How to Mod a Nintendo DS with an R4 Flashcart
Acquire the R4DS (Revolution For DS) flashcart from an online retailer., Download the latest firmware for the R4., Connect the Transflash/microSD card to your computer., Open the firmware file, should be Language-Version.zip., Verify that you have...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Acquire the R4DS (Revolution For DS) flashcart from an online retailer.
They are not sold in stores, but they are not illegal as sold (apart from in the UK where the were ruled illegal as of 28th July 2010).
You can find them on the official web site, or you can search online for other online stores which have them available. -
Step 2: Download the latest firmware for the R4.
At the time of this writing, the latest version is
1.18 which was last updated in
2008.
There is a third party R4 DS firmware available called WoodR4, which offers better features and greater compatibility with all homebrew games, apps, and emulators.
The R4 may not ship with the latest firmware.
See below for the proper link. , The R4 comes with a microSD to USB adapter which is very nice.
If you have a memory card reader, use the SD adapter that comes with most microSD cards.
In a pinch, put the memory card in a compatible phone and connect the phone to the computer. , Unpack the contents of this archive to the root directory of your microSD card. , That should be all it takes.
Remove whatever game may be in your DS' Slot-1, insert the R4, and insert the microSD card into the R4.
There is only one way it can go, and it will most likely be the way you don't expect.
It does not matter in what order you do this
- you could also put the microSD card into the R4 and then put the R4 in the DS. (A clever individual can remove the microSD card from the R4 while the R4 is in the DS, but it's a tight area.) , You should get the safety warning, but before you get a chance to touch the screen to confirm, the R4 should take over.
The default DS menu, if it was enabled (it is by default), will be bypassed, and the R4 menu will load.
You will get three choices.
The first one, Game, will allow you to load a .NDS file (a DS ROM, or a homebrew application
- .NDS is to your DS what .EXE is to your Windows computer).
The second one, Media, will allow you to play multimedia
- music, video, text
- using the Moonshell OS.
The third one, Slot-2, will allow you to boot a Slot-2 (Game Boy Advance) game. , See the list linked under references for the compatibility guide
- anything with a green square behind R4 is a go! -
Step 3: Connect the Transflash/microSD card to your computer.
-
Step 4: Open the firmware file
-
Step 5: should be Language-Version.zip.
-
Step 6: Verify that you have done everything right.
-
Step 7: Turn the DS on.
-
Step 8: Get some good homebrew!
Detailed Guide
They are not sold in stores, but they are not illegal as sold (apart from in the UK where the were ruled illegal as of 28th July 2010).
You can find them on the official web site, or you can search online for other online stores which have them available.
At the time of this writing, the latest version is
1.18 which was last updated in
2008.
There is a third party R4 DS firmware available called WoodR4, which offers better features and greater compatibility with all homebrew games, apps, and emulators.
The R4 may not ship with the latest firmware.
See below for the proper link. , The R4 comes with a microSD to USB adapter which is very nice.
If you have a memory card reader, use the SD adapter that comes with most microSD cards.
In a pinch, put the memory card in a compatible phone and connect the phone to the computer. , Unpack the contents of this archive to the root directory of your microSD card. , That should be all it takes.
Remove whatever game may be in your DS' Slot-1, insert the R4, and insert the microSD card into the R4.
There is only one way it can go, and it will most likely be the way you don't expect.
It does not matter in what order you do this
- you could also put the microSD card into the R4 and then put the R4 in the DS. (A clever individual can remove the microSD card from the R4 while the R4 is in the DS, but it's a tight area.) , You should get the safety warning, but before you get a chance to touch the screen to confirm, the R4 should take over.
The default DS menu, if it was enabled (it is by default), will be bypassed, and the R4 menu will load.
You will get three choices.
The first one, Game, will allow you to load a .NDS file (a DS ROM, or a homebrew application
- .NDS is to your DS what .EXE is to your Windows computer).
The second one, Media, will allow you to play multimedia
- music, video, text
- using the Moonshell OS.
The third one, Slot-2, will allow you to boot a Slot-2 (Game Boy Advance) game. , See the list linked under references for the compatibility guide
- anything with a green square behind R4 is a go!
About the Author
Denise Jones
Committed to making home improvement accessible and understandable for everyone.
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