Hacking 3DS Hardmod

[Me0wTwo]

I have a 3DS using gateway, FW 4.5. I read somewhere in the forums here that if you accidentally upgrade to FW5+ you'll need to flash back down using the v4.5 backup band I have. My questions is, since I have NO soldering skills and services tend to cost money, and with all the posts of people accidentally upgrading FW, is there a way I can get my 3DS hard modded so I can simply flash my 4.5 band if this ever happens? Or what would be pros and cons, just need a general idea of what the hard mod is / what it does, etc.

 

[alexenochs]

contact hundshamer he can do the mod for you hes the person that does us based mods anyone reading this and wanting it done in the uk can contact gamesquest1

 

[Deleted member 333767]

The hard mod is as simple as they come. Only 4 wires soldered directly onto the main board for read/write to your NAND chip. For extra convenience, in the bottom corner of the console (XL) there is a place to wrist strap, most installers cut this out and put a mini-USB port.

Then a mini USB cable is cut at one end and soldered into a SD card, insert SD card/miniUSB hybrid cable into a card reader on your PC and just like that never ever stress about losing dat sexy 4.5 system menu!

 

[Me0wTwo]

The hard mod is as simple as they come. Only 4 wires soldered directly onto the main board for read/write to your NAND chip. For extra convenience, in the bottom corner of the console (XL) there is a place to wrist strap, most installers cut this out and put a mini-USB port.

Then a mini USB cable is cut at one end and soldered into a SD card, insert SD card/miniUSB hybrid cable into a card reader on your PC and just like that never ever stress about losing dat sexy 4.5 system menu!

This is enough to make me want. o.o Only mine is not xl =s

 

[Deleted member 333767]

It's a little bit harder to install on a regular 3DS model. If i recall it involves lifting the game card slot off the board to access the NAND pin outs, but no problem it has been acheived numerous times.

Although I'm not sure how they put in a USB port for convenience, most installs I've seen have the 4 wires poking out through the battery cover.

 

[gamesquest1]

It's a little bit harder to install on a regular 3DS model. If i recall it involves lifting the game card slot off the board to access the NAND pin outs, but no problem it has been acheived numerous times.

Although I'm not sure how they put in a USB port for convenience, most installs I've seen have the 4 wires poking out through the battery cover.

something like this

Spoiler

also i think its generally best not to say its very easy to people who have never soldered before....its easy for anyone who has had some level of soldering experience, but to someone with limited or none....you can break your 3ds

 

[Me0wTwo]

something like this

Spoiler

also i think its generally best not to say its very easy to people who have never soldered before....its easy for anyone who has had some level of soldering experience, but to someone with limited or none....you can break your 3ds

So I'd put that sd card in my computer and plug the mini usb, in the to bottom usb port ( the one that was added ) and that lets you write your backed up nand incase you update it?

Here is another question, is it worth going ahead to get one of these? If I never accidentally update, I wouldn't need it, but If I did, and send it to get modded, it would essentially be the same thing right?

 

[gamesquest1]

yep although i think most modders have stepped away from the usb ports now in favot of less common ports to prevent any accidents

 

[hundshamer]

With mine, I don't use USB, because of the confusion of people plugging it directly in to the PC. With mine you get 2 options on the original 3DS. They look like this:

 

[piratesephiroth]

yep... I would never use any kind of USB port.
Anyway unless you like to tinker with the console's NAND, you don't really need that mod.

Pretty much all issues come from people who don't read the instructions.

 

[hundshamer]

...or use clones. However I'm the type who would rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it.

 

[Me0wTwo]

I was just looking into this as a precaution, if I did accidentally update the sysnand, I'd have to get this done anyways >.<

 

[The Real Jdbye]

It's a little bit harder to install on a regular 3DS model. If i recall it involves lifting the game card slot off the board to access the NAND pin outs, but no problem it has been acheived numerous times.

Although I'm not sure how they put in a USB port for convenience, most installs I've seen have the 4 wires poking out through the battery cover.

There is a point on the other side of the board that can be used instead of the one under the game slot as well, it's tiny though. But you would only trust someone experienced with a soldering iron to do that sort of thing and then it would probably be a non issue anyway.

I have a 3DS using gateway, FW 4.5. I read somewhere in the forums here that if you accidentally upgrade to FW5+ you'll need to flash back down using the v4.5 backup band I have. My questions is, since I have NO soldering skills and services tend to cost money, and with all the posts of people accidentally upgrading FW, is there a way I can get my 3DS hard modded so I can simply flash my 4.5 band if this ever happens? Or what would be pros and cons, just need a general idea of what the hard mod is / what it does, etc.

Doesn't seem to be a problem to get that done, I would wait until you have need of it due to a brick (though that doesnt happen easily) or accidentally updated firmware though unless you have some other use for it (like development, testing etc.

With mine, I don't use USB, because of the confusion of people plugging it directly in to the PC. With mine you get 2 options on the original 3DS. They look like this:

I rather like the mods where the SD card reader is built into the 3DS, so the USB port is an actual USB port and can be used with an orinary cable. Makes life easier. I'd like to see more people doing it that way, Is there any reason you haven't done that?

I have never been a fan of using a MicroUSB port for other purposes than intended though. It seems like a lot of hassle considering how tiny the pins on a MicroUSB connector are and only adds risk compared to other connectors which are easily available anyway.

 

[gamesquest1]

well with the ones where the sd reader is built in it doesnt leave the option of recovering from the BSOD bricks(although hopefully that doesnt come up again)

but thats the main reason

 

[hundshamer]

^^^^ This.

 

[Me0wTwo]

Doesn't seem to be a problem to get that done, I would wait until you have need of it due to a brick (though that doesnt happen easily) or accidentally updated firmware though unless you have some other use for it (like development, testing etc.

Hmm, I have been pretty careful, if I was going to get this done either way, I guess it really doesn't matter when I get it done. Meh, idkkk

 

[gamesquest1]

well another advantage is that if there is ever a point where emunand is not compatible with the latest FW and you really want to play newer games even if you have to buy them....this allows you to have the best of both world i.e gateway compatibility and the knowledge that no matter what you can update and downgrade as you like

really its good to not have to worry about accidentally doing a update and being screwed....especially if you want to lend your console to friends or family without going all crazy saying DON'T UPDATE DO NOT UPDATENOOOOOOOO! at them

 

[Me0wTwo]

I have 5 3DS's ^^ Well, my gf has 2 and I have 3, 4 XL's and 1 regular, which is the only one on 4.5 >.< so meh

 

[bowser]

Why are most of these mods using an SD card and that white port (don't know what it's called) instead of a micro USB port and a regular micro usb cable?

 

[Me0wTwo]

O.O