Whats the point of *NDS files?

[hype_chao]

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?

[cory1492]

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.

[hype_chao]

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...

[boblen]

you shouldent need to patch the roms...

Are you useing MK1/2/3?

[hype_chao]

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?

[Kushan]

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.

[hype_chao]

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...

[bruceg]

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

[boblen]

yes thats all the FlashMe is for - to make your DS look neater

[Kushan]

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.

[hype_chao]

NeoMax???
Whats that?

[boblen]

its a MK3 with SD card surport

you put the meno on the GBA Flash cart and roms on SD card

[Kushan]

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.

[hype_chao]

FORMAT?
Does that mean it would no longer work with Neo Power Kit?

[Kushan]

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.