Hacking Tips On Maintaining R4/MicroSD

[Panic101]

Defragment the memory card occasionally (especially if you tend to keep it full), but DON'T use a defrag utility. Copy the files to your hard disk, format the card, then copy the files back.

A defrag utility will move data around on the card many many many times, and flash memory can only survive so many erase/write cycles.


To the bold purple loonies: It seems to me that discussing the validity of these tips is not off topic.

Apologies, I just want my topic to be on point as much as possible is all.

* Anyway, cleaning the contacts with alcohol can solve some contact issues between R4 and the DS.
* Moving the microSD card around a little in the R4 can help solve SD/TF card error.
* If the DS hangs/stays on the Loading screen, it could be because you are using a SDHC MSD/TF card (4GB or higher), the MicroSD is corrupt itself, you are using a cheap reader like the one that comes with the R4. Take a look in the Micro SD Slot in the R4 and see if anything is impairing the MicroSD from contacting the R4. Your USB Port is faulty, or the R4 is just plain defective.

Keep posting your tips!

 

[iritegood]

Use an automatic save backup tool! I use: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=63989&st=15 (save as backupsaves.bat). On the root of your drive have an autorun.inf file that has

[autorun]
open=backupsaves.bat
action=Back Up Your Nintendo DS Saves
icon=C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll,7

as its contents.

My bat file is:

set drive=c:\
set backupcmd=xcopy /c /h /i /r /y
set folder=%date:~10,4%_%date:~4,2%_%date:~7,2%
explorer "N:\"
explorer "C:\dssavbackup"
%backupcmd% "N:\roms\*.sav" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\"
%backupcmd% "N:\gba\save\*.sav" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\gba"
%backupcmd% "N:\wolf3d\*.sdm" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\wolf3d"
%backupcmd% "N:\wolf3d\*.wl1" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\spear"
%backupcmd% "N:\emulators\LAMEBOY\*.sav" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\lameboy"
%backupcmd% "N:\emulators\jenesis\*.srm" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\jenesis"
%backupcmd% "N:\emulators\jenesis\*.jst" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\jenesis"
%backupcmd% "N:\emulators\dsmasterplus\*.sts" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\dsmasterplus"
%backupcmd% "N:\emulators\nesds\*.ss" "%drive%\dssavbackup\%folder%\nesds"

Mine's similar, except it zips up the savs so I don't have to waste 10MB of space each time.

@echo off&SETLOCAL

FOR /f "tokens=1-4 delims=/-. " %%G IN ('date /t') DO (call :s_fixdate %%G %%H %%I %%J)
goto :s_print_the_date
 
:s_fixdate
if "%1:~0,1%" GTR "9" shift
FOR /f "skip=1 tokens=2-4 delims=(-)" %%G IN ('echo.^|date') DO (
set %%G=%1&set %%H=%2&set %%I=%3)
goto :eof

:s_print_the_date
ENDLOCAL&SET mm=%mm%&SET dd=%dd%&SET yy=%yy%
 
set drive=E:\DS\Saves
set backupcmd=xcopy /c /h /i /r /y
set folder=%yy%_%mm%_%dd%
%backupcmd% "G:\Games\*.sav" "%drive%\%folder%\"
7za.exe a -tzip %drive%\%folder%.zip "%drive%\%folder%\"
rmdir /S /Q "%drive%\%folder%"

Just make sure you have 7zip (command line version) in the same dir as your bat file.
It'll output the savs into a zip file named with the format yyyy_mm_dd.zip
You can also make it open up your folder at the end, just add
CODEexplorer %drive%

somewhere.

The code's not very pretty, but it works.

 

[wiithepeople]

It's ok if you manually backup your saves and roms to your hard drive, right? Just want to make sure.

My 2 cents: If a rom isn't working, make sure to get the latest firmware first. And make sure you download homebrew from their original site or databases that you are 100% sure you can trust in (like the GBAtemp one). Some homebrews can brick your card.

 

[Panic101]

It's ok if you manually backup your saves and roms to your hard drive, right? Just want to make sure.

My 2 cents: If a rom isn't working, make sure to get the latest firmware first. And make sure you download homebrew from their original site or databases that you are 100% sure you can trust in (like the GBAtemp one). Some homebrews can brick your card.

* If you want to backup your saves from your MSD to your Hard Drive use this software provided by Romnet. SaveSafe

Nice tips btw Keep Them Coming!

 

[Panic101]

bump~

 

[Banger]

dont drop micro sd near vents, fans, blenders or animals

Also do not stick in a plate of tuna if you have cats. Even if you do not have cats it is still probably not the best idea.

In all seriousness though, I think most of the main things have been said.

Defrag.
Backup.
Keep clean.
Handle with care.
If you have an old R4 buy a new one so you do not have to deal with broken springs.

