Clarification of use of GBA Slot

[Vortex]

Hi,
I have been researching the neoflash magic key as a way of getting homebrew software onto the DS and many sites that mention the Magic Key are ambiguous at best, the problem is that I want to keep the GBA slot available for some hardware of my design, and want to confirm that the latest editions of magic key, ie the Magic Key 3 do not require a cartrige to be inserted into the GBA slot.
I have not yet purchased a DS yet but intend to buy one new when next in Japan, unfortunately I miss the shipping date on the DS Lite by 4 days, but should be able to bargain some Akihabara Otaku types for a lower price.
this means it will have the latest firmware. can someone also confirm the steps I will need to take to run homebrew code from an SD card with the Magic key 3 on a latest firmware DS.
as far as I can determine the steps to follow will be.
1) I need a passme2 for the latest firmware.
2) then I can plug the magic key 3 in through the passme2 in a weird form of cartrige coupling,
3) then I can update (downgrade?) the firmware, so that it does not require the passme2
4) run the homebrew softs from the SD card on the DS

Is that all right?

will the flashing of the FlashRAM in the DS require opening the DS and hence voiding my warranty?

when will the magic key 4 come out integrating the passme2 behaviour and hence negating the need for such.

cool

thanks

vortex (AUS)

[cory1492]

It does not necisarrily mean you will get the new firmware. There are still plenty of old firmware DS's on the shelves.

To check the firmware version you can do this:
http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,1565.0.html
if it comes up yellow then you KNOW it is the new firmware.

MK2/3 will be able to boot without a GBA cart, provided:
1 - the firmware of the DS is updated with a custom flashme (not realized/released yet)
2 - the MK2/3 has been updated with the menu that supports this (not realized/released yet)

1) yes, you do. If you get a DS with the latest firmware. From what I understand, Japan ran out of DS's during christmas, and imported a bunch back in from the US. There is still a decent chance you would run into an old firmware on a new ds.

2) I dont advise plugging a MK into a Passme. It could damagae your DS, and probably wont work anyway.

3) You program (or get it programmed when you order it) passme2 to a game you own. You plug that game into it, and it into the DS. You program your flash cart with the proper SRAM file for the game you own. Then you can update your DS's firmware with flashme.

4) You can then run the menu off a GBA flash cart (for the time being) and run homebrew from the SD card.

Any way you look at it, you will need a GBA flash cart to at least update your firmware (to be able to run the MK3 menu directly, once that update is released).

MK4 has not been announced. Whether it will work like a passme2, or whether it will work as a DS cart is not known at this point. Anything is possible.

[bruceg]

To further elaborate on cory's points, see the detailed guide here (it should cover everything you want to know).  I've simplified and re-written this so many times now that most people should be able to follow it (just ask if you still have any questions):

http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,1529.msg7919.html#msg7919

BruceG

P.S. No, you don't have to open the ds to install flashme..  Just need to remove the battery cover..

[bruceg]

To check the firmware version you can do this:
http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php/topic,1565.0.html
if it comes up yellow then you KNOW it is the new firmware.

cory, as an aside, there's that new firmware 5 revision (magenta).  As of now, I'm unsure whether that is PassME1/WifiME compatible as well.

http://www.ndshb.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=33

It mentions 'yellow' ONLY as well in this link, but if you look at the very bottom, it says firmware 4 AND 5 require passme2... so this is contradictory if I'm reading this correctly

BruceG

[cory1492]

You are right bruce, been outta the loop for a short time and didnt see they came across a V5. Seems so far the only V5's out there are from HK, but I could be wrong on that.

Its true though, if it comes up with yellow then you know its definitly a new firmware, if it comes up with purple/magenta then it is also... I guess.

Updated the guide with a link to the origional post and an actual quote wrather than a quote of a quote of a quote ;-)