Alternative R4DS Firmware: YSMenu (with automated builder)

by **macbastard** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:38 pm

User predator04 posted about the new YSMenu for the R4DS in a thread here. It's a full replacement firmware for the R4, eliminating the need to use the increasingly outdated (v1.18) official version. YSMenu is based on the firmware used by the DSTT flashcart, which still has an active development team and receives regular game compatibility updates.

The guy that creates the basis for this new firmware (Yasu) is extremely picky about people posting anything made with his programs. So unfortunately, nobody can post a "pre-made" YSMenu replacement R4 firmware.

This means that if you want to use it, you'll have to do a little work and make it yourself.

I can confirm that this alternative firmware does indeed work; it successfully boots games and runs DS Homebrew as well. I abandoned the last official (1.18) version of the of the R4 firmware, and use this with great success. Anyone that wants the most current in game compatibility for their R4 should use YSMenu.

YSMenu will function on some R4 Clones as well. See: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=2377

To make YSMenu, you've got 2 easy options that simplify the process: a2h's GUI-based builder and Maikel's R4YSAuto.

I suggest a2h's GUI-based builder.

a2h's builder does most anything most users would want or need with very little fuss. Maikel's has a few more options for making a firmware, but currently involves more tinkering to get YSMenu created. In addition, he hasn't updated R4YSAuto in a while.

Both solutions require Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7.

NOTE: If you plan on doing a full firmware replacement, I suggest backing up all of your .nds and .sav files and reformatting your MicroSD card using the Panasonic SD Formatter: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=982
This will ensure you have a fresh start when you begin using the new firmware.

a2h's YSMenu for R4 Generator

This thread on GBATemp details a2h's graphical front end for generating YSMenu for the R4. You can download a2h's application from here: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=6756

Once you've downloaded his program, unzip it and stick it in a folder some place where you'll remember.

You will need to download Yasu's YSMenu .zip file manually. a2h provides a handy link to Yasu's site in his software.

You'll want the DS(T_T)DS section of Yasu's site.

The latest versions of the YSMenu file can be found in the embedded box, linked to the posting dates.
Don't unzip the YSMenuxxxxxxxxxx.zip file. For simplicity's sake, put it in the same folder as you put a2h's builder program.

OPTIONAL: If you want faster load times in YSMenu, replace the infolib.dat file provided with a2h's builder with one from here: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=164807

Then run the simplyrevcfgng.exe file. Its pretty easy from here. Click here for a screenshot.

Under the cheats section, just choose whether you want cheats. If you do, it will download the latest cheat file available for YSMenu.
Under the Boot Method section, choose whether you want a complete firmware replacement or not. (I have the firmware replacement.)
Under the YSMenu location section, find and select the location of the YSMenuxxxxxxxxxx.zip you downloaded from Yasu's site.

Then click Start.
When the process is done a notification window will pop up, and when you close it, the folder containing your firmware will open. Copy the TTMenu folder and _DS_MENU.DAT files to your MicroSD card, reload all your .sav and .nds files and you should be good to go.

*NOTE: If you run a2h's builder and it stops after ~2 bars and reports being done without actually building the firmware, you need to put the ysmenuXXXXXXXXXX.zip and the infolib.dat it the same folder as the builder. This is mentioned on the GBATemp thread linked above and newer versions of a2h's software shouldn't have this bug. You can pick up the latest infolib file from: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=164807

Using Maikel's automater (R4YSAuto) to generate a custom R4 YSMenu:

NOTE: YOU CAN IGNORE THIS IF YOU ARE USING a2h's INSTALLER. JUST SKIP DOWN TO THE "Some differences between YSMenu and the old v1.18 R4 Firmware you should know about" SECTION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YSMENU.

If you want a few extra options in the creation process, user Maikel Steneker on GBATemp has created a .bat file that automates this process and packaged it with most of the other files necessary (R4YSAUTO.zip). You can download the file from this GBATemp thread, which also discusses development of the automater, etc.

