diff --git a/desmume/src/mc.cpp b/desmume/src/mc.cpp
index 1a6474536..6e525046b 100644
--- a/desmume/src/mc.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/mc.cpp
@@ -1451,6 +1451,8 @@ u32 ADVANsCEne::convertDB(const char *in_filaname)
 	u32				crc32 = 0;
 	u32				reserved = 0;
 
+	lastImportErrorMessage = "";
+
 	printf("Converting DB...\n");
 	if (getXMLConfig(in_filaname))
 	{
@@ -1492,13 +1494,20 @@ u32 ADVANsCEne::convertDB(const char *in_filaname)
 		}
 		else { fclose(fp); return 0; }
 
-		//zero 28-apr-2013 - serial doesnt seem to be present anymore
-		//el_serial = el->FirstChildElement("serial");
-		//if (!el_serial || fwrite(el_serial->GetText(), 1, 8, fp) != 8)
-		//{
-		//	fclose(fp); return 0;
-		//}
-		fwrite("nothere",1,8,fp);
+		el_serial = el->FirstChildElement("serial");
+		
+		if(!el_serial)
+		{
+			lastImportErrorMessage = "Missing <serial> element. Did you use the right xml file? We need the RtoolDS one.";
+			fclose(fp); 
+			return 0;
+		}
+		if (fwrite(el_serial->GetText(), 1, 8, fp) != 8)
+		{
+			lastImportErrorMessage = "Error writing output file";
+			fclose(fp); return 0;
+		}
+
 
 		// CRC32
 		el_crc32 = el->FirstChildElement("files"); 
diff --git a/desmume/src/mc.h b/desmume/src/mc.h
index 5dbc7a549..d72c71f0a 100644
--- a/desmume/src/mc.h
+++ b/desmume/src/mc.h
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ private:
 	std::string	urlVersion;
 	std::string urlDat;
 	bool getXMLConfig(const char *in_filaname);
+
 public:
 	ADVANsCEne() :	saveType(0xFF),
 					crc32(0),
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ public:
 		if(foundAsSerial) return "Serial";
 		return "";
 	}
+	std::string lastImportErrorMessage;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
index 0fb1f14b3..f30f861e1 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
@@ -5363,7 +5363,10 @@ DOKEYDOWN:
 					MessageBox(hwnd,buffer,"DeSmuME",MB_OK|MB_ICONINFORMATION);
 				}
 				else
-					MessageBox(hwnd,"ADVANsCEne database was not successfully imported","DeSmuME",MB_OK|MB_ICONERROR);
+				{
+					MessageBox(hwnd,"ADVANsCEne database was not successfully imported.","DeSmuME",MB_OK|MB_ICONERROR);
+					if(advsc.lastImportErrorMessage != "") MessageBox(hwnd,advsc.lastImportErrorMessage.c_str(),"DeSmuME",MB_OK|MB_ICONERROR);
+				}
 				NDS_UnPause();
 				return 0;
 			}