Hacking [POC] A 'small' Proof of Concept on how to get unlinked Dual EmuNANDs on an n3DS

robb4

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A few introductory words:
I am very new to the 3DS scene, I have purchased my first 3DS only 1 month ago, so yes, most of you are probably much more knowledgeable than me. The labeling of this post as a 'PoC' rather than a tutorial is deliberate, I like to think of it as a story documenting my steps to dual EmuNANDs. Publishing it is a way of asking for some peer review, I'd love if some of you more knowledgeable people would follow these steps in order to maybe refine this into a full blown tutorial, as I'm sure there are unnecessary steps in it.

Obligatory disclaimer: if following these steps make your console explode into flames, or even worse, brick, I am not responsible in any way shape or form, I can only offer you my sincere apologies, it was not intended. And, as always: "IT WERKS ON MY MACHINE!".

Prerequisites: time and patience mostly. Also: ability to compile ReiNAND with my attached patch (it's a diff) is nice.
For CakesFW - the attached semunand.cakes goes into the cakes/patches/n3ds-0x0F folder. Also make sure to use the 9.5 firmware (yes, for the initial setup you'll need to use 9.2, but to use EmuNAND 9.5 is required)

Note 1: I have only tested this with CakesFW and @d0k3's ReiNAND sources (the ones compatible with Ninjhax 2.x) both booted from Browserhax - so no flashcard or game card required.

Note 2: while writing this PoC, after a few SD card formats, I ran into an issue where the 3DS would simply not read the card. In order to fix this I actually had to download the tool Nintendo recommends in order to format it. If you find yourself in the same situation, you can find the tool here: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/index.html

Ok, take a deep breath, here are the steps:
Please read them all beforehand and make sure you understand them before starting.


0. Format your SD card - if you already have an EmuNAND installed you might need to use something like EaseUS Partition Master (there's a free version, just make sure to uncheck all the extra s*** it comes with when installing) in order to delete it
- not sure if this is necessary, but better safe than sorry
1. Boot into CakesFW (- make sure you are using the 9.2 firmware -) and install your CIA manager of choice (FBI / BBM / DevMenu)
2. Power off the console and backup the Nintendo 3DS folder (this contains all the installed data - i.e. the CIA manager)
3. Install the EmuNAND via the Gateway launcher
- you might want to boot into it with a CFW and make sure the CIA manager is still there and it works, it can save you A LOT of time.
4. Extract the EmuNAND using 3DS Multi EmuNAND tool ( https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-3ds-multi-emunand-creator.381603 - thanks @DarkMatterCore for this great tool)
5. Boot the 3DS without the SD card and format the SysNAND - this will unlink the backed up EmuNAND and current SysNAND
6. Repeat steps 0 - 3
By now you should have: one installed EmuNAND and one EmuNAND backup - unlinked
7. Format your SysNAND again - making both EmuNANDs and the SysNAND different (unlinked)
8. Inject your EmuNAND backup using the 3DS Multi EmuNAND tool - make sure you select the second slot
9. Place the backed up Nintendo 3DS folders back on the SD card
10. Use the patched ReiNAND or CakesFW in order to enjoy both EmuNANDs

How to use the patched ReiNAND: Start + B boots first EmuNAND, simple Start boots the second EmuNAND (there is no way to boot into SysNAND with it, I hijacked that functionality).
How to use CakesFW: use a standard CakesFW release, place semunand.cakes in the appopriate folder (cakes/patches/n3ds-0x0F), make sure the firmware is 9.5, delete config.dat (just in case) and when booting you should have 3 options in the Select Patches section - "Sig patch, EmuNAND, Second EmuNAND" - see the attached photo.

Credits go to all the 3DS scene, you guys are great!

A few screenshots and videos to prove it - I know they can be easily manipulated but making a video would take too much time right now.

2WUtff3.jpg
vtcQqd5.jpg

xkdXZo4.jpg

zDbyWGy.jpg



Edit: Many thanks to @pcm720 who has provided us with his own Cakes build, it should be preferred over my old .cake file; please check the following posts for more details: post1, post2.
 

Attachments

  • semunand.zip
    604 bytes · Views: 229
  • reinand_patch.zip
    850 bytes · Views: 229
Last edited by robb4,

Duo8

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Looks like someone finally bothered to make this :P
Though I wonder why one would need more than one.
 

robb4

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It would be great this would work with RxTools. Nice job :)

Thanks :D. I don't see why it wouldn't work with RxTools, it should be fairly easy to port. I didn't look into it because I'm not sure about the status of RxTools, I know it was initially o3DS only but it was ported to n3DS (I think?), so I just avoided it (I only have a new 3DS).