 

[jelbo]

I have been able to get the MicroSD out of my spring loaded R4 without removing the R4 from my DS Lite. Just gently use your fingertip to get it out. Saves quite a lot of stress on the R4 contacts I guess

 

[Kijof]

- Use Fat16 and 64kb cluster
- Use the defrag when the roms crash or make a backup and wipe all the files from the card.

 

[Nero]

- Use Fat16 and 64kb cluster

Correction.
32KB Cluster.

I'm pretty sure you can't format it with the cluster size like that.

~Nero

 

[laminaatplaat]

I have my card for half a year:

-remove with "hey, computer: I'm gonna remove my usb flashreader now" button"
-I keep my R4 usb microSD reader in the box (but thats just me not losing it

-uh... play so much on it that cant have time to think of dieing

spring still works, never had sd problems. the baddest thing that happend was that 2x it wouldnt start the R4 just normal NDS bootup screen.... but just like those good old nes games: get it out, get it in, et voila!

 

[Destructobot]

- Use Fat16 and 64kb clusterCorrection.
32KB Cluster.

I'm pretty sure you can't format it with the cluster size like that.

~Nero

Incorrect. 64KB is the max cluster size for FAT volumes (except for win9x and earlier, in which case you are correct). FAT32 has a maximum cluster size of 16KB.

You really only need FAT with 64KB clusters if you have a slow microSD card. with a fast card it doesn't make much difference.

 

[Seven]

I never use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option, and I haven't had any corruptions since I purchased my MicroSD. :3

But don't listen to me, I'm a bad influence.

Be very careful with the spring, do NOT jam it in quickly, but push it in slightly and slowly so that it doesn't break. I've preserved my spring for quite a few months after purchases.

 

[Panic101]

- Someone once mentioned that rubbing the contacts with an eraser is a good way of cleaning it.

-Sliding a piece of paper in the gap, between the back of the board and the back of the case is a good way of getting rid of some errors. Such as I believe the " SD Card not Found" error.

 

[Grimalkin]

- Someone once mentioned that rubbing the contacts with an eraser is a good way of cleaning it.

-Sliding a piece of paper in the gap, between the back of the board and the back of the case is a good way of getting rid of some errors. Such as I believe the " SD Card not Found" error.

That's only if the contacts on the R4 > DS wear out and become ineffective. Putting a piece of paper in there just keeps it from losing contact.

 

[Panic101]

- Someone once mentioned that rubbing the contacts with an eraser is a good way of cleaning it.

-Sliding a piece of paper in the gap, between the back of the board and the back of the case is a good way of getting rid of some errors. Such as I believe the " SD Card not Found" error.


That's only if the contacts on the R4 > DS wear out and become ineffective. Putting a piece of paper in there just keeps it from losing contact.

Yeah, that what I meant to say...I couldn't think for a minute there. Thanks for the correction.

 

[zeppo]

bump~

please don't make this a pet thread, and stop posting things like:
Great job posting tips guys! We need 'em! Stay on topic though!

 

[amptor]

1) safe removal of memory stick from windows is important, this will let you know if it is still being read/written to. if your pc won't let you eject it, close everything that is browsing to it

2) don't force the card in your r4, don't put it in upside down..you can ruin the spring and many people have

3) to defrag the memory card, it's going to take a lot of time isn't it? no it won't. If you have a gigabyte microsd and you have a gigabyte free on your PC, copy all the files to your computer and then format the card, then copy them all back on. this will save a lot of time. running a defrag on it will put more stress on the internal circuitry of the card and take much longer.

4) use usb 2.0 instead of 1.1 that should be obvious

5) if you need to clean the R4, use a permanent ink pen eraser and lightly rub the oxidation or carbon off of the card's edge connector. don't attempt to clean the microsd slot. make sure the eraser you use isn't hard, when they are fresh they are soft as a graphite pencil eraser

6) don't drop your nds into the toilet, if you do make sure it is off and let it dry thoroughly before using it

 

[NullPointer]

INstead of "Safely Remove Hardware" you can simply right-click on the dive letter and select "Eject". Faster & easier IMO.

 

[AsdfAsdf01]

Don't use Lexar 2GB MicroSD cards. They get erased if you 'Boot Slot-2' and play for a while. And SLOWLY slide the card into the reader!

 

[dragon574444]

Don't use Lexar 2GB MicroSD cards. They get erased if you 'Boot Slot-2' and play for a while. And SLOWLY slide the card into the reader!Â

That's one of the last things I did before my Lexar 1GB card got corrupted!

That's certainly depressing....

Oh yeah, my addtion:

1. To avoid losing saves and prevent card corruption, try to get a high quality micro SD card. Kingston is one of the, if not the, best brand to use. Japan assembled cards are the best to use.

2. Back up save files regularly, games as well if you have a hard time acquiring them...dail-up users such as myself know what I mean...