# How to "factory reset" a DS cartridge? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 17, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738 "2009-05-17T08:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/1 "2009-05-17T08:57:19Z")
Okay, keep in mind that I didn’t own a DS until last February, and it took me several days to realize that the save memory was on the cartridge and not the console. The problem is that there are a few games that don’t allow you to reset data in the game itself. I’ve spent neary an hour desperately trying to find a way to reset Elite Beat Agents (including causing a data corruption, which was how I reset Feel The Magic…don’t ask). Any way to just completely erase everything on the whole cartridge even if the game doesn’t want you? And is there anything else I should know? The instructions that were in English weren’t too helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/2 "2009-05-17T11:14:06Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Any way to just completely erase everything on the whole cartridge even if the game doesn’t want you? No, the game has to offer the option of a full cartridge reset. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/3 "2009-05-17T14:26:36Z")
According to the manual for _Elite Beat Agents_ itself, all game data can be erased by holding the a,b,x,y,l and r buttons on the Nintendo/Inis logo screen. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/4 "2009-05-17T16:13:00Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > According to the manual for _Elite Beat Agents_ itself, all game data can be erased by holding the a,b,x,y,l and r buttons on the Nintendo/Inis logo screen. Yup, this is the case for most DS games that don’t offer an in-game option. /Ex-Nintendo Technical Support ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/5 "2009-05-17T16:24:10Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Yup, this is the case for most DS games that don’t offer an in-game option. > > /Ex-Nintendo Technical Support I wonder where they got that Idea… Oh, Hey Link’s Awakening! You aren’t going to reset when I hold all the buttons? Yeah, the Original Game Boy did it too. I am willing to bet the OP yanked the cart. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-factory-reset-a-ds-cartridge/496738/6 "2009-05-17T21:53:52Z")
Tried it, worked. (My used copy didn’t have the instructions.) I’ll keep that in mind. It didn’t work for Feel The Magic, but I’m probably just going to throw that one out anyway. Thanks for yet another amazingly fast response on this board!