How to backup your DS games

 

1. A Nintendo DS and original game cartridge you want to back up
2. A working DLDI compatible flash cart (R4, CycloDS Evo, etc)
3. A working wifi connection that you've tried with homebrew software
4. A working FTP server (we'll be using SmallFTPd on Windows)
5. The NDS Backup Tool (Wifi) on your flash cart
6. Pure text editor (like Notepad)

On the PC Side:

• Stop any and all firewalls, security software, etc.
• Obtain your IP address (probably something like 198.162.0.10) Make a note of this address.
• Create a folder on your hard drive called C:\temp if you don't already have one.
• Download and extract SmallFTP.
• Run SmallFTP (no installation required).
• Under SETTINGS -> GENERAL, change the port to 8080.
  
• Under SETTINGS -> ADVANCED, check USE LOCAL IP.
  
  
• Under SETTINGS -> USERS. Hit ADD. Enter a login/password (for this document, use test/test).
• Under Directories, click ADD. Under PHYSICAL PATH,
  enter c:\temp.
• Under Permissions, hit ADD.
• Under Permissions, make it
  read LRW, then hit OK.
• Close out of settings.
  
  
• Under SERVER, click SAVE SETTINGS.
• Click the PLAY button. It should say FTP SERVER IS RUNNING. If there is an error, you'll need to use a different port number.

On the DS Side:

• Download NDS Backup Tool (Wifi).
• Extract it.
• Patch it for DLDI (if your flash cart requires it - we'll assume you have an auto-patching cart like R4 or CycloDS)
• Open the .ini file in a pure text editor (like Notepad)
• Change the IP, User, Password, port to your IP, test, test and 8080, respectively. Save the file.
  
• Copy the .nds and .ini file to the ROOT of your flash cart.

Performing the Backup

• Make sure the FTP is started on your PC.
• Plug your DS into wall power. Start up your DS, and run the Backup Tool on your DS.
• If your setup is good, you will see it successfully connect to your FTP
  server and you'll get a menu (in pretty bad Engrish). If not, go
  through the procedure above again.
• You will be instructed to change your flash cart out for the game you want to dump. Put your game in, press A.
• Hit R twice, and then hit B (and A to start dumping right after that). Your game will start dumping. THIS WILL TAKE A
  LONG TIME.

Approximate Times:

4MB: 3.5 minutes
8MB: 7 minutes
16MB: 13.5 minutes
32MB: 27 minutes
64MB: 54.5 minutes
128MB: 1 hour 49 minutes

If you wish to backup the save area of the card to a SAV file, restart the
tool, hit B on the first screen. The sav file will dump (this only
takes a minute).

If you are having trouble, please note that the files must be in the ROOT of the Flash card, no exceptions!

*** Tutorial written by: JAMES78 @ http://www.teamcyclops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1942***

*** Minor Editing by myself***