Hacking N3DS 9.2 Running CFW. A few questions.

[Connell112]

Hi guys, I have a N3DS running CFW on 9.2. I have a few questions.

I used the Cubic Ninja CIA to install Pasta CFW and RxTools and I use FBI manager to install CIA's. I also think I unlinked my Sys Nand and Emunand. Sorry for the uncertainty of that last statement. It was a long night when I installed all the CFW. I use CTRBootManager to access my emunand.

I followed this guide almost all the way https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-install-a-cfw-on-a-9-0-9-2-n3ds-without-cn-oot.398394/

1. Are the activities I do on my SD card and emunand (e.g Installing CIA's) completely separate from my core 3DS? Do they have any way of effecting my 3DS and potentially bricking it?

2. If I were to remove my SD card, would the 3DS essentially be just a standard 3DS. For example if I wanted to sell it would there be anything different about my 3DS to someone elses?

3. What is the difference between the System Nand and the Emunand?

4. What are the differences between Pasta CFW are RXTools? I was under the impression I would be accessing PastaCFW via CTRBootManager to get into my emunand, but I had to set CTRBootManager to open RxTools to find my emunand.

5. When I boot up emunand, my 3DS prompts me to do a system update. This does not happen when I boot my 3DS normally. Is there any way to stop this and is it safe to connect to the wifi on my 3DS?

6. How do I access the Homebrew Launcher? I can't seem to do it via CubicNinja or the browser anymore. And is it right that is the only way to install emulators on the emunand?

7. In general I feel like my 3DS CFW is all sort of being held together very loosely, does that sound familiar to you guys?

Sorry for all the questions and if anyone can answer any / all I would be very appreciative. Sorry if a few are n00b questions and if it would be easier to just point me in the direction of an existing guide I'd still be very happy. Many thanks!

 

[wurstpistole]

1. Whatever you do on emunand will never break your 3ds. It could only somehow screw up your emunand which would than have to be restored or reformatted.

2. No. You would also have to format your system, then it would be stock again.

3. As the name tells, Emunand is just an emulated copy of your sysnand and as such, safer to mess with. One wrong cia into sysnand and you got yourself a nice paperweight. Also your emunand can go over 9.2 which your sysnand cannot.

4. While they both allow running unsigned cia files, pasta runs on sysnand, rxTools on emunand. Thus rxtools should always be the first choice for above mentioned reasons.

5. Did you put it to sleep while in Emunand and connected to Internet? If yes, that's why you got the update nag. There's a guide here describing how to remove it:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/poc-removing-update-nag-on-emunand.399460/page-3#post-5827268

If your emunand and sysnand are on the same firmware version, and you don't have the update message on sysnand, you can also just extract import.db from sysnand with decrypt9 and inject it into Emunand. That'll also work, no need for the tool.

Once you have it removed, look into my guide in the signature at the last section advice and suggestions to see how you can prevent it from happening again. Safest method is to just be careful that you disconnect Internet before putting it to sleep, but you can also block access in your router directly or use tubehax dns or combine all the methods for total overkill. I have blocked access to the addresses of Nintendo servers in my router and I also have tubehax dns set up. That on the other hand also means that you can not access the eshop anymore. If you want that just be careful to switch of Internet when putting the n3ds to sleep.

6. Either you add it into your ctrbootmanager, then it will start on top of sysnand which is basically enough for emulators, or you install yellow8 homebrew launcher cia to start it from your emunand.

7. Rxtools is constantly updated and there has not been a stable version for several weeks. I'm using the latest nightly and it works fine so far though, maybe fails to boot once in 20 boots or so, not that much of a hassle.

 

[ddurdle]

The advise about "whatever you do on the emunand will never break your 3ds" is slightly misleading. It won't break your 3ds,yes, but you can accidentally upgrade your sysnand and thus lose your ability to use emunand (some might consider that breaking the 3ds). So you cannot be completely reckless when in emunand mode because some actions can lead to regret.

 

[izy]

The advise about "whatever you do on the emunand will never break your 3ds" is slightly misleading. It won't break your 3ds,yes, but you can accidentally upgrade your sysnand and thus lose your ability to use emunand (some might consider that breaking the 3ds). So you cannot be completely reckless when in emunand mode because some actions can lead to regret.

except you cannot upgrade your sysnand in EMUNAND mode you can only do that in sysnand Mode so you contradicted yourself there

 

[wormdood]

except you cannot upgrade your sysnand in EMUNAND mode you can only do that in sysnand Mode so you contradicted yourself there

wrong this is why o3ds guides say to go directly to the update option in system settings app because the settings app does not care about where it was loaded from certain options will it will cause it to reload out of cfw
if activated the eshop update nag will also trigger the reload out of cfw before the update

 

[ddurdle]

wrong this is why o3ds guides say to go directly to the update option in system settings app because the settings app does not care about where it was loaded from certain options will it will cause it to reload out of cfw
if activated the eshop update nag will also trigger the reload out of cfw before the update

precisely. it's people spreading the wrong information, making people think their actions within emunand could never cause long-term damage. Better to be educated about these potential problem areas before you find out the hardway.

