How to run Homebrew on your Nintendo DS!

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Update: 9/7/08, added in a FAQ Section.

Ever felt your DS could do more? A lot more? It can do more, and it can be activated through DS Homebrew. This Part by Part guide will help you learn about what is Homebrew, how to run it, where to buy items, recommended downloads and more.

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And ideas, suggestions, questions, feel free to either PM me or just leave a comment here as long as you read the FAQ. ;)
~Noodle93
Stumble It!

Step 1 What is Homebrew?

Homebrew is basically an independent developer, (whether it be one person or a team of programmers not working for any specific Major Name Developer, such as EA, Activision, Nintendo etc.

Homebrew run on the DS is either named:
- NAME.sc.nds
- NAME.nds.gba
- NAME.nds

E.g DSorganize.nds.gba or DSorganize.nds
I will be explaining each filetype later.

Comments

[crown3DS]

Now,many cards can work well on 3ds v4.0.0-7 as well as dsi v1.44,i have tested my ak2i on my v4.0.0-7 and my sister's dsi v1.44,works well.

[whatevers]

Can i use just any SD card?

[Noodle93]

First you need a flashcard. Once you have a flash card, you can then use whatever SD format they use. R4 for example uses Standard MicroSD, which basically means non "SDHC" (secure digital high capacity, only exists for >8gb). Others can use SDHC, but then you'll have to refer to their manual.

[robbiehayden926]

HERE http://www.mynds.fr/ you can find many information useful and help u more about nds games m3 carte and other

[whatevers]

OK thanks

[uoflcardsfan150]

Hello there, I just read your instructable on "How to run Homebrew on your Nintendo DS!" and had a question about the actual R4 device itself. I have looked everywhere regarding it's legal status and still have yet to find a reliable answer. So please forgive me for asking, but is the R4 cartridge legal to buy and own in the U.S? Thank you if you read this

[jackyang]

If you have any questions, please contact our customer service![e-mail],learn about R4DS

[Noodle93]

Yes certainly. The R4 is indeed legal. The device itself does not break any U.S. laws (I believe). Where the biggest problem is, is that the R4, and all the other flashcarts are primarily used to download DS roms. THIS is illegal. No matter what people tell you that if you own it you can download it legally, you can't. Unless you own the game yourself, then you dump the ROM yourself from the Game Card (a very difficult process), then it is not legal. This is how I have interpreted the U.S. copyright laws and yes, there are many unreliable answers. Using one goes against Nintendo's usage policy, but purchasing and using one is perfectly legal.

[uoflcardsfan150]

Hello there, I just read your instructable on "How to run Homebrew on your Nintendo DS!" and had a question about the actual R4 device itself. I have looked everywhere regarding it's legal status and still have yet to find a reliable answer. So please forgive me for asking, but is the R4 cartridge legal to buy and own in the U.S? Thank you if you read this

[R4iCardz]

You can get an assortment of R4 cards and the various types, which work with the Nintendo DS from various stores. The key is get a big micro sd card, which means that it can hold a lot of data.

[jackyang]

$14.5 on http://www.r4icard-ds.co.uk/r4-ds-card-kingston-2gb-micro-sd-memory-card-p-410.html

[mom123]

how mutch did it cost

[chrizw123]

Hey everyone. Is there a way to put GBA ROMs on my r4i without any extra hardware? thnx:P

[MK3424]

No, the R4i does not have enough ram and cpu for gba games but the dsiplayer can play gba games

[skee ball]

does the thing you download on to your r4 have any virus's

[Maxaxle]

Useful? Yes. But I think it could be a bit more extensive.

[king kolton9]

has anyone that hacks ever heard of an ar its not a ipod ect bu8t it is a cheat code organizer and u can put a game card into it to hack and play em

[FethrdWlf]

I own a DSi. What card supports them instead of the DS or DS Lite?

[junits15]

Most of the time a card supports ds/ds lite + dsi or only just ds/ds lite. There isnt many the only support the dsi

[toygreen]

r4ds,m3 ds real...  I Think the gamehouse88.com is good for .maybe you can have a look at it .

[junits15]

R4s are all fake, and even though the copies have become really close its not safe to use them. The CAN brick your console, the R4 team abandoned the project years ago. Now the best cart to use is either an acekart or a cyclods the cycl ds can cost twice as much as the acekard sometimes.

[Noodle93]

Sigh. This instructable is redundant due to the change of technology.

[toogers]

it still applies to my situation, my DS got stolen but since i still have my R4 i don't want a DSi. i'm looking at used ds lites/originals.

[r4mania]

If you have a DSi console, we recommend that you consult the category for DSi cards and select the R4i Gold card or the Red R4i card. You will be able to use the Gold card on both DSi and the DS Lite consoles (you will need to connect your DSi to the internet and download the 1.4 upgrade).

If you need more information about your issue , Please visit :

http://www.r4card-mania.co.uk/

[Noodle93]

I haven't used it, but http://www.acekard.com/product.php?type=ak2i seems to be the most popular atm.

[Evilthingamabober]

You got ripped off by that store; the R4 costs $35, not $50!!!!!!!!!!

[shawntherobot]

you guys really got ripped of i bought it for 17.00 here its on sale right now. I f you dont want it to come with the sd card its only 7.85 6.95 dollars shipping it comes with usb card reader and Its at http://www.dscardsdepot.com/ds-cards-r4-revolution.html?gclid=CKXxt4_OrJ4CFcZM5QodyHrkpg.

[evanwehrer]

I bought mine for 9$

[shawntherobot]

did you get an sd card with it cause the r4 only cost me 7.00 without sd card also i dont use r4 anymore  isold my ds and bought a psp

[Arbitror]

You got ripped off! I bought a DSTT off of DealExtreme for $5, and it had free shipping and 1 year of limited warranty, and they would also replace the card if you received a cloned/fake DSTT card!

[Noodle93]

Hey dude. I'm in Australia, that guy corrected me in USD. Also observe when the post was made. Last year. Yes, technology is getting cheaper, but this is no competition to who can find it the cheapest. This is merely a guide to homebrew.

[masterchrisx3]

$16 on http://www.r4ds-ds.com/products/R4-DS-Revolution-%252b-Kingston-MicroSD-TF-2GB-Memory-Card.html

[NatureBoom21]

25 dollars including memory card and everything, freee shipping, and screen protectors.

[Noodle93]

$50 AUD.

[uk-memory-cards]

Well, best website for memory cards is the following....

www.uk-memory-cards.co.uk

[Scytheon3]

I've got a wiki about this but it hasn't got any users yet so there is barely any content :( If anyone wants to have a look it's here

[erikals]

i see you can run the mac os on ds
what version?

great instructable, by the way.

[Noodle93]

Nonono, not mac os, just a skin for the R4 filesystem.

[abdulhamka1]

Alright I was wondering if I can use an AceKard 2i? Its basically the same design as an r4.

[Dr. Pepper]

can u do this on a psp