Hacking How to unlink sysNAND and emuNAND with Gateway? Also problem with DLC ..

[Distrance]

So first off .. I bought my N3DS used, with Gateway already installed. Whoever modded it clearly didn't do it right, because they're linked. I want to update my emuNAND to play Pokemon, but I can't obviously.

Problem is, I don't know anything about modding itself. From what I've gathered I need to: Remove internal SD card, format sysNAND, re-insert SD card = emu and sysNAND unliked. Cool.

Except .. If I do that, won't I lose the DS Profile exploit? Since I got my N3DS used I don't have the means to re-hack my console with the DS Exploit so I have no idea how I would access Gateway after formatting sysNAND ... Any noob-friendly help with this?

Second problem I have relates to installing custom DLC files while on emuNAND? I had this problem with Fire Emblem Fates on my N3DS, and literally the only way I could get DLC on the game was to use FBI's QR Code download/install thing. That's fine and all, except that only works for -official- DLC. I just tried to install Fates Restoration Undub DLC for my friend's console, and he has the same problem I do: Any DLC we try to install results in: Invalid cia file. WTF?! I've tried with FBI, Title Manager and DevMenu and the problem persists across all of them. I've tried to google so much on this yet I can't find anything at all ..

Any help with both problems would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nero99]

Step 1. Get rid of gateway
Step 2. Format memory card
Step 3. Do the process of A9LH. It will be better for your needs.

 

[Distrance]

Step 1. Get rid of gateway
Step 2. Format memory card
Step 3. Do the process of A9LH. It will be better for your needs.

Does A9LH let you install and run custom CIA's? In another thread someone told me to throw Gateway away and to use A9LH to download games off Nintendo's CDN .. whatever that means. Not something I want or can do however, since it's crucial that I can run custom roms like undubs etc. I literally know nothing about modding though, and I don't have any tools (like Gateway mod required a specific game etc.) .. Is it doable even with a scrub like me when my sysNAND is on 9.0 something?

And more importantly, would getting rid of Gateway actually fix the problem of not being able to install DLC's. Note that I can install GAMES as CIA's just fine - but not DLC's.

 

[BADDINOROX99]

Does A9LH let you install and run custom CIA's? In another thread someone told me to throw Gateway away and to use A9LH to download games off Nintendo's CDN .. whatever that means. Not something I want or can do however, since it's crucial that I can run custom roms like undubs etc. I literally know nothing about modding though, and I don't have any tools (like Gateway mod required a specific game etc.) .. Is it doable even with a scrub like me when my sysNAND is on 9.0 something?

And more importantly, would getting rid of Gateway actually fix the problem of not being able to install DLC's. Note that I can install GAMES as CIA's just fine - but not DLC's.

a9lh let's you have anything like cia,dlc,themes and more protection against when it comes to updates
you can even keep using your gateway after installing a9lh by chain loading payloads (I think if not correct me) you get a bit more with a9lh

 

[Quantumcat]

Does A9LH let you install and run custom CIA's?

Yep

In another thread someone told me to throw Gateway away and to use A9LH to download games off Nintendo's CDN .. whatever that means.

it's called freeShop - you can download games right to your console without needing a PC.

Not something I want or can do however, since it's crucial that I can run custom roms like undubs etc. I literally know nothing about modding though, and I don't have any tools (like Gateway mod required a specific game etc.) .. Is it doable even with a scrub like me when my sysNAND is on 9.0 something?

As before you can do this with a9lh & Luma. I don't know the specifics of modding roms though.

And more importantly, would getting rid of Gateway actually fix the problem of not being able to install DLC's. Note that I can install GAMES as CIA's just fine - but not DLC's.

Depends how you are trying to install them. I know Gateway is incompatible with GBA and DSiWare games, maybe it doesn't play nice with DLC either. In any case, DLC can be downloaded & installed with freeShop (and CIAngel, the first app to implement this).

 

[Distrance]

^Yeah but the freeShop has the official DLC/games right? The DLC I was trying to install today for example is unofficial; It's part of the Fates Restoration patch. So it's a custom dlc. Also I don't want to mod roms, it's just that I'd be using already modded roms - so again, obviously freeShop isn't a thing for games like these. Pokemon Moon for example - sure. But I play a lot of JRPG's and for those I need the modded undub roms that are easy enough to find on various forums .. Just wanted to know that they'll work.

