Hacking My saves are lost everytime I want to play.

[maxiewawa]

The (very helpful) FAQs on this site say that I should:

You've set the wrong savetype. You can select a savetype for a game by pressing SELECT + Left/Right in the menu.
Or your batery of the N-Card/clone is broken. Normaly it's rechargeable... When it's broken any change you make won't be saved...
Here is a little test app to check your battery: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=642
I don't know how to fix this. Get a new card :'(

But how do I know what kind of savetype I should set? Setting a savetype, running the rom, saving something, then turning off the machine, starting the rom again and checking to see if it has saved properly isn't a very practical option.

 

[paul1991]

Upgrade to the latest firmware. Then just set the save to "Auto". Unless its zelda. Then set the save to flash 4Mbit.

 

[maxiewawa]

I've done that, but now ROMs don't read save information. One ROM says:

"The data is corrupted and could not be loaded. Is it OK to erase it?"

I have to click 'ok' or the ROM doesn't start. Then I have to start the game all over again.

 

[paul1991]

I got that once. I remember how too. I tried to copy a save from in game.(Ie New SMB save slot 1 copy to save slot 2) That froze the Ncard and corrupted all of my saves. I had to manually delete the save file before it worked again.

Try deleting all of your saves.

 

[paul1991]

I got that once. I remember how too. I tried to copy a save from in game.(Ie New SMB save slot 1 copy to save slot 2) That froze the Ncard and corrupted all of my saves. I had to manually delete the save file before it worked again.

Try deleting all of your saves.

 

[AndreXL]

I do not know much about the N-card but I do know of an online save type reference:
http://dualscene.net/viewpage.php?page_id=28

 

[maxiewawa]

No luck. I've deleted all the *.sav files but the ROMs still can't read them.

I can get ROMs to run, but every time I do, I create a new SAV file.

 

[maxiewawa]

I don't know if this is important, but these ROMs have NEVER been able to read a SAV file, but if I select the wrong SAV filetype in the initial N-Card menu, the ROMs don't work.

 

[4saken]

The capacitor is dead, hence the saves are never updated. Cards with internal memory have to use the capacitor for saves (not sure why).

 

[Porkdish]

http://www.dslinker.cn/download/battery_test.rar

use the above, or similar for your card to test the battery.

you cannot fix this if it turns out to be the trouble. Take the card back to retailer if you just bought it.

 

[maxiewawa]

My battery seems to be the problem.

Don't buy the DS Firelink/Firecard! It's a crock!

 

[Rizsparky]

Dont diss the firecard just becuase of just a one off many other people dont have that prblem

 

[Giangsta]

lucky i chose to purchase the TTDS instead *phew*

i don't want to run the risk of getting one witha dead capacitor

 

[biz387]

Ncards had a problem some time ago QC seems much better now! No cheats but top carts

 

[Glacius0]

Delete LASTSAVE.SDB in the DSYSTEM directory. Then get a rom that is definitely supposed to work without problems, like New Super Mario Bros. Start it without messing with the save types (it should be on Auto, I assume), play, save your game, and try soft-resetting (press ABXYLR).

This does 2 things. One, deleting that file makes sure the firmware has no memory of any saves whatsoever, and two, in the case that your battery is dead it should still work with soft-reset since that way you never turn off your DS when backing up saves. Chances are just deleting the files will fix it though.