Topic: Nintendo DS to DS Lite WiFi and Friend Code Transfer, HowTo and FAQ

[Shecky]

So, in a preemptive strike, I'd like to create a spot for information regarding the firmware capabilities to transfer wireless and friend code settings between Nintendo DS units.  This is bound to be a hot topic come the 11th.

There was already a cryptic thread on this elsewhere in the forums.  However, this thread should be easy to spot and will hopefully contain a good deal of answers.

Unfortunately, I don't have a DS Lite so I can't justify these 100% yet, but will fill in details from replies and other sources.

The remainder of this post will be edited as new information comes in.

Acronyms:
DS = Nintendo DS
DSL = Nintendo DS Lite

How TO:
Nintendo's Instructions for Transferring your Wi-Fi ID

The following are step-by-step instructions on transferring Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection IDs:

     First DS (system you are transferring the ID from)
  1. Turn on any Nintendo WFC-compatible game and access the WFC Setup Utility. (Consult the game manual for the game you are playing for specific information.)
  2. Tap "Options."
  3. Tap "Transfer Nintendo WFC Configuration."
  4. Tap "Ok", then tap "Ok" again.

     Second DS (system you are transferring the ID to)
  5. Remove all games from the DS you wish to transfer the settings to, then turn the system on.
  6. On the DS's main menu, select "DS Download Play."
  7. Select "Nintendo WFC Configuration Transfer."
  8. Tap "Yes" when asked if you want to download the software. The word "Downloading..." will appear.

     First DS
  9. On the DS with Nintendo WFC configuration, tap "Ok" to confirm that you wish to transfer the configuration.

     Second DS (system you are transferring the ID to)
         * If there is an existing configuration on the new DS, tap "Ok" to confirm that you wish to overwrite the existing configuration.
         * Once the transfer begins, it will take about half a minute.

     Both DS Systems
 10. Once the configuration has been transferred, tap "Ok" to save the changes and shut each system off.

All of the Friend Codes you had given or received on the previous Nintendo DS will now work in the Nintendo DS system you transferred the ID to.

FAQ:

Q) Can you provide a concise list of the contents and settings that get transferred?

A) The originating systems unique WiFi-ID and three outgoing connection setups are transferred to the new system.  Your friend codes are not transferred, they are stored locally on each game cartridge and will not be affected by the move.

Q) Does the transfer also work from DS to DS?  DSL to DS?

A) Yes.  The transfer can be done between any two Nintendo DS units, regardless of revision.

Q) Does the transfer "move" the settings to the new DS?

A) Yes.  After the transfer, the WiFi information is permanently deleted from the originating unit.

Q) Can I continue to play online with both DS units?

A) No.  Since the settings are moved you can only play on the system that contains the WiFi settings.

Nintendo's FAQ:
# Do I have to transfer my Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID for every game I play online?
No. You only need to complete this process once. Doing this once will allow all of your Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection-compatible games to keep their Friend Codes and Nintendo Wi-Fi settings. There is no need to perform this process with each of your games.

# Do I need to re-link my Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to my My Nintendo account?
No. If your Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID is linked to your My Nintendo account (how to), and you have transferred your Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID to another Nintendo DS or DS Lite, there is no need to re-link the two.

# If I transfer Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection IDs, will both systems have the same ID number?
A Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID can only be used by one DS at a time. By transferring a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID, the system you transferred it from will no longer have an ID. To get a new ID for that system, you will need to connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The system will then automatically acquire a new ID. (Do not do this with a game that uses the original ID, as it will erase your current Friend Codes.)

# If my Nintendo DS or DS Lite is no longer working and I need to replace or repair it, can I transfer the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID?
In most cases, if your system powers on and you are able to view the screens, it is possible to transfer the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID to another system by using the steps below. However, if your system is no longer functional or useable, it may not be possible to transfer the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID to another system. For more information on system troubleshooting and repairs, please click here.

Gotcha's:
Potential user traps.  For example, does booting your old game in a new DS before transferring your settings cause any harm to your existing friend codes or any other settings?

1)  

[Jome20]

I may have misread something.  But if you own a DS and a you just bought a DSL, you CAN transfer over your WiFi settings, friend codes, and information.  However, doing so will sacrifice the original DS's online capabilities?  

If that is really the case, I have a real hard time believing that it would be WORTH doing.  I'd rather just start new ones.  

I personally wouldn't really care if my Mario Kart record was reset to 0 - 0.   Or my Tetris or MP:H was deleted as well.

I can understand why people who will be selling their original DS.  But then wouldn't that screw over whomever purchased the old DS?  

I could be a little misguided on this.  But this doesn't really sound like something people would really want to do.