Can you explain why the DLC won't install with "Gateway" though? I mean I'm booting to a CFW through the DS Profile Exploit so shouldn't the installs work all the same? I don't understand how it's tied into Gateway itself - thought that's just the card you use to play .3ds roms. As for how I'm installing? I tried with FBI, BBB and DevMenu + the Network Installation - all failed with the same: Invalid Cia message. This happened for both official, and custom DLC.

I guess I'll look into A9LH when I'm less tired but honestly I'm pretty worried about messing with it since it works mostly just fine as is - and if I fuck up and it bricks .. well great, that's a 200€ paperweight there.

 

[Distrance]

a9lh let's you have anything like cia,dlc,themes and more protection against when it comes to updates
you can even keep using your gateway after installing a9lh by chain loading payloads (I think if not correct me) you get a bit more with a9lh

Yep

it's called freeShop - you can download games right to your console without needing a PC.

As before you can do this with a9lh & Luma. I don't know the specifics of modding roms though.

Depends how you are trying to install them. I know Gateway is incompatible with GBA and DSiWare games, maybe it doesn't play nice with DLC either. In any case, DLC can be downloaded & installed with freeShop (and CIAngel, the first app to implement this).

Just a quick question before this thread is forgotten .. I think I'll try installing A9LH .. But the guide speaks that if you already have emuNAND you can restore it to A9LH to keep saves etc. Can I still do that if my emuNAND is Gateway-related AND linked to my sysNAND? I don't want to fuck it up by restoring if I shouldn't, but I don't want to lose my saves either :c

Also you do everything on the guide on sysNAND right? Starting with browserhax? Despite having gateway I don't have anything else like HBL.

 

[Skyshadow101]

Just a quick question before this thread is forgotten .. I think I'll try installing A9LH .. But the guide speaks that if you already have emuNAND you can restore it to A9LH to keep saves etc. Can I still do that if my emuNAND is Gateway-related AND linked to my sysNAND? I don't want to fuck it up by restoring if I shouldn't, but I don't want to lose my saves either :c

Also you do everything on the guide on sysNAND right? Starting with browserhax? Despite having gateway I don't have anything else like HBL.

You can create a backup of your emunand and flash it onto your sysnand after the guide using Hourglass9, allowing you to keep all your saves and games without losing A9LH.

If you can, use Decrypt9WIP. If you can't, use the built-in backup function in the Gateway menu, as I'm pretty sure that makes a usable backup for this sort of thing.

 

[Distrance]

You can create a backup of your emunand and flash it onto your sysnand after the guide using Hourglass9, allowing you to keep all your saves and games without losing A9LH.

If you can, use Decrypt9WIP. If you can't, use the built-in backup function in the Gateway menu, as I'm pretty sure that makes a usable backup for this sort of thing.

Well as far as my emuNAND goes, I only care about savefiles. I can see that my SD card has .sav files when I insert it to my PC. Would copy/pasting those into a new SD card do the trick? So I wouldn't even need to flash my emuNAND into the sysNAND?

The whole updating sysNAND thing really worries me because well - if you update to the latest firmware you're out of luck when it comes to modding your console. So eventually when I have A9LH and that how do I actually get to the latest firmware without losing A9LH and Luma3ds? Also is it safe to go online with games when using A9LH if you're on latest firmware if you're using a "private header" for your games?

Sorry for all the questions :c. I just really didn't want to mess with my 3DS to begin with, but now it's becoming apparent I need to and I'm really worried I'll fuck it up .. Once you go past that certain FW point the only way to downgrade is a hardware mod and that's def not something I can do so I really don't wanna fuck up the installation.

 

[Skyshadow101]

Well as far as my emuNAND goes, I only care about savefiles. I can see that my SD card has .sav files when I insert it to my PC. Would copy/pasting those into a new SD card do the trick? So I wouldn't even need to flash my emuNAND into the sysNAND?

The whole updating sysNAND thing really worries me because well - if you update to the latest firmware you're out of luck when it comes to modding your console. So eventually when I have A9LH and that how do I actually get to the latest firmware without losing A9LH and Luma3ds? Also is it safe to go online with games when using A9LH if you're on latest firmware if you're using a "private header" for your games?

Sorry for all the questions :c. I just really didn't want to mess with my 3DS to begin with, but now it's becoming apparent I need to and I'm really worried I'll fuck it up .. Once you go past that certain FW point the only way to downgrade is a hardware mod and that's def not something I can do so I really don't wanna fuck up the installation.

