EZ 3in1 (DS slot 2 device) not saving

[Ivo]

Hi,

I have one of these EZ Flash V 3in1 devices (rumble, extra memory, enables GBA).
The GBA games running from it no longer save. They save during play, but if I turn it off it doesn't get backed up into the SD card on the slot 1 device. The .sav files are still in the SD card apparently, so at least I did not lose my old saves. They are just not accessed/updated.

Anyone knows enough about these devices and could help me troubleshoot? Maybe some battery went out or so?

I suspect it is the battery:
http://gbatemp.net/threads/guide-change ... cs.132872/

[nightrnr]

I suspect you are right. The battery probably died.

It's a shame they couldn't use a CR2032, as that has the same voltage, but a higher capacity.
I just ordered one of thes Slot 2 devices, so I might have to look into this as well. I wonder if you could somehow fit a CR2032 in place of the other one (I doubt there's enough room, but I'll have to check it out when I get mine in a couple weeks).

[Ivo]

I suspect you are right. The battery probably died.

It's a shame they couldn't use a CR2032, as that has the same voltage, but a higher capacity.
I just ordered one of thes Slot 2 devices, so I might have to look into this as well. I wonder if you could somehow fit a CR2032 in place of the other one (I doubt there's enough room, but I'll have to check it out when I get mine in a couple weeks).

I don't think a CR2032 will fit without giving you more trouble, judging from the size of the cart and pictures I've seen on the tutorials. It would be less trouble to get a cheap pack of CR1220s from somewhere ($6 per battery seems too high) and do the procedure more times than try to "mod" the 3in1 to take CR2032s.

If you do mod it, please let me know how it works out though

[nightrnr]

Yeah, I doubt it will work, but I can't resist checking it out. Maybe even a CR2025 would work, since it's thinner. But it all depends on how much space I can find in there.

As I said, it will be at least a couple weeks until I get it, but I'll definitely post my own findings.

[nightrnr]

Just got mine (and yet another of my systems can play Final Fantasy VI again (have a sealed copy that I dare not open and gave my other to a sister)).

I grossly underestimated just how small that half-a-cart really is. A CR2032 would take up the whole height (from the top to contact pins)!

I guess you could shave/cut an opening out of the top plastic to allow the battery to stick out, but then you'd have to worry about securing it, whether bumping it would damage anything, or whether you really want to devalue the device (not that it's terribly expensive).

Maybe you could even just insert the battery when you wanted to back up, save it to the system, then take it out again and really extend the battery life (I think that would work anyways ).

I don't know though; I think necessity will have to dictate such drastic measures.
And seeing as how my battery is (presumably) new, I won't be messing with it until it goes dead.

A final note, if anyone does end up changing the battery, you WILL need to desolder/resolder the battery tabs. Regular GBA carts are fairly sturdy, so you can just pop the tabs off the battery and re use them without worrying about soldering, if needed.
But the EZ-flash carts look fairly delicate, with the battery resting directly on a chip.

[Ivo]

I just changed the battery and the save is still not working

I think I did it correctly because I did it a first half-assed attempt where I think the contact wasn't well made, and the rumble wasn't working. I was afraid I inadvertently damaged the motor, so I removed the battery entirely, rumble still not working. The third time with a new battery and a contact that I'm more certain of being well established, the rumble was working again.

This leads me to believe the original battery wasn't actually dead, because the rumble had never stopped working.

Or am I mistaken and the rumble is completely independent of the battery being there?

EDIT: nevermind about the first question - rumble is independent of battery, just tried removing it again and it was working. I must have messed up the rumble accidentally in the first try but nudged it back to place somehow.

Also, anyone know where I can buy another one? I'm not sure they are still manufactured

EDIT 2: It is the battery alright, but it is a pain to get the contacts made properly :/ I managed a kludge with cardboard just to check, I'll see if I can get proper isolating duct tape.

[nightrnr]

Thanks for the info Ivo.
I've been using an actual SP system for my GBA needs, as of late. So I haven't messed with the 3in1 in a while. But I'm sure I'll feel the need to at some point.

So, the battery IS making contact now (with your cardboard wedge or whatever)?, or are you still experimenting?

Too bad there's no way to patch it to a dedicated GBA (3in1) menu to back-up saves; then restart to that menu without losing power to the cart. I think that works for most other GBA carts, but I don't think such a menu exists for the cart itself.

Every cart has it's perks and quirks, it seems.

[Ivo]

Thanks for the info Ivo.
I've been using an actual SP system for my GBA needs, as of late. So I haven't messed with the 3in1 in a while. But I'm sure I'll feel the need to at some point.

So, the battery IS making contact now (with your cardboard wedge or whatever)?, or are you still experimenting?

Too bad there's no way to patch it to a dedicated GBA (3in1) menu to back-up saves; then restart to that menu without losing power to the cart. I think that works for most other GBA carts, but I don't think such a menu exists for the cart itself.

Every cart has it's perks and quirks, it seems.

It is making contact now. There isn't much space in the cart, so with the cardboard wedge the plastic casing itself keeps the two plates together. I was thinking of putting tape in it, but I just improved the cardboard and I think I will leave it as it is because it will make putting the next battery in much easier.

You can backup the saves by copying them off the slot 1 device's SD card, but I don't think that is what you want. I think if you don't see your saves there and go to make a backup of the slot 1 files right away you may not lose anything.

[nightrnr]

You can backup the saves by copying them off the slot 1 device's SD card, but I don't think that is what you want. I think if you don't see your saves there and go to make a backup of the slot 1 files right away you may not lose anything.

I'll never chance it with this cart. I've been using a Supercard (mini)SD for my GBA-SP and when that battery goes iffy, you have 2 options:
1. you have to have the game reset patched
or
2. do a lightning fast power cycle to access your save for backup.

On a DS, that 2nd option is just not possible, so I imagine there would be the same problem on the EZ 3in1.