M3 DS Simply User Manual

This Manual is under construction. 

About the M3 DS Simply 

The M3DS Simply (Slot-1 device) is specially designed for all NDS consoles. It can run NDS software on your NDS or NDSL console.
*Not for GBA

Features :
~ The same size as an original DS cart
~ Build in PassMe (No need for boot card or anything else to boot )
~ Using Micro SD card (Trans Flash) as external storage . Cheap & variety usage .
~ Boot clean dump images
~ Super simple to use , drag and files over to the micro SD card .
No drivers required
~ Standard FAT system support .
~ Support different speed of micro SD card even the low speed SD card .Run games without any lag or slow down .
~ upgradeable Firmware ( OS / Bios / Kernel )
~ Touch screen control & robust skinning support .
~ No need battery , back up the save file into the micro SD card directly .Never lose your save .
~ Auto detect the save type & automatic generate saver file .
~ Homebrew support , IO lib will release on launch .
~ Direct watch movie , listen MP3 & read TXT on the DS via the use of Moonshell .
~ Support WiFi , DS rumble pack & DS browser .

M3DS simply Manual

1) Hardware Installation

You may need to format your Micro SD card/TF card (Fat or Fat 32)

Right click on your micro sd icon and choose format.

You now can choose fat or fat 32, Under Volume label you can name the card anything you want. Click sart.

Once this has completed you will have an empty micro sd card and ready to put on the system files required. 

Required files can be downloaded here  

Once you have downloaded and unzipped the required files you will have the files seen above. Now click on the file labled system v 1.06(this number will change after there have been firmware updates).

All of the files in this folder (_system_, Moonshl, _DS_MENU and _DS_MSHL) are to be dragged onto your micro sd card.

2) Adding Roms and Homebrew

 You do not need to patch your roms or homebrew before puting it onto you Micro SD card. Simply drag and drop them onto your card.

After you have finished adding your roms/homebrew, then right click the removable disk icon on the right down corner of the screen; Draw out the SD/TF card from card reader/writer.

Now you can take the micro sd card and put it into the M3DS simply. Please make sure you put the card in the correct as shown on the small picture on the back of the card. Otherwise the spring loader for the card may break.

3) Main Menu Operation

Connect the SD/TF card to DS Slot-1 with the M3DS Simply. Turn on the power, the GUI will display in a few seconds.

You can select ROMs or Media to run via the navigating keys or touch screen. Press the "A" button to enter the corresponding functions.

4) Game Menu Operation

- Choose the “Game” to enter Game GUI; Press the “START” to go back to main menu.

- You can choose the display model (“Display all” and “Only Display Game”, default is “Only Display Game”) by pressing the “SELECT” button, and the top screen will display “N file” and “N Game”.
4-scale-lightness adjustment is available to the DS Lite console by touching the sun icon on the top left corner of game interface. (Not available to DS console, the sun icon will turn to be gray if it is DS console.)
- The top screen displays the files under the directory, “Up/Down” key for scrolling, “Left/Right” key for flipping. The current path and amount of the total files will show on the top, the scroll bar will show the location of the current file.
- The files under the directory will be sorted by file name, the directory (DIR) will display at the front. The (..) is the parent directory.
- The bottom screen display the details of the files and directory, the icon and title will be displayed if it is NDS/IDS game.
- Press “A” button or touch screen to enter the corresponding functions or run the game, press the “B” button to go back

5) Running Game

- Choose the game you would like to play in the game menu, then press the “A” button or use the touch screen to run.

- It will ask whether to create a new archive if it is the first running, press the “A” button or touch the “Confirm” button to create, then run the game; Press the “B” button or touch the “Cancel” button to cancel; Press the “X” button or touch the “Ignore” button to omit creating a new archive and run the game.

- You can check the modified time of the archive, as it will be edited automatically while running the game.
- The file name of the archive is the same with the games, however the extension is .SAV. It can be backed up to or restored from PC at anytime.

6) Replacing the Skin

There are 4 pictures at the directory “system/_system”: logo.bmp, icons.bmp, bckgrd_1.bm, and bckgrd_2.bmp. They are the background of the M3DS Simply operation interface; they can be changed to fit your style.
logo.bmp – Background of the Top Screen of M3DS Simply ’s Startup.
icons.bmp -- Background of the Bottom Screen of M3DS Simply ’s Startup.
bckgrd_1.bmp -- Background of the Top Screen of M3DS Simply’s Explorer.
bckgrd_2.bmp -- Background of the Bottom Screen of M3DS Simply’s Explorer.