Oh, it's perfectly fine for asking all the questions. Us GBATempers are here to help.

1. You can still have your saves in your card and use them through Gateway's payload.(@Quantumcat ? Is this true?). Use JK's Save Manager to save any saves you can. Yes you can flash your old Emunand to Sysnand safely through Hourglass9 to keep those saves without using JKSM.

2. It is perfectly safe to update since Luma has FIRM protection. We promise. You can update safely through system settings. There is a payload for Gateway you can use to keep using your Gateway card. But under any circumstance, do not update in Gateway mode, since it does not have FIRM protection. You would lose your hax if you do.

3. You won't need a private header for CIA's or games you've bought off the Eshop. You would need one for a game that is on a Sky3DS, or in your case, a Gateway.

 

[Distrance]

Oh, it's perfectly fine for asking all the questions. Us GBATempers are here to help.

1. You can still have your saves in your card and use them through Gateway's payload.(@Quantumcat ? Is this true?). Use JK's Save Manager to save any saves you can. Yes you can flash your old Emunand to Sysnand safely through Hourglass9 to keep those saves without using JKSM.

2. It is perfectly safe to update since Luma has FIRM protection. We promise. You can update safely through system settings. There is a payload for Gateway you can use to keep using your Gateway card. But under any circumstance, do not update in Gateway mode, since it does not have FIRM protection. You would lose your hax if you do.

3. You won't need a private header for CIA's or games you've bought off the Eshop. You would need one for a game that is on a Sky3DS, or in your case, a Gateway.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions. I know people are here to help, but some seem annoyed that people don't google etc. at all and sometimes will just tell you to find things out on your own. I have googled this stuff of course, but my Google-fu seems pretty outdated since I keep finding threads from 2015 .. and with modscenes like this, things change all the time so I can't really trust info from last year .. :c

Aanyway here's couple more questions .. I swear I'm done soon .. I hope.

1. About the save files I tried to ask if I could just copy/paste the .sav files from my existing internal SD card to the new sd card or would that not work? Would be easier than messing with flashing emuNAND and what not?

2. I don't understand what "Payload" means. I don't need to keep using Gateway though do I? It's probably easier (for me anyway) to not use Gateway at all after this if I don't have to. Most games seem to be in cia format anyway so why even use Gateway after installing A9LH+Luma?

3. How did people get banned then from what I hear for playing Pokemon Sun/Moon? That was a cia too? You say games bought off eshop but what about games "bought" from FreeShop?

 

[Skyshadow101]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions. I know people are here to help, but some seem annoyed that people don't google etc. at all and sometimes will just tell you to find things out on your own. I have googled this stuff of course, but my Google-fu seems pretty outdated since I keep finding threads from 2015 .. and with modscenes like this, things change all the time so I can't really trust info from last year .. :c

Aanyway here's couple more questions .. I swear I'm done soon .. I hope.

1. About the save files I tried to ask if I could just copy/paste the .sav files from my existing internal SD card to the new sd card or would that not work? Would be easier than messing with flashing emuNAND and what not?

2. I don't understand what "Payload" means. I don't need to keep using Gateway though do I? It's probably easier (for me anyway) to not use Gateway at all after this if I don't have to. Most games seem to be in cia format anyway so why even use Gateway after installing A9LH+Luma?

3. How did people get banned then from what I hear for playing Pokemon Sun/Moon? That was a cia too? You say games bought off eshop but what about games "bought" from FreeShop?

It's perfectly fine! I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability! Keep asking them! I don't mind!

1. If you are talking about the saves on your Emunand and not on your Gateway card, it is way easier to just flash your Emunand onto your Sysnand through Hourglass9 (You will install it in the tutorial.) In fact, I think it is the only way to keep using them, since if you could use them by just copying and pasting on your SD, it would allow people on unhacked consoles share saves with one another. (Unless it is encrypted for that console.)

2. A payload is a file that A9LH boots to go to certain things, Hourglass9 is a payload, Luma3DS is a payload, and Decrypt9 is a payload too! It also allows you to recover from bricking, since you can load Hourglass9 to flash a backup to your Sysnand to bring it back to working order. Also, you don't need to keep using your Gateway, you can sell it off, or keep it! I would keep it if I were you, just in case.

