Hacking Official [Release] CakesFW

[Kazuma77]

Okay, I've got Cakes 175 running, and I have an Acekard 2i. What do I need to do to play that on my N3DS emuNAND at latest firmware?
I have the cakes for TWL_CARTRIDGES and TWL_SIGNATURES and have enabled them, but my N3DS doesn't even detect anything in there. This card works on my DSiXL (Pippa Funnel).

Thanks!

EDIT: What's up with almost half of the time Cakes loads up with just black screen? Not that it's not working, most of the time that it ends up black, I can just press A and notice a shift in the backlight, where it loads to emuNAND homescreen shortly. So it does load up, but for some reason forgets to display anything. Sometimes it really does freeze though. I know because when I press A, nothing happens, no shift in the backlight, nothing to indicate something happening in there. When this happens, I end up having to hold the power button for something like 10 seconds just to shut it down.

You also have to have the TWL firmware in your "cakes" folder named "twl_firmware.bin" as well. Not to mention the "twl_firmkey.bin" or "twl_cetk" file. If you only have the cetk file, and you're running A9LH, you'll want to place the TWL firmware in a different folder, boot, move it to "cakes" with CTRXplorer, and reboot by entering "System Settings" and exiting. Cakes can't decrypt on first boot with A9LH systems, but it can on a warm reboot. There's a complete Cakes 175 on a certain iso site if you're having trouble getting the needed files. It's in the "CFW Discussions" forum. Though it has almost been knocked to page 2 at this point (leave a comment if you'd like to see it stay on the front page). Of course, the "AIO A9LH Configurations" archive has it too. You just get 6 extra copies per system type (it's meant to be one-step drag-and-drop, so every boot manager included needs it's own copy).

I have an AK2i myself, and it's working fine with Cakes 175 on my N3DS XL. I've reverted to the "Deep Labyrinth" update, though. "Pippa" works, but took longer to load because of extra code that is no longer needed.

I'm also wondering what you're using as a boot manager as well. I'm having no issues with a black screen. It boots every time for me. I run BootCTR9. You might want to try it (it's in the aforementioned "AIO A9LH Configurations" archive, as are several other boot managers -- there's a stripped copy without any firmware files, but I'd recommend the full version if you can find it).

 

[ferofax]

You also have to have the TWL firmware in your "cakes" folder named "twl_firmware.bin" as well. Not to mention the "twl_firmkey.bin" or "twl_cetk" file. If you only have the cetk file, and you're running A9LH, you'll want to place the TWL firmware in a different folder, boot, move it to "cakes" with CTRXplorer, and reboot by entering "System Settings" and exiting. Cakes can't decrypt on first boot with A9LH systems, but it can on a warm reboot. There's a complete Cakes 175 on a certain iso site if you're having trouble getting the needed files. It's in the "CFW Discussions" forum. Though it has almost been knocked to page 2 at this point (leave a comment if you'd like to see it stay on the front page). Of course, the "AIO A9LH Configurations" archive has it too. You just get 6 extra copies per system type (it's meant to be one-step drag-and-drop, so every boot manager included needs it's own copy).

I have an AK2i myself, and it's working fine with Cakes 175 on my N3DS XL. I've reverted to the "Deep Labyrinth" update, though. "Pippa" works, but took longer to load because of extra code that is no longer needed.

I'm also wondering what you're using as a boot manager as well. I'm having no issues with a black screen. It boots every time for me. I run BootCTR9. You might want to try it (it's in the aforementioned "AIO A9LH Configurations" archive, as are several other boot managers -- there's a stripped copy without any firmware files, but I'd recommend the full version if you can find it).

Hmm. I'm not on A9LH because back when I attempted to do it, the downgrade to 2 point something for N3DS kinda scared me, and since I already have emunand at that point, I pretty much stopped there.

Anyways, I think I do have all of those other files, like twl_firmkey.bin and twl_cetk (and the AGB counterparts as well, even though I prefer using the emulators when playing GBA games), but unfortunately, no dice.

That said, a quick download & copy-paste of Luma fixed it for me. LOL. It's just way easier that way.

 

[Kazuma77]

Hmm. I'm not on A9LH because back when I attempted to do it, the downgrade to 2 point something for N3DS kinda scared me, and since I already have emunand at that point, I pretty much stopped there.

Anyways, I think I do have all of those other files, like twl_firmkey.bin and twl_cetk (and the AGB counterparts as well, even though I prefer using the emulators when playing GBA games), but unfortunately, no dice.

That said, a quick download & copy-paste of Luma fixed it for me. LOL. It's just way easier that way.

It was kind-of nerve-wracking watching OTP Helper when I did my 2 N3DS XLs. Still, it didn't brick either of them, or the 7 other systems I've done. It seems to be extremely safe as of early April.

I don't know what to advise then. Are you absolutely certain you grabbed the right firmware files? They are different for the N3DS.

I admit I'm running this as an alternate myself. Luma just has so many extra features (though that new Corbenik fork looks like it's going to give Luma a run for it's money).

 

[chaoskagami]

It was kind-of nerve-wracking watching OTP Helper when I did my 2 N3DS XLs. Still, it didn't brick either of them, or the 7 other systems I've done. It seems to be extremely safe as of early April.

I don't know what to advise then. Are you absolutely certain you grabbed the right firmware files? They are different for the N3DS.

I admit I'm running this as an alternate myself. Luma just has so many extra features (though that new Corbenik fork looks like it's going to give Luma a run for it's money).

