Hardware Replacing Pokémon Diamond Save Flash Chip

[ghjfdtg]

You can try sanding it down. Stop sanding if it fits or you see anything shiny.

 

[Marax]

You can try sanding it down. Stop sanding if it fits or you see anything shiny.

Im gonna try it but I don’t think I will get the contact back

 

[rvtr]

I've created the ultimate weapon. My copy of Pokémon diamond instantly powers off any DS console it's inserted into.

Turns out the chip I bought was a few mms taller than the original, so the cartridge casing doesn't slide in cleanly anymore, so the console short-circuits when trying to make a connection. Anyone know a good way to keep the board in place? I don't feel like waiting another month for a new chip.

EDIT: sources below.

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/383098/3DS+Shuts+Down+Completely+when+Inserting+Game+Cartridge

Can you send a photo of how you placed the chip on the cartridge? I know that lots of funny things will happen if it has been placed backwards.

 

[ghjfdtg]

Im gonna try it but I don’t think I will get the contact back

My answer was actually for @op but i applies for you too i guess. You need a dremel or similar with very fine, pointy tool. Grind down from the top where the pin used to be but only expose as much as needed or you risk breaking the bond wire.

 

[Ralph367]

Can you send a photo of how you placed the chip on the cartridge? I know that lots of funny things will happen if it has been placed backwards.

I've definitely got in on the right way

 

[Marax]

He ment how you placed the save Chip on the pcb not the pcb in the housing

 

[Marax]

Okay i dont know what is wrong. I got another copy of SimCity Creator desoldered the Chip using Hot Air this time.
Soldered it in the Pokemon Soul Silver Edition and ... AGAIN the blue screen ... But it is the right Chip.

The Chip is soldered in correctly i checked it using TWL Save Tool it shows the Save Name. If a Chip is desoldered the App crashes. I tried to erase the Chip but nothing... Okay nvm I tried to save and it gave me the Bluescreen again. I’m trying to desolder the chip again

I used a Savegame and tried to write it on it. But nothing. Maybe the Card does not accept the Chip



UPDATE:

I plugged the Game into my New 3DS XL and now it’s working… I think the game was playing with me

 

[Ralph367]

He ment how you placed the save Chip on the pcb not the pcb in the housing

Oh . I was actually wondering about that while doing it. I put it with the front text not upside-down after opening it up, in other words the same direction as the chip next to it on the board.

Post automatically merged: Mar 14, 2023

You can try sanding it down. Stop sanding if it fits or you see anything shiny.

I'll be going down to get the stuff for this tomorrow. Normal sand paper from a hardware store would work right?

 

[Marax]

Update to my Game:

I tried to Save the Game and got a Blue screen again. It says the game could be played but not be safed. Maybe its the Save Chip that is not compatible. It is the M45PE40.

 

[rvtr]

Update to my Game:

I tried to Save the Game and got a Blue screen again. It says the game could be played but not be safed. Maybe its the Save Chip that is not compatible. It is the M45PE40.

I'm sorry to hear this isn't working. I'm not sure why... you said you flashed a save to it so I'm not sure why it'd break...

My only other idea is to wipe the chip and have the game format it the way it wants. I've found there is some save fuckery in a couple of games where they get really unhappy with invalid data.

 

[Marax]

My game is completly dead now... I tried some resoldering and i think its gone forever now. Thank you guys for your help!

 

[ghjfdtg]

I'll be going down to get the stuff for this tomorrow. Normal sand paper from a hardware store would work right?

Yes, grid doesn't really matter but i would not go for the lowest personally.

 

[rvtr]

My game is completly dead now... I tried some resoldering and i think its gone forever now. Thank you guys for your help!

I'm sorry. This worked for me but perhaps I need to do a bit more fiddling around. If you're open to it, do you want to send the board to me as a last resort? No guarantees I could fix it but I can certainly try.

 

[Marax]

Thank you for your help! Have a nice day

 

[FAST6191]

Re chips. If you have another game with a supposedly identical chip have you tried soldering one of the chips into that and seeing what happens?

 

[JuanMena]

Re chips. If you have another game with a supposedly identical chip have you tried soldering one of the chips into that and seeing what happens?

But I agree. Desolder the NTR chip and solder it back to a game you don't care for. It should work... in theory.

 

[rvtr]

Re chips. If you have another game with a supposedly identical chip have you tried soldering one of the chips into that and seeing what happens?

Oh yeah that might be a good last attempt... though the chips on 512kb saves are still M25PE40 and M45PE40. Not sure if this would have the best chance of working, but what the hell. It's not working anyways. Can't do much more harm to try.

Post automatically merged: Mar 15, 2023

I ordered a few different flash chips just now. I'll test them with a few different games (possibly even pokemon ones) and I'll figure out what ones are or aren't compatible. Until then I suggest not to follow my idea on replacement flash chips.

Swapping chips from cart to cart should be okay, though I think you should still be cautious, at least until someone has success with that.

These things have worked for me but I really don't want to be giving out poor advice that leads to more broken hardware. I'll post an update in a month or two once the chips arrive.

 

[Ralph367]

Alright so I managed to sand down the chip enough that it fits comfortably, but plugging it into my console still causes an instant shutdown. Any advice?

 

[skawo]

That sounds like a ground short to me. You sure none of the pins are bridged?

 

[ghjfdtg]

@Ralph367
Post pictures of the PCB. Maybe we can spot shorted areas.