Original R4 cart problem

[xIceblue]

I have the original R4 (I believe it's the first model of the R4, and it's not a clone either)
And I've had it for almost 3 years now. It was working about 5 months ago, and I put the system away for a while.

Well I go to pick it up today cause I found an English patch for a game I wanted to play, and I updated the Wood firmware to v1.62, and it gets stuck at the loading screen. My laptop reads the SD card just fine, so I don't think it's the SD card. But it never makes it anywhere past the loading screen.

I've formatted the card and re-downloaded the firmware 4 times, and still no progress.
Does anyone have any idea as to what could be the problem? Anyone help me? D:

This is pictures of my R4 cart for reference.

2013-11-19 20.58.25.jpg
2013-11-19 20.58.36.jpg

[lovegame 466]

if the firmware you download is the correct one , there may be no problem to play games .Is the r4 card broken?or itis too old, maybe you can buy a new r4i gold 3ds card .

[xIceblue]

It worked fine 5 months ago. I put it into a box with the cart still inside the system. I've re-installed the new/old firmware over 10 times, and it still doesn't do anything.
I've formatted it over 5 times, and still nothing.

[darryn 71]

need a new card mate r4i card

[brett1]

these cards don't last for ever 3 years is pretty good going i'd say