Hardware What are the weirdest R4 cards you have or found?

Sliter · Mar 14, 2026

raxadian said:
The i has a "i" on the flashcard and I already made a thread of what works with it:

https://github.com/R-YaTian/BL2CKOS

Homebrew Thread 'BL2CKOS A Wood Clone for Acecard clones'

Feb 22, 2025

https://github.com/R-YaTian/BL2CKOS

If you have a crappy old Acecard clone this is way safer that bricking it forever trying to make it run official Acecard firmware by flashing the card (Not the same as a kernel update, that's just copying stuff to the micro sd card).

Only thread I could find about this was in Reddit and this works in my r4ideluxe so have fun.

Other options are:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3ds-akmenu-next-wood-frontend-for-nds-bootstrap.665743/ For a lot of clone cards. Has the drawback that ndsbootstrap does not play nice with some homebrew...

raxadian

Replies: 14

Forum: Nintendo DS

ohh I see
I checked here, but it's just like on the SylverRez's picture... so it's an R4 clone... but which system I could try on it ?
I remember trying wood and it didn't work

raxadian · Mar 14, 2026

Sliter said:
ohh I see
I checked here, but it's just like on the SylverRez's picture... so it's an R4 clone... but which system I could try on it ?
I remember trying wood and it didn't work

Homebrew Thread '[DS(i) & 3DS] AKMenu-Next - Wood frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader'

Jan 18, 2025

AKMenu-Next
Frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader based on akmenu4 (GUI from WoodRPG 1.25, commonly known as Wood R4)

Compatible with the DSi & 3DS consoles and Flashcarts, including the DSpico in DSi mode.

AKMenu-Next is a frontend and user interface for nds-bootstrap and Pico-Loader, bringing an upgraded & modernised version of the classic Wood UI (Like Wood R4) experience to nearly any Nintendo DS flashcart, as well as native support for the DSi and 3DS.

Features:

Lightweight Wood R4 Style User Interface (based on...

Try that, do remember to manually update https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap at least once a month.

Sliter · Mar 25, 2026

so, I have this bunch of flashcard with me xD so I'll get this topic as chance to talk about then... I got a little of trouble recharging this DS (I don't have a proper DS charger, so had to take the battery and charge outside...) and well, none of these (ignore the 3DS GW) boot, I left DELUXE on the console a bit, with it on and all, and all I got was it freezing the caution message soon as it appears, even without the SD card, I think the last owner tried to update it or something?
Similar to one of these R4i3D (forgot which one), I tried to update to be able to use on the 3DS and it failed ... are these bricked or there's any chance of recovering ?

raxadian said:
Homebrew Thread '[DS(i) & 3DS] AKMenu-Next - Wood frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader'

Jan 18, 2025

AKMenu-Next
Frontend for nds-bootstrap & Pico-Loader based on akmenu4 (GUI from WoodRPG 1.25, commonly known as Wood R4)

Compatible with the DSi & 3DS consoles and Flashcarts, including the DSpico in DSi mode.

AKMenu-Next is a frontend and user interface for nds-bootstrap and Pico-Loader, bringing an upgraded & modernised version of the classic Wood UI (Like Wood R4) experience to nearly any Nintendo DS flashcart, as well as native support for the DSi and 3DS.

Features:

Lightweight Wood R4 Style User Interface (based on...

Coderkei

Replies: 451

Forum: Nintendo DS

Try that, do remember to manually update https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap at least once a month.

thanks! I'll try this on these...soon can make any work lol

SylverReZ · Mar 26, 2026

Sliter said:
Similar to one of these R4i3D (forgot which one), I tried to update to be able to use on the 3DS and it failed ... are these bricked or there's any chance of recovering ?

R4i3D NEW & 2014 flashcarts are based on BL2CK. You can use AKMenu Next or the standard BL2CK kernel: https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/cart-guides/bl2ck/.

The likelihood that your R4i3D flashcarts don't work is because they have been blacklisted in a later system update; that doesn't mean that they've both been bricked. If you have a modded DSi or 3DS console, custom firmware will bypass the whitelist checks. AVOID using YSMenu with this cart as you can BRICK the flashcart's firmware!

Sliter said:
I left DELUXE on the console a bit, with it on and all, and all I got was it freezing the caution message soon as it appears, even without the SD card, I think the last owner tried to update it or something?

R4 Deluxe is a clone of the N5 DS flashcart, which itself is a clone of the R4 SDHC. The SDIO compatibility with 4GB SD cards is mediocre to say the least, so I would stick to standard-capacity SD cards like 2GB and below to avoid any crashes that you may encounter. Follow the guide on setting up the kernel from Sanras's website: https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/cart-guides/r4deluxe/

Note: The R4 Deluxe, N5 DS, R4 SDHC, E7 and other clones of itself will not work on DSi or 3DS consoles even when using TWiLight Menu++ or Apache Thunder's NTR-Launcher due to incompatibility issues. There's also a chance that the N5 clones could potentially brick DS Lite systems due to the poor design of the cartridges when handing power, which can blow the e-fuses. From what I've read, reports first came up with the spring-loaded variants as early as 2008, so I'm not sure if this occurs with the friction-based SD slot variants which were released thereafter to "resolve" the problem, but I would advise being really careful with them.

