Going back to stock (Japanese n3DS with Region Change)

[zragnarok]

Hello all, I performed a region change (US) on a Japanese n3DS many years ago and want to go back to stock; ie back to the original Japanese SysNAND. However, there are no guides to do this procedure that I can find. Ie, in this guide, it tells you how to change to US and gives a warning about changing back but does not tell the exact steps to do so: https://3ds.hacks.guide/region-changing

I do have the original backup NAND.bin and tried to flash it to SysNAND using Hourglass. Now the UI is back to Japanese but the n3DS will not boot without the EmuNAND SD card as it seems to be looking for a bootup file. Any direction would be appreciated.

 

[Kwyjor]

I do have the original backup NAND.bin and tried to flash it to SysNAND using Hourglass.

Hourglass is ancient and has been entirely superseded by Godmode9, but it's a bit late for that now and probably doesn't make much of a difference.

Now the UI is back to Japanese but the n3DS will not boot without the EmuNAND SD card as it seems to be looking for a bootup file.

Are you sure you know what "EmuNAND" means? Most people do not have an emuNAND.

Also, what happens when it doesn't boot? Does the Notification light (the one next to the R button) flash at all?

 

[zragnarok]

Hourglass is ancient and has been entirely superseded by Godmode9, but it's a bit late for that now and probably doesn't make much of a difference.

Are you sure you know what "EmuNAND" means? Most people do not have an emuNAND.

Also, what happens when it doesn't boot? Does the Notification light (the one next to the R button) flash at all?

I'm calling it EmuNAND because thats what the SD card is labled as. Its just semantics, basically it will boot with the SD card (that has all the hacking files on it still) but will not if I take out the card.

I used hourglass because that was the default app that loads up when I boot while holding Start and it has basic NAND backup/restore options (which I assumed is all I needed to go back to stock).

The blue power light will blink once and then nothing when trying to boot without the SD card. It boots fine to the Japanese UI if the SD card is inserted.

Post automatically merged: May 28, 2023

Upon doing some more research, I believe I need to first change the region back (which I already did?) And then do the following back to stock steps:

https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

Please let me know if there is anything missing

 

[Kwyjor]

I'm calling it EmuNAND because thats what the SD card is labled as. Its just semantics

No, it's not "just semantics". A system with an emuNAND has en entirely separate partition set up on the SD card. Like I said, most systems do not have an emuNAND, but there are also many systems that will not boot without an SD card if they haven't been set up correctly.

So it would be useful at this point to determine exactly what is going on with your 3DS. What does https://3ds.guide/checking-for-cfw tell you? What happens if you set up a new SD card as in https://3ds.guide/restoring-updating-cfw ?

 

[zragnarok]

Sorry, I meant it was semantics as in I checked that there's no other partition on the drive so there's no actual emunand going on and it was just labeled that for some reason.

If I boot up holding select, it shows I am running Luma 6.5 with AutoBoot SysNAND enabled (I am guessing this option is whats causing it to not boot without an SD card).

So the steps are?:
- Update CFW/Luma
- Ensure that the stock NAND is written (ie original region)
- Uninstall CFW https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

 

[lone_wolf323]

Sorry, I meant it was semantics as in I checked that there's no other partition on the drive so there's no actual emunand going on and it was just labeled that for some reason.

If I boot up holding select, it shows I am running Luma 6.5 with AutoBoot SysNAND enabled (I am guessing this option is whats causing it to not boot without an SD card).

So the steps are?:
- Update CFW/Luma
- Ensure that the stock NAND is written (ie original region)
- Uninstall CFW https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

Well. whats the main reason as per why you want to go back to the main stock system?

 

[zragnarok]

Well. whats the main reason as per why you want to go back to the main stock system?

I'm donating it to someone who just wants to play their Japanese retail carts on it without all the CFW jank on it.

 

[lone_wolf323]

I'm donating it to someone who just wants to play their Japanese retail carts on it without all the CFW jank on it.

Your first step will be updating luma and going to b9s which is https://3ds.hacks.guide/a9lh-to-b9s .

The next is restoring the Nand image that was made BEFORE the region change.

Then you will be looking at the uninstall cfw https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

Just be aware, at any point during the process, if the console returns any errors about returning the region, you will brick the console if you continue without what you need.

 

[zragnarok]

Your first step will be updating luma and going to b9s which is https://3ds.hacks.guide/a9lh-to-b9s .

The next is restoring the Nand image that was made BEFORE the region change.

Then you will be looking at the uninstall cfw https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

Just be aware, at any point during the process, if the console returns any errors about returning the region, you will brick the console if you continue without what you need.

Thanks, I'll let the person know the risks in case I brick!

EDIT: GOT IT! Thanks Everyone!