Tutorial
Updated
Restore N3DS from FW 2.1 without NAND Backups
Hi guys, I forgot to do a nand backup and downgrade my n3ds sysnand to 2.1. After getting otp I update my sysnand through system settings resulting in a hardbrick. I know this is user error. I have done many a9lh but this is the first time I forgot. Damned.
Anyway I have thought of a possible way to unbrick which I do not know if it will work.
1) Extract out unbricked 2.1 emunand in pc.
2) Hardmod and flash the unbricked 2.1 emunand to sysnand.
3) ???
Lets say the above method works is there anyway to update my sysnand back to 9.2 or 10.7? I am guessing recovery wont work. What about games with update in it?
Many thanks in advance!
UPDATE!!! (N3DS is unbricked!!!) *Stuck on 2.1 without any NAND Backups*
My situation:
I downgraded to 2.1 on a N3DS without any sysNAND or emuNAND backups totally. So I tried updating though system settings to 10.7 which causes a brick. (I did not know at that point of time).
So I extracted out the 2.1 from my microSD using 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator and flashed it back to sysNAND with a hardmod.
After getting help from @d0k3 & @al3x_10m and many hours of trial and error I managed to update my N3DS from 2.1 without any nand backup.
So the steps are below, I have splitted it up into 4 sections.
Links to files needed
N3DS 10.7 firm0 and firm1 files
N3DS NCSD Header
Modded Decrypt9
OTPHelper-20160502-081624
1) Setting Up emuNAND
1) Use OTPHelper to dump your otp.bin and otp0x108.bin
2) Use OTPHelper to make a backup for 2.1 sysNAND and rename it to sysNAND 2.1 or something. (Incase the gamecart update fails, you still can use a hardmod to unbrick)
!!!IMPORTANT!!! - I bricked my N3DS a few times during updating to 4.5 using game cart. Steps 3 and 4 is like an insurance, no harm taking extra precaution
3) Turn off internet settings, format your N3DS, if it is in the format loop just wait around 2 mins or so and off it.
4) Boot into recovery by holding L + R + Up + A on boot, after that exit
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 again
6) Update the N3DS to 4.5 using a gamecart
7) Create emuNAND FW 4.5 using gateway by use gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com)
8) Use the modded Decrypt9, it is named as Launcher.dat *Start it using gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com) (Slot0x05KeyY.bin needs to be in the root to use the modded Decrypt9)
9) Dump hs.app for emuNAND 4.5
10) Use Universal Inject Generator to create sysupdater.app(profi200's one,safesys and plaisys doesn't work)
11) Unmount SD and put 10.7 N3DS update pack in 'updates' folder, 10.7 firm0.bin and firm 1.bin and NCSD_header_n3ds.bin on root of SD Card
12) If you have a gateway card, replace the modded Decrypt9 launcher with gateway launcher
13) Put back your SD and inject sysupdater into h&s then reboot
2) Updating emuNAND to 10.7
*Make sure these 3 files are at the root of your SD Card*
10.7 firm0.bin
10.7 firm 1.bin
NCSD_header_n3ds.bin
1) I used gateway to enter emuNAND for 4.5 since I got a gateway card. If you have no gateway you can try other CFW? If anyone tested it can let me know, I will add it to this guide and put your name in credits
2) Open sysupdater in emuNAND 4.5 and press (A) to update emuNAND to 10.7
3) After updating it will auto reboot, take out the SD card and replace the Launcher.dat with the one from OTPHelper-20160502-081624
4) Launch OTPHelper in sysNAND 4.5 *Start it using gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com)
5) Inject the 10.7 firm0.bin and firm1.bin into emuNAND 10.7
6) Use the Unbrick FW 9.x EmuNAND function (This will take quite some time)
7) After it is done go to NAND Backup & Restore and select Clone EmuNAND to SysNAND
8) Make a NAND backup of your 10.7 sysNAND and rename it sysNAND 10.7 or something (This is needed for A9LH installation)
9) Reboot and your N3DS is now UNBRICKED!!!
3) Downgrade sysNAND to 9.2
*Remember to delete the 10.7 updates folder from root of your SD Card*
1st we need to downgrade to 9.2, you can use Plailect's downgrading guide to downgrade
I used cubic ninja as the entry point for 10.7 to boot into homebrew launcher
When you boot into 9.2 it will show "An error has occured." message, don't worry this is normal.
