Hacking [Scripts] DSiWare Conversion: Easily Convert To .NDS and .CIA Files!

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I have no idea how to get the nds file ( after I converted it ) to work on desmune or if it could work on my flashcart that would be nice

*.nds roms that are DSiWare do not work on DS flashcarts. Don't confuse DSiWare *.nds roms for NDS *.nds roms.

If you want to extract the original *.nds rom from a DSiWare *.cia, use GodMode9:
  • CIA image options... → Mount image to drive → 0000.XXXXXXXX.app → NDS image options... → Copy to 0:/gm9/out
Rename that *.app to a *.nds file extension.

As far as I can tell, the only emulator that can run DSiWare games is NO$GBA. You will need to put two bios files in the same directory where NO$GBA.EXE is found.
  • biosnds7.rom (16 KB - 1280F0D5)
  • biosnds9.rom (4 KB - 2AB23573)
Look for DSi firmware files.zip (14-Jun-2017 01:10 - 83.7K - 08E33BEA).

After obtaining those two files, these are the settings needed in order to run DSiWare *.nds roms in NO$GBA:
  • Options → Emulation Setup, under the Emulation tab:
    • Reset/Startup Entrypoint: Start Cartridge Directly
    • NDS Mode/Colors: DSi (retail/16MB)
When you play the game, it may take a while to load. Games may experience graphical glitches or dithering. I have gotten Zelda4Swords to run on NO$GBA but not with working save and savestate (snapshot). Basically, DSiWare should be played on actual 3DS or DSi systems if you intend to make any persistent progress.
 
Why is it that the resulting .cia file (when going from .nds to .cia) has a different hash after each conversion process, despite using the same .nds file?
I tried 3-4 conversions with the same .nds game and it gave me different hash values every time. To me that means the conversion process isn't consistent. Not that there is an issue so far, but I'm wondering why it produces different files with each conversion.
 
Why is it that the resulting .cia file (when going from .nds to .cia) has a different hash after each conversion process, despite using the same .nds file?
I tried 3-4 conversions with the same .nds game and it gave me different hash values every time. To me that means the conversion process isn't consistent. Not that there is an issue so far, but I'm wondering why it produces different files with each conversion.
The script will rename the DSiWare *.nds rom into this format when converting into CIA:
  • 0000.xxxxxxxx.nds/.app
Where x is any random 0–9, a–f hex value between 00–FF. The script also spoofs a random ticket and tmd files.
  • ticket.bin
  • tmd.bin
  • tmdchunks.bin
The ticket is a placeholder to be installed on SysNAND stating you own that title. The tmd and tmdchunks are title metadata of SHA-256 hashes, offsets??, and sizes for contents like the *.nds/*.app.
 
Hi there,

I have a bunch of saved .BIN DSIware games from my old DSi (which I don't own anymore), and I wanted to make .CIA files out of them.
I've found this tutorial and I got CIAs to be built out of them, and I could install them using FBI (good icons and titles and everything) but when I run those on my 2DS I only get a white screen, the game won't run. Does anyone know how to convert them properly? I'd be glad to share my game's collection with you if you can make it work :)

-snip-

Here is the list of games that I have and I'd like to convert (I know some of them are available elsewhere but still, I want to be able to convert them anyway):

A_Little_Bit_of..._Brain_Training-Arts_Edition-Nintendo
BOMBERMAN_BLITZ-HUDSON
Dictionary_6_in_1-with_Camera_Function-Nintendo
DRAGON_QUEST_WARS-SQUARE_ENIX
Even_tijd_voor..._Brain_Training-Woorden_en_beelden-Nintendo
Flipnote_Studio-Nintendo
Game_&_Watch-Donkey_Kong_Jr.-Nintendo
Hospital_Havoc-Hands-On_Mobile
My_Farm-BiP_media
Nintendo_DSi_+_Internet-Nintendo
Nintendo_DSi_Browser-Nintendo
Rayman-Ubisoft_Entertainment
UNO-Gameloft
WarioWare-_Snapped!-Nintendo

Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited by Quantumcat, , Reason: Removed link to warez
Hi there,

I have a bunch of saved .BIN DSIware games from my old DSi (which I don't own anymore), and I wanted to make .CIA files out of them.
I've found this tutorial and I got CIAs to be built out of them, and I could install them using FBI (good icons and titles and everything) but when I run those on my 2DS I only get a white screen, the game won't run. Does anyone know how to convert them properly? I'd be glad to share my game's collection with you if you can make it work :)

-snip-

Here is the list of games that I have and I'd like to convert (I know some of them are available elsewhere but still, I want to be able to convert them anyway):

Thanks in advance!

If your games aren't converting correctly from BIN → NDS → CIA, look to getting clean NDS/CIA dsiware dumps from those sites. Good luck searching.
 
