FlashMe

From PHWiki

FlashMe is a collaboration between Loopy, FireFly, and DarkFader. It's a hacked firmware for DS that allows you to start code in DS mode from a flash card in the GBA slot.

Contents

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Requirements

  • GBA Flash Card
  • DS mode boot method (see also DS Homebrew)
  • Screwdriver to open the battery lid
  • Something small and metal to short the SL1 pads

New DS firmware or DS Lite - you need NoPass or PassMe2 and a GBA Flash Card to install FlashMe.
Old DS firmware - you need PassMe, PassMe2, NoPass or WifiMe and a GBA Flash Card.
See DS Firmware for how to check which firmware your DS has.

You also need to open the battery lid of the DS and insert a screwdriver or similar to make contact between the SL1 pads.

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Features

  • The button combination A+B+X+Y, gamecode "PASS" or title "DSBooter" on the GBA cartridge automatically starts program from GBA cartridge (starting from offset 0xC0), as with PassMe.
  • Fallback to standard firmware: The Select button skips gamecode detection. This means you can hold Select to boot the DS card, Select+B to boot the GBA card, or Select+Start to enter the firmware menu. Useful if you have a card with GBA/DS dual compatible firmware, such as a GBA Movie Player v2 with Chishm's firmware.
  • Failsafe feature: The button combination A+B+Select+Start starts program from GBA cartridge even if most of the firmware is erased, but it doesn't initialize as much of the hardware. [1]
  • Backlight fades in at startup.
  • Effectively removes the health screen, making it less annoying to boot. If you want to maintain the health screen, such as for warranty purposes, the official FlashMe page has a so-called "stealth" version that does not remove the health screen.
  • Remove RSA signature check for Wireless MultiBooting (WMB) homebrew NDS files.
  • As of October 23, 2005, FlashMe now recognizes the new v4 firmware that originally appeared in the red DS, downgrading it to v3 firmware.
  • As of January 1, 2006, FlashMe's installer now displays the version of your original firmware, version of FlashMe you currently have installed, and the version you are trying to install.
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Information from official site

What is it?
Currently it is a hacked version of original firmware.
Version: NDS-FW-V7.

  • The button combination A+B+X+Y, gamecode "PASS" or title "DSBooter" on the GBA cartridge automatically starts program from GBA cartridge (starting from offset 0xC0). Most applications (like FlashMe) that were packaged with a newer ndstool already have a built-in nds loader, removing the need to prepend an auxillary nds loader to make it compatible with the FlashMe/PassMe boot method.
  • Fail-safe feature: The first part of firmware is write-protected with the SL1 contact. In case malware erases the rest, you can still reinstall FlashMe from GBA cartridge by holding START+SELECT+A+B keys.
  • Backlight fades in at startup.
  • Effectively removes the health screen, making it less annoying to boot.
  • Remove RSA signature check for Wireless MultiBooting (WMB) homebrew NDS files.

Download the installation file and flash it on a GBA flashcard and boot it using PassMe or WifiMe.
An alternate version is also available which leaves the health and safety warning screen unchanged.
Note for EZ-Flash III users: Extract loader.bin of ezf3me.zip to the flash manager directory.
Open the battery lid, remove the square white/pink sticker from the hole indicated by the arrow in the picture below and make contact between the two SL1 pads by putting a solid metal object in the hole. You could use a screw or screwdriver for example.
DO NOT SWITCH OFF OR REMOVE BATTERY UNTIL IT IS FINISHED! The process is only PAUSED when SL1 contact is lost.
Please do not remove the battery or touch the other two holes!
You can also uninstall in a similar way. Uninstalling is not recommended as you will lose the fail-safe feature!
Once malware hits your DS you will have to 'reinstall' FlashMe using a GBA cartridge or using the ppflash utility.
Also do not try to install older versions! Always try to get the latest version.
The creators of this hack take absolutely no responsibility.

PassMe resources:

passme.txt - Information.
ndstool.exe - The NDS utility can now also be used to generate PassMe code.

Thanks to: Loopy (for patch/install), FireFly (for signature patch), Costis (for site hosting), DarkFader (for info/ppflash/passthrough).

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Sleep Function

In order to have the automatic pause system (when the console is closed) still working for commercial roms and demos, an original DS Game Card must be kept in SLOT-1. Otherwise, the DS will enter and exit sleep mode. (This issue does not apply to DS homebrew.)

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DS Lite

Version NDS-FW-V7 fully supports the LCD settings of the DS Lite. Please note, there are TWO VERSIONS of NDS-FW-V7. One is 269KiB in size and the other is 525KiB in size. Only the the 525KiB version will have the backlight control for DS Lites. The 269KiB version does not.

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Installation

Installation instructions from dspassme.com

DS Lite installation instructions from GBAtemp (login required)

Installation instructions for regular NDS system by ZeakStarwind.

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Uninstallation

Use the latest NoFlashMe.nds file to uninstall FlashMe from your system. You will need to short the SL-1 contact again.

WARNING: Using NoFlashMe.nds on a DS Lite causes certain firmware features to break, and users have reported issues with Pictochat, among other things. This is because NoFlashMe.nds contains a copy of the original DS Phat firmware, which malfunctions when installed on a DS Lite. To remedy this, the unofficial NoFlashMe Lite is recommended. See the Download section for a mirror.

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Download

Unofficial download link from GBAdev thread (see Links section):

  • FlashMe v7 full installation - includes flashme.nds, flashme_stealth.nds, and noflashme.nds

Local mirror:

DS Lite specific:

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See Also

DS Firmware, PassMe, WifiMe, DS Homebrew, DS Piracy

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Links

Retrieved from "http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/FlashMe"