MK3 / menu booting issues

[urthworm]

Hi,

I've followed the instructions in the FAQ section "MK2-MK3-NeoMax Requirements and Feeding" to try and get things working. I have formatted the flash card with FAT32, and don't appear to have the new version of the firmware.

However, when I get to the stage: 6) Turn on your nintendo DS.  The menu should load automatically This is where I'm having problems, I think. My menu does not load automatically - it goes to the normal DS loading screen, with no DS card detected and a "GBA Option Pack" detected.

Any clues as to what I'm doing wrong would be gratefully received.

Thanks.

[cory1492]

Try cleaning the contacts (little gold fingers) on the DS game you have inserted into the MK3, and clean the MK3's contacts too.

It sounds like the MK3 is doing nothing (if you put the mk3 in with a game in it and turn the DS on with nothing in the GBA slot you should get white screens), which says to me either you dont have a DS game in it (unlikely if you are follwing bruceg's method) or one of the contacts is dirty.

[urthworm]

Hi thanks, that's been very helpful actually - the game I was using in the Magic Key may have been the problem - I was using Mario Kart and as you said, it was not detecting anything because when I switched to a different game it now gets to the white screen.

I'll now try and get it working again, thanks!

[cory1492]

Glad to be of help. It seems others have had problems using MK, but most dont. Dont know why though..

[urthworm]

That was definitely the issue. Various carts work with varying reliability, but using Sonic Rush I can boot into the 0.5 menu.

That said, my SD Card isn't detected (I get "Error: Initializing SD/MMC") I've tried reformatting FAT and FAT32, and defragging, but it's not co-operating, so I guess I'll get hold of a different brand and see what comes of that.

[q_armando]

So maybe I can't boot menu 0.5(renamed to .gba) because of the original DS game in the MK3 ?
I am using Castelvania DS.
Does it work with anybody else's ?
Can anyone confirm this ?

[yojimbo5]

Im using Castlevania too and it is working. I use menu 0.4 however.

[q_armando]

 
Ermm...Thank you,but this is what I am saying, with Castelvania in my MK3 I can boot from menu 0.4 but not 0.5.
I would like to know if somebody can boot also from menu 0.5.
Then I could find out if it is the DS original game's fault or my flashcart's (F2A) fault.

By the way yojimbo5 , did you ever try 0.5 ? Or did you ever try an .nds version renamed to .gba and it worked ?
Please let me know seems you are the only one with an original Castelvania DS to boot from

[bruceg]

It sounds more like your flashcart, q-armando.  I've been booting using Castlevania for ALL menu versions out there, and it works fine (I have a neomax kit, though)

BruceG

[yojimbo5]

Ok ill try menu 0.5 with my cart as soon as i get back from work.

[q_armando]

Thanks,
I am almost ab-solutely-positive it's my cart fault, but a little more information doesn't hert.
I am getting a new backup tool in a couple of days, and I will be able to do some more experimantation.
Thanks anyway.

[cory1492]

If you have flashme on your DS, you can also try taking the game out of the MK2/3 and boot with it instead (possibly need to use the ABXY buttons)...

[q_armando]

thanks for all the help, I receaved yesterday my new cart, the one we were talking about, and now everything is fine.
It was my old F2A fault if some of the .nds application didn't run properly.
However I still keep it in order to boot the MK3 with menu 0.4.gba(it's the oly use I can think of for it now), and hopefully future version of the boot menu will be available in .gba format as well, or I should defenetly dump the old cart !!

[yojimbo5]

ive tried menu 0.5 after all ... sorry for the late reply

it did not boot on my cart ... i guess i have the same problem as you ... i.e. not supported flash cart.

which one did you buy ? and where ?

im looking a good 512 replacement ... but i guess 512 is not enough since the largest games are 512 and there would be not enough place for the menu !

or maybe i didnt understand completely how it works ?

maybe its better if i wait for the new 512M mk3 !!! yipee !

[q_armando]

Actually I do not wish to offend anybody  but I got a Supercard SD.
If I put menu 0.5 on the SD card it works and I can boot the MK3, but I noticed a few bugs ,and besides, having both at the same time is useless.
Ermm....to tell you the trouth I am experimenting a lot with the new card that I don't have enough time for MK now.
I will just check now and then for new updates, but for the time being I think I am all set....