Hacking RxTools 11.0 User here - what to do?

[Francesca]

So even though there have been more popular cfws for months now, I've remained an RxTools since I didn't want to risk doing any changes (and possibly screwing up). There's a new system update now, and I can't go online without performing it, and if I understand things right RxTools doesn't receive any more support and so I'd need to change firmwares in order to have things operate properly again.

I am on sysnand 9.2 / emunand 11.0 in RxTools, and apparently there are two options - Luma3DS and A9LH. Which one is preferred in my particular situations (my nands and the present time)?

https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-updating-from-rxtools-to-luma3ds.427735/
I've managed to find this topic specifically addressing how to switch from Rx to Luma. If I were to choose Luma and not the other one, would this still be an effective guide even today with the new firmware 11.1 being suggested while in emunand?

I also understand very little about any of this in spite of having followed several tutorials at different stages of my hacking life, so if anybody can give me some understanding of where I currently have and what I am going to be doing to get things working again (like in a sort of plan or something), I'd really appreciate that as I haven't got the slightest idea.

 

[nechigawara]

I think you're confusing.
A9LH = an exploit that allow something to run on 3DS before everythings else could run.
Luma3DS = Custom Firmware which Noob friendly and can be run on many exploit, include A9LH.

Most people here would suggest using A9LH + Luma3DS cause of how Noob friendly always up-to-date guide avaliable here: https://github.com/Plailect/Guide/wiki
But, you can use A9LH with others CFW you prefer too.

 

[Francesca]

<<<This guide is designed to help a user take a completely unmodified 3DS from full stock firmware to arm9loaderhax powered custom firmware>>>

But I already have RxTools 11.0; is this really a good guide for me?

So is A9LH a new kind of menuhax for entering emunand upon launch?

What are the alternatives to Luma as far as CFW goes, and which is the best one to have?

 

[The Catboy]

My suggestion, is to stop using RXTools.

<<<This guide is designed to help a user take a completely unmodified 3DS from full stock firmware to arm9loaderhax powered custom firmware>>>

But I already have RxTools 11.0; is this really a good guide for me?

So is A9LH a new kind of menuhax for entering emunand upon launch?

What are the alternatives to Luma as far as CFW goes, and which is the best one to have?

Since your system is already modified, you just need to follow part 3
https://github.com/Plailect/Guide/wiki/Part-3-(A9LH)
And for other CFWs, I have sticky for that.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/faq-what-cfw-is-best-for-me.428509

 

[nechigawara]

Since @Crystal the Glaceon already answer some part, I will answer only this one.

So is A9LH a new kind of menuhax for entering emunand upon launch?

You can think it like that, although it isn't. Exploit = the way to run something on 3DS, not just emunand.

 

[The Catboy]

So is A9LH a new kind of menuhax for entering emunand upon launch?

I didn't see this question here, I just woke up.
Think of A9LH as an upgrade version of Menuhax.
But unlike menuhax, this one is installed deep into the system's boot cycle, so you do a lot more with it.
Examples:
Boot into a CFW sysNAND, so you need longer need an emuNAND
Boot payloads such as Decrypt9, hourglass9, ect. before even the sysNAND boots
Have 100% boot rate, A9LH never fails to boot
Almost complete brick protection. You can completely trash your sysNAND, so long as you were smart enough to keep a backup before hand.
And a lot more.

 

[Sumea]

So. As indeed said by nechi A9LH is not CFW or anything else of a kind, it is a firm exploit installed into the console itself that makes it possible to boot anythang with arm9 privelege (one we need for CFW and all the good stuff we deem necessary for the moniker of "modded 3DS")

A9LH is not exactly just a menuhax, menuhax is smealum's USER exploit but it is used to boot automatically into a CFW loader that also includes the exploit for 9.2 systems etc. to run.

So TL;DR comparison: Menuhax = Booting an homebrew executable in boot through exploited theme data in your 3DS, A9LH = exploit for arm9 AND lowest possible level booter for custom arm9 code, and is also installed in system's firmware blocks.