Well I finally installed my converted cia files so that it runs well! Amazing. I'm not sure if it helped or not, but I pressed the L button while installing in FBI, apparently it installs it both on SysNAND and EmuNAND, which is important for some reason. Anyway, this method worked for me, I hope it'll help anyone else!
 
Let's cut the shit: here are my DSiWare Conversion scripts. This allows you to copy DSiWare to your SD card from your DSi, and then convert them to a .NDS file (these files cannot run from a flashcart, don't ask!) for asset dumping, analysing, etc, or a .CIA file for installation on a 3DS!


How To Convert To .NDS:

  1. Download the attachment from below and extract it
  2. Insert an SD card into your DSi(XL) and open System Settings
  3. Open Data Management and copy any DSiWare you want to convert to your SD card
  4. Remove Your SD Card and insert it into your PC. Navigate to SD:/private/ds/title/
  5. Copy all of the .bin files to the dsiware folder
  6. Run _BIN_To_NDS.nds, it should start showing you the names of the DSiWare titles you are converting
  7. All extracted .NDS files will be available in the output-nds folder.


How To Convert To .CIA:

  1. Follow the above steps
  2. Run _NDS_To_CIA.bat, it should start showing the output names of your DSiWare titles
  3. Your .CIA files will be available in the output-cia folder


Credits:
CaitSith2 for dsi_srl_extract.exe
3DSGuy for make_cia.exe

I followed your instructions very carefully and when I run _BIN_to_NDS.bat it says that dsi_srl_extract is required for this program to work. Why is that and how can I fix it?
 
I followed your instructions very carefully and when I run _BIN_to_NDS.bat it says that dsi_srl_extract is required for this program to work. Why is that and how can I fix it?
"carefully"
I don't think the instructions told you to separate the bat files from the rest.

Screenshot 2019-04-26 18.16.58.png
 
"carefully"
I don't think the instructions told you to separate the bat files from the rest.

View attachment 165084

I didn't touch anything there just moved the .bin files to the appropriate place.
Please ignore the .zip file. That's a clean copy I just downloaded and put there. I removed it and it still didn't work.
 

Attachments

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Last edited by Snigby,
I used this tool to create CIAs with bin files from my own DSi, and installed them onto my o3DS XL. When I launch any game (Bomberman Blitz, Paper Plane, Zelda Four Swords) both screens become white and the game doesn't start. The games appear on my home screen with the title and animated icons. I have tried reinstalling CIA many times and also reconverted from the original bin files to no avail. Any help would be much appreciated.

Edit: this was fixed by using someone else's dumps from the internet instead of my own. I'm writing this so if anyone else having this issue sees this they know how.
 
Last edited by toomuchzelda,
I used this tool to create CIAs with bin files from my own DSi, and installed them onto my o3DS XL. When I launch any game (Bomberman Blitz, Paper Plane, Zelda Four Swords) both screens become white and the game doesn't start. The games appear on my home screen with the title and animated icons. I have tried reinstalling CIA many times and also reconverted from the original bin files to no avail. Any help would be much appreciated.
You're not the first one with this problem (look above -- and it was in other threads as well if I remember correctly).

I had the same issue: White screens after installing the CIAs for all six preinstalled DSiWare titles from my DSi XL (European region, latest System Menu 1.4.5). At least one of the titles (converted to .NDS with the SRL-scripts) started on NO$GBA - but none on the 3DS systems.

What I got from the scripts:
  • Somewhat valid CIAs; can be installed and:
  • Correct game names
  • Correct logos appearing on the 3DS Home Menu and in Data Management
I was able to get the games working in a ridiculous process (among other things: extracting the .app files from a DSi NAND dump, requires homebrew access on the DSi).
 
You're not the first one with this problem (look above -- and it was in other threads as well if I remember correctly).

I had the same issue: White screens after installing the CIAs for all six preinstalled DSiWare titles from my DSi XL (European region, latest System Menu 1.4.5). At least one of the titles (converted to .NDS with the SRL-scripts) started on NO$GBA - but none on the 3DS systems.

What I got from the scripts:
  • Somewhat valid CIAs; can be installed and:
  • Correct game names
  • Correct logos appearing on the 3DS Home Menu and in Data Management
I was able to get the games working in a ridiculous process (among other things: extracting the .app files from a DSi NAND dump, requires homebrew access on the DSi).
Okay, I think my situation can't be helped then. I no longer have access to that DSi, it's firmware is corrupt or something and doesn't boot (Error code 0000FEFE) so I wouldn't be able to do that ridiculous process. But still have it's SD card with the game bins.

Thanks for replying anyway.
 
I don’t have any problems, but thx for the tool man. I use it for installing dsiware straight to my dsi nand but it’s nice too. Because I can put it on my 3ds too if I want
 
Don't use these scripts anymore. The latest godmode9 can convert dsiware nds to cia, way easier.
 

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