3. People got banned by playing Sun and Moon because they played online before it released in their region. Yes it was a CIA, but it was dumped from a cart that was given to beta testers if I remember correctly. Freeshop is also the same as the Eshop, since it downloads games directly from Nintendo's servers. So just act like the Freeshop is the Eshop, but that everything is free! You don't need to use private headers either way.

Hope I helped you! Anymore questions? Don't be shy, I won't get mad.

 

[Distrance]

It's perfectly fine! I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability! Keep asking them! I don't mind!

1. If you are talking about the saves on your Emunand and not on your Gateway card, it is way easier to just flash your Emunand onto your Sysnand through Hourglass9 (You will install it in the tutorial.) In fact, I think it is the only way to keep using them, since if you could use them by just copying and pasting on your SD, it would allow people on unhacked consoles share saves with one another. (Unless it is encrypted for that console.)

2. A payload is a file that A9LH boots to go to certain things, Hourglass9 is a payload, Luma3DS is a payload, and Decrypt9 is a payload too! It also allows you to recover from bricking, since you can load Hourglass9 to flash a backup to your Sysnand to bring it back to working order. Also, you don't need to keep using your Gateway, you can sell it off, or keep it! I would keep it if I were you, just in case.

3. People got banned by playing Sun and Moon because they played online before it released in their region. Yes it was a CIA, but it was dumped from a cart that was given to beta testers if I remember correctly. Freeshop is also the same as the Eshop, since it downloads games directly from Nintendo's servers. So just act like the Freeshop is the Eshop, but that everything is free! You don't need to use private headers either way.

Hope I helped you! Anymore questions? Don't be shy, I won't get mad.

Oh hm, I actually have myself only played .3ds games on my 3DS .. so all the games I've played are running off the Gateway card. But the .sav files are not on the Gateway card so I assume they are indeed on the internal SD. I can see multiple save files on the root of the internal SD card.

Right now my emuNAND and sysNAND are linked (hence this thread). Not sure if that affects anything but flashing my existing emuNAND to sysNAND later, after the guide, would still be okay? I ask this because my emuNAND is on 9.0 firmware, and I can't obviously update it because if I do, my sysNAND updates as well. So after doing the guide is it really safe to flash 9.0 back to the sysNAND when it likely has a higher version after the guide?

Also are we talking about the same guide .. as in, is this the best one available for A9LH?

 

[Skyshadow101]

Oh hm, I actually have myself only played .3ds games on my 3DS .. so all the games I've played are running off the Gateway card. But the .sav files are not on the Gateway card so I assume they are indeed on the internal SD. I can see multiple save files on the root of the internal SD card.

Right now my emuNAND and sysNAND are linked (hence this thread). Not sure if that affects anything but flashing my existing emuNAND to sysNAND later, after the guide, would still be okay? I ask this because my emuNAND is on 9.0 firmware, and I can't obviously update it because if I do, my sysNAND updates as well. So after doing the guide is it really safe to flash 9.0 back to the sysNAND when it likely has a higher version after the guide?

Also are we talking about the same guide .. as in, is this the best one available for A9LH?

Yup! Be sure to follow that guide, word for word. I'm pretty sure there is a section that says what to do if you have a Emunand already set up. It should allow you to not lose anything.

For the Gateway card saves though, I make no promises that the saves that is associated with the card's games will still work, but I will tell you that all the saves for games installed on the Emunand will be transferred over.

It will be perfectly safe to flash the Emunand over, just follow the guide step-by-step. It will show you what to do with a Emunand backup to keep everything you had.

 

[Distrance]

Alright. Thanks for all the help you've given so far. I'll attempt the installation some day (probably will in a few days, since I'll do my friend's console at the same time) .. When that time comes I might return to this thread for some additional questions.

 

[Skyshadow101]

Alright. Thanks for all the help you've given so far. I'll attempt the installation some day (probably will in a few days, since I'll do my friend's console at the same time) .. When that time comes I might return to this thread for some additional questions.

Okay! Good luck!

 

[Distrance]

Okay! Good luck!

Hey man. Thanks a lot for all the help you gave. I just finished installing A9LH to my friend's N3DS and will do mine tomorrow. Everything seems to be working in order, though I'm too tired to test everything now.

So just to clarify couple things:

1) It's safe to play online with .cia games right? What about MODDED games, like those with edited files, ie. undub? The Fire Emblem Fates undub would be one of those.