It isn't a fork. It's >70% original (according to cloc at least, and the files counted as 'not mine' have severe alterations)

That said, AGB and TWL require Reboot to be enabled - even on N3DS. That's probably your issue here. The patched firmwares aren't even being loaded.

 

[Kazuma77]

It isn't a fork. It's >70% original (according to cloc at least, and the files counted as 'not mine' have severe alterations)

That said, AGB and TWL require Reboot to be enabled - even on N3DS. That's probably your issue here. The patched firmwares aren't even being loaded.

OK. No offense intended. It's just the way it uses firmkey and all made it seem like it was a Cakes fork. Regardless, it seems nice. I haven't had much time to mess with it yet, but I will let you know if I uncover any bugs. It's always good having more options.

 

[chaoskagami]

OK. No offense intended. It's just the way it uses firmkey and all made it seem like it was a Cakes fork. Regardless, it seems nice. I haven't had much time to mess with it yet, but I will let you know if I uncover any bugs. It's always good having more options.

I've made it clear that I use Cakes' FIRM decryptor and give @mid-kid credit accordingly. It is not a fork. It simply includes some code. No offsense taken, either.

Anyways, this topic is about Cakes, not my project. @ferofax, please enable Reboot and get back to us. That should fix your issue with Cakes' AGB and TWL patches.

 

[Peninsula]

Did Cakes 175 break for anybody else upon updating to A9LH v2?

 

[Wolfvak]

Did Cakes 175 break for anybody else upon updating to A9LH v2?

What stages did you install? Cakes doesn't support screen init afaik, so you need screen init enabled stages.

 

[Peninsula]

What stages did you install? Cakes doesn't support screen init afaik, so you need screen init enabled stages.

Are you saying I need no screen init? That's what I used.

 

[Wolfvak]

Are you saying I need no screen init? That's what I used.

so you need screen init enabled stages

 

[Peninsula]

Cakes doesn't support screen init afaik

so you need screen init

You said two different things in your first message which is why I asked. Regardless, screen init worked. Thanks.

 

[Wolfvak]

You said two different things in your first message which is why I asked. Regardless, screen init worked. Thanks.

What I meant is that Cakes itself doesn't initialize the screens, but requires it to be initialized by something else (Home Menu itself if booting from 4.x-9.2 / stage2 if booting from arm9loaderhax).
Sorry to confuse you >.<

 

[ferofax]

I've made it clear that I use Cakes' FIRM decryptor and give @mid-kid credit accordingly. It is not a fork. It simply includes some code. No offsense taken, either.

Anyways, this topic is about Cakes, not my project. @ferofax, please enable Reboot and get back to us. That should fix your issue with Cakes' AGB and TWL patches.

Here's the patches that are enabled:
Allow all DS cartridges to boot in TWL
Disable signature checks in TWL
Enable emuNAND (duh)
Survive reboots when launching some titles
Disable signature checks

...holy shit. It's working now. I didn't even change anything there. But maybe it's because I've been using it for some time now with Luma? I seriously don't know why it's working now, but holy shit hell yes.

I'm off to check out this freeshop thingamajig. Sounds like going into Steam and buying everything for zero dollars. That's awesome and scary at the same time. I mean, piracy is taking something that somebody else distributed, right? If this thing is you taking stuff right out of eShop, then it's downright stealing. I think. But nevermind, I digress.

TL;DR I didn't change a thing and it works now.

 

[chaoskagami]

Here's the patches that are enabled:
Allow all DS cartridges to boot in TWL
Disable signature checks in TWL
Enable emuNAND (duh)
Survive reboots when launching some titles
Disable signature checks

...holy shit. It's working now. I didn't even change anything there. But maybe it's because I've been using it for some time now with Luma? I seriously don't know why it's working now, but holy shit hell yes.

TL;DR I didn't change a thing and it works now.

Doubt it. I'd bet you had Survive reboots off. Good to hear you got it working, though.

I'm off to check out this freeshop thingamajig. Sounds like going into Steam and buying everything for zero dollars. That's awesome and scary at the same time. I mean, piracy is taking something that somebody else distributed, right? If this thing is you taking stuff right out of eShop, then it's downright stealing. I think. But nevermind, I digress.

Technically speaking, it's still copyright infringement, not theft. Theft is only for physical items, since data can be replicated infinitely. I'd also say usage of freeShop with your own decTitleKeys.bin is totally okay.

 

[laharl22]

the command for cretae .bin with cmd windows seem broken now

 

[GBHAKC75]

Doubt it. I'd bet you had Survive reboots off. Good to hear you got it working, though.



Technically speaking, it's still copyright infringement, not theft. Theft is only for physical items, since data can be replicated infinitely. I'd also say usage of freeShop with your own decTitleKeys.bin is totally okay.

It depends on the country. On France for example, pirating is stealing, no matter if we're talking of physical or digital content.

 

[laharl22]

how to cretae .bin of the latest nightly for a9LH?

 

[chaoskagami]

It depends on the country. On France for example, pirating is stealing, no matter if we're talking of physical or digital content.

Interesting. Didn't know that. France considers them one and the same, legally speaking?

 

[GBHAKC75]

Interesting. Didn't know that. France considers them one and the same, legally speaking?

Yes. You can be charged for stealing if you pirated content, as it's the same thing from the POV of law.

 

[chaoskagami]

Yes. You can be charged for stealing if you pirated content, as it's the same thing from the POV of law.

Well, in the US the punishment is pretty unbalanced, but it's a criminal charge too. Copyright infringement and theft are just legally distinct.

I don't pirate anyways, so whatever.