Homebrew Is there a reason not to softmod my DSi XL?

[anton123]

So, for the longest time, I have a DSi XL on 1.4.2 with a flashcart to run my emulators on and I haven't dabbled on HiyaCFW and other stuff in the https://dsi.cfw.guide/. So far, I'm doing fine but the sucky flashcart means that I'm limited as far as emulators that I can run. I've intentionally steered clear from all the CFW stuff out of fear that I could brick my system but I'm wondering if it's safe now to do this. I do have Flip note studio for what its worth but my flashcart doesn't run on the latest firmware, so if I screw up, then I'd be out of luck completely. I'm thinking though that the hacking scene has developed really nicely and now, I'm wondering if there's a reason for me to stay on 1.4.2U or to pull the trigger now with the CFW. Any thoughts?

 

[Shadow#1]

So, for the longest time, I have a DSi XL on 1.4.2 with a flashcart to run my emulators on and I haven't dabbled on HiyaCFW and other stuff in the https://dsi.cfw.guide/. So far, I'm doing fine but the sucky flashcart means that I'm limited as far as emulators that I can run. I've intentionally steered clear from all the CFW stuff out of fear that I could brick my system but I'm wondering if it's safe now to do this. I do have Flip note studio for what its worth but my flashcart doesn't run on the latest firmware, so if I screw up, then I'd be out of luck completely. I'm thinking though that the hacking scene has developed really nicely and now, I'm wondering if there's a reason for me to stay on 1.4.2U or to pull the trigger now with the CFW. Any thoughts?

Cfw does not force u into updating the system

 

[KleinesSinchen]

There is little to no reason not to install CFW on a DSi.

• There is a test version of the new Memory Pit exploit that should work on lower firmware.
• You have Flinote Studio: The Flipnote exploit does not depend on old/new firmware.
  
• Once unlauch is installed, the whitelist checks are disabled so higher firmware is not a problem for older flashcarts.

Some people do not like the changes unlaunch applies to the System Menu ("Launcher"): No music/sounds, no Health and Safety warning screen. This was the reason for some to uninstall everything right after installation.

Booting into SDNAND (HiyaCFW) brings the music/sounds back and TWiLight Menu++ can be customized as you like. The only real downside I personally found after installing CFW on my DSi is the time it takes from "Power on" → "TWiLight Menu++ loaded"

By following dsi.cfw.guide you do not lose any functionality. Your flashcart can be used like before.

Have fun and good luck.

 

[anton123]

I see. Since the dsi guide has been updated with Memory Pit, documentation on the Flip note exploit seems to have vanished but it's good that there's Memory Pit for lower firmware versions. I don't see the lack of music to be a problem so everything looks good, it seems.

Edit:
By the way, will I lose DS Download Play?

 

[KleinesSinchen]

I see. Since the dsi guide has been updated with Memory Pit, documentation on the Flip note exploit seems to have vanished but it's good that there's Memory Pit for lower firmware versions. I don't see the lack of music to be a problem so everything looks good, it seems.

It is still there - but Memory Pit is easier and faster.
https://dsi.cfw.guide/installing-unlaunch-legacy

 

[anton123]

It is still there - but Memory Pit is easier and faster.
https://dsi.cfw.guide/installing-unlaunch-legacy

Thanks! Do you know if DS Download Play is still working on the CFW?

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Thanks! Do you know if DS Download Play is still working on the CFW?

Grrr. That took a while. So slow.
Download Play works for me in both directions.

• Legit Mario Kart DS inside a DS-phat →DSi (HiyaCFW) downloads the game →WORKS
  
• Legit Mario Kart DS inside DSi (HiyaCFW) → offers the game to DS-phat →WORKS

 

[anton123]

Thank you very much in testing them out! I'll go read up the stuff I need to hack my DSi XL.

 

[alivebacon]

So, for the longest time, I have a DSi XL on 1.4.2 with a flashcart to run my emulators on and I haven't dabbled on HiyaCFW and other stuff in the https://dsi.cfw.guide/. So far, I'm doing fine but the sucky flashcart means that I'm limited as far as emulators that I can run. I've intentionally steered clear from all the CFW stuff out of fear that I could brick my system but I'm wondering if it's safe now to do this. I do have Flip note studio for what its worth but my flashcart doesn't run on the latest firmware, so if I screw up, then I'd be out of luck completely. I'm thinking though that the hacking scene has developed really nicely and now, I'm wondering if there's a reason for me to stay on 1.4.2U or to pull the trigger now with the CFW. Any thoughts?

