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[eldumbles]

Hi guys

I'm a newbie on this forum and to NDS/Supercard, but have been reading here for a couple of weeks & searching for answers... but I cannot get any NDS roms working on my DS even after trying all suggestions I've come accross. I'll try to put as much info into this post to avoid any confusion over what I've done so far!

I got my Supercard (SD) and Superpass this week along with a 512MB Kingston SD card. The card was already formatted FAT and I've created folders for NES, GBA and NDS roms in the root of the card.

I copied the mysd_for_NDS_PassMe.bin to the root and ran it in GBA mode to successfully upgrade the firmware to 1.5.

I've used v2.41 of the SC patching software (for SD) and have got the GBA games working on my DS with no problems. NES roms are also working fine (not patched).

I've inserted the Superpass (with Metroid demo) into the NDS slot and my DS boots straight into dual screen mode, so I'm assuming the 1.5 firmware works fine.

Tried patching various NDS roms with the 2.41 software and copied them to my SD card. They load into memory but don't work! I just get 2 white screens.

Tried patching the same NDS roms with ndspatcher.exe instead (with and without -nosave option), but again, none of them work.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do/try to get NDS games running from the supercard? A step by step walkthrough for getting a clean rom (0050 - Zoo Keeper, to keep things small and simple) patched & running would be ideal.

Thanks in advance!

ElD

[mgarrine]

i'm sorry for your situation...

it seems like you have folled the correct procedure with the  exact steps...

:roll:  i would have suggested to you the same thinghs you've donce since far..

so let try some simple solutions: reformat again your sd card with a another pc (a laptop if possible)
put the NDS games in the root of your sd card (not other folders!!!)

i hope you can reach a beter point in your walk to the Ds paradise... :wink:

[eldumbles]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't see how I would need to reformat the SD card though, as all other files (NES & GBA) read and run with no problems.

Am I right in assuming that because my DS boots straight into the dual screen supercard menu, the superpass if working as it should.

Can you suggest a ROM (including the #) that should work fine after being patched with the 2.41 software, so that I can narrow down the possible problem on my part?

Please give me idiot-proof instructions on how to get a known working rom patched. At the moment I'm doing:

1. Take rom '0050 - Zoo Keeper.nds'
2. Open 2.41 s/w and add the rom to the list.
3. Click on 'out'
4. Copy resulting files (.nds & .dsi) to SD card & insert in DS
5. Turn on DS and select *.nds
6. Game loads
6. White Screens!!!

If anyone can point out any mistakes I may be making, that would be great!

ElD

[recall2000]

I've just done the same here, on roms 0050 and 0106. Sizes before/after are;

8,388,608 0050 - Zoo Keeper (E)(Trashman).nds
8,388,608 0050 - Zoo Keeper (E)(Trashman).nds.dsi
33,554,432 0106 - Pac'n Roll (U)(Trashman).nds
33,554,432 0106 - Pac'n Roll (U)(Trashman).nds.dsi

I patched them with the 2.41 patcher, with just the top option selected (Saver Patch) - dunno why, habit from the GBA roms. Anyway. Then I coped the .nds.dsi files (no need for the .nds files) to my SD card.

and....yep, Zoo Keeper works fine...and so does Pac n Roll...check your file sizes and options in the SC util.

[eldumbles]

Thanks - Exactly the sort of info I was after!

So the *.nds.dsi file that the patcher creates is the only file I need to put on my SD card?

I take it that I need to leave the file extension as .nds.dsi and NOT trim it down to just .nds?

Thanks

ElD

[recall2000]

Yea, just the file(s) in the out folder..i.e. the .nds.dsi, and leave them as they are.

Works for me - both of those roms above. Let us know if it works..

[eldumbles]

recall2000:

Got them working! Thanks a ton for all your help with this - So simple when you've got the right information!

Next step is to flash my DS firmware with FlashMe... Have you done this, yourself? I'm a bit dubious about screwing my DS up (esp as I've just got it all working nicely), but the superpass looks damn ugly poking out the top!

[recall2000]

Excellent. Good to hear.

For FlashMe I followed http://www.dspassme.com/FlashMe.shtml . It's very simple, but bear in mind the text on the screen was slightly different for mine. I didn't get the text in the bottom right as described. I got a percentage counter that went up to 100%. Maybe a newer version of the firmware?

Also I had problems finding something to bridge the connections, in fact it stopped at 2% and I got a little worried. I used the end of an Allen key that fit through the hole. When it stopped at 2% I just wet the end with my tongue and put it back in and it carried on to 100%. Bit scary, but it's not that bad.

Good luck.

[eldumbles]

Thanks again.

Just bit the bullet and flashed it... before noticing  your reply.

Found it a bit nerve-wracking - hands were trembling like a mofo - but all in all a very quick and easy procedure! I must have spent more time hunting round the office looking for something to bridge the contacts, than actually downloading FlashMe and flashing the DS!

Ended up using a big, fat paperclip bent straight in the end.

NOW I'm verrrry happy... I've got a nice clean DS that runs everything just fine!

Cheers for all your help with this!

[recall2000]

Hehe - same as me then - I found a screwdriver to open the DS no problem, but then hunted around for 20 minutes for something the right size for bridging the contacts.