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[The Frisk]

i get all my stuff from one site,so i ended up just redownloading it from there.

[PharaohsVizier]

I have been fiddling with my DS Linker, and I have so much to say for my review, and still I feel I haven't even touched what this card can do yet.  I am REALLY impressed with how this card performs.  And the major plus is how there are so many different teams working to get this card working out well, I have downloaded stuff from the N-Card site, the DS Linker site, the MK5 site.  I think the Neo team is really kicking it up a notch for this cart.

[sonicwind]

I have to disagree neo is just taking what everyone else already has and copying it under the neo name.  If they actually had to PRODUCE the product themselves it would be a piece of garbage that no one would buy.

[PharaohsVizier]

O I didn't know, I just found a lot of useful stuff on the MK5 site.

[h8uthemost]

You haven't found a site that has a Soft Reset implemented in their firmware, have you? I think all the sites are pretty much the same though, download wise. Don't forget you can also change the skin pretty easily.

[PharaohsVizier]

You can change the skin?!  How so?

[PharaohsVizier]

I'm trying to just replace the files under Roms and it isn't working...  is there a manual somehwere?

[h8uthemost]

Sorry I couldn't reply earlier. Here's a little tutorial someone else posted. Just follow this guide. This is actually for the UItraFlash PassEX firmware. But I did it on the DS-Linker firmware too, since they are both the same.


HOW TO CUSTOM SKIN ULTRA FLASHPASSEX AND OTHER RELATED CARDS


SOME ADVICE:

This guide will simply detail the process I used to make this work - I can't make any guarantees as to it's success for you!
I had an N-CARD, updated my firmware to the latest UFPEX and then ran the following process.
I do not believe you need to have the latest firmware update to make this work - you should be able to skin the card anyhow, but I'm not 100% sure.

Secondly, when replacing your images with something you like, think about the DS screen dimensions. Wide pics work better than square ones (which ten to look more squashed). I just googled some anime images and took the ones which seemed to be similar dimensions and then shrunk them to the right file size).

Finally, make a backup before carrying out the process. Better to be safe than sorry when flashing cards. I flashed mine and all my roms and save files were fine, but make backups all the same!

If the following doesn't work - post here and let me know. I can't guarantee an answer but I can always have a think...



First of all, Ultra Flashpass EX (UFPEX) is technically the same card as the DS-LINKER and the N-CARD. My card was originally an N-card, but I updated the Firmware to the current latest (1.23A) by downloading and following the instructions on the "official" site:

www.ndsgba.net

As the cards are identical, custom skinning (changing the wallpaper backgorunds and even the 'wait' icon) should be the same for all.
Here's how to do it:

Visit www.ndsgba.net and head to the downloads section for UFPEX
From there find the Firmware download listed on Feb 11th 2007 (FW 1.23A) and download the zip.

Extract the zip and you should find the basic framework for the cards setup, including your system folder - this is good to keep as a backup just in case.
The is also an extra folder in the zip for the UFPEX 1.23A Firmware. Go inside.

In there you'll see a number of .BAT (batch) files, each one corresponding to the size of your card. For instance, if you have a 16gb card, you're looking for NAND_16gb.bat. We'll come back to these files later.
Also in the folder is another folder called ROMS - go in here next.

In the ROMS folder you'll see a few .bat files and exe's. You'll also see the three picture images of your DS card backgrounds (two for the wallpaper, one for the wait symbol)

These originals are going to be overwritten, so if you want to save them make copies elsewhere now.

Then, open all three in photoshop, find the images you want to replace them with and resize exactly. They must be the same sizes, and file extensions - so two BMP's and a GIF (for the 'wait' symbol) - it's also important to remember that when you save your replacement images, GIVE THEM THE EXACT SAME NAMES!

Now that your custom images are saved, replace the images in the ROMS folder with your own.
Next, run the file called 'changeskin.bat'

You should get a quick window pop up and then go away.

Next, it's time to plug in your DS with the usb linker. Turn on the DS and hold up on the d-pad. Don't let go and immediately hold down L,R A and B as well. You should be holding all of these while you go past the initial DS startup screen. You should then see a red message on the screen with (addr) in brackets at the end. Now the DS is ready to be flashed.

With this connection active, go back to the UFPEX firmware folder.
Remember the NAND .BAT files inside?
Find the NAND.BAT file corresponding to your card size, (so if it's 8g card, the NAND_8g.BAT etc) and double click.
You should get a black system window appear and run through a list, including BMP checks. it'll write to the card and then close.

Now turn the DS off, and back on again. With any luck, your new background images and wait symbol (if you added one) should be there!
Awesome new skins for your DS, and every gaming punk who's as anal as me should be now happy! wink.gif

All credit to Zatelli, who wrote the original review on the UFPEX and made me aware that skinning was actually possible, and thanks for all his help and advice that got this done!


Let me know if you have any questions.

[h8uthemost]

Actually, here's a Dawn of Sorrow skin I made for mine. I also have a Luigis Mansion one I made for my girls if you want it.

Just replace the three image file in the Dawn of Sorrow folder, with the three image files in the Roms folder in the DS-Linker firmware download. Then just click on changeskin.bat file, then re-flash the firmware to the card. And the new skin will show up.

Easy as that.

EDIT:

Oh yeah, I just re-read your post. You were just replacing the file in the ROMS folder. You have to double click on the changeskin.bat after you replace them. That will actually flash the new images into the firmware.

http://rapidshare.com/files/23903240/Dawn_of_Sorrow1.rar

[PharaohsVizier]

Hmmm I got the wait and the bottom screen working.  Top screen remains the same...  Odd.

[h8uthemost]

Did use the Dawn of Sorrow skin, or one you made?

Because I'm thinking maybe the top was is named wrong. But even if it was, it wouldn't let you flash the firmware. You would get an error.

Hmmm...that is strange.

http://rapidshare.com/files/20301494/Luigis_Mansion.rar

Maybe try this Luigi Mansion one. I don't know why the top screen didn't change for you. Did you just re-flash the firmware, without formatting first? I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

[PharaohsVizier]

Ah ha, I got it, I had to reformat the card.  

[h8uthemost]

Awww, that sucks. I was hoping it could be done without formatting first. I've only changed my skins by formatting first, but I was really hoping you could just re-flash the firmware, without reformatting.

Oh well though, it's not that big of a deal. It's worth it to get a prettier skin on.

[PharaohsVizier]

Lol, way worth it!  Interestingly enough, I have just received my EZ Flash 3 in 1, gonna be one hell of a week.  

[h8uthemost]

Damn! *Jeaously*

Good for you though.

I think I'm going to order the EZ FlashV and 3in1 bundle at the end of the week.