Hacking FlashMe Select Function Reversed

[kalibar]

Any word on this? A few of my friends have been bugging me to re-flash their DS Lites as soon as it comes out since we've all got R4's and slot-2 carts now.

 

[cory1492]

I spoke with Loopy and he said he would make the change, I'll update here when I receive the modified version.

Why you guys going and buggin' loopy over this? Not that I'm complaining, I've always been a fan of more options so if he feels like doing it cool... but the options to force boot slot 2 with flashme already exists (even with R4).

Hold ABXY on powerup = FORCE NDS boot of GBA slot card. (kinda like passme - does bypass R4's autoboot bit)
Hold Start+Select on powerup = FORCE NDS boot of GBA slot card. (using recovery code- doesn't bypass R4's autoboot bit)

FYI: R4 has the autoboot bit set, so the NDS automatically boots it (and should bypass the health screen as well). Holding ABXY bypasses the autoboot setting as well, but it seems you have to take the card out to get to the DS main menu.

 

[Heran Bago]

It'd be nice if Loopy released the source, then we could do this kind of easy stuff ourselves.

 

[cory1492]

It'd be nice if Loopy released the source, then we could do this kind of easy stuff ourselves.

Everyone who has a DS has the source. AFAIK loopy patched the DS firmware at the assembly level, and FWNitro is an example of at least one project that uses a custom kernel, which by the way has the source for the flasher (and compression?).

 

[kalibar]

Why you guys going and buggin' loopy over this? Not that I'm complaining, I've always been a fan of more options so if he feels like doing it cool... but the options to force boot slot 2 with flashme already exists (even with R4).

Uh, I don't think you read the topic, dude. With FlashMe installed, slot-2 does take precedence over the R4, and that's what we're complaining about. It would make more sense to have slot-1 boot by default, but right now the only ways to accomplish that are:

A) Remove your slot-2 flashcart before turning the DS on.
B) Uninstall FlashMe and only boot slot-2 through the R4 when you want it.
C) Hold Select everytime you power on the DS to pass control back to slot-1, which is then in turn taken over by the R4. This is what most of us are doing, and we'd like to have it the other way around because holding Select 95% of the time is annoying.

Personally, I'm not willing to give up FlashMe in order to have the boot order "corrected", so I guess I'm just stuck holding Select everytime I boot.

 

[cory1492]

Personally, I'm not willing to give up FlashMe in order to have the boot order "corrected", so I guess I'm just stuck holding Select everytime I boot.

Gotcha. My bad, and thanks for correcting me on my omission; I have written programs to patch every slot 2 card I use to not have PASS in the GBA header.

Gotta remember to try to not forget the little details. It is indeed a pain in the butt trying to hold select on the DSLite. FlashMe should probably respect the autoboot bit as a first priority over PASS, it would have made this request nonexistant and wouldn't modify it's behavior as much as totally reversing the button presses.

 

[kalibar]

Alternately, couldn't someone just write a chunk of code for slot-2 flashcarts that kicks control back to slot-1 when PASS is executed? Seems slightly counter-intuitive to execute a command and then immediately reverse it, but I'm all about improving the end-user experience.

Nobody's heard back from loopy about this, have they? Tweaked FlashMe would be hot shit.

 

[hereticorp]

Nobody's heard back from loopy about this, have they? Tweaked FlashMe would be hot shit.

As I said earlier in the thread, Loopy said he'd get it done but it might take a few days, I'll update here when he gets back to me.

 

[adgloride]

I spoke with Loopy and he said he would make the change, I'll update here when I receive the modified version.

I just hope the change doesn't involve shorting the SL1 again and its just a straight forward flash. Being able to boot straight to the ordinary DS menu with a key press would also be a good added feature. It would be a lot easier if the supercard/m3 etc.. teams changed the firmware so it gave us the option of turning the autoboot from flashme off. Then going back to the old way where we press X,Y,A,B to boot straight to the supercard.

 

[hereticorp]

I just hope the change doesn't involve shorting the SL1 again and its just a straight forward flash. Being able to boot straight to the ordinary DS menu with a key press would also be a good added feature. It would be a lot easier if the supercard/m3 etc.. teams changed the firmware so it gave us the option of turning the autoboot from flashme off. Then going back to the old way where we press X,Y,A,B to boot straight to the supercard.

I would assume that this version will be the same install as the original FlashMe, this one going over the top of the old one.

 

[pelago]

It'd be nice if Loopy released the source, then we could do this kind of easy stuff ourselves.

Everyone who has a DS has the source. AFAIK loopy patched the DS firmware at the assembly level, and FWNitro is an example of at least one project that uses a custom kernel, which by the way has the source for the flasher (and compression?).

As one of the people who has wondered if loopy could release his source in the past, I've actually meant it to refer to documentation on the method on how to create flashme, e.g. which bytes to modify and so on. It's always nice to be open about these kinds of things so that other people can continue the work if the original author decides to give up.

 

[kalibar]

As I said earlier in the thread, Loopy said he'd get it done but it might take a few days, I'll update here when he gets back to me.

Sounds good, thanks for the follow-up.

 

[kalibar]

Man, I hate to be incessant, but after a certain point you kind of start to feel like the change won't be made. Seems like it would be a pretty simply fix.

Does anyone know if something like cory1492's PASS Patcher for the EZ4 Lite Deluxe is available for the G6 or M3? That would solve the problem, and eliminate the need for assistance directly from Loopy.

 

[adgloride]

I was going to ask is their any more news about the firmware? I'm hoping that the other teams supercard, M3 copy off whats been done on the EZ4 lite deluxe. Saves us maybe bricking out DS if the SL1 has to be shorted again.

 

[hereticorp]

Man, I hate to be incessant, but after a certain point you kind of start to feel like the change won't be made. Seems like it would be a pretty simply fix.

Does anyone know if something like cory1492's PASS Patcher for the EZ4 Lite Deluxe is available for the G6 or M3? That would solve the problem, and eliminate the need for assistance directly from Loopy.

I E-mailed him again, there's really nothing to be done if he's busy with other projects, just be patient or look for other solutions.

 

[outphase]

Since some don't check the gbadev.org forums

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?p=11...ghlight=#117665

Read carefully as it is your own fault if things go wrong...

 

[kalibar]

Since some don't check the gbadev.org forums

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?p=11...ghlight=#117665

Read carefully as it is your own fault if things go wrong...

Hot damn, you're my hero dude. This thing works like a charm -- now I can have my cake and eat it too.

Everyone with FlashMe that uses an R4DS most of the time should get this shit on their DS.

 

[hereticorp]

Since some don't check the gbadev.org forums

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?p=11...ghlight=#117665

Read carefully as it is your own fault if things go wrong...

Unfortunately, I use Flashme Stealth, so I'm pretty sure that solution won't work for me.

 

[kalibar]

Unfortunately, I use Flashme Stealth...

Just out of curiosity, why? Do you have an attachment to the Health and Safety screen?

FlashMe is completely reversible.

 

[Modrak]

Since some don't check the gbadev.org forums

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?p=11...ghlight=#117665

Read carefully as it is your own fault if things go wrong...

Worked for me, thanks