Hacking Pretty sure my new acekard 2i is defective...

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

So I ordered an acekard 2i from lightake to replace my acekard 2 since I got a DSi XL. It took over a month to arrive, but free shipping, what can you do.

The problem is that roms are randomly freezing on it. I tried reformatting the sd with panasonic formatter and reinstalling a clean version of akaio 1.8.5(and 1.8.5a), but that didn't help.

The most damning evidence is that everything works fine when I use the exact same sd with the same files on my ak2 in my ds lite.

any advice, or am I just screwed?

The Catboy · Feb 26, 2011

Please don't double post

Also make sure your AK2i is legit
http://gbatemp.net/t278191-fake-eon-chipped-acekard-2i

If you don't want to open it up try flashing it
http://filetrip.net/f18393-AceKard-2i-firmware-1-4-1.html
If it doesn't work, then it's more than likely your card is fake.
If it's fake contact the GBAtemp admins and AKAIO team that lightake is selling fake AK2i's.

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

yeah, I don't know how that double posting happened, but I wasn't sure how to delete the other topic(if i'm even able)

The Catboy · Feb 26, 2011

bwmat said:
yeah, I don't know how that double posting happened, but I wasn't sure how to delete the other topic(if i'm even able)

It was reported already, someone will handle it later.
Either way, I edited my post with some advice to help determine if your card is legit or not

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

is there a way of opening it up which will not break it?

anyway, I did update it before trying. There was one strange thing though, when I used the .nds for updating which was supposed to be used on one ak2i, the thing just said "update canceled, reboot ds" right away before I pressed anything. This seems very suspicious now.

I then used the .nds which was for updating multiple ak2i's, which worked, at least it seemed to update fine.

twiztidsinz · Feb 26, 2011

In the AKAIO Start Menu, go More -> Help and tell us the "HW:"
Take the card out of your DS and look at the contacts of the AceKard and tell us the colors (you should see a color near the edge of the card, and then another one towards the 'inside')
Also/Alternatively, as Cat Boy said, check out the 1.4.1 updater and tell us what the ChipID and HWID it tells you is.

If it's defective, have Lightake replace it. Now that the holidays are over it should get to you faster.

bwmat said:
is there a way of opening it up which will not break it?Not really... I'm not sure exactly how, but the case is sealed (I've heard it's using a method called 'sonic welding' which essentially welds the plastic together). You could try glue, but that can be rather messy.

QUOTE(bwmat @ Feb 25 2011, 09:11 PM) anyway, I did update it before trying. There was one strange thing though, when I used the .nds for updating which was supposed to be used on one ak2i, the thing just said "update canceled, reboot ds" right away before I pressed anything. This seems very suspicious now.

I then used the .nds which was for updating multiple ak2i's, which worked, at least it seemed to update fine.

You probably hit a button which would cancel it.

The Catboy · Feb 26, 2011

bwmat said:
is there a way of opening it up which will not break it?

anyway, I did update it before trying. There was one strange thing though, when I used the .nds for updating which was supposed to be used on one ak2i, the thing just said "update canceled, reboot ds" right away before I pressed anything. This seems very suspicious now.

I then used the .nds which was for updating multiple ak2i's, which worked, at least it seemed to update fine.

I have no idea

ronfar23x · Feb 26, 2011

Sounds like it could also be either contact issues or maybe a slow microSD. I had the same problems with mine until I did the paper trick and invested in a higher class microSD.

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

HW 81
the pcb is light green at the edge, and black farther in

also, i'm sure I didn't hit any button to cancel as I tired several times, a few even by putting down the ds and starting the updater with the stylus.

the card did(?) update, since it works on my dsi XL, but actually I never tried it on the dsi before updating it.

dewback · Feb 26, 2011

2nd for paper trick.

I had a ak2i for a while and had no issue with it with my ds lite. just got a dsi xl and had issue with it freezing. all you need to do is slide some paper below the cards contacts to have them make contact with the dsi.

twiztidsinz · Feb 26, 2011

bwmat said:
HW 81
the pcb is light green at the edge, and black farther inSounds real, but still a remote possibility of an EON clone.

QUOTE(bwmat @ Feb 25 2011, 09:19 PM) also, i'm sure I didn't hit any button to cancel as I tired several times, a few even by putting down the ds and starting the updater with the stylus.

the card did(?) update, since it works on my dsi XL, but actually I never tried it on the dsi before updating it.

Hmm... that is a bit odd... tho as others have said, it could be a contact issue. Try slipping a piece of paper under the contacts:
Line up a piece of paper with the contacts and mark the length.
Trim the paper to your marks and cut it 1~2" wide.
Pull down the plastic 'bar' with your thumbnail and slide the paper in.
If it works, you can take a razor and trip any excess off at the edge of the PCB so that the paper is hidden.

As for the whole DSi thing, newer AceKards are coming 1.4.1 ready, so the update shouldn't change anything -- it's more to see if it's possible to update since fake AceKards usually don't have an updatable firmware in order to reduce costs.

machomuu · Feb 26, 2011

twiztidsinz said:
bwmat said:

HW 81
the pcb is light green at the edge, and black farther inSounds real, but still a remote possibility of an EON clone.

QUOTE(bwmat @ Feb 25 2011, 09:19 PM) also, i'm sure I didn't hit any button to cancel as I tired several times, a few even by putting down the ds and starting the updater with the stylus.

the card did(?) update, since it works on my dsi XL, but actually I never tried it on the dsi before updating it.

Click to expand...

Hmm... that is a bit odd... tho as others have said, it could be a contact issue. Try slipping a piece of paper under the contacts:
Line up a piece of paper with the contacts and mark the length.
Trim the paper to your marks and cut it 1~2" wide.
Pull down the plastic 'bar' with your thumbnail and slide the paper in.
If it works, you can take a razor and trip any excess off at the edge of the PCB so that the paper is hidden.

As for the whole DSi thing, newer AceKards are coming 1.4.1 ready, so the update shouldn't change anything -- it's more to see if it's possible to update since fake AceKards usually don't have an updatable firmware in order to reduce costs.

Well one thing I know about my Acekard is that it has the contact issue yet it has never affected the loading of games, I don't think that's the problem.

Evo.lve · Feb 26, 2011

Rub your finger over the Acekard 2i sticker.

Is there a noticable bump, or is it (relatively) smooth?

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

The paper trick didn't seem to work.

there is a bump under the sticker

Evo.lve · Feb 26, 2011

Square bump?

machomuu · Feb 26, 2011

Evo.lve said:
Square bump?

Actually, the newer models do not have the bump anymore. There is a small bump, but it's not visible and must be felt.

Lacius · Feb 26, 2011

I had a similar problem not too long ago. For troubleshooting purposes, try doing a complete format of your SD card with the formatting software on your OS (not Panasonic SD Formatter). Then try AKAIO 1.8.5.

bwmat · Feb 26, 2011

no, more circular.

I peeled back the sticker and I could see this moon-shape in the plastic around the bump.

twiztidsinz · Feb 26, 2011

machomuu said:
Well one thing I know about my Acekard is that it has the contact issue yet it has never affected the loading of games, I don't think that's the problem.

While I agree with you on this, it DID happen to affect loading on my R4 when WoodR4 first came out.
The times when the Menu would boot it would often not load anything, sometimes even failing to fully load the menu. A slip of paper under the contacts and all has been fine.

Evo.lve · Feb 26, 2011

Ok, so it's a newish model.

Full format then try running a game with AAP ON. The possibility that it's an EON chip isn't ruled out yet.

Hacking Pretty sure my new acekard 2i is defective...

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