Tutorial  Updated

how to check your firmware version on ds/ds lite

What will you need
1.a DS/DS lite
2.a DS/GBA game

Instructions
Step 1: put in GBA or DS card into DS (flashcarts may or may not work)
Step 2: turn on DS (hold down start while powering on if you have auto mode)
Step 3: load up pictochat and go into any chat room
Step 4: take GBA or DS card out while in pictochat
Step 5: done

Versions
v1: Pictochat freezes
v2: two greyish blue screens
v3: two dark green screens
v4: two golden yellow screens
v5: two magenta screens
v6: two dark blue screens
v7: DS system does not crash


credit to: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_homebrew
 
Last edited by TyDye, , Reason: small tweaks and typo fixes

Alex4U

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Cool! My DS Lite Zelda have v5 (most DS Lites have this fimware)
By the way, is there any differences between any fimware versions? Like more fps,, or something like that?

Also, you need to extract DS(i) Game when you're in PictoChat, i extracted my GBA game and doesn't worked.
never mind, worked with GBA game.
 
Last edited by Alex4U,

codezer0

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Two questions.
  1. How did you figure this out? got some data or source information to confirm this finding?
  2. How does this not just... damage the system in question, or the game tused to test? It wasn't until the DSi that it was even able to be possible to unplug the DS cart without turning off the system.
 

Alex4U

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1.-https://www.acidmods.com/forum/index.php?topic=15112.0
2.- Game & console doesn't damage, because the console doesn't have access in GBA/DS game while you're in PictoChat.
edit: any game (except R4/ GBA Flashcard) works, i tested with Pokémon White Version (JP) and Sonic Advace 3 (usa) and worked too.
 
Last edited by Alex4U,

Alex4U

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I wasn't aware the DS had different firmware versions.

Why does it?
it's like Nintendo 3DS fimwares.
im currently researching, but i can't find any differences beetween fimwares...
Maybe is more fastest, supports more ds games, or something like that? i don't know... i CAN'T FIND ANY INFORMATION!!!!!1
 

caitsith2

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IIRC, v1/v2 was able to do a passme over wifi, and v3 and later fixed that bug. What had happened, is that the earlier versions had in fact done the signature check on the transmitted binary, but went ahead and used the header of the download play offer packet rather than the header of the actual transmitted download play binary to jump to entry point.

Also, v5 IIRC introduced screen brightness adjustments, when it sees the appropriate power management chip on the system.

That is all I know in regards of that.


(Passme was the means of running homebrew using a GBA based compact flash reader cartridge.
 

Jayro

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Okay, and what exactly is the significance of this? And what's required to use FlashMe, and what can FlashMe to?

I have a v5 (two magenta screens) DS Lite, cobalt blue and black.
 

DinohScene

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Flashme protects against bricks and lets you boot a GBA card in NDS mode without a Passcard.

Edit: this info has been known for years and is nothing new.
 

Jayro

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Flashme protects against bricks and lets you boot a GBA card in NDS mode without a Passcard.

Edit: this info has been known for years and is nothing new.
Are there any perks to booting GBA cards in DS mode?
 

DinohScene

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Are there any perks to booting GBA cards in DS mode?

You can run NDS code from the GBA card.
And backup NDS games to the GBA card.

Edit: and you can recover a bricked DS (if FlashMe is installed) with a GBA card.
 

Ryccardo

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And what's required to use FlashMe, and what can FlashMe to?
To install it, just a flashcard and a metal tool (especially on a Lite, it may be easier to remove the back cover and firmly tape the battery in place, to avoid hitting the VRs)

Features of Flashme:
On a V5+-from-the-factory original DS, unlock adjustable brightness
On original DS and early Lites, brick protection (later Lites should have it in hardware) (to actually recover from the brick you'll need a flashcard running flashme.nds as early as possible, for example on an original R4 you convert it to _ds_menu.dat)
Free Passme if you have a slot-2 flashcard
Skipping the boot animation, depending on the version you choose (power button to rom selection in less than 3 seconds on my original R4 with YSmenu)
Unsigned applications via download play (run homebrew with WifiMe if you reeeeally are bored + your friend with a DSOne isn't forced to turn off cheats when he wants to stream a game to your console) ;)
 

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