The .bat file is for Windows only, though. At present I don't know of any solutions for MacOS users, so your best bet is to borrow someone's Windows machine or use something like BootCamp or Parrallels to run Windows on your Mac and work with it there.

The .bat file gives you options for generating firmware for several different cards (R4, N5, M3 Simply) in several different languages (English, Dutch, French and Japanese).

Once you have Maikel's file, you need Yasu's YSMenu .zip file, which can be downloaded from his site.
The most current version as of 2/08/2009 is YSMenu0902071630.zip (referenced as YSMenu*.zip in the following instructions, since the numbers on the file will change as different versions are released).

(Maikel hasn't updated this program lately, so in order to use the latest version of YSMenu to build your version for the R4, see this post: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1957&start=54#p17190 .
In a nutshell, you need to rename whatever YSMenu*.zip file you download to YSMenu0810211800.zip, and it should generate the firmware. This thread contains an unofficially updated version of Maikel's software that addresses the YSMenu*.zip filename problem. Alternatively, you can use a2h's builder below).

The YSMenu .zip files are located in the DS(T_T)DS section of his site.
The latest versions of the YSMenu file can be found in the embedded box, linked to the posting dates.

Once you've downloaded the R4YSAUTO.zip file from the linked GBATemp thread, you need to:

1. Extract the contents of the R4YSAUTO.zip file into a folder.

2. Place the latest YSMenu*.zip file from Yasu's site into the same folder. NOTE: Do not extract the contents of the YSMenu*.zip file into the folder, just place the actual .zip in it. Maikel's .bat file will do the rest.

3. (OPTIONAL) If you want to have Maikel's R4YSAuto builder generate the files with minimal user interaction, you can download one of the settings files I've attached to this post: YS_CONFIG_ENG_FULL_FIRMWARE.zip will generate a full replacement firmware, completely eliminating the standard R4 firmware (this is what I use). YS_CONFIG_ENG_MNSHL_REPLACEMENT.zip replaces the Moonshell media player and button on the R4 menu with YSMenu. YS_CONFIG_ENG_NDS_FILE.zip generates an .nds file, which allows you to launch YSMenu as you would a ROM or homebrew application. This is useful if the thought of ditching the official R4 firmware, or modifying moonshell doesn't appeal to you and you want the additional game compatibility fixes, etc, YSMenu provides. You will need to extract the settings.ini file from the .zip you download and place it in the folder with everything else.
NOTE: Each of these files create English versions of the firmware. Additionally, they will automatically check for updates to the YSAUTO program (you will still have to obtain the newest version of YSMenu on your own, though).
NOTE 2: If you want to generate your own custom configuration file, you can run the r4config.bat file.

4. Run the r4.bat file. If you didn't use the settings.ini, you will be prompted with a number of different choices to generate YSMenu. Pick whatever you wish to generate your firmware. If you downloaded one of the settings.ini files, the only thing you will need to do is press Enter at one point (the screen will stop on a block of text with hex-looking numbers on it).

5. When complete, the .bat file will clean up any temp files it generated and create a file named: R4_custom_English.zip. That file should open automatically (if not, double click it). Take the contents of that file and copy them to your MicroSD card like you would for the official R4 firmware.

If you create the full replacement firmware (like I did), I would suggest deleting the old _system_ folder, as well as the old _DS_MENU.DAT and _DS_MENU.SYS files. You can still run the R4 version of Moonshell by selecting the _DS_MNSHL.NDS file from the game menu.

Some differences between YSMenu and the old v1.18 R4 Firmware you should know about:

* Cheat functionality is updated using the USRCHEAT.DAT file @ cheats.gbatemp.net. The file can be found in the TTMenu folder.
* There is no need to convert game save data, all the .sav files generated using the Official R4 Firmware work just fine with YSMenu.
* Skin/theme support appears to be lacking, comparatively. You can copy whatever R4 theme files you like into the "skin" folder prior to generating the firmware, but you only get the bckgrd_1.bmp, bckgrd_2.bmp and gbaframe.bmp files in YSMenu; and you can't change these on the fly by pressing "Select" like you could with the Official R4 firmware (since I'm only in the menu interface for a few seconds until I select a game...this doesn't really bother me).
* YSMenu's interface is different from the standard R4 firmware. The feature list below addresses some of those differences.

