Important:

If you encounter the following error message, it means that you need to update the firmware on your R4i SDHC 3DS:

An error has occured. Press and hold the POWER Button to turn the system off. Please refer to the Nintendo DSi Operations Manual for details. 

Following this guide to carry out the firmware fix: Acekard 2i Firmware Fix for N3DS v2.1.0-4x & DSi v1.4.3x 

Otherwise, please proceed to Acekard 2i Driver Setup Guide

 

Content List:

1. DS Compatibility
2. Preparation
   • Hardware
   • Software
3. Installation

 

a. Format a microSD /SDHC Memory Card (using one of the following method)

1. Using Windows XP/Vista/7 Format Tool
2. Using Panasonic Memory Card Format Program
3. Using Mac Memory Card Format Tool

b. Firmware Fix

1. Acekard 2i Firmware Fix for N3DS v2.1.0-4x & DSi v1.4.3x

c. Acekard 2i Driver Setup Guide

DS Compatibility

The following consoles are supported: DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL & 3DS.

For DSi & DSi XL, the supported firmware versions are: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.4.1,1.4.2 & 1.4.3.

For 3DS, the supported firmware version are : 1.1.0-1x, 2.0.0-2x & 2.1.0-4x.

Preparation (Checklist Before Installation)

Hardware

1 x DS / DS Lite / DSi / DSi XL / 3DS

• A DSi console with firmware lower than 1.4.3 (1.4.3E, 1.4.3J, 1.4.3U & 1.4.3A)
• If you don’t have a DSi with firmware lower than 1.4.3, you have to use a DS Lite console.

1 x Acekard 2i Card
1 x USB Reader
1 x Micro SD/SDHC Memory Card

 

Software (Please Click the Driver / Firmware Name for the Latest Download)

Firmware Fix For 3DS v2.1.0-3x & DSi v1.4.3x	ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143
Driver / Kernel	AKAIO.1.8.9
Official Website	www.acekard.com

 

[ Back To Top ]

Format a Micro SD/SDHC Card

• Using Windows XP/Vista/7 Format Tool
• Using Panasonic Memory Card Format Program
• Using Mac Memory Card Format Tool

Using Windows XP/Vista/7 Format Tool

After inserting the Micro SD/SDHC into the card reader, go to My Computer.
    b)  Right click the driver representing the Micro SD/SDHC memory card.
    c)  Choose Format

 

d)  Click Start to format the memory card in FAT32

 

[ Back To Top ]

 

Using Panasonic Memory Card Format Software

Note:
If your memory cards have capacity bigger than 32GB, please download the SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards Format Software.
If your memory cards have capacity equal or smaller than 32GB, please download the SD/SDHC Memory Cards Format Software.

Detailed guide is available from the SD Association here. [http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter/] 

1. Insert SD/SDHC Memory Card into reader/writer.
2. Click on [Start], point to [All Programs] -> [Panasonic] -> [SD Formatter VX.X], and click on [SD Formatter VX.X].
   * “X.X” means the version number of SD Memory Card Formatting Software. 
   * If “User Account Control” window is displayed on the screen, please click on [Arrow].
3. The main window is displayed on the screen.
4. Select the target drive by drive list and check SD/SDHC Memory Card size.
5. Click on [Format].
6. After clicking on it, confirmation window is displayed on the screen. Here, if [OK] is clicked, this software executes the format operation. On the contrary, if [Cancel] is clicked, this software cancels the format operation and returns to the main window.
7. The following status window is displayed on the screen during the format operation.
   Note: [Cancel] on this window is available only if either “FULL (Erase ON)” or “FULL (Erase OFF)” is selected as format type option. If “QUICK” is selected as format type option, this button is not available.
8. After the format operation completion, click [OK] and remove the Memory Card from your PC.
9. Reinsert the memory card to the PC to start using the memory card.

