...but I was installing a9lh to my n3ds, and it only installed 3 cia files. then, the thing bricked. wtf!!?? I can update in the recovery menu, but with no way to downgrade, my system is junk.
You probably installed wrong files to the wrong destination, happened to me as well. You could update via the recovery menu, but as of now, I dont think you're able to downgrade it without a hardmod.
Edit: Wait you mean during the al9h installation, or after it?
Maybe you used the wrong files? o3ds and n3ds don't use the same files. Maybe you got bad files.no, all cia files were in the right directory. I've already installed a9lh on my o3ds, but now this happens for no logical reason??? it was during the install. Luma3DS wouldn't boot. well, it did once, but it didn't boot into redNAND.
Maybe you used the wrong files? o3ds and n3ds don't use the same files. Maybe you got bad files.
Did you update to 11.0 or 10.7? If you updated to 11.0, you're screwed. Also, if you were on 9.0, then why did you do anything? RULE NUMBER 1 TO CONSOLE HACKING: Always make a NAND backup when possible.I've already updated. I had no nand backup. I started on portion 3 of the tutorial since I was on 9.0.0 firmware, and I had menuhax installed. I want to know what the hell happened. if it's that unstable, I wouldn't recommend anyone use the downgrader/upgrader.
Currently there is no way to downgrade from 11.0. People are even having to find workarounds to downgrade from a harmod. You'll need to wait a little while.I was following Plailect's guide portion 3. I only attempted to upgrade due to luma 3ds not working. I assumed it didn't like the firmware I was on. I made sure, yes. I even checked the sha-256. I hadn't gotten to downgrading to 2.1. the sysdowngrader looked different from what I remembered when doing this before. I still don't understand y it would install 3 files only. it doesn't make any sense. and, yes, I'm on 11.0.
Again: You say it installed 3 CIAs then bricked, what do you mean exactly? Did it say complete? Did it power off?
Also, you obviously weren't following the guide, as there is zero mention of updating from 9.0.0 -> 9.2.0 in that section. From the guide in reference to 9.0.0:
"If you are on 9.0.0 or 9.1.0 you are fine where you are as both are almost identical to 9.2.0.
If your version is between 9.0.0 and 9.2.0, start on "Part 1 - Homebrew" then skip most of "Part 2 - Downgrading" (more info on that page)."
If you wanted to update to 9.2.0 for some reason, there's an entire page on just that: https://github.com/Plailect/Guide/wiki/9.2.0-Update
So, while you may say "I want to know what the hell happened. if it's that unstable, I wouldn't recommend anyone use the downgrader/upgrader.", I'm of the opinion you screwed up by not following the guide, and it has nothing to do with the process being "unstable".
...but with no way to downgrade, my system is junk.