My r4 card is sort of working, but it isn't displaying the names of the games

onlyonce

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So, I got an r4 card, yet after a while it did something odd. All it displays now is the icons of the games. It doesn't display the time or the name of the games. Instead, the top screen displays a white screen, and the bottom screen displays a black screen with the game icons on it. I can still play the games, and when I go to the GBA runner thing it displays the names of those games. I've only messed with the files to try to fix this problem, yet I haven't really changed anything. The r4 card is white with the sticker being silver and displaying these words,"R4 SDHC 3DS DSi (there is a website here, but I cannot seem to have it here at the moment) Dual-Core SMART UPDATE". It also has the word "PLUS" in the corner on a red strip. Please, any help will be appreciated.
 

JuanMena

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Delete kernel and reinstall it again?

I never had that particular problem myself, and the last time I used an R4 was about 12 years ago so I'm not familiar with nowadays stuff for the DS.
 

Kwyjor

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SD cards fail pretty frequently.

The first thing you should do is connect it to a card reader and do a quick check of the card for errors. (You can do this in Windows by right-clicking the card in Explorer, selecting Properties, and then checking the Tools tab.)

If there are no errors there, then you can copy everything off the card, check the empty card for errors with h2testw, and then copy everything back again.

If that still doesn't fix things, then try to find the kernel for your flashcart online and just use the files in the download to overwrite the appropriate files (whatever they are) on your SD card.
 

onlyonce

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SD cards fail pretty frequently.

The first thing you should do is connect it to a card reader and do a quick check of the card for errors. (You can do this in Windows by right-clicking the card in Explorer, selecting Properties, and then checking the Tools tab.)

If there are no errors there, then you can copy everything off the card, check the empty card for errors with h2testw, and then copy everything back again.

If that still doesn't fix things, then try to find the kernel for your flashcart online and just use the files in the download to overwrite the appropriate files (whatever they are) on your SD card.
I'm sorry, but could you explain things like I have no idea what I'm doing. Again, I'm terribly sorry.
 

onlyonce

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If you have a picture of the cart, I could try to find the files you need.

If you can't post images yet, at least do your best in describing everything on the label of the cart.
I have all the details about the cart in my original comment that I could find. If it helps, I got it from Amazon, and it had something to do with wood and 2021. I hope this helps.
 

KokoseiJ

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I'm sorry, but could you explain things like I have no idea what I'm doing. Again, I'm terribly sorry.
Your R4 should have a little black chip that you can take off. that's called Micro SD, which is responsible of all the games and kernels in it.

Kernel is a piece of software in there, which is responsible for reading files, showing you the list of games, and booting them. When you boot R4 up, the menu you see before booting into a game is a kernel.

Micro SD breaks easily, and it could be that the one in your R4 has been corrupted slightly so that it behaves weirdly. Thankfully, if you connec it to your PC, Windows (or Linux, probably mac too) will attempt to fix the broken part. That's what we're asking to do first, connect it to your PC and see if you can do anything about it.

Usually computers don't have Micro SD slots on them, so to plug it to a conputer you need to use an adapter. usually big SD adapter used with camera has a small slot for MicroSD too.

If no luck, we have to setup the card again. For this, we need to obtain the kernel. The reason we asked you to describe the card is because there are gazillion different R4s and we're not sure which kernel suit for yours unless we know what it is. After we figure that out, you could put a kernel on it, fill it up with games and hopefully it'll be ready to roll again.
 
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lifehackerhansol

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I have all the details about the cart in my original comment that I could find. If it helps, I got it from Amazon, and it had something to do with wood and 2021. I hope this helps.
If the microSD you are using was bundled with this flashcart, they bundle the worst quality stuff in there and tend to die in less than a month. I suggest buying a new SD card.

The files you need are here: https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/Ace3DS+_R4iLS
 

onlyonce

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Your R4 should have a little black chip that you can take off. that's called Micro SD, which is responsible of all the games and kernels in it.

Kernel is a piece of software in there, which is responsible for reading files, showing you the list of games, and booting them. When you boot R4 up, the menu you see before booting into a game is a kernel.