 

[ Back To Top ]

 

Using Mac Memory Card Format Tool

1. Plug your memory card reader into a USB port on your Mac. Insert the Micro SD / MicroSDHC card into the memory card reader's MicroSD / MicroSDHC slot, and the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card will mount on your Mac desktop.
2. In an open Finder window, single-click "Applications" in the Side-Bar and scroll down to find the Utilities folder. Find Disk Utility in the Utilities folder and double-click the "Disk Utility" application to launch it.
3. In the opened Disk Utility application, single-click to select the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card in the left-hand Drives column. Then, single-click to select the "Erase" button in the top row of radio buttons. Select the format MS-DOS (FAT) to format the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card on the "Volume Format" pop-up button.  When you have finished selecting the formatting options, click "Erase."
4. A new dialogue box will pop up in "Disk Utility," asking if you are sure you wish to erase the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card. Caution: Erasing the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card will permanently erase any files. Make sure you have backed up any file you wish to keep. To continue with the formatting process, click "Erase."
5. Once the MicroSD / MicroSDHC card has been erased, it will mount on your Mac desktop just as any other removable drive.

 

[ Back To Top ]

 

Acekard 2i Firmware Fix For 3DS v2.1.0-4x & DSi v1.4.3

 

Kind reminder: 

When upgrading the Acekard 2i 3DS card, it is not allowed to turn off power or pull out the card; otherwise the card will be damaged.

Prepare a DS Lite. If you do not have a DS Lite, try to get hold of another DSi or 3DS which does not block your Acekard 2i 3DS card.

 

 

1. Plug your DS console to the wall to make sure that the DS console power supply will not be interrupted during the firmware upgrade process.
    
2. Download the official driver (AKAIO.1.8.7-2 )and firmware (ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143).
    
3. Unzip the files downloaded (using Winrar) on your PC.
   1. Winrar can be downloaded from www.download.com by searching for Winrar at the Search.
   2. Unzip the files mentioned under the Software Preparation above, you will get:
      

      AKAIO.1.8.7-2	ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143
      __aio akmenu4.nds LoaderChangelog.txt readme_AKAIO.txt readme_before_update.txt	ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143.nds ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143_onDSL.nds readme.txt

   • For DSi (XL)            :ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143.nds
   • For DS Lite             :ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143_onDSL.nds
      
4. If you have multiple Acekard 2i cards that you wish to update all in a row, run on the DS Lite console using ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143_onDSL.nds
    
5. Now copy  all the eight files mentioned in step3 to the root folder of the Micro SD /SDHC memory card.
    
6. Plug in the Micro SD/SDHC to the Acekard 2i and insert the Acekard 2i to the DS Lite console.
    
7. Select the Micro SD/SDHC Card icon on the main operating system
   
    
8. Press button A to select the firmware file.
   • For DSi (XL)            :ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143.nds
   • For DS Lite             :ak2ifw_update_3ds21_DSi143_onDSL.nds
      
9. When you see the following, please follow the instruction to eject the card and insert it again. Then press B to continue.
   
    
10. You will be prompted if you want to update the firmware as follows:
    
     
11. Press Start button on the DS to continue.
     
12. The following screen shows that the update is 55% done.
    
     
13. The following screen shows that the update has been completed. Congratulation! Restart your DS now.
    
     
14. The Acekard icon on the main menu has been changed to the following icon. The icon means you have upgraded the Acekard 2i Firmware successfully.
      

 

[ Back To Top ]

 

 

Acekard 2i Driver Setup Guide

1. Unzip the file downloaded (using Winrar) on your PC
   1. Winrar can be downloaded from www.download.com by searching for Winrar at the Search.
   2. Unzip the files mentioned under the Software Preparation above, you will get:
      

      AKAIO.1.8.9

      __aio akmenu4.nds LoaderChangelog.txt readme_AKAIO.txt readme_before_update.txt

2. Now copy the all the above four files to the root folder of the Micro SD/SDHC memory card.
    
3. Copy your own files, including music, movies, pictures and other data to the Micro SD/SDHC memory card.
    
4. Plug in the Micro SD/SDHC to the Acekard 2i. Insert the Acekard 2i with the microSD into the slot 1 of the DS console. Turn on the DS console.
    
5. You will see the WARNING – HEALTH AND SAFETY message. Please touch the touch screen or press button A to continue.
   
    
6. For DSi or DSi XL, you will the following icon with words ALEX RIDER STORMBREAKER THQ. Please touch the icon or press button A to continue.
   
    
7. Wait for the Acekard 2i to load.
   
    
8. You will see the Acekard 2i main menu. Touch the microSD Card icon or Press button A to continue.
   
    
9. Congratulation if you have come this far as you have successfully set up your iPlayer. There you go. Enjoy your DS with the multimedia functions.

 

[ Back To Top ]