For some reason it will crash around 3-4 seconds when you boot your N3DS because of the homemenu being loaded I think?
4) Installing A9LH (LumA Version)
We need to install menuhax so just grab the files from here, you should know how to use it by now.
1) Do the Preparatory Work from Plailect's Guide
2) Now we got a 3-4 seconds window before the N3DS will crash when we boot it
3) After you on the N3DS quickly tap the top left corner of your touchscreen to go into HOME Menu Settings
4) Tap Change Theme (This is needed to install menuhax)
5) After exiting it will crash again don't worry
6) After you on your N3DS again, quickly tap on the internet browser icon
7) Go to http://yls8.mtheall.com/3dsbrowserhax_auto.php to launch homebrew launcher
8) Install menuhax, configure it to type 2 (Auto Boot)
9) Exit menuhax manager and launch miniPasta, it will auto reboot into homebrew launcher again
10) Launch Safe A9LH Installer and press Select *Redo steps 9-10 if it hangs*
11) Power on your N3DS, it will auto reboot into homebrew launcher again, now uninstall menuhax
12) A9LH is installed in your N3DS but the error will still show up when it is on 9.2 so now we gonna update it to 10.7 while keeping the A9LH
13) If you have followed the Preparatory Work from Plailect Guide, you will be able to launch Decrypt 9 by holding Start button on boot
14) Launch Decrypt9, go to SysNAND Options > SysNAND Backup/Restore... > NAND Restore (keep a9lh) > Select the sysNAND 10.7 backup you made earlier on
15) After restoring you will have a A9LH 10.7 sysNAND
16) Use Decrypt 9 to inject fbi to the h&s
17) Now make a NAND dump of the 10.7 A9LH sysNAND
Pros:
N3DS is unbricked!
Cons:
You can't use any app or stuffs related to DSIware
BigBlueMenu is not working, but there are other .cia installers to replace that.
I can't format my N3DS too but hey its unbricked, who cares
Credits:
@d0k3 For helping me throughout the whole journey and providing the OTPHelper-20160502-081624 test build
@al3x_10m For helping me throughout the whole journey and providing the N3DS NCSD Header & Modded Decrypt9 files
yellows8 for menuhax and browserhax
@Plailect for the A9LH guide
@smealum for ninjhax
@DarkMatterCore for 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator
Anyway I have thought of a possible way to unbrick which I do not know if it will work.
1) Extract out unbricked 2.1 emunand in pc.
2) Hardmod and flash the unbricked 2.1 emunand to sysnand.
3) ???
Lets say the above method works is there anyway to update my sysnand back to 9.2 or 10.7? I am guessing recovery wont work. What about games with update in it?
Many thanks in advance!
UPDATE!!! (N3DS is unbricked!!!) *Stuck on 2.1 without any NAND Backups*
My situation:
I downgraded to 2.1 on a N3DS without any sysNAND or emuNAND backups totally. So I tried updating though system settings to 10.7 which causes a brick. (I did not know at that point of time).
So I extracted out the 2.1 from my microSD using 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator and flashed it back to sysNAND with a hardmod.
After getting help from @d0k3 & @al3x_10m and many hours of trial and error I managed to update my N3DS from 2.1 without any nand backup.
So the steps are below, I have splitted it up into 4 sections.
Links to files needed
N3DS 10.7 firm0 and firm1 files
N3DS NCSD Header
Modded Decrypt9
OTPHelper-20160502-081624
1) Setting Up emuNAND
1) Use OTPHelper to dump your otp.bin and otp0x108.bin
2) Use OTPHelper to make a backup for 2.1 sysNAND and rename it to sysNAND 2.1 or something. (Incase the gamecart update fails, you still can use a hardmod to unbrick)
!!!IMPORTANT!!! - I bricked my N3DS a few times during updating to 4.5 using game cart. Steps 3 and 4 is like an insurance, no harm taking extra precaution
3) Turn off internet settings, format your N3DS, if it is in the format loop just wait around 2 mins or so and off it.