 

[izy]

wrong this is why o3ds guides say to go directly to the update option in system settings app because the settings app does not care about where it was loaded from certain options will it will cause it to reload out of cfw
if activated the eshop update nag will also trigger the reload out of cfw before the update

except if you it tells you to check if it says you are on CFW in system settings if you are and you go to the update option it will only update emunand yes some stuff can put you back onto sysnand, either way the point still stands that you cannot update your sysnand in emunand mode, you can not pay attention and go into sysnand

either way it still stands *whatever you do in emunand cannot screw sysnand*

 

[wormdood]

except if you it tells you to check if it says you are on CFW in system settings if you are and you go directly to the update option it will only update emunand

there fixed it

either way it still stands *whatever you do in emunand cannot screw sysnand*

this statement is incorrect . . . but i guess you will need to learn that the hard way

. . . let me ask you this why do you think it is that emunand cant play gba cias or dsiware cias unless they are on sysnand as well i will make it simple when emunand cant do something the console does not freak out it simply has the real nand do it and there are many things cfw will request of the systems real nand in order to complete even when executed from emunand . . . simply put emunand and sysnand are more connected than
"*whatever you do in emunand cannot screw sysnand*"
emunand is a safety net not a blast shield

 

[ddurdle]

except if you it tells you to check if it says you are on CFW in system settings if you are and you go to the update option it will only update emunand yes some stuff can put you back onto sysnand, either way the point still stands that you cannot update your sysnand in emunand mode, you can not pay attention and go into sysnand

either way it still stands *whatever you do in emunand cannot screw sysnand*

Problem is that there are multiple way to get kicked out of emunand and back into sysnand. If someone isn't aware that can happen or how it can happen, then they might find themselves posting on the forum with something along the lines "but I had booted into emunand so I ....".

 

[SlateXD]

How are you running rxtools on a N3DS?

 

[wormdood]

Problem is that there are multiple way to get kicked out of emunand and back into sysnand. If someone isn't aware that can happen or how it can happen, then they might find themselves posting on the forum with something along the lines "but I had booted into emunand so I ....".

at least someone understands im not dumb i know that its only from sysnand that you update sysnand but . . . you cant simply say that if options in emunand can easily and without warning kick you out of emunand . . . or else you mislead people . . .

again this is why the guides say to update only from settings. simply being in emunand will not help you if you decide to update via daily nag message nor from the eshop asking you to update

How are you running rxtools on a N3DS?

[Tutorial] How-to install a CFW on a 9.0-9.2 N3DS without CN/OOT

[Tutorial] Setting up 9.0 - 9.2 N3DS/XL for rxTools CFW, including emuNAND, coldboot, cia Manager

 

[SlateXD]

at least someone understands im not dumb i know that its only from sysnand that you update sysnand but . . . you cant simply say that if options in emunand can easily and without warning kick you out of emunand . . . or else you mislead people . . .

again this is why the guides say to update only from settings. simply being in emunand will not help you if you decide to update via daily nag message nor from the eshop asking you to update
[Tutorial] How-to install a CFW on a 9.0-9.2 N3DS without CN/OOT

[Tutorial] Setting up 9.0 - 9.2 N3DS/XL for rxTools CFW, including emuNAND, coldboot, cia Manager

Wow, that's some progression since i've been gone from the scene. How far can emuNand go with rxtools on N3DS?

 

[wormdood]

Wow, that's some progression since i've been gone from the scene. How far can emuNand go with rxtools on N3DS?

your console must be 9.2 or lower
and emunand can be as high as 9.5 on n3sd, 10.3 on o3ds

 

[SlateXD]

your console must be 9.2 or lower
and emunand can be as high as 9.5 on n3sd, 10.3 on o3ds

so if i updated emuNAND in settings it would only go to 9.5? That's a shame.

 

[wormdood]

so if i updated emuNAND in settings it would only go to 9.5? That's a shame.

actually on a n3ds you need Sysupdater (or a cia installer that can batch install) to update to 9.5 . . . if you try to update a n3ds from settings in emunand you will brick your emunand

 

[SlateXD]

actually on a n3ds you need Sysupdater (or a cia installer that can batch install) to update to 9.5 . . . if you try to update a n3ds from settings in emunand you will brick your emunand

Appreciate the information man. Glad i asked and glad you are nice enough to contribute to my new found knowledge

I have an O3DS and 2 N3DS so i was just like i better ask before i mess something up. haha

 

[SlateXD]

actually on a n3ds you need Sysupdater (or a cia installer that can batch install) to update to 9.5 . . . if you try to update a n3ds from settings in emunand you will brick your emunand

On a side note, anything else noteworthy for N3DS?

 

[wurstpistole]

The advise about "whatever you do on the emunand will never break your 3ds" is slightly misleading. It won't break your 3ds,yes, but you can accidentally upgrade your sysnand and thus lose your ability to use emunand (some might consider that breaking the 3ds). So you cannot be completely reckless when in emunand mode because some actions can lead to regret.

Well it was stated in the intent that he has a n3ds can't update Emunand directly anyway. But the guys already stated that. Thanks wormdood for linking my tutorial

 

[wormdood]

On a side note, anything else noteworthy for N3DS?

just like games load faster emulators run smother/faster/better on n3ds then o3ds
also if you want to use the eshop on n3ds you will need to install a few things
there is a glitch/bug where sometimes the n3ds will boot games with the 3d effect screwed up. . . but you can just close and open the system to fix it

 

[wurstpistole]

there is a glitch/bug where sometimes the n3ds will boot games with the 3d effect screwed up. . . but you can just close and open the system to fix it

3D is always broken for me, after every shutdown and reboot. But it's very easily fixed by just closing and opening it again