Hacking Why do flashcarts have timebombs?

[Zaphod77]

the timebomb as used on current "r4" flashcarts was invented by r4i-sdhc.com team.

the timebomb forces you to download an updated kernel form their website to continue using the card.

Other carts were made in the past that couldn't support newer games. this was not a timebomb, and was not intentional. technology marches on.

r4isdhc.com has cloned many different carts. WHen they decided to clone the r4i-sdhc.com firmware (r4imenu) they cloned the time bombs with it.

The real problem with such a timebomb is that if the team stop updating the firmware the card becomes worthless.

That said the r4i-sdhc.com team is better than most. When they stopped updating their older cart, the also released a time bomb free firmware for it, with a note apologizing for the inconvenience. All their other carts have actively developed firmware.

A better option is to have an update NAG instead.

 

[Technicmaster0]

r4isdhc.com has cloned many different carts. WHen they decided to clone the r4i-sdhc.com firmware (r4imenu) they cloned the time bombs with it.

Both have the same manufacturer. It's not a "clone".

 

[Bullseye]

Correct, no "expired" garbage lol.

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R4i Gold 3DS RTS and R4i Gold 3DS Plus are the only R4 flashcarts with no time bombs, one of the reasons why it is a high demand flashcart these days.

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Here I will save everyone the trouble of finding everything:

YSmenu:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/retrogamefan-updates-releases.267243/

Wood R4 for clones and other various flashcarts: (keep in mind these are not official Wood kernels so of course some of them will be outdated for certain flashcarts and or may not work altogether.)
https://forum.romulation.net/threads/wood-r4-the-new-firmware-99-8-compatibility-ck3.39701/

As far as I am aware YSmenu removes the timebomb when using it. If you use the Wood R4 does it also remove the timebomb?

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

As far as I am aware YSmenu removes the timebomb when using it. If you use the Wood R4 does it also remove the timebomb?

YSmenu doesn't remove the time bomb so to say it merely covers it up so it doesn't affect you anymore, if you were to put the original kernel back on it then you would have the issue again. Wood R4 was never designed like YSmenu to specifically "remove" time bombs, the official Wood R4 was built for flashcarts that don't contain time bombs, HOWEVER if you did some small modifications to the kernel you could potentially use it to block time bombs.

 

[Technicmaster0]

YSmenu doesn't remove the time bomb so to say it merely covers it up so it doesn't affect you anymore, if you were to put the original kernel back on it then you would have the issue again. Wood R4 was never designed like YSmenu to specifically remove time bombs, the official Wood R4 was built for flashcarts that don't contain time bombs, HOWEVER if you did some small modifications to the kernel you could potentially use it to block time bombs.

Are you sure about the first part? YSMenu doesn't have a timebomb itself and the R4iSDHC timebomb is kernel-based as far as I know. That means that you will only have a timebomb if you use the official kernel.
I don't think that YSmenu was designed to remove time bombs.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Are you sure about the first part? YSMenu doesn't have a timebomb itself and the R4iSDHC timebomb is kernel-based as far as I know. That means that you will only have a timebomb if you use the official kernel.
I don't think that YSmenu was designed to remove time bombs.

...I said it DOESN'T remove them it merely covers it up.....

 

[Ryccardo]

As far as I am aware YSmenu removes the timebomb when using it. If you use the Wood R4 does it also remove the timebomb?

Timebombs are in the kernel, official Wood (the last general release 1.62 and the 1.64 variant for r4ids.cn that adds a MSET exploit installer) doesn't have them, but who knows what jerry rigged versions some R4 brands are using...

 

[Alex4nder001]

Correct, no "expired" garbage lol.

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R4i Gold 3DS RTS and R4i Gold 3DS Plus are the only R4 flashcarts with no time bombs, one of the reasons why it is a high demand flashcart these days.

Is that true that they have no time bomb? I really want the r4i gold plus for my ds lite but im too lazy to set the date back when it expires or god knows what else

And just for clarity, the wood kernel stops any timebombs?

 

[Shadow#1]

Is that true that they have no time bomb? I really want the r4i gold plus for my ds lite but im too lazy to set the date back when it expires or god knows what else

And just for clarity, the wood kernel stops any timebombs?

See no timebomb and the best Rom compatablity on the market

 

[Technicmaster0]

Again, there are many flashcards/r4 cards without a timebomb. The wood kernel doesn't stop a timebomb. It simply doesn't have one.

 

[Mark2333]

Again, there are many flashcards/r4 cards without a timebomb. The wood kernel doesn't stop a timebomb. It simply doesn't have one.

So which are they, do you have a list?

 

[Technicmaster0]

So which are they, do you have a list?

A list with flashcards without timebombs would be very long. It's easier to make a list of flashcards with a timebomb (only the confirmed ones, there might be others).
The following flashcards are known to have a timebomb:
-All 2014 and upwards cards from r4isdhc.com
-R4i 3DS RTS from r4i-sdhc.com
-R4i 3DS B9S from r4i-sdhc.com
-R4i Gold 3DS from r4i-gold.eu (only the ones with the touch bomberman icon)

 

[Spider_Man]

What do the manufactures of these flashcarts have to gain by adding timebombs into the firmware?

what do you mean by TimeBomb?

Do you mean having a device that can be blocked in a firmware update..... erm this is why consoles have gone down this path of having firmware, because at any time during its life a device could be released and console companies can block them.

unlike the old days when you could chip a console or buy a flashcard and it have no updates so your open to piracy forever.

But people who moan about flashcards are just cheap skates anyway, now that the 3DS has free CFW they slate flashcards to death, yet when it was them who first brought piracy to you, you all loved them.

end of the day, flashcards do what they say, they make it possible so you dont have to waste your pretty little pennies actually buying your games.

 

[Ryccardo]

Do you mean having a device that can be blocked in a firmware update

No, that would be the "fault" of the console maker which may be fixed by a newer flashcard firmware (rom), while timebombs are artificial restrictions added by the flashcard maker in its kernel (system files on microsd)

 

[Technicmaster0]

a newer flashcard firmware (rom)

That part is a bit missleading as ROMs can't have a new firmware

 

[Ryccardo]

That part is a bit missleading as ROMs can't have a new firmware

Complain to xda-developers.com lol

 

[Spider_Man]

No, that would be the "fault" of the console maker which may be fixed by a newer flashcard firmware (rom), while timebombs are artificial restrictions added by the flashcard maker in its kernel (system files on microsd)

maybe i am being a n00b but i still dont get timebomb.

ive never had a flashcard that has been programmed to stop working at xxx point in time.

the only thing i have seen preventing them from working is a console firmware update, which is due to said exploit in the firmware being blocked.

 

[Ryccardo]

maybe i am being a n00b but i still dont get timebomb.

ive never had a flashcard that has been programmed to stop working at xxx point in time.

Whether by luck or education, it means you bought good flashcards (at least on this point) - good for you

 

[Flame]

I learnt something new today. time-bombs on flashcarts.

what next CFW being subscription based with payment of bitcoins.

 

[Ryccardo]

what next CFW being subscription based with payment of bitcoins.

PS4 ones for sure, if qwerty is still into them as he was around 2012