4) Boot into recovery by holding L + R + Up + A on boot, after that exit
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 again
6) Update the N3DS to 4.5 using a gamecart
7) Create emuNAND FW 4.5 using gateway by use gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com)
8) Use the modded Decrypt9, it is named as Launcher.dat *Start it using gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com) (Slot0x05KeyY.bin needs to be in the root to use the modded Decrypt9)
9) Dump hs.app for emuNAND 4.5
10) Use Universal Inject Generator to create sysupdater.app(profi200's one,safesys and plaisys doesn't work)
11) Unmount SD and put 10.7 N3DS update pack in 'updates' folder, 10.7 firm0.bin and firm 1.bin and NCSD_header_n3ds.bin on root of SD Card
12) If you have a gateway card, replace the modded Decrypt9 launcher with gateway launcher
13) Put back your SD and inject sysupdater into h&s then reboot
2) Updating emuNAND to 10.7
*Make sure these 3 files are at the root of your SD Card*
10.7 firm0.bin
10.7 firm 1.bin
NCSD_header_n3ds.bin
1) I used gateway to enter emuNAND for 4.5 since I got a gateway card. If you have no gateway you can try other CFW? If anyone tested it can let me know, I will add it to this guide and put your name in credits
2) Open sysupdater in emuNAND 4.5 and press (A) to update emuNAND to 10.7
3) After updating it will auto reboot, take out the SD card and replace the Launcher.dat with the one from OTPHelper-20160502-081624
4) Launch OTPHelper in sysNAND 4.5 *Start it using gateway entrypoint (go.gateway-3ds.com)
5) Inject the 10.7 firm0.bin and firm1.bin into emuNAND 10.7
6) Use the Unbrick FW 9.x EmuNAND function (This will take quite some time)
7) After it is done go to NAND Backup & Restore and select Clone EmuNAND to SysNAND
8) Make a NAND backup of your 10.7 sysNAND and rename it sysNAND 10.7 or something (This is needed for A9LH installation)
9) Reboot and your N3DS is now UNBRICKED!!!
3) Downgrade sysNAND to 9.2
*Remember to delete the 10.7 updates folder from root of your SD Card*
1st we need to downgrade to 9.2, you can use Plailect's downgrading guide to downgrade
I used cubic ninja as the entry point for 10.7 to boot into homebrew launcher
When you boot into 9.2 it will show "An error has occured." message, don't worry this is normal.
For some reason it will crash around 3-4 seconds when you boot your N3DS because of the homemenu being loaded I think?
4) Installing A9LH (LumA Version)
We need to install menuhax so just grab the files from here, you should know how to use it by now.
1) Do the Preparatory Work from Plailect's Guide
2) Now we got a 3-4 seconds window before the N3DS will crash when we boot it
3) After you on the N3DS quickly tap the top left corner of your touchscreen to go into HOME Menu Settings
4) Tap Change Theme (This is needed to install menuhax)
5) After exiting it will crash again don't worry
6) After you on your N3DS again, quickly tap on the internet browser icon
7) Go to http://yls8.mtheall.com/3dsbrowserhax_auto.php to launch homebrew launcher
8) Install menuhax, configure it to type 2 (Auto Boot)
9) Exit menuhax manager and launch miniPasta, it will auto reboot into homebrew launcher again
10) Launch Safe A9LH Installer and press Select *Redo steps 9-10 if it hangs*
11) Power on your N3DS, it will auto reboot into homebrew launcher again, now uninstall menuhax
12) A9LH is installed in your N3DS but the error will still show up when it is on 9.2 so now we gonna update it to 10.7 while keeping the A9LH
13) If you have followed the Preparatory Work from Plailect Guide, you will be able to launch Decrypt 9 by holding Start button on boot
14) Launch Decrypt9, go to SysNAND Options > SysNAND Backup/Restore... > NAND Restore (keep a9lh) > Select the sysNAND 10.7 backup you made earlier on
15) After restoring you will have a A9LH 10.7 sysNAND
16) Use Decrypt 9 to inject fbi to the h&s
17) Now make a NAND dump of the 10.7 A9LH sysNAND
Pros:
N3DS is unbricked!
Cons:
You can't use any app or stuffs related to DSIware
BigBlueMenu is not working, but there are other .cia installers to replace that.
I can't format my N3DS too but hey its unbricked, who cares
Credits:
@d0k3 For helping me throughout the whole journey and providing the OTPHelper-20160502-081624 test build
@al3x_10m For helping me throughout the whole journey and providing the N3DS NCSD Header & Modded Decrypt9 files
yellows8 for menuhax and browserhax
@Plailect for the A9LH guide
@smealum for ninjhax
@DarkMatterCore for 3DS Multi EmuNAND Creator
Last edited by slslasher,
gm