Help optimizing a R4i Gold Wood

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

As requested by @lifehackerhansol, I'm creating a new topic since apparently my flashcart is not compatible with any type of YSMenu/RGF's updates.

I'll copypaste most of my original post:

Hello, I'm looking for help.

I have this R4i Gold: Front / Back

I got a file named r4igold_wood_v2.50.rar using Wayback Machine, this is the latest official kernel released by www.r4igold.cc for the R4i Gold Wood. There is another update R4GOLD2.6_EN.rar, this didn't work with the R4. I get a Black screen with Loading.

I tried using instructions for different flashcarts but none of them worked. Does anybody know how to make this work? I'm interested in using the most up to date kernel but none seem to work.

When I power on the DSi XL I get a DORASU game with a little kid. If I don't configure the DS Lite to boot automatically to the flashcart it won't be recognized.

My root folder looks like this:

_system_
moonshl2
moonmemo
_ds_mshl.nds
_ds_menu.dat.

_system_ folder looks like:

skin (folder)
usrcheat.dat
strings.txt
savesize.bin
romlist.dat
r4.dldi
font.bin
euc-cn.bin

Hope all of this information helps you on helping me. Thank you!

I'd like to add that I got a firmware upgrade in an archived version of the www.r4igold.cc site, from a time where the product to support was this particular model/etiquette. The file is called GoldccWood_6.2_patch.rar, it has two .nds inside, one with the patch for NDSL and one for DSi. I tried both in different systems and none worked (as in, I opened it, pressed A and all I got was a Failed Cart check), this upgrade supposedly enables you to use the 3DS up to version 6.X but I'm not interested in that, I just want better compatibility.

Just for clarification, I'm able to use with the the v2.5 kernel, nonetheless, I don't think that an upgrade from 2013 is the best/latest one for this flashcart, considering the v2.5 kernel was published about 2013 according to the Wayback Machine.

lifehackerhansol · Aug 17, 2022

elCerebrain said:
As requested by @lifehackerhansol, I'm creating a new topic since apparently my flashcart is not compatible with any type of YSMenu/RGF's updates.

I'll copypaste most of my original post:

I'd like to add that I got a firmware upgrade in an archived version of the www.r4igold.cc site, from a time where the product to support was this particular model/etiquette. The file is called GoldccWood_6.2_patch.rar, it has two .nds inside, one with the patch for NDSL and one for DSi. I tried both in different systems and none worked (as in, I opened it, pressed A and all I got was a Failed Cart check), this upgrade supposedly enables you to use the 3DS up to version 6.X but I'm not interested in that, I just want better compatibility.

Just for clarification, I'm able to use with the the v2.5 kernel, nonetheless, I don't think that an upgrade from 2013 is the best/latest one for this flashcart, considering the v2.5 kernel was published about 2013 according to the Wayback Machine.

The cart works with custom firmware on the DSi/3DS anyway.

Attached is a certain version of Wood that I theorized should work on this cart. I have the stock kernel as well, but I've done some disassembly of the software and it *should* work?

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

lifehackerhansol said:
The cart works with custom firmware on the DSi/3DS anyway.

Attached is a certain version of Wood that I theorized should work on this cart. I have the stock kernel as well, but I've done some disassembly of the software and it *should* work?

MAN, YOU ARE A WIZAAAAAARD. I simply copied it into the root of my SD and it worked normally.
May I ask, which version of Wood is it? I don't think I'll have compatibility problems but just to be aware.
I've been looking for a better kernel for ages, the default one is so ugly and useless. u_u

lifehackerhansol · Aug 17, 2022

elCerebrain said:
MAN, YOU ARE A WIZAAAAAARD. I simply copied it into the root of my SD and it worked normally.
May I ask, which version of Wood is it? I don't think I'll have compatibility problems but just to be aware.
I've been looking for a better kernel for ages, the default one is so ugly and useless. u_u

This is derived from the R4iTT kernel. Which version it is specifically is unknown, but it also doesn't exactly matter as the loading mechanism is completely different anyway.

Based on what I know about the card from the past, I had to write a different bootloader. But it still functions the same.

At least I can confirm that the kernel itself is working. Unfortunately this also means I need to maintain two different versions of the kernel and I'd rather not...

Can you see if this works? https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/BL2CK/BL2CK_1.30.4.zip

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

lifehackerhansol said:
This is derived from the R4iTT kernel. Which version it is specifically is unknown, but it also doesn't exactly matter as the loading mechanism is completely different anyway.

Based on what I know about the card from the past, I had to write a different bootloader. But it still functions the same.

At least I can confirm that the kernel itself is working. Unfortunately this also means I need to maintain two different versions of the kernel and I'd rather not...

Can you see if this works? https://flashcard-archive.ds-homebrew.com/BL2CK/BL2CK_1.30.4.zip

How weird, if I recall correctly the R4iTT didn't exist at that time. It baffles me that this could happen, nonetheless, your help has been invaluable to me!

I tried that kernel and did not work. Black screen with Loading on red colors.

lifehackerhansol · Aug 17, 2022

elCerebrain said:
How weird, if I recall correctly the R4iTT didn't exist at that time. It baffles me that this could happen, nonetheless, your help has been invaluable to me!

