PassMe
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The PassMe is an unofficial passthrough card that fits into the main Nintendo DS cartridge slot. It is designed to let the DS run unsigned code through the secondary Game Boy Advance cartridge slot.
This was a temporary solution before writable Nintendo DS cartridges were made available to the public. An authentic DS Game Card needs to be attached to the PassMe for it to function, and a CPLD on the card intercepts the communication between the DS and the card, routing execution to an address that corresponds to the GBA slot.
The original PassMe only works with DS version 3 or below. PassMe2 works with all versions of the DS but does not work with all storage devices.
There are several PassMe clones like SuperPass , PassKey and EZ-Pass, and PassMe2 clones are usually the same with the number 2 at the end.
The newest revision of the PassMe, dubbed NoPass due to the fact that no "passing" is done, actually contains legitimate encrypted Nintendo DS game code. This means that a NoPass will work in any Nintendo DS system regardless of firmware revision due to the fact that it does not use exploits in the firmware or BIOS code. The code on the MAX Media Launcher, a popular NoPass card, is typical: it displays a "MAX Media Launcher" logo and then jumps to the GBA slot's address in DS mode.
[edit] How it's done
The program entry point is written in its header, so the PassMe changes its value to redirect it to the GBA Slot address. However, header is protected from tampering by a CRC. To work with more than one cartridge, the PassMe is able to calculate a new CRC. [citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Nintendo DS homebrew | |
|---|---|
| Storage devices | GBA flash cartridge · GBA Movie Player · DSLink |
| Booting tools | FlashMe · NoPass · PassMe · WiFiMe |
| Notable homebrew | Moonshell · DSLinux |
| Homebrew programming | libnds · PAlib |
