Extracting and Injecting Save for Bootleg GBA Pokémon Carts

1. Run the gbabf.nds on your NDS/NDS Lite, via the NDS flashcart. Have the GBA cart inserted into Slot-2 (the GBA slot)

2. Select Detect Flash and take a photograph of the entire detected configuration that the screen shows you. This may be useful later on when trying to restore the cart, if you somehow bricked it. Not everyone has the same configuration and you shouldn’t try to use someone else’s on your cart.

3. Now, select Dump Data


4. Select 00 as the Dump Offset


5. Select 32 Mbytes as the Dump Size

(Yes, I'm aware that this is bigger than the standard size of Pokémon ROMs. Just matching the size of GBA Backup Tool)

6. Wait for the dumping to complete. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom screen of your NDS, not dissimilar to this


7. Once the dumping is complete, it'll appear on your top screen, not dissimilar to this:


8. Once done, turn off the NDS. Remove the flashcart. Read the flashcart's SD card on your computer. Go into GBA_Backup


9. The file that you just dumped would be in the folder. In this case, this is the file I just dumped.

 

10. Please keep a copy unedited and in a safe location on your computer.
 

-1. Seriously, if you do not have a safe unedited backup of the entire bootleg cart, perform the Must-do for first timers first

0. You must already have played the cart, received a starter, checked your boxes in the PC, and saved the game at least twice.

1. Run the gbabf.nds on your NDS/NDS Lite, via the NDS flashcart. Have the GBA cart inserted into Slot-2 (the GBA slot)
[Your screens would likely look different]

2. Select Dump Data


3. Select 00 as the Dump Offset

4. Select 16 Mbytes as the Dump Size


5. Wait for the dumping to complete. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom screen of your NDS, not dissimilar to this


6. Once the dumping is complete, it'll appear on your top screen, not dissimilar to this:


7. Once done, turn off the NDS. Remove the flashcart. Read the flashcart's SD card on your computer. Go into GBA_Backup


8. You will see the file. You must move this file to somewhere else on your computer
->

9. Launch the Bootleg GBA Save Extractor and Injector program.


10. Open the file


11. Wait for progress to complete.


12. Once the saves are found, select Extract


13. The save would appear in directory that the game is stored in.


14. You may now edit the save as you like on PKHeX. (look here if you've never edited a save)

15. To now inject the save back into the game, select Inject


16. Select the save. I'll be selecting a different save.


17. Once done, you would hear a ping, and the text here would update to show that injection is done


18. Copy the edited game back to your SD card


19. Now place the SD card back into your flashcart, run the gbabf.nds on your NDS/NDS Lite, while the Bootleg GBA cart is inserted into Slot-2 (the GBA slot).

20. Select Flash ROM


21. Select the game to flash


22. Select Auto Detect


23. Wait as it proceeds to flash the game. The status will show up on your bottom screen.


24. Once it is done, it'll show the status in the top screen


25. Now play the game. If it's all went well, it should show the progress of the save you injected!