Note:  
Do not change the picture’s name;  
Make sure the picture is .bmp format, 8-bit/24-bit;
Make sure the picture is 253*192 pixels.

After finishing process on the pictures, copy the “_system” folder to the root directory of the CF card.

7. The cheat system

The R4 and M3DS simlpy have the same cheat code system. For instructions on the cheat system and for the download of the cheat code editor. Please visit here. 

8. R4 Firmware on the M3DS Simply.

 Do you have a M3DS simply, and would you like to run the R4 firmware on the card, it is now possible.

 Here is the source of the patching program.(Download here)

I have tried out the patching software used to patch the firmware in order for it to be used on another card. I have found it to work perfectly.

 Step by step Guide: 

1. Download the patch software. And the firmware you would like to patch.

2. Unzip, the patch program and the R4 Firmware.

Above image of unzipped patching software. 

Above image is of the R4 firmware version 1.11 

3. Place the_DS_MENU.DAT  file in the same folder at the patching software.

4. Double click "patch"

Type in yes 

Press Enter 

I have an English card so I type No. 

Press Enter 

Choose yes or no. 

Press Enter. 

You will now have a new _DS_MENU.DAT. (The one with old on the end is a abckup of the original file). The patched file is ready to be placed in the folder with the unzipped R4 Firmware, and to be put onto you M3DS Simply. 

You are now ready to put the new _DS_MENU.DAT onto your M3DS Simply.

The results are R4 firmware running on the M3DS Simply.

FAQ

Q: Create system files error
A: The system need to create a 4MB-temporary file, make sure the SD/TF has enough space.(It's better to run the M3DS simply system to create this temporary file once you finish formatting the flash card, and do not delete it unless it is necessary.

Q: The system file is not correct.
A: Once the 4MB-temporary file which is create by the system was damaged, user can delete the file and run the system to rebuild; Or run the M3DS simply system to create the 4MB-temporary file after finish formatting the flash card, and do not delete it unless it is necessary.

Q: How do saves work? Will I be able to backup my save-games?
A: Easy and without extra software, you can backup your saves by simply dragging and dropping them.

Q: Failed to create archive?
A: There are 2 possible reasons: One is the TF card has no enough space; Second: to the FAT16 OS, the root directory has a maximal file amount: 512(long file name will take more space), that means the surplus amount must be more than the amount that going to be created.

Q: Archive has been damaged?
A: There are 2 possible reasons also: First, the archive is damaged indeed; Second, If the archive is copy from the other type of flash card, it can’t run directly before being converted via appointed software.

Q: Is the M3DS simply Compatible with the Rumble Pack or Opera Ram Expansion?
A: Yes.

Q: Will you support DS Homebrew Roms?
A: Yes.

Q: What is the Battery Life?
A: Same as the Original carts, the M3DS simply core components are chosen to maximize battery life.

Q: What about reading Speeds from the DS? Are they Equal to an original cart?
A: Original carts have various speeds, our hardware is designed to match the speed as close as possible. No problems to this date.

Q: Does Drag and Drop functionality work on a Mac and other Operating systems except Windows?
A: Of course our device is fully mass storage spec compliant, and should work with any operating system which supports this standard.

Q: Do I have to use patches and extra software to load files on the NDS?
A: Absolutely not.

Q: Will I need any other extra software or hardware to manage the M3DS Simply ?
A: Absolutely not.

Q: What colors are available from the M3DS Simply cartridge?
A: We are currently manufacturing Gray cart & White cart for first batch stock, we might consider other colors soon.

Q: Do I have to flash my DS firmware in order to operate the M3DS simply?
A: Nope! No firmware hacks or any nasty tricks are required to use the M3DS simply. If you change your firmware you lose your warranty!

Q: What languages do the M3DS Simply OS support?
A: English, Chinese and Japanese at present.

Q: Does it work on both DS and DS Lite?
A: Yes, every revision out and to come.

Q: Are there any regional issues?
A: No, M3DS simply works on every DS and DS Lite from around the world.

Q: How many files can I have on the M3DS Simply?
A: M3DS Simply supports 128MB~4GB SD/TF (MicroSD) card , 4GB=32Gbit.

Q: Do I need a pass key device for the M3DS Simply to work or can I just put it in my DS?
A: Nothing is needed! Just place the M3DS Simply with the SD/TF card into the NDS Slot 1 and power-up your DS.

Q: Is the M3DS Simply OS/Firmware upgradeable?
A: Yes! And the best part is that it’s EXTREMELY EASY and SAFE to do it.

Q: Is the OS skinnable?
A: Yes.