You can't get DSiWare legit anymore so it's a good idea to softmod. Bricking a DSi is very hard unless you try. You should always update as Memory Pit is better than flipnote lenny (it's universal and takes less time to trigger)

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

I see. Since the dsi guide has been updated with Memory Pit, documentation on the Flip note exploit seems to have vanished but it's good that there's Memory Pit for lower firmware versions. I don't see the lack of music to be a problem so everything looks good, it seems.

Edit:
By the way, will I lose DS Download Play?

No. Why do you ask?

 

[anton123]

I do use DS Download Play with other DSes and 3DSes from my relatives. If there's a new CFW, then, maybe I'll lose the app or something.

 

[alivebacon]

I do use DS Download Play with other DSes and 3DSes from my relatives. If there's a new CFW, then, maybe I'll lose the app or something.

You won't. Worst case scenario is that it's not on the SD Card. If that's the case you can take it out and run dlplay manually.

 

[anton123]

Thanks! I'm going to do some digging on hacking mine.

I just checked my SD card and it's 64 MB. So funny to see this now.

 

[NovaXoXO]

to my knowlege, flash carts do not have DSi access as all programs are run in NDS mode. Softmodding will open that functionality and provide DSi access as now your titles can be run straight from the SD card ( which also opens up the opportunity for installing dsiware or homebrew straight to your homecreen )

I use both flash cart and SD so that way i can have a virtually unlimited amount of titles on my DsiXL.

Good Luck

 

[Shadow#1]

to my knowlege, flash carts do not have DSi access as all programs are run in NDS mode.

Cyclo DSi Evo [emoji14]

 

[NovaXoXO]

Cyclo DSi Evo [emoji14]

What form of sorcery is this? I've been using r4 and acekard 2i for years.

 

[anton123]

to my knowlege, flash carts do not have DSi access as all programs are run in NDS mode. Softmodding will open that functionality and provide DSi access as now your titles can be run straight from the SD card ( which also opens up the opportunity for installing dsiware or homebrew straight to your homecreen )

I use both flash cart and SD so that way i can have a virtually unlimited amount of titles on my DsiXL.

Good Luck

Thanks for sharing. I've managed to install unlaunch and HiyaCFW a couple of hours ago. So I've pulled the trigger.

Not everything seems to be going according to plan though. TWiLight Menu's GBARunner doesn't seem to work.

 

[Shadow#1]

What form of sorcery is this? I've been using r4 and acekard 2i for years.

It's the only DSi mode flashcart on the market

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Thanks for sharing. I've managed to install unlaunch and HiyaCFW a couple of hours ago. So I've pulled the trigger.

Not everything seems to be going according to plan though. TWiLight Menu's GBARunner doesn't seem to work.

I have never tried GBARunner2 because of the problems with SD corruption, no so good compatibility and the need of SRAM patching most ROMs. But there has been a lot of improvement lately. I really have to look into that.

Make sure you have the original gba bios (md5sum a860e8c0b6d573d191e4ec7db1b1e4f6) renamed as bios.bin in the root of your SD.

Try a different SD and/or different cluster size (backup data, reformat, restore data).

@alexander1970 has been pretty involved in testing GBARunner lately. So i try summoning him.

 

[anton123]

I have never tried GBARunner2 because of the problems with SD corruption, no so good compatibility and the need of SRAM patching most ROMs. But there has been a lot of improvement lately. I really have to look into that.

Make sure you have the original gba bios (md5sum a860e8c0b6d573d191e4ec7db1b1e4f6) renamed as bios.bin in the root of your SD.

Try a different SD and/or different cluster size (backup data, reformat, restore data).

@alexander1970 has been pretty involved in testing GBARunner lately. So i try summoning him.

I'll double check those. I also tried Mario Kart rom just as a test and it complains that nds-bootstrap is not found (Start failed. Error 1). Seems like some files are missing.

 

[Alexander1970]

Thanks for sharing. I've managed to install unlaunch and HiyaCFW a couple of hours ago. So I've pulled the trigger.

Not everything seems to be going according to plan though. TWiLight Menu's GBARunner doesn't seem to work.

Hello.

Sadly i don´t have an SD Card bigger than 16 GB for testing.You have to format with FAT32 and use the option "STANDARD CLUSTER SIZE" in Windows.

But as @KleinesSinchen perfectly explained for formatting greater than 32 GB SD Cards (i´ve read you have an 64GB):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/gbarunner2.451970/page-73#post-8668905

Please try this.
Thank you.