Hacking R4i 3DS RTS Goes Black After White Screen Loads

[Pokeformers10]

I have an R4i Gold 3DS RTS and every time I turn it on it goes to the white screen then into a black screen, then nothing. I tried reinstalling the kernel, formatting the SD card with several programs and even tried the card on a DS and another 3DS. Can someone tell me what is going on here? The R4 card worked before but then suddenly stopped. I set back the time to check if it's a time-limiter flashcard, but it wasnt the case. Please help!

 

[Shadow#1]

I have an R4i Gold 3DS RTS and every time I turn it on it goes to the white screen then into a black screen, then nothing. I tried reinstalling the kernel, formatting the SD card with several programs and even tried the card on a DS and another 3DS. Can someone tell me what is going on here? The R4 card worked before but then suddenly stopped. I set back the time to check if it's a time-limiter flashcard, but it wasnt the case. Please help!

Site address on cart label is?

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I have an R4i Gold 3DS RTS and every time I turn it on it goes to the white screen then into a black screen, then nothing. I tried reinstalling the kernel, formatting the SD card with several programs and even tried the card on a DS and another 3DS. Can someone tell me what is going on here? The R4 card worked before but then suddenly stopped. I set back the time to check if it's a time-limiter flashcard, but it wasnt the case. Please help!

Reformat the micro SD card in FAT32 + 32 KB cluster. If your's made by r4ids.cn, you'll want the WOOD R4 V1.64 Released. (2013-11-08).

 

[Pokeformers10]

Site address on cart label is?

www.r4ids.cn

Hope this helps

 

[Pokeformers10]

Reformat the micro SD card in FAT32 + 32 KB cluster. If your's made by r4ids.cn, you'll want the WOOD R4 V1.64 Released. (2013-11-08).

Just tried that, still nothing...

 

[Shadow#1]

www.r4ids.cn

Hope this helps

https://filetrip.net/dl?FhXOBrY7vI

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Just tried that, still nothing...

I have that same flashcart as you do. When I launched that cart without its SD card, it exhibits the same behavior you described in black → white → black (nothing) with only (HOME) button working. Try a different card formatted in FAT32 + 32 KB cluster.

Also try canned air spraying the micro SD slot within the flashcart. It might be too dirty to read your card. If not, you can carefully disassembly the shell and use toothbrush with rubbing alcohol to clean it if it's bad enough.

 

[Pokeformers10]

I have that same flashcart as you do. When I launched that cart without its SD card, it exhibits the same behavior you described in black → white → black (nothing) with only (HOME) button working. Try a different card formatted in FAT32 + 32 KB cluster.

Also try canned air spraying the micro SD slot within the flashcart. It might be too dirty to read your card. If not, you can carefully disassembly the shell and use toothbrush with rubbing alcohol to clean it if it's bad enough.

I am really afraid of dismantling any sensitive hardware XD But I'll try the canned air spray and using a different micro SD and let you know what happens.

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Site address on cart label is?

Nope, didn't work...

 

[Pokeformers10]

I have that same flashcart as you do. When I launched that cart without its SD card, it exhibits the same behavior you described in black → white → black (nothing) with only (HOME) button working. Try a different card formatted in FAT32 + 32 KB cluster.

Also try canned air spraying the micro SD slot within the flashcart. It might be too dirty to read your card. If not, you can carefully disassembly the shell and use toothbrush with rubbing alcohol to clean it if it's bad enough.

Didn't work... So is it safe to assume that the R4 card itself has no issues but the micro SD reader on the R4 has the issue? Or is it too early to assume that?

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I have been stuck with this issue for a long time. Please let me know if you guys need any additional information. I really don't want this card to go to waste.

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Didn't work... So is it safe to assume that the R4 card itself has no issues but the micro SD reader on the R4 has the issue? Or is it too early to assume that?

If you saw the Konami Digital Entertainment banner and two of your micro SD cards with the R4 WOOD kernel (the __rpg folder and _DS_MENU.DAT file) didn't do the trick, it's most likely the flashcart's micro SD slot that needs taking a look. Another possibility is your 3DS has broken DS(i) mode:

• DSi / DS functionality is broken after completing the guide

, although this isn't as likely if your Nintendo DS isn't reading the R4i either. If worse comes to worse, you still have TWiLight Menu++ to fall back on.

 

[Pokeformers10]

If you saw the Konami Digital Entertainment banner and two of your micro SD cards with the R4 WOOD kernel (the __rpg folder and _DS_MENU.DAT file) didn't do the trick, it's most likely the flashcart's micro SD slot that needs taking a look. Another possibility is your 3DS has broken DS(i) mode:

• DSi / DS functionality is broken after completing the guide

, although this isn't as likely if your Nintendo DS isn't reading the R4i either. If worse comes to worse, you still have TWiLight Menu++ to fall back on.

By "needs taking a look", can I do something from home, of do I have to send it to the seller? because I doubt my seller will respond after so long lol

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Do you think having the 3DS on the latest update is mandatory for the R4 to work?