Sliter · Mar 26, 2026

SylverReZ said:
The likelihood that your R4i3D flashcarts don't work is because they have been blacklisted in a later system update; that doesn't mean that they've both been bricked. If you have a modded DSi or 3DS console, custom firmware will bypass the whitelist checks. AVOID using YSMenu with this cart as you can BRICK the flashcart's firmware!

but I mean, they don't show up o this DSlite, I heard that when left a time without use, you must charge the DS with they inserted and wait for it to appear.
as for the brick, I remember that I've updated one and had a whitelist on my old 3DS, when I tried to update the other, it failed midway (or didn't progress in like.. 24h with the console on plugged in?) and then it never showed up on a DSlite or the 3DS, I just don't remember which one it was

For now I can't test on 3DS because mine got the battery pregnant and I have to replace :B lol but thanks for the info!

SylverReZ said:
R4 Deluxe is a clone of the N5 DS flashcart, which itself is a clone of the R4 SDHC. The SDIO

what a mess lol

SylverReZ said:
The SDIO compatibility with 4GB SD cards is mediocre to say the least, so I would stick to standard-capacity SD cards like 2GB and below to avoid any crashes that you may encounter. Follow the guide on setting up the kernel from Sanras's website: https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/cart-guides/r4deluxe/

mm I wonder if I still have a 2GB card around :0 but what about it freezing the Ds boot, even with no card on? shouldn't it at least show up/boot on the sad icon "no card"
Thanks for this firmware as well! if it all work up I'll definitively use!

SylverReZ said:
N5 clones could potentially brick DS Lite systems due to the poor design of the cartridges when handing power, which can blow the e-fuses

...oh no... so that may explain the freeze on the warning screen ... ok, not touching this thing ever again, I'm not risking any of my DS on it! lol

thanks a lot it's nice to know all of this now!

SylverReZ · Mar 26, 2026

Sliter said:
as for the brick, I remember that I've updated one and had a whitelist on my old 3DS, when I tried to update the other, it failed midway (or didn't progress in like.. 24h with the console on plugged in?) and then it never showed up on a DSlite or the 3DS, I just don't remember which one it was

If it doesn't work on any of your DS systems, then it's possible that the flashcart was bricked. You can recover the firmware by desoldering the NOR flash and popping it into a programmer. Make sure you do choose the correct one (that includes which board you have). https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/tutorials/unbrick/

Before doing this, clean the contacts first with isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips. If this doesn't resolve the problem, follow the above.

Sliter said:
What about it freezing the Ds boot, even with no card on?

Which card are you referring to regarding the "no card" message with the sad face, and do you have a photo of the back of the cartridge? That can help me point out what you need, just to be on the safe side before you proceed to load the kernel. Sad face with the "no card" message sounds to me like a DSTTi clone.

Sliter said:
mm I wonder if I still have a 2GB card around :0

They're relatively cheap on eBay, which is where I go to find them. Just be careful of fakes, especially looking at the photos, and ensure that it comes from a known brand.

Sliter · Mar 26, 2026

SylverReZ said:
If it doesn't work on any of your DS systems, then it's possible that the flashcart was bricked. You can recover the firmware by desoldering the NOR flash and popping it into a programmer. Make sure you do choose the correct one (that includes which board you have). https://sanrax.github.io/flashcart-guides/tutorials/unbrick/

wow that's something I can't do, at leats not now, not enough tools and skill xD I thought it could be done on the console somehow :0
but of course I'll test them before anything

SylverReZ said:
Which card are you referring to regarding the "no card" message with the sad face, and do you have a photo of the back of the cartridge? That can help me point out what you need, just to be on the safe side before you proceed to load the kernel. Sad face with the "no card" message sounds to me like a DSTTi clone.

I mean the DELUXE one, the "no card" actually a supposition that could happen since I saw it before lol
So to be clear if I'm being vague, this DELUXE cart freezes the DS(lite) warning screen just when it's pooping in. It's the N5 clone right? so better having it safely way ...(form a DSlite at least?)
about the back you mean the circuit? I can take pics later

SylverReZ said:
They're relatively cheap on eBay, which is where I go to find them. Just be careful of fakes, especially looking at the photos, and ensure that it comes from a known brand.

ebay isn't really an option for me here but yeah if I ned I can look around sites alike here!

VinsCool · Mar 26, 2026

Funnily enough I think the weirdest thing I own is the genuine original R4 before it was cloned to the infinity lol

It's pretty much useless in these days and age but still, it works.

SylverReZ · 2026-09-15T22:57:08+0100

Thought I might revive this old thread by showing what I found from an eBay listing.

Hardware What are the weirdest R4 cards you have or found?

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