Cephyros

I personally would update tot he latest software on the manager first, i think the 2 people having the biggest problems hay have been slightly earlier than latest. in either case unless you have a flash cart or have the money to replace the cart (or get a flash cart) your taking a risk no matter what you do make sure al the codes you want are in it before you flash.

2.0 link is interesting. that 1.6 would put you in the same boat, its designed for the same hardware as the 1.71, you may be able to force a downgrade if you can figure out the pinout and data specs of the NDSAR chip. The best way is the flashcart downgrade method i posted on the same directional post as the upgrade method. unless you mean a bruteforce on the cart via USB, this is not possible due to the fact that the new software doesnt recognize the older USB chip(i assume, i havent access to a newer version2 cart to crack open and compare) but in any case without USB communication its similar to building a brick wall between the chip and the driver.

Thats an ARv2 firmware so it will need the same edits, and probably have the same flaws, but THANK YOU, i was looking all over for that, now does anyone have any other firmware versions for the arv1 cart aside fromt he software update ones? Your welcome

Well, that idea is a bust. Its got a standard flash chip(SST 39VF080) that contains the codes, a standard USB driver chip (Cypress CY7C63743) and a specialized datel chip(Datel NDSAR) of which there are no datasheets.

a gen 1 is the ards that you need to take out and put the game in, the gen 2 lets the game plug into the back of the ar. How handy are you guys with soldering, i can crack mine open adn see what it woudl take for a manual reflash if that would help anyone.

Thank you for the warnings.

do you have a flash cart? something maybe went wrong in the update, could you have accidentally changed another byte? i dont know, I recommend reverting and trying again.

First time ive seen this come up, what version was your AR prior to flash? See if it works like an original generation 1 action replay, take the cart out and put the game in then select the codes and boot the came with the AR completely removed from the slot.

this may sound like a dumb questions, but i always try for the simplest explination. after it brings you back to the start screen have you tried starting the game, or does it not let you at all? This sounds like it may be a new problem, this is a passthrough cart too?

ok, good. Well, better than new bugs at least

i wonder whats diffferent between ours and yours. all 3 were gen 2 passthrough carts, yet mine, and raz's flashed and ratained all codes/still works just cant add codes, yours on the other hand doesnt even boot games with the codes, is this correct? What firmware version was it prior to the flash, if you remember?

"If you would like to upgrade to the DSi Action Replay, you may purchase a used DSi Action Replay for $9.99 + Shipping & Handling at http://www.datelgaming.com/DSi_Action_Replay_p/dus0162%20-%20used.htm. These Action Replays have been fully tested and come with a 30 day warranty. " This was in an e-mail from datel, its the cheapest way to upgrade ive seen unless shipping is more than 10 bucks(it may be, i havent ordered one) What kind of cart do you have SQRL? is it the type with the pass-through or is it the original swap carts to play?

1 means there is no connectivity between the ARDS and and PC for firmware updating or code transfer 2: Unfortunately it has been discovered that it does not alow code entry any longer it says Insert Action Replay. unless you know there will never be any more codes you want to enter, or you get a flash cart to revert it i dont recommend it. when you revert it it keeps all codes and you can add more then re-upgrade.

If you can transfer codes its not the cable, i know i cant eveng et mine to connect in windows 7 i ahve to use windows XP. Thad being said have you tried to run action replay code manager in windows XP compatability mode? it might be a windows 7 problem?

unfortunately the way i wrote about the flash cart is the only "certain" way, the pre 1.57 firmware ARDS should work but untested, I could not find any other way.

Shoot, i can confirm this on mine...Im sorry i sent all my codes before i upgraded it and the entry form appeared to work untill now i never attempted to save the code. Do you know anybody with an NDS flash card or an action reply like your own?

No problem!

Thats the updating step where you drag the firmware1.71.bin to the white bar in the code manager as shown on the datel site.

Yes, look about midway through the last page i put up directions on how to get it to update. However keep in mind that if you do update the USB will cease to function, everything else will be fine.

Do NOT Try it!. You do have a firmware 2 AR and is updatable!. Try removing anything in the GBA slot and any game attached to the action replay, boot the action replay as being the ONLY thing in the DS then flashing the firmware, Ive heard this solves the protocol problem. This method not only will not work for you but in all likelihood will cause the "not a firmware file" error when you do it.

Everything i can find points to 1.6 being updatable and less than is a firmware version 1 type. If your getting the not a firmware file error on the 1.6 you can try this....it may work, you may even get the usb still working on it, however without a way to reverse it i wouldnt recommend trying it first. However if your going to get an ardsi in the end it might not hurt to try it, unless you had plans for it otherwise after you get the new one. if you want to get a flashcart you can get a dstti on foundmy.com for $15, they are a neat little all around toy to have. otherwise above was a link datel gave me for used ardsi's for $10 or just work with what you got!

Thats correct. however if your planning to do this i would wait in your case, it sounds like it would work however i have not been able to find a 1.6 firmware bin to verify it is indeed the same case as mine, all i can seem to find is 1.57 i know and the ar2m 1.71. Soon as i find a 1.6 to test i will let you know (and post it for whomever wants to update their firmware 1)

Do you still have the 1.6 update bin you used? I would like to take a look at it. If not can you run the software update and send me the bin it spits out? the USB lib wil likely not be fixed unless datel does something, either that or somone talented in ASM can decompile a firmware 1 bin and a firmware 2 bin then pick and chose the correct parts and get it to correctly compile again. Easier said than done. IMHO Datel needs to just get off their butts and stop jerking around their customer base.

not exactly that sd version wont help at all as the ards rom is a commercial rom and will not boot on the ar media version. you need a flash cart similar to the cyclods or m3real, maybe r4. OR an older version 1 action replay might work if you boot into it then switch out that action replay for the upgraded one and flash the firmware to that one, this is unconfirmed but theorized. i emailed and got basically the same email with the added line this may be an alternative to the less techie.I have a generation 2 cart with generation 1 original firmware, must have been a very early generation 2, experimenting and figuring out the above i was able to use 1.71 with the limitation stated. I replied to date in a less that positive way. Looking forward to the reply. I suspect my instructions above work on a generation1 cart pictured above but i don't have one to try if somebody can confirm(someone who has the flash cart to revert if it doesn't) Let me know.

Dev carts are a tool that allow one to run homebrew or their own unsigned code on a nintendo DS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_storage_devices since this is a very grey area and i dont wish to break any rules so i will leave it at that. i should say that you might be able to reflash an ARDS using a second good ARDS using the same method from step 4, however i only have one ARDS and this is only a theory and untested.