 

[TurdPooCharger]

By "needs taking a look", can I do something from home, of do I have to send it to the seller? because I doubt my seller will respond after so long lol

You carefully pop open the flashcart and try cleaning the slot yourself or find someone else who'll do it for you. At this point, you might as well consider the flashcart dead. This isn't the seller's problem, unless yours died on arrival.

Do you think having the 3DS on the latest update is mandatory for the R4 to work?

For this specific flashcart brand and model, the 3DS firmware should not have an impact on its functionality.

 

[Pokeformers10]

If you saw the Konami Digital Entertainment banner and two of your micro SD cards with the R4 WOOD kernel (the __rpg folder and _DS_MENU.DAT file) didn't do the trick, it's most likely the flashcart's micro SD slot that needs taking a look. Another possibility is your 3DS has broken DS(i) mode:

• DSi / DS functionality is broken after completing the guide

, although this isn't as likely if your Nintendo DS isn't reading the R4i either. If worse comes to worse, you still have TWiLight Menu++ to fall back on.

I did the DSi functionality thing. Still nothing

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I did the DSi functionality thing. Still nothing

You resort to (clean) toothbrush and rubbing alcohol.

After taking the SD card out, the safest entry point is this notch. You have slide your nail along the perimeter to evenly separate the two halves. This will keep the pegs from snapping off.

 

[Pokeformers10]

You resort to (clean) toothbrush and rubbing alcohol.

After taking the SD card out, the safest entry point is this notch. You have slide your nail along the perimeter to evenly separate the two halves. This will keep the pegs from snapping off.

Ah ok. Is there a youtube tutorial/video on how to clean which parts specifically? I don't want to mess this up lol

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Ah ok. Is there a youtube tutorial/video on how to clean which parts specifically? I don't want to mess this up lol

Not really. If you see a youtube video of a guy using water and/or sponge cleaning circuit boards, that person's an idiot. Use a toothbrush with rubbing alcohol (70%–91% concentration) for gentle brushing and strokes, and finish it off drying with a hairdryer on low heat and fan speed setting with side-to-side sweeps. If you require using q-tips, no wiping motions as the cotton strands can snag and rip off SMD/SMT components; only dabbing. No paper towel, tissue paper, and toilet paper either, except to lay stuff to soak liquid.

Edit - Focus the bristles around the inner, back cavity of the SD slot.

 

[Pokeformers10]

Not really. If you see a youtube video of a guy using water and/or sponge cleaning circuit boards, that person's an idiot. Use a toothbrush with rubbing alcohol (70%–91% concentration) for gentle brushing and strokes, and finish it off drying with a hairdryer on low heat and fan speed setting with side-to-side sweeps. If you require using q-tips, no wiping motions as the cotton strands can snag and rip off SMD/SMT components; only dabbing. No paper towel, tissue paper, and toilet paper either, except to lay stuff to soak liquid.

Edit - Focus the bristles around the inner, back cavity of the SD slot.

Okay! Thank you! I'll try it out and see what happens. I really hope I don't mess this up XD

 

[Pokeformers10]

Not really. If you see a youtube video of a guy using water and/or sponge cleaning circuit boards, that person's an idiot. Use a toothbrush with rubbing alcohol (70%–91% concentration) for gentle brushing and strokes, and finish it off drying with a hairdryer on low heat and fan speed setting with side-to-side sweeps. If you require using q-tips, no wiping motions as the cotton strands can snag and rip off SMD/SMT components; only dabbing. No paper towel, tissue paper, and toilet paper either, except to lay stuff to soak liquid.

Edit - Focus the bristles around the inner, back cavity of the SD slot.

Can I use the q tip and alcohol to dab on the golden part of the R4? (bottom part)

 

[Pokeformers10]

Not really. If you see a youtube video of a guy using water and/or sponge cleaning circuit boards, that person's an idiot. Use a toothbrush with rubbing alcohol (70%–91% concentration) for gentle brushing and strokes, and finish it off drying with a hairdryer on low heat and fan speed setting with side-to-side sweeps. If you require using q-tips, no wiping motions as the cotton strands can snag and rip off SMD/SMT components; only dabbing. No paper towel, tissue paper, and toilet paper either, except to lay stuff to soak liquid.

Edit - Focus the bristles around the inner, back cavity of the SD slot.

Tried cleaning it, still nothing. I'm currently contacting people from other sites (eg. Discord), but they havent gone into as much detail as you. Do you happen to have any other ideas?

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Tried cleaning it, still nothing. I'm currently contacting people from other sites (eg. Discord), but they havent gone into as much detail as you. Do you happen to have any other ideas?

Measure for continuity and resistance for resistors (R) with a multimeter.

For capacitors (C), there's no good way to test these small SMD ones. These tiny tan ceramic blocks aren't likely to crack, but there's no way to visually see breaks with the naked eye nor with a magnifying glass.

I have no clue what that component (X) is as that reference designator can refer to any miscellaneous placeholder.

Spoiler: R4i Gold 3DS RTS - PCB board