Micro SD breaks easily, and it could be that the one in your R4 has been corrupted slightly so that it behaves weirdly. Thankfully, if you connec it to your PC, Windows (or Linux, probably mac too) will attempt to fix the broken part. That's what we're asking to do first, connect it to your PC and see if you can do anything about it.

Usually computers don't have Micro SD slots on them, so to plug it to a conputer you need to use an adapter. usually big SD adapter used with camera has a small slot for MicroSD too.

If no luck, we have to setup the card again. For this, we need to obtain the kernel. The reason we asked you to describe the card is because there are gazillion different R4s and we're not sure which kernel suit for yours unless we know what it is. After we figure that out, you could put a kernel on it, fill it up with games and hopefully it'll be ready to roll again.
If the microSD you are using was bundled with this flashcart, they bundle the worst quality stuff in there and tend to die in less than a month. I suggest buying a new SD card.

The files you need are here:
So, just so I'm understanding this correctly, you want me to get a new Micro SD card, since I already tried to fix the one the r4 card came with, clear everything off the new Micro SD card if it has stuff on it already, download that new kernel that lifehackerhansol gave me, and put it on the new Micro SD card, then put everything I have from the original Micro SD card on the new one, and that should fix it? Also, sorry I couldn't have the link in the quote lifehackerhansol.
 

onlyonce

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Your R4 should have a little black chip that you can take off. that's called Micro SD, which is responsible of all the games and kernels in it.

Kernel is a piece of software in there, which is responsible for reading files, showing you the list of games, and booting them. When you boot R4 up, the menu you see before booting into a game is a kernel.

Micro SD breaks easily, and it could be that the one in your R4 has been corrupted slightly so that it behaves weirdly. Thankfully, if you connec it to your PC, Windows (or Linux, probably mac too) will attempt to fix the broken part. That's what we're asking to do first, connect it to your PC and see if you can do anything about it.

Usually computers don't have Micro SD slots on them, so to plug it to a conputer you need to use an adapter. usually big SD adapter used with camera has a small slot for MicroSD too.

If no luck, we have to setup the card again. For this, we need to obtain the kernel. The reason we asked you to describe the card is because there are gazillion different R4s and we're not sure which kernel suit for yours unless we know what it is. After we figure that out, you could put a kernel on it, fill it up with games and hopefully it'll be ready to roll again.
If the microSD you are using was bundled with this flashcart, they bundle the worst quality stuff in there and tend to die in less than a month. I suggest buying a new SD card.

The files you need are here:
Don't forget to test the card with h2testw while it is empty.
I checked the new Micro SD card, downloaded the files lifehackerhansol gave me, I placed them on the Micro SD card, and transfered everything from the old Micro SD card on to the new one, but it's still having the same issue.
 

Kwyjor

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I checked the new Micro SD card, downloaded the files lifehackerhansol gave me, I placed them on the Micro SD card, and transfered everything from the old Micro SD card on to the new one, but it's still having the same issue.
You'll need to be more clear about exactly where you are putting the files. Since your old SD card had a kernel on it, it should at least have some of the same folders and files as the files you downloaded.
 

onlyonce

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You'll need to be more clear about exactly where you are putting the files. Since your old SD card had a kernel on it, it should at least have some of the same folders and files as the files you downloaded.
I'm terribly sorry about not understanding much of this stuff, but what do you mean by where I put the files? I thought there was only one place for files. Again, I'm sorry about all this.
 

Kwyjor

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Again, I'm sorry I'm not good with computers.
Has it occurred to you that you can probably do a Google search for something like this, and thereby learn something on your own? That is how you get "better" with computers. You may also enjoy How to Ask Questions the Smart Way.

The best method may vary depending on the particular version of Windows you are running, but the Snipping tool tends to be handy. imgbb.com is useful for hosting images.
 

onlyonce

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I'm way out of my league with messing with stuff like this. Thank you to everyone for trying to help, but I'm not comprehending this stuff at all. I'm sorry to everyone for wasting your time. I'll just leave it be. Again, thank you all.
 

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