I don't thinks this question was actually answered:

"Potential user traps. For example, does booting your old game in a new DS before transferring your settings cause any harm to your existing friend codes or any other settings?"

I don't see how it could cause harm although maybe it would reset all the information...

If I missed something, I apologize ...

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Jome20
I may have misread something.  But if you own a DS and a you just bought a DSL, you CAN transfer over your WiFi settings, friend codes, and information.  However, doing so will sacrifice the original DS's online capabilities?

WFC enabled games bind themself to the DS that they first go online with. Don't exactly understand why... but they do. This procedure transfers your WiFi settings, but also the "binding" to the new DS. So it is very necessary unless you do not mind losing your WFC game records/achievements/ranking.

Quote
If that is really the case, I have a real hard time believing that it would be WORTH doing.  I'd rather just start new ones.

Certainly, you can do that if you want. Just put your game in the new DS, enter the WiFi information, and then take the game online. The game will tell you that going online will torch your existing records and data (only your online data) unless you transfer them over. If you really do not want to keep them tell the game to dry roast the records and assign you a brand new WFC id number. You're all set then. Enjoy your new DS!

You can transfer you data back and forth as much as you want between any DS. I've transfered my WFC "binding" between 3 different DS now. US launch DS -> Mew Version DS -> Polar White DS lite
 

[Shecky]

If you used 2 systems interchangeable, you would cause the games to rebind at each occurrence.  I believe that would reset your records each time.   Or it could just be that the records are inherited.  So here's a test... for someone who doesn't care or has just gotten a new WiFi game and has nothing to loose.

Put game into old unit, enable wifi to register, record your friend code.  play a few matches, record.
Put game into new unit, enable wifi to register, record your new friend code.  check and record your record.  Play a few matches, record.
Put game into the old unit, enable wifi to register, check friend code.  Is it the same as the first time?  do a record test.

[31 Flavas]

Well, i'm not going to test it out. Mario Kart DS tells you clear as day, though.

"Hey! Just a second! The WiFi ID of this DS does not match the WiFi ID of this Game Card."  "In order to go online I'm going to have update the WiFi ID of this Game Card." "If I update the WiFi ID, though, you're going to lose all WFC game data. Is this OK?" (not the literal verbage, but it gets the point across)

I'd take that to mean new friend code, new win/loss record, new WFC id number.

[Jome20]

Hmmm ... this is very interesting.  Does this mean that if my friend came over with his DS and asked to play one of my WiFi games.  He then put it into his DS unit and began to play it, that it would then NOT start a brand new record for his DS?  But instead would erase all of my Data and replace it with his?

I mean maybe I'm going crazy ... but that doesn't seem too uncommon to me.  I'm surprised this doesn't happen frequently.  Friends go over to each others houses and play each others games all the time.  My room mate would borrow some of my DS games and play them at our place.  I'm not sure if there were any where he went online .... but still ... I feel like this could happen more than just once in a blue moon.

So Nintendo made it so this can't happen without major consequences?

And in order to play online games I have to transfer the WiFi settings each time I play on a different DS.  Now given ... one could say I'm not going to go back to playing my regular DS.  But what if I have friends over (which I do often), and I have one friend that wants to play on my DS Lite (or DS for that matter).  What if I want to play an online game and so does he?  Would we not be able to play online at the same time???  Since he would be playing with my games.

And here's another question.  What happens if someone sold or gave away one of their WiFi games?  Could the next user not use it because it already had previous data recorded on it?  Or would they still be able to play the game online, but it would first prompt them to delete the previous owner's data?

All of this seems overly complicated to me.  Couldn't there have been an easier way to set this up?  So that each DS system would create new storage data for the online games?  Or that each game would have the same statistics no matter who's system you played it on.  What would happen if your system was destroyed before you could transfer your data?  Wouldn't that'd mean you'd have to restart all your data?

To me it just seems like Nintendo could have come up with a more user friendly way of storing online data.  Compared to having to transfer your WiFi settings from system to system EACH time you play on a new system and that's the only way you can get it to work.

I'm talking too much, someone else should chime in with some thoughts...

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Jome20
Hmmm ... this is very interesting.  Does this mean that if my friend came over with his DS and asked to play one of my WiFi games.  He then put it into his DS unit and began to play it, that it would then NOT start a brand new record for his DS?  But instead would erase all of my Data and replace it with his?

It would pop up said verbage. It would NOT start a brand new record for said friends DS unless said friend told the game to  torched your exisiting profile.

So far all of the WFC games "bind" themself, i'm guessing, to encourage more sales. The "binding" is at least transferable, pretty easily too.

