 3ds/dsi, so i found how to tell if a cart is fake. it was probably one of the easiest games to tell from. it had a battery inside and was crappy built. he bought a new one (eur this time) so i smashed the bootleg with a baseball bat yesterday

 

[Sono]

it seems like it's a dual core (of some sort) from r4isdhc.in exact same except for the sticker

Holy cow! I downloaded the files, and it came with the same file structure (except the folder is named "patch" instead of "__rpg"), and it came with an installer .nds! Wow, I'm gonna try this out! I hope SudokuHax doesn't mess stuff up.

 

[mgrev]

Very appreciation! Much happy. Wow! (I like making Doge references)

very quote, much true

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Yes, thanks, but the problem is still that I don't know what, and how to flash the firmware on the cart. Because it behaves like an empty cart, and not like my ripoff Mario64DS that only works on DSLite And I'm 100% sure it's not the pins' contacts, because it worked before.

You can find firmware updates on http://www.r4isdhc.hk/r4-download/ one of them might work for your cart. There are a bunch of different carts on that page so I guess you'll just have to try them all starting from the top, as the top carts seem to be newer models. You'll need to run the firmware update from a working flashcart and then swap it for your broken one (needs to be done on a DS, not a DSi or 3DS as hotswapping carts only works on the original DS phat/lite)

I don't see how the cart could have spontaneously bricked though. It sounds like it could be a contact issue, even though you said it's not the pins, contact issues cause the exact problem you are facing, it could be due to the pins in the cart slot being pushed in a little, so that the cart no longer makes contact even though it used to work fine. This wouldn't affect legitimate games, but some carts are made with a somewhat thinner PCB than legitimate games and that can cause contact issues down the line.


Edit:

Holy cow! I downloaded the files, and it came with the same file structure (except the folder is named "patch" instead of "__rpg"), and it came with an installer .nds! Wow, I'm gonna try this out! I hope SudokuHax doesn't mess stuff up.

installer.nds is most likely the firmware update so you should try to install that using a working flashcart and a DS lite like I mentioned above.

 

[Sono]

lol. my friend also had a bootleg/ripoff mario kart ds from usa(it had a tiny sticker on the back saing ying hong or something) we never got it to work on 3ds/dsi, so i found how to tell if a cart is fake. it was probably one of the easiest games to tell from. it had a battery inside and was crappy built. he bought a new one (eur this time) so i smashed the bootleg with a baseball bat yesterday

I'll keep mine in the crappy condition it is (scratches, broken plastic, and cartridge coming apart because I took it apart, and it just won't stick together, so it's taped together)

 

[mgrev]

I'll keep mine in the crappy condition it is (scratches, broken plastic, and cartridge coming apart because I took it apart, and it just won't stick together, so it's taped together)

we first opened it, as i said earlier, and we couldn't assemble it. and he also got a new one before we smashed it.