How to Copy Games From the R4 to the Chip
The R4 media cartridge for the Nintendo DS allows players to download and play unlicensed games and software on the system. Some games and applications, rather than being designed for the R4 itself, must be copied to a memory chip inserted in the Game Boy Advance (GBA) slot of the DS. There's only one program that does this, Rudolph's GBA ExpLoader. This software is free and designed for stability and ease of use.
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Things You'll Need
- MicroSD card and reader for R4 cartridge (included with purchase)
- Slot-2 memory chip for DS such as EZ-Flash or Nintendo Memory Extender
Instructions
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Download the GBA ExpLoader from the site in Resources. Double-click the downloaded file to unzip.
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Connect your R4's MicroSD card to the USB port of your computer using the MicroSD reader. Copy all files from the unzipped GBA ExpLoader folder to the MicroSD card.
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Make folders on your MicroSD card called "GBA" and "GBA_SAVE." Place data files for the Game Boy Advance games or software you wish to run in the "GBA" directory, then eject the card and insert it into your R4 cartridge.
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Insert the R4 cartridge into Slot 1 (the small slot on the top edge) of your DS. Insert your memory chip into Slot 2 (the large slot on the bottom edge). Turn the DS on and select "R4" from the system menu.
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Select "GBA ExpLoader" from the R4 menu. Use the D-pad to select the GBA game or software you wish to send to the chip, then press "A." The file will be copied to the chip. Press "A" again to launch the file.
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Tips & Warnings
It's illegal to use the R4 cartridge or any memory-expansion chips to run commercially-available games. Only use the ExpLoader software to run public-domain or "home-brew" games such as those found in the Resources section.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit game image by Svetlana Kashkina from Fotolia.com