Quote
And in order to play online games I have to transfer the WiFi settings each time I play on a different DS.  Now given ... one could say I'm not going to go back to playing my regular DS.  But what if I have friends over (which I do often), and I have one friend that wants to play on my DS Lite (or DS for that matter).  What if I want to play an online game and so does he?  Would we not be able to play online at the same time???  Since he would be playing with my games.

Well, if I understand you, if the two of you want to play "online", both of you will need physical copies of the game, no way around that. Now if one of your fiends wants to play with your DS lite, just to use it, but you still want to go online, find someone who has a DS that does not have any WFC data already stored on it and transfer your WFC data over to it for the moment. Play online with that DS Phat until you friend is finished with your DS lite, then transfer your WFC data back to your DS lite. If everyone's DS already has WFC data on it and will not let you overwite their WFC data, well, you're just out of luck.

Either tell your friend to get is own DS lite or suck it up and play an offline game for a little bit.

Quote
And here's another question.  What happens if someone sold or gave away one of their WiFi games?  Could the next user not use it because it already had previous data recorded on it?  Or would they still be able to play the game online, but it would first prompt them to delete the previous owner's data?

Sorry, "Bind" is a bit of a misnomer I guess. The next user will have full use of WFC. They will just have to torch the WFC records/ranking/win-loss record of the previous owner.

Quote
To me it just seems like Nintendo could have come up with a more user friendly way of storing online data.  Compared to having to transfer your WiFi settings from system to system EACH time you play on a new system and that's the only way you can get it to work.

The data isn't stored online at all. It is stored on the game card. As far as why is "binding" necessary and why can't you just start a new profile on a new DS? Well, I'd guess, probably becuase Nintendo is not requesting any per month or per year network usage fees. There for the only way Nintendo gets payed for any of their investment is through the purchase of hardware and software. If you don't like it.... you could always ask that Nintendo charge you $$$

[Jome20]

All your points seem to be valid and make sense to me.  And I agree that I'd rather complain about this than complain about the fact that Nintendo is now charging me $5 - $10 a month to play Mario Kart or Tetris.

I am aware that if I wanted a friend and myself to both play online Mario Kart in the same area that we'd both need a copy of Mario Kart to do this.

What I was referring to was what if I was using my DS Lite and wanted to play Mario Kart Online, and my friend was playing with my regular DS and wanted to play Metroid Prime Hunters Online at the same time.

Apparently this would be impossible because of the "BINDING" tactic Nintendo has created.  Which I think kinda sucks.  Especially since I paid for two systems so I feel like I should be able to have two fully working systems and not one fully working system and another that only works with some features.

And I have tried to convince multiple friends that they should buy a DS and especially now that the DS Lite is out.  All to no avail though....  

Although $130 (more after tax) isn't a TON of money, there are definitely plenty of people out there that simply can't afford it.

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Jome20What I was referring to was what if I was using my DS Lite and wanted to play Mario Kart Online, and my friend was playing with my regular DS and wanted to play Metroid Prime Hunters Online at the same time.

Apparently this would be impossible because of the "BINDING" tactic Nintendo has created.  Which I think kinda sucks.  Especially since I paid for two systems so I feel like I should be able to have two fully working systems and not one fully working system and another that only works with some features.

Ahh, yes, now I see. That would be a problem. Your friend will just have to wait until your DS is free or have his own copy.

Edit: Of course, if you don't mind losing your win/loss records, friend code, entered friend codes/rivals, your friend can easily go online. It just if you want to save those records of yours, no, your friend will not be able to go online.

[Jome20]

I was also wondering, if say I had one system that had online capabilities for Metroid Prime Hunters and another system with Mario Kart.

Well if I did the transfer of WiFi settings would they just swap?

So say DS has Mario Kart and DSL has Metroid, if I wanted to swap and put Mario Kart on DSL would it switch them and allow for Metroid to be played on the regular DS?  Or would the transfer just completely erase the one DS's WiFi settings completely and replace it with the others?

If they did swap the data between the two machines, then I think that would be the best way to go about it.  Because that way you could have two working WiFi DS systems.

If it just erases over the current data without swapping, (which sadly is most likely the case), then this would remain a problem.

Oh well ... I'm just trying to think of some solutions.

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: Jome20

I was also wondering, if say I had one system that had online capabilities for Metroid Prime Hunters and another system with Mario Kart.

You could "bind" MK to the DS and Metroid to the DSL. That would be just fine.

Quote
Well if I did the transfer of WiFi settings would they just swap?

I have multiple DS, but all me games are "bound" to the same DS. So I have no way to test this out.

I would assume *NO*. I would assume you would need a 3rd temporary DS to swap the WFC records between DS and DSL.

DS -> Temp
DSL -> DS
Temp ->DSL

If you torch your friend code and record everytime its easy to get online, so in that sense there is something to be said about not keeping your records around.