Neo TeAm Forum

NEO Team's Projects for the GBA/NDS/NDS lite => NEO Flash and Magic Key 1/2/3 help, FAQ/guides and discussion => Topic started by: hype_chao on February 23, 2006, 06:15:18 PM

Title: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 23, 2006, 06:15:18 PM
I have quite a few *NDS files, and I have noticed the Neo Power Kit supports them, but when i burn them to the cart, they don't run, and they don't appear when i put the card back into the reader.
So, i ask.
What are they for?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: cory1492 on February 23, 2006, 07:01:51 PM
For older homebrew .nds files you need to prepend a loader (ndsmall.bin works fine)

For commercial NDS dumps, they need to be patched first. NPK does not support patching itself, there are some GST patcher programs that will do that though.

Essentially the nds_mode and .nds file support are dumb, nds_mode.bat removes the GBA loader and .nds file support is just adding another file type to be able to burn without renaming or going through wildcards to see the files.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 06:02:12 PM
I can get hombrews to work (the ones on this site are awsome!) but its the commercials i don't understand, i have that gst patcher thing, and all that does is compress it... I think...
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on February 24, 2006, 06:04:17 PM
you shouldent need to patch the roms...

Are you useing MK1/2/3?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 07:25:08 PM
Mk1, i just got it, and I don't know the difference between them all.
Would FLASHME be a good idea to get them working?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: Kushan on February 24, 2006, 07:36:31 PM
A flashme probably wont help you much, since the MK1 is a passme (and the flashme just does the same thing only without the need for the MK1).

What kind of flash cart are you using?
If you're using a Neo/XG one then try neo power kit, it's got better support for NDS roms, however you'll only be able to burn one at a time to your cart.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 07:39:07 PM
Ok...
I am using Neo Power Kit, the newest version, but the NDS roms don't run the Neoflash 512mb card, patched or unpatched, one at a time, or otherwise...
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: bruceg on February 24, 2006, 07:40:22 PM
If your ds is already working with the magic key 1, flashme isn't required, as Kushan stated.  Flashme basically serves the same function as the magic key (to re-direct the ds to run from the gba cart).  Flashme also provides a back-up copy of the firmware, in case a homebrew application inadvertently overwrites your firmware.

If you want to run commercial nds roms on your magic key 1, flash a gst-patched rom onto your flashcart using the latest Neo Power Kit.

Grab gst-patcher 3.1 from here (it's at the bottom -- 3.1 is the latest version you can use for mk1 -- later versions are for mk2/3):

http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,875.0.html

You simply 'drag and drop' a clean rom dump onto the executable file, and it will create two files (one is a gba_save, the other is a nds_save)

For a brief explanation on which file to flash to your cart (gba_save or nds_save), see here:

http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,1743.msg11202.html#msg11202

BruceG
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on February 24, 2006, 07:42:11 PM
yes thats all the FlashMe is for - to make your DS look neater
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: Kushan on February 24, 2006, 07:44:13 PM
Ok...
I am using Neo Power Kit, the newest version, but the NDS roms don't run the Neoflash 512mb card, patched or unpatched, one at a time, or otherwise...

Sorry, my mistake, I meant to say try NeoMax, not neo power kit.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 07:50:01 PM
NeoMax???
Whats that?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on February 24, 2006, 07:52:05 PM
its a MK3 with SD card surport

you put the meno on the GBA Flash cart and roms on SD card
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: Kushan on February 24, 2006, 07:54:22 PM
Actually boblen, I was referring to the software.

http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,1471.0.html

Use this.
Format the card, add an NDS rom and click "SINGLE ROM" to flash it to the cart, then it should boot directly when you turn your DS on.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 07:59:58 PM
FORMAT?
Does that mean it would no longer work with Neo Power Kit?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: Kushan on February 24, 2006, 08:06:00 PM
Not at all.
Whenever you use NPK, it formats the cart too, just it doesn't tell you it's doing it.
Formatting is basically just erasing it and re-writing stuff to it, it's perfectly safe.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 24, 2006, 08:12:26 PM
Thankyou!
I'll try it out tommorow, its getting pretty late for me, and I'll post any further inquiries here.
You are a very helpful person Kushan! (and BruceG, thanks to him i know the differences between the two versions)
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on February 24, 2006, 08:53:40 PM
Format is like deleting everything off the SD card or GBA flash cart.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on February 26, 2006, 06:23:57 PM
Yay! Now a can play multi-pack mario kart ds!
It works.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on February 26, 2006, 06:27:49 PM
so it worked then?
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: Kushan on February 26, 2006, 09:17:14 PM
That's what he said.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: hype_chao on March 01, 2006, 08:11:24 AM
Thats what i said.
Title: Re: Whats the point of *NDS files?
Post by: boblen on March 01, 2006, 12:35:36 PM
Thats what you said.