Nintendo DSi, what to check and what to do?

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

So after checking every month for a local listing for a DSi, I forgot to check for a few months and randomly got the urge to check. I found a red DSi (perfect condition, hacked and includes 1GB SD card) with the only problems being that it doesn't come with a charger (I have a USB cable already), no stylus (can use finger, but WILL get matching replacement stylus) and the L button being messed up. (honestly don't care, will try to fix it though with the blow and clean method)
From the pictures, it's in REALLY good condition. So close to mint! It has the TWiLight Menu++, so as someone who has only owned a broken DSi, I have a few questions:
1. Is it possible to get back to the DSi menu? (temporarily, like, press a button and I will exit out of TWiLight and go to the DSi menu)
2. How do you install ROMs and games, and will it appear as icons on the TWiLight menu?
3. Can I basically add anything to that menu? (as in homebrew, folders)
4. How do I install Flipnote Studio?
5. Is it possible to copy all of the contents of the 1GB SD card to an equally formatted SD card of bigger capacity? Also, what is the max on DSi's?

Sorry for SO MANY things, I'm new to this and I will REALLY care for my DSi!
The article itself: https://olx.ba/artikal/62574828

Post automatically merged: Aug 4, 2024

also, I'll dump the NAND when I get the DSi asap. will also ask if it autoboots the TWiLight Menu.

 

[RocketRobz]

1. If Unlaunch is installed, then you could hold a button to open it, if Launcher is already set to that button. You can also do so by pressing the X button while in TWLMenu++'s DS Classic Menu, or by touching the HOME icon in TWLMenu++'s 3DS theme.
2. Just put them anywhere on the SD card except for the "_nds" folder. Yes, they'll appear as icons in TWLMenu++.
3. Yes.
4. Read answer 2. Also, if you do not have a dump of it, as well as Flipnote not being installed on your DSi, you'll have to get it from another console which has it. If Flipnote is already on your DSi, then dump it using GodMode9i.
5. Yes. Also, the max is 2TB.
6. With Unlaunch installed, you can have the DSi autoboot TWLMenu++ with no buttons held.

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Thanks! Is Unlaunch like Priiloader on the Wii? (I'm way more familiar with the Wii. Priiloader is a bootloader which is the first thing that loads on boot. You can change it to boot the Wii Menu, Homebrew channel..)
Do you reccomend I ask the seller anything about the DSi?

 

[RocketRobz]

Thanks! Is Unlaunch like Priiloader on the Wii? (I'm way more familiar with the Wii. Priiloader is a bootloader which is the first thing that loads on boot. You can change it to boot the Wii Menu, Homebrew channel..)

Yes, it's similar.

Do you reccomend I ask the seller anything about the DSi?

Could ask if it contains Flipnote Studio.

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

So, with Unlaunch, I can change it to boot the DSi menu on startup and when I want the TW++ menu I can just hold a button combo on startup and change it to TW++?
I'll ask the seller about some more stuff.

 

[RocketRobz]

So, with Unlaunch, I can change it to boot the DSi menu on startup and when I want the TW++ menu I can just hold a button combo on startup and change it to TW++?

Yes, you can.

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Yes, you can.

I'll buy the DSi tomorrow. Also, is it safe to enter the DSi menu? Do I use dumpTool.nds?

 

[RocketRobz]

I'll buy the DSi tomorrow. Also, is it safe to enter the DSi menu?

Yes, why?

Do I use dumpTool.nds?

Seeing as you're getting a modded console, it depends on if the SD card already has a NAND backup. I'd just run dumpTool to make another NAND backup, to be safe.

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Yes, why?

Since I don't really know about the DSi, I didn't know if there was some like hack detection or something.
Also about the NAND backup, I'll load dumpTool.nds and run it ASAP!
Hopefully the next message will be me after buying the DSi.

 

[4d1xlaan]

"hack detection", not directly, but if unlaunch was improperly installed, then there's also a risk that entering data management could just delete launcher and brick you. you can check this by doing a nand backup and opening it on pc, and checking if the files are correctly read-only

mostly this happens if unlaunch was manually installed and the .tmd/.app were not marked read-only, and there is this unlaunch installer which initially did not do it correctly either

the risk is low, but for an unknown console like this, you never know what was done to it. there might be some other things that would delete the launcher but data management is the main one. manual unlaunch install with hardmod was a thing early on before all the other exploits were found so I wouldn't rule out the possibility that this was done, but for the other unlaunch installer it's very unlikely that anyone really used it outside of developers

if you did brick though, this is totally recoverable these days. you might just need to buy a ntrboot compatible flashcart if you don't already have one though

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Should I ask the seller where (as in, from what website) they modded it?

Post automatically merged: Aug 6, 2024

It got sold. FMyLife

 

[RocketRobz]

It got sold. FMyLife

There's always the option to buy an unmodded DSi, and then mod it by following this guide: https://dsi.cfw.guide/

 

[numberri]

It got sold. FMyLife

RIP, finding a decently priced secondhand console can be torture I know I had a similar thing happen to a new 3DS I was looking at, and I can't exactly cough up $300+ AUD as a student for one. good luck finding a DSi, and as RocketRobs said, if it's unmodded then dsi.cfw.guide is always there for you

 

[MattTheTekie]

RIP, finding a decently priced secondhand console can be torture I know I had a similar thing happen to a new 3DS I was looking at, and I can't exactly cough up $300+ AUD as a student for one. good luck finding a DSi, and as RocketRobs said, if it's unmodded then dsi.cfw.guide is always there for you

Consider importing via JPN.

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

I have come to the conslucion that two things in my life are infinite:
1. Every single DSi hating me
2. Every single Samsung Galaxy S1 hating me
I had a broken DSi which was supposed to be working.
All 4 of my Samsung S phones are bricked.

 

[zxr750j]

I have come to the conslucion that two things in my life are infinite:
1. Every single DSi hating me
2. Every single Samsung Galaxy S1 hating me
I had a broken DSi which was supposed to be working.
All 4 of my Samsung S phones are bricked.

To make your life more bearable: switch to 3DS and Iphone!

And out of curiosity what's the problem with the broken DSi?

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Top screen broken. Too late anyway

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

Around 2-ish years ago I found a projector on the same website for cheap. (cheap for projectors) It got bought two days before I wanted to buy it, AKA my birthday.

1-ish year ago (a lot of ish-es) my mom got back from work with a weird bag. She saw two old projectors at work and asked if she can take them (the school said they were broken and would almost go to the trash)
BOTH worked PERFECTLY and were in alright condition.

Will this happen with the DSi? I better hope..

 

[4d1xlaan]

they probably don't have old dsis at work to be thrown away, but you never know

 

[AfanGotTheWiiOn26December]

they probably don't have old dsis at work to be thrown away, but you never know

I never stated it was gonna be at work, but the general idea of randomly getting one (when I least care about it) is what I mean
Honestly, my mom might have an E-waste bin at work. All in all: you never know