Though I wonder why one would need more than one.
My goal was to get one EmuNAND for each region :) (with working eShop).
 

Zidapi

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Congratulations, what a great first contribution to the 3DS scene! You're definitely one to watch.

No doubt @mid-kid will be stoked to see someone finally making use of the .cake plugin system, and what a great use it is.

I assume it could be expanded to have include a third emuNAND partition with relative ease? I'm sure others have that one-emuNAND-per-region dream you do.
 

robb4

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Congratulations, what a great first contribution to the 3DS scene! You're definitely one to watch.
Thank you very much for the kind words, it means a lot for a newbie.

No doubt @mid-kid will be stoked to see someone finally making use of the .cake plugin system, and what a great use it is.
I do have to admit that the .cake system is nice, it's a shame it isn't more popular.

I assume it could be expanded to have include a third emuNAND partition with relative ease? I'm sure others have that one-emuNAND-per-region dream you do.
Yes, it's very easy to expand it. In the case of ReiNAND you can easily code it in such a way it searches for an indeterminate number of EmuNANDs. For me 2 is enough, but if anyone requests more I'll gladly post some updated files.
 
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Arithmatics

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Looks like someone finally bothered to make this :P
Though I wonder why one would need more than one.


1 emunand per region, or just to keep it clean and make it "seem" like it's all legit .cia to not raise suspicion during official tournaments/gatherings especially if homebrew and piracy is frowned upon in your area.... And the list goes on. If anything, one could also need more than one just because they can.
 
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Zidapi

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1 emunand per region, or just to keep it clean and make it "seem" like it's all legit .cia to not raise suspicion during official tournaments/gatherings especially if homebrew and piracy is frowned upon in your area.... And the list goes on. If anything, one could also need more than one just because they can.
That's a clever use for this, good work!
 
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Hiatus

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I finally had the time to try this and it works great! I now have a dual JP and US EmuNAND setup on my N3DS LL so I can still access the eShop with my original JP EmuNAND and still have English menus with a region changed US EmuNAND partition.
 

Kingofknights

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Can i simplify the process by using 2 sdcards? Like using 1 emunand but on both 2sdcards then change region on one of the cards
 

robb4

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Can i simplify the process by using 2 sdcards? Like using 1 emunand but on both 2sdcards then change region on one of the cards
You mean having 1 SD card on US and 1 SD card on EUR? That's how everybody's been doing it long before this PoC, so yeah, it can be done, I just dislike swapping cards on the n3DS.
 

honyo29

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Can i simplify the process by using 2 sdcards? Like using 1 emunand but on both 2sdcards then change region on one of the cards

You mean having 1 SD card on US and 1 SD card on EUR? That's how everybody's been doing it long before this PoC, so yeah, it can be done, I just dislike swapping cards on the n3DS.

just got my n3ds jp yesterday, done setting up cakesfw, emunand unlinked but not updated yet (9.1)
i take it i can make another emunand with this, change this emunand region to us, and have access on both emunands? jp emu when i want online, and us emu for regular offline playing (i usually host dl play with my us o3ds on gathering)?
please tell me it's possible and i didn't misinterpret things.
 

Arithmatics

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just got my n3ds jp yesterday, done setting up cakesfw, emunand unlinked but not updated yet (9.1)
i take it i can make another emunand with this, change this emunand region to us, and have access on both emunands? jp emu when i want online, and us emu for regular offline playing (i usually host dl play with my us o3ds on gathering)?
please tell me it's possible and i didn't misinterpret things.
I have yet to try it but i'm pretty sure you'll be able to get online with the region changed emunand there's just a secret way that no one's found yet. Don't quote me though.

I just managed to change my emunand region and am currently setting up a second emunand.to @robb4 would you mind making a .cake for 4 emunands? 1 per region and an extra to act as a spoof where all legit .cia goes to chill. Otherwise could you possibly teach me? I'd love to personalize the name shown during the patch selection screen. I'm really interested in 3ds development and am still working through the basics.
 
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Haise

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Wait. I'm confused because I thought when you make an emunand, it copies your current sysnand. How would you have an emunand different from the region your 3ds is from? Is there a tutorial? Very valuable info considering I'm planning to buy a JPN N3DS.
 

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