2) When Nintendo releases a new firmware update, is it safe to update to it immediately, or should I look for news or whatever to see if it's safe? Related to that, should I update Luma3DS and A9LH before installing any possible future firmware updates?

2) Related to my N3DS .. I played .3ds games only on it. After I move to using .cia games, will my save files work with the .cia versions of the game? I will flash my existing emunand over but will they actually work, or do I need to do some converting or crap?

4) You said I should keep my Gateway just in case. Why? Clearly Gateway seems now far more inferior, so I could just sell it .. Which then makes me wonder .. Why would anyone buy Gateway when they could just use A9LH?

Thanks again to everyone who helped with this so far

 

[Skyshadow101]

Hey man. Thanks a lot for all the help you gave. I just finished installing A9LH to my friend's N3DS and will do mine tomorrow. Everything seems to be working in order, though I'm too tired to test everything now.

So just to clarify couple things:

1) It's safe to play online with .cia games right? What about MODDED games, like those with edited files, ie. undub? The Fire Emblem Fates undub would be one of those.

2) When Nintendo releases a new firmware update, is it safe to update to it immediately, or should I look for news or whatever to see if it's safe? Related to that, should I update Luma3DS and A9LH before installing any possible future firmware updates?

3) Related to my N3DS .. I played .3ds games only on it. After I move to using .cia games, will my save files work with the .cia versions of the game? I will flash my existing emunand over but will they actually work, or do I need to do some converting or crap?

4) You said I should keep my Gateway just in case. Why? Clearly Gateway seems now far more inferior, so I could just sell it .. Which then makes me wonder .. Why would anyone buy Gateway when they could just use A9LH?

Thanks again to everyone who helped with this so far

Glad to see that you're having no problems!

1. Yes, you will be fine if you play online with .cia versions of games. I don't think modded games can be played online, and if you can, I don't recommend it. Could get you banned.

2. It is perfectly safe to update as soon as a new firmware comes out, make sure to create a backup of the old firmware before you update though, just in case some homebrew doesn't work yet. If a new version of Luma is out, then get it before updating. Just to save you from any kind of troubles.

3. Try extracting the saves with JKSM, if that doesn't work, you can try to extract the saves using a .3ds file of a save manager for Gateway. (Don't know if that exists.) Flashing your Emunand over will keep the saves of your existing .cia games.

4. Gateway is great for cheats. That's why I said you should keep it. You can sell it too if you need extra money.

Anymore questions? I'll answer them to the best of my ability!

 

[Distrance]

Glad to see that you're having no problems!

1. Yes, you will be fine if you play online with .cia versions of games. I don't think modded games can be played online, and if you can, I don't recommend it. Could get you banned.

2. It is perfectly safe to update as soon as a new firmware comes out, make sure to create a backup of the old firmware before you update though, just in case some homebrew doesn't work yet. If a new version of Luma is out, then get it before updating. Just to save you from any kind of troubles.

3. Try extracting the saves with JKSM, if that doesn't work, you can try to extract the saves using a .3ds file of a save manager for Gateway. (Don't know if that exists.) Flashing your Emunand over will keep the saves of your existing .cia games.

4. Gateway is great for cheats. That's why I said you should keep it. You can sell it too if you need extra money.

Anymore questions? I'll answer them to the best of my ability!

See my newest thread for a trouble I just ran into with my own N3DS .. I'm really confused. :S

Thanks for the responses though, much appreciated. Also .. cheats? Ehhhh .. who needs cheats.

 

[Distrance]

Glad to see that you're having no problems!

So about the saves .. With what the troubles with menuhax = me being just dumb, I formatted the SD card to start from the fresh. I saw some .sav files on the root of the SD card, and backed up those. Are those the .sav files of the .3ds games, or are my save games lost now for forever? If latter it doesn't really matter but it would be nice to restore them if I can ... And if I can, what am I supposed to do with JKSM

I'll attempt to downgrade my friend's other console tomorrow with his fresh A9LH so I might just have to return if I run into any problems regarding that .. here's hoping not, though. <.<. BUT! Regarding that .. He wants to sell the console he just modded, and keep using his old console. To maximize sell value, I think he should sell his Gateway bundled with the console. So how exactly do I go about installing Gateway and using it with the existing setup? I'm really lost there lol.

Thanks for all of your help so far! Much appreciated.