DS won't recognize DS Fire Card

I have just today received my DS Lite and DS Fire Card.

After connecting the DS Fire Link to my MAC (important detail), I transfered a few games to try out. None of the games would open however (white screens), and after reading a bit about it, i discovered that it won't work on a mac.

I do have a PC too however, the problem is that the fire card is seemingly bricked now. It won't even open the DS menu when I have the Fire Card inserted (manual and automatic start-up). All it shows is white screens, with a very faint version of the Health and safety warning. I've tried all the different format combinations, but no response. Once in every 10-20 boot-ups, it will go to the DS menu, but when I select the fire card, it just shows the white screens.

Is my fire card really bricked, or can i reformat it somehow?

 

when you said "I've tried all the different format combinations"

do you mean using your pc? if so, try format the card using your DS. ive found some info for you from google search, see below:

Q: How to quick format DS Linker/Fire Link?
1. Insert DS Linker/Fire Link Writer into slot 2 and insert DS Linker/Fire Link into slo 1.
2. Holding "L+R+A+B+DOWN" or "START+SELECT+A"to enter DS Linker/Fire Link system, will enter quick format program mode.
3. Firmware 1.45 Added a new format function. Holding "START+SELECT+A"to enter DS Linker/Fire Link system. A FORMAT MENU will appear.
1.CANCEL
2.QUICK FORMAT
3.FULL FORMAT (If full format done, will not appear)
[UP/DOWN select, press A confirm]


Q: How to FULL format DS Linker/Fire Link? (Full format need more than 1 hour, because of writting test)
1. Insert DS Linker/Fire Link Writer into slot 2 and insert DS Linker/Fire Link into slo 1.
2. Holding "L+R+Select+START+UP" or "START+SELECT+A" when enter DS Linker/Fire Link System, will enter FULL format program mode.
3. Firmware 1.45 Added a new format function. Holding "START+SELECT+A"to enter DS Linker/Fire Link system. A FORMAT MENU will appear.
1.CANCEL
2.QUICK FORMAT
3.FULL FORMAT (If full format done, will not appear)
[UP/DOWN select, press A confirm]
* Tips: I suggest DS Linker/Fire Link user make a FULL format, if there is something wrong with the DS Linker/Fire Link.(one time FULL format is enough)

Useful suggestion:
1. 98\win2000 user should "eject" the udisk safely before close the DS, because 98\win2000 background program still writting the flash after finish copy files, otherwise it maybe corrupt the fat of DS Linker/Fire Link.
2. winxp user should wait 3 seconds after finish copy files, otherwise it maybe corrupt the FAT of DS Linker/Fire Link.
3. At USB mode, if the text flashing red color, that mean writting the DS Linker/Fire Link, please do not turn off the power, otherwise it maybe corrupt the FAT of DS Linker/Fire Link.
4. If chkdsk program can not fix the FAT error, use DS Linker/Fire Link quick format can recover.
5. Do NOT format the DS Linker/Fire Link by windows, it will slow down the UDisk system. Use DS Linker/Fire Link quick format can recover.
6. Suggest use "SD Formatter V2.0" to format DS Linker/Fire Link, can be download from www.sdcard.org
7. Japanese, Trandition Chinese support. Copy Moonshell system.fon system.12u system.ank to DSYSTEM
8. I suggest DS Linker/Fire Link user make a FULL format before use it. Full format need more than 10mins, because of writting test
9. Battery test hold key change to "L+R+SELECT" when enter DS Linker/Fire Link System.


Method 1 :
1. Connect Linker to the PC and enter the exchange USB mode (like copying rom).
2. Copy ONLY the ".nds" file into the DS Linker/Fire Link. Please do NOT replace the xmenu.dat at this moment.
3. Start again the DS and enter the DS Linker/Fire Link menu.
4. Run the ".nds" file like a game from DS Linker/Fire Link Menu. Follow the instructions then start again the DS.
5. At start, holding DOWN then press L+R+A+B to format the DS Linker/Link Fire.
6. Turn off power and turn it on again, ENTER USB MODE. Now, you can copy the xmenu.dat into the DS Linker/Fire Link.
7. At last, delete the "DSYSTEM" folder.
8. Now. you can use both new firmware 1.45 and new XMENU 2.53 together.

NB: If method 1 doesn't work, then use method 2.

Method 2 :
1. Connect the Linker to PC and switch on your console.
2. Holding UP button then press L+R+B+A to enter the "upgrade mode" : message in red USB SAFE BLOCK D14 (ADDR5).
4. LAUNCH from the PC "NAND_ALL.bat" file proposed in the folder then start again the DS.
5. At start, holding DOWN then press L+R+A+B to format the DS Linker/Link Fire.
6. Turn off power and turn it on again, ENTER USB MODE. Now, you can copy the xmenu.dat into the DS Linker/Fire Link.
7. At last, delete the "DSYSTEM" folder.
8. Now. you can use both new firmware 1.45 and new XMENU 2.53 together.

 

Thanks for your very thorough reply. But I did mean that I have tried all those combinations. The problem is that most of them, are designed to work when you are in the Fire Card menu or about to enter it from the DS menu, and my DS won't go that far with the fire card inserted.
As I said when I start it up with the Fire Card inserted, it shows two white screens, and then very faintly you can read the health and safety text in the bottom screen.

It doesn't react to key combinations, and my PC won't detect it as a disc.

Very very rarely, it boots up ok, by when I press the fire card button from the DS menu, I only get two white screens (no text). I've also tried start+select+a from here, but to no avail.

 

if you cant format the card by either the pc or DS, then sorry, cant think of anything else.

 

Nah me neither. I've given up on it - bought myself an R4 instead and sending this one back. The shop or the manufacturer should really state that it doesn't work on a mac.

Thanks