Hacking How do I set up an r4 flashcart

[Littlelambsy]

Hi first of all thank you for your time. I have just bought an r4 flash cart and I am expecting it soon however, this is my first time buying one and I have no idea how to get it set up and working.

I am really not that good with tech so I’ve been trying to find some simple tutorials on google and YouTube but it’s still confusing to me.

In my research I’ve seen people write about time bombs and something about Dldi patching? Once again this is all new to me so I was hoping someone could walk me through setting my r4 up.

What I have is a 4gb tiny sd card, a ds lite, and a gba cartridge of Sonic battle I would like to preserve. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Nikokaro]

Hi first of all thank you for your time. I have just bought an r4 flash cart and I am expecting it soon however, this is my first time buying one and I have no idea how to get it set up and working.

I am really not that good with tech so I’ve been trying to find some simple tutorials on google and YouTube but it’s still confusing to me.

In my research I’ve seen people write about time bombs and something about Dldi patching? Once again this is all new to me so I was hoping someone could walk me through setting my r4 up.

What I have is a 4gb tiny sd card, a ds lite, and a gba cartridge of Sonic battle I would like to preserve. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello and welcome.
R4 means everything and nothing: it is too generic!
You can find the kernel/firmware of your flashcart here, searching for them based on the site to which that is associated:
https://www.linfoxdomain.com/nintendo/ds/
Any files contained in the downloaded archive must be copied to the root of your microSD.

 

[Littlelambsy]

thank you for the reply here is what I got if that helps

I have read something about timebombs which worries me is it difficult to remove?

 

[Nikokaro]

Yes. This is the r4 that contains the infamous 'timebomb' ; it simply means that the cart's own software has a limited duration (a few years). The solution is to move the date set in the console menu many years back. Otherwise you can use the almost universal, alternative, software YSMenu, which you will find here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/retrogamefan-updates-releases.267243/
Read the instructions carefully to see which folder you need to extract the files from and copy them to the root of your microSD.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If you choose to install YSMenu kernel, I save you the research work: the folder from which to extract the necessary files is this: R4i-sdhc.

 

[Littlelambsy]

Yes. This is the r4 that contains the infamous 'timebomb' ; it simply means that the cart's own software has a limited duration (a few years). The solution is to move the date set in the console menu many years back. Otherwise you can use the almost universal, alternative, software YSMenu, which you will find here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/retrogamefan-updates-releases.267243/
Read the instructions carefully to see which folder you need to extract the files from and copy them to the root of your microSD.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If you choose to install YSMenu kernel, I save you the research work: the folder from which to extract the necessary files is this: R4i-sdhc.
View attachment 252040

thank you! That’s one thing I’ll absolutely try to do. Do you know anything about Dldi? I came across a post that it could be an issue. If so is there an easy fix for that too? Thank you in advance!

p.s. (not quite sure what you mean about double posting I am new to writing to forums so I am quite inexperience. Sorry if I did something wrong!)

 

[Nikokaro]

1)'Double posting' was a warning given to me automatically, having written 2 messages in a row, instead of a single message: it was always incomprehensible to me too! ,

2) 'DLDI Patching' is no longer a problem nowadays; it is done automatically by the kernel/firmware (original or YSMenu) of the cart; no problem!

 

[Littlelambsy]

Oh that’s a relief! Good to know about that warning.

Thank you for all your help! Hopefully I won’t run into any problems when my r4 finally comes. the reason I’m doing this is to back up my gba game sonic battle by dumping it on the pc using the gba back up too I’ve read about.

have you done a gba back up by any chance? I’ve seen some tutorials on YouTube but I’m uncertain if it is as easy as it sounds.

My end goal is to have a back up and I would love to be able to play on an emulator that will let me add cheat codes. However my lack of tech knowledge makes it really hard to understand the tutorials I’ve read.

if you have any knowledge on this topic would be very much appreciated! (I’ve never installed/used an emulator on my pc before!)

 

[Nikokaro]

Sorry, I've never done a GBA dump/back up.
Why do this, given that the entire library of GBA games has been available online for decades now, in the form of readily available roms (not fully legal but tolerated by software houses)?!?
Anyway as an emulator I recommend no$gba with Zoomer, the only one I know.
But I don't understand why not play on real hardware (DS) directly via slot2; maybe because the screen is too small?

 

[Littlelambsy]

I want to add cheats to my game. I heard that the gba loader can allow one to dump games and the save file and then transfer the save back to the cart.

I like to stick to the original hardware and make Roms out of what I bought. I’m old fashioned like that

I started down this road because I recently learned about the save files being tied to the battery which could expire at any moment. So I panicked.

 

[Nikokaro]

Ok. I understand your position.
Nothing to object.
If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. I, or whoever knows the topic more than me, will try to help, as others in the past did with us.
Good luck.

 

[Littlelambsy]

Thank you very much I really appreciate it. My r4 won’t come for a while so I won’t be able to do anything until then. However I am certain I’ll run into issues since it always happens with me. I hope helpful people like you will still be around when it happens otherwise I’m in trouble

 

[Littlelambsy]

Just wanted to thank you for all your help. I was able to get the r4 set up and diffuse the timebomb. After a little detective work I was able to get the gba backup tool up and running and the visual boy advance emulator working. Now I don’t have to worry about the battery in my gba game dying and taking my save file with it! Once again thank you!