Here's the feature list for YSMenu, ripped off from the GBATemp thread:

- When in YSMenu loader, on the bottom screen tap on the "Yasu software - YS Menu" bar and it'll reveal the version you have.

- When in YSMenu loader, if you tap on the top left corner of the bottom screen you can still change the brightness, the only thing is that there's no icon showing a sun like the R4, but, it still, works.

-When in YSMenu loader press the start button and a screen with 3 buttons appear similar to the R4 boot up screen but cheasier. The 3 button are, "NDS Pass Me", "Boot GBA" & "DS Menu".

-When in YSMenu loader and you have a file you want to delete from your tf card just highlight the file and press X button to and A button to confirm. So no need for a homebrew, to delete files, the firmware allows you to do it. You can also disable this feature in the YSMenu.ini.

- It plays .gba games automatically, no more need to load a gba exploader or 3 in 1 loader before loading any .gba game. Also it saves .gba games with no hassle, by creating a .sav like the .nds games.

-It has support for slot 2. So it can load the internet browser without a gba exploader or 3 in 1 loader. Also, when about to load a .nds game it gives the option of "rumble pack" which can be set to "off", "low", "medium" or "high", that is if you own a slot 2 expansion.

- It automatically plays .nes, .gbc, & .gb (and maybe more) as long as you have the GBA emulator version of one of these devices in the root directory. (eg. goomba.gba or pocknes.gba) There's no more need to load the emulator first, so basically just load the games from the directory and it'll load the proper emulator for the game you chose. (eg. you loaded Ninja Turtles.nes, it'll automatically load the the pocketnes emulator to boot the game.

-Better Compatibility for .nds games. (eg. Carnival games.nds works now unlike with the R4 v1.18 it doesn't, and also I hear from some other later released games that wouldn't work with the R4 1.18 and now works with this YSMenu Loader.)

A detailed (and probably more up to date) feature listing, changelogs, etc... can be found on the GBATemp thread.

Pre-made settings files for R4YSAuto (unnecessary with a2h's builder):

by **F@sheo** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:45 pm

I can confirm that this alternative firmware does indeed work; it successfully boots games and, with the YSMenu_ttextract080903.zip file, will run DS Homebrew as well.

yeah confirm it too , it's working on my R4 too but i still prefer the r4 menu

by **prso82** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:09 pm

Ill give this a try see how it goes.

by **nikchi** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:20 pm

Wouldn't it be easier to give us an already patched version of the kernal?
It would be easier for the legions of lurkers( and me) and those who can't read instructions (also me)

by **Forget_the_Rest** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:33 pm

Ideally yes but as MacB said, Yasu is VERY particular about others NOT uploading his files on ANY other sites. He's stated several times that if people do, he'll stop supporting that language.

by **Arishon** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:36 pm

It seems like a better firware for games but how well does it stand up with homebrews? I spend 90% of my time in DSlibris, and its seems fickle enough in the normal firmware.

by **macbastard** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:15 pm

Well, in the testing I did it ran all the homebrew I threw at it... DSO, the Wifi and wardriving stuff I use, the NES and SNES emulators, ScummVM...

If you're concerned, you can just run the builder .bat file and have it generate a moonshell replacement or a launchable nds file... if for nothing else than for testing purposes before taking the big plunge.

by **hanschke** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:55 am

YSMenu_ttextract080903.zip i dont find it on the hp.

by **macbastard** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:24 pm

hanschke wrote:YSMenu_ttextract080903.zip i dont find it on the hp.

Yeah, it's no longer required... it is included in the YSMenu file you download now.

Updated the OP to reflect this change.

by **cjaesee** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:03 pm

Does anyone know if this works with linking to the Wii (pokemon battle revolution)?

CJae