To put my opinion simply:
If you already are somewhat uneasy about changing stuff in your 3DS and if you feel menuhax setup is good enough - then by all means. You CAN install Luma3DS and make it booted with Menuhax if you want. I would indeed in this case recommend this. You can read Aurora's own Wiki page on installation made as easy as possible for people. Just take the "menuhax" steps and ignore others for now:
https://github.com/AuroraWright/Luma3DS/wiki/Installation-and-upgrade

also pre-emptive answers right away: Yes Luma will use your emunand, no nothing will be screwed up everything will be just as it was with RXtools, you will most likely not see any difference in your day to day use but Luma3DS is indeed better choice overall.

There is also a .cia format updater app to make it possible to keep your Luma3DS updated without pulling your SDcard out. Just install, launch it every now and then to check if there is an update and update in your 3DS. Heck, now that Aurora updated it so that all installation/launch types of Luma3DS use the main arm9loader binary, you do not need to configure your installation type, just install and use.
https://github.com/Hamcha/lumaupdate/releases

If you have other questions have at it. But I indeed would for now recommend to not do A9LH, it is not quick and somewhat arduous process for skittish, while just making your existing setup use Luma instead of RXtools should be quick and easy.

 

[sugus32]

Hi, I'm not sure if I got that right because English isn't my first language, so I will ask about it just to be sure, sorry if this post isn't the place for that...
Can we install CFW on 3DS with 11.0.0-33 firmware versions "easily/like before the update" now? I asked one month or so ago and the answer I got was more or less "only if you downgrade using a DSiWare thingie (if you have another 3DS) or a hardmod".
Did that answer change?
Thanks a lot and sorry about my english!

 

[xtheman]

Hi, I'm not sure if I got that right because English isn't my first language, so I will ask about it just to be sure, sorry if this post isn't the place for that...
Can we install CFW on 3DS with 11.0.0-33 firmware versions "easily/like before the update" now? I asked one month or so ago and the answer I got was more or less "only if you downgrade using a DSiWare thingie (if you have another 3DS) or a hardmod".
Did that answer change?
Thanks a lot and sorry about my english!

Nope still hardmod/dsiware only.
It will likely be like that for a very long time.

 

[nechigawara]

Hi, I'm not sure if I got that right because English isn't my first language, so I will ask about it just to be sure, sorry if this post isn't the place for that...
Can we install CFW on 3DS with 11.0.0-33 firmware versions "easily/like before the update" now? I asked one month or so ago and the answer I got was more or less "only if you downgrade using a DSiWare thingie (if you have another 3DS) or a hardmod".
Did that answer change?
Thanks a lot and sorry about my english!

If those CFW can run from Menuhax and doesn't need arm9 or arm11 kernel exploit, yes. But i'm not sure there is one.
The reason: https://gbatemp.net/threads/why-the...simple-explanation-for-the-rest-of-us.441373/

 

[sugus32]

Thanks to both of you for your quick answers!

 

[Deleted User]

If your on a new 3ds then you can go right to part 3,if you are on a old 3ds however then you need to read the whole guide first before doing anything.

 

[Dracari]

If your on a new 3ds then you can go right to part 3,if you are on a old 3ds however then you need to read the whole guide first before doing anything.

i wouldnt suggest telling people or suggesting they do the OTPless install its new isnt thoughly tested and has a brick chance thats unknown.

to the OP, IF you try the OTPLess method, do so only that you Understand your using which is essentially beta -level software, that it cannot be done to an O3DS, and that if you brick 1: you have no one to blame for taking a gamble and Loosing and 2: that should it brick the only way Back is by paying to have it hardmoded.

 

[nechigawara]

i wouldnt suggest telling people or suggesting they do the OTPless install its new isnt thoughly tested and has a brick chance thats unknown.

to the OP, IF you try the OTPLess method, do so only that you Understand your using which is essentially beta -level software, that it cannot be done to an O3DS, and that if you brick 1: you have no one to blame for taking a gamble and Loosing and 2: that should it brick the only way Back is by paying to have it hardmoded.

Th guide already changed to OTPless one for N3DS, may be becuase there is an official release of SafeA9LHInstaller for OTPless already?