I tried that kernel and did not work. Black screen with Loading on red colors.

Alright, I guess I'll just keep a separate version. Thanks for testing.

At least the first one works, so stick to it. (there won't be any more compatibility updates, but I've not had anyone complain about it not working so far.)

I collectively call these carts R4iTT clones, because I don't really know which one is the first of them. R4iTT is the more popular of the bunch though, without conflicting carts (such as r4isdhc.com who made like 400 different carts lmfao)

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

lifehackerhansol said:
Alright, I guess I'll just keep a separate version. Thanks for testing.

At least the first one works, so stick to it. (there won't be any more compatibility updates, but I've not had anyone complain about it not working so far.)

I collectively call these carts R4iTT clones, because I don't really know which one is the first of them. R4iTT is the more popular of the bunch though, without conflicting carts (such as r4isdhc.com who made like 400 different carts lmfao)

Fair enough. And yes, so far I had no problems. I missed having access to Wood kernel or YSMenu. The stock kernel was a pain to navigate through.

I also don't think I'll have any compatibility issue, if anything happens I'll be sure to inform you. Thank you so much for all of your help!

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

I don't know if this is against the rules but I'm assuming you already saw my last post so I'll ask: do you think that I will be able to dual boot YSMenu from the Wood kernel? I've read that it is possible but I don't see the R4iTT listed in the compatibility list for any of the fils. u_u

I had no problem running games so far, only thing is that I'm trying to use a cheat so I can read my pokémon EV's in Pokémon - Edición Blanca 2 (S) and it doesn't work/freezes the game, hahahaha.

lifehackerhansol · Aug 17, 2022

elCerebrain said:
I don't know if this is against the rules but I'm assuming you already saw my last post so I'll ask: do you think that I will be able to dual boot YSMenu from the Wood kernel? I've read that it is possible but I don't see the R4iTT listed in the compatibility list for any of the fils. u_u

I had no problem running games so far, only thing is that I'm trying to use a cheat so I can read my pokémon EV's in Pokémon - Edición Blanca 2 (S) and it doesn't work/freezes the game, hahahaha.

This is a cart where I'm pretty certain YSMenu will permanently brick the cartridge. This happens on R4iTT clones specifically, where the SD card read/write commands are straight up incompatible with the cartridge. Not all R4iTTs are like this, but I'd be on the safe side and only run kernels that it is designed for, or unless someone who knows what they're doing tells you it's ok.

Nikokaro · Aug 17, 2022

elCerebrain said:
I had no problem running games so far, only thing is that I'm trying to use a cheat...

If it's just that, you'd better let it go; it's a risk not worth taking. Besides, don't you know that in the game as in life you should not cheat? :teach:

Follow the kind and wise advice of our official world expert (and also collector, if I remember correctly) of flashcarts.

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

Nikokaro said:
If it's just that, you'd better let it go; it's a risk not worth taking. Besides, don't you know that in the game as in life you should not cheat?
Follow the kind and wise advice of our official world expert (and also collector, if I remember correctly) of flashcarts.

Will do. I was manually counting the EVs I got while battling but then I fell asleep and forgot, hahahahaha. That's why I wanted to use that cheat, just to check faster.

PD: If you ever get interested @lifehackerhansol, I could send you photos of the PCB so you can get a better idea of which cart is this. This one I'm pretty sure was made in 2014 or earlier, I remember owning another one of these.

ShadowtearX · Aug 17, 2022

If it ends up being too much hassle with certain games not running well, assuming what its worth it to you. you can always pickup a cheap flashcard off ebay. recently got myself a second supercard dsone for 5 euro. works good enough with ysmenu/wood

elCerebrain · Aug 17, 2022

ShadowtearX said:
If it ends up being too much hassle with certain games not running well, assuming what its worth it to you. you can always pickup a cheap flashcard off ebay. recently got myself a second supercard dsone for 5 euro. works good enough with ysmenu/wood

Well, I'm running White 2 Spanish Edition and everything is good so far. Also tried out the latest Layton games and they work too.

Thing is, I had this one already and I actually own a TTDSi and two R4 SDHC ones, I believe the three are bricked since some of them are not recognized even by a DS Lite. I'd like to try and revive them later on, but so far I'm happy with the results, I got Wood firmware running in this old R4i Gold.

elCerebrain · Aug 25, 2022

Yesterday I ended up having my first bug. I was long into a session of playing Pokémon White 2 (S) and it freezed when I entered a combat.

Don't know if this has been reported before.

crisartemis · Jan 2, 2024

Hi! I have the same R4 with the same specifications and even the Dorasu thing, I was just wondering if anyone knows if there's a problem or a possibility of damaging my R4 if I just try to download and put new games and delete some of the games that already came with the cart. I bought the R4 over 7-8 years ago and still works perfectly but I don't remember exactly the date and if it was before or after 2014, and I read somewhere that if the R4 is from before 2014 then wouldn't work. I'm sorry if this is a dumb question and especially because English isn't my first language, so i would thank if anyone can help me with this lol

FyrruPuff · Jan 3, 2024

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question and especially because English isn't my first language, so i would thank if anyone can help me with this lol

Help optimizing a R4i Gold Wood

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