Homebrew What a boot ROM dump would mean

[Myria]

Since there are a lot of misconceptions, I wanted to explain what exactly we would get with a boot ROM dump.

What a boot ROM dump itself means:

• It makes SigHax possible (see second list). Even after a boot ROM dump, it will take a few days to a few months before SigHax becomes usable, so these latter points come into play before SigHax.
• It would mean that decrypting NCCH files, cartridge images, and similar things could be done entirely on a PC, without needing a 3DS tool like Decrypt9.
• It would also allow decrypting SD card files and NAND dumps, if you have an OTP dump from that system.
• It would mean that A9LH could be installed without the ctrtransfer step. However, it would not help you dump the OTP. It's basically a 100%-reliable OTPless method.
• It would mean that most information required to emulate a 3DS would be known.
• It would make possible almost perfectly impersonating another 3DS, even development systems. (CTRNAND would still need to be re-encrypted, because the NAND CID is used to generate the key.) Because the private key for movable.sed on development systems is known, you could change the serial number to a fake one.

What SigHax would mean:

• Nintendo would never be able to block the use of a hard mod to hack a system, no matter what they do in a firmware update. (Currently, it's not possible to directly install A9LH with a hard mod unless you already have an OTP dump, so Nintendo could fix the FIRM downgrade hardmod attack.)
• Installing SigHax would also not require a 2.1.0 ctrtransfer downgrade, but SigHax would additionally be able to dump the OTP of systems it is installed on without downgrading to 2.1.0.
• SigHax means that DSiWare attacks could directly install SigHax.
• SigHax might make it possible to boot from SPI Flash instead of NAND. The usefulness of this is unknown, but DS mode has access to SPI.

 

[MadMageKefka]

First!

Nice breakdown. Ty.

 

[metroid maniac]

Very good breakdown.

• SigHax might make it possible to boot from SPI Flash instead of NAND. The usefulness of this is unknown, but DS mode has access to SPI.

Might be worth noting that this is full R/W access. It might be possible that all you need to install Sighax is a DS flashcard. We won't know until the bootrom is dumped.

 

[Returnofganon]

Thanks! This really clears some of the confusing aspects of what the bootrom being dumped means

 

[Darksphere92]

is this the thing that allows users to bypass the 300 title limit? if so any idea when this will be released?

 

[daxtsu]

is this the thing that allows users to bypass the 300 title limit?

No.

 

[Darksphere92]

No.

is there a thing coming out that allows users to by pass the 300 title limit? maybe i just got this confused by something else.

 

[MadMageKefka]

is there a thing coming out that allows users to by pass the 300 title limit? maybe i just got this confused by something else.

This would require a CFW to add / patch that feature. The bootrom exploit could boot said firmware, but by itself it doesn't do anything for the 300 icon limit. This will likely never happen for 2 reasons:
1) 300 is a fairly large number
2) You can already install more than 300 titles, the limit on the 3ds is the ICONS, not the titles themselves. They will install, just not show up on the home screen. You can launch those games from FBI.

 

[gamesquest1]

what you mean to say a bootrom dump doesnt just make ps4 emulation possible and complete OS replacements out of nowhere, and 100Gbps wifi speedz........blasphemy

 

[Darksphere92]

This would require a CFW to add / patch that feature. The bootrom exploit could boot said firmware, but by itself it doesn't do anything for the 300 icon limit. This will likely never happen for 2 reasons:
1) 300 is a fairly large number
2) You can already install more than 300 titles, the limit on the 3ds is the ICONS, not the titles themselves. They will install, just not show up on the home screen. You can launch those games from FBI.

welp bye SNES VC injects, you're moving to an emulator.

 

[Sketchy1]

thx for that much-needed clear up. hoping others will see this instead of creating threads asking similar

 

[TimX24968B]

This would require a CFW to add / patch that feature. The bootrom exploit could boot said firmware, but by itself it doesn't do anything for the 300 icon limit. This will likely never happen for 2 reasons:
1) 300 is a fairly large number
2) You can already install more than 300 titles, the limit on the 3ds is the ICONS, not the titles themselves. They will install, just not show up on the home screen. You can launch those games from FBI.

depending on the titles, SD card space might be the first issue you run into before you hit the 300 title limit. (again, depending on the titles...)

 

[Darksphere92]

depending on the titles, SD card space might be the first issue you run into before you hit the 300 title limit. (again, depending on the titles...)

ive hit the 300 title limit, but whatever i'll just remove the VC injects, and download the roms of them and an emulator.

 

[Jayro]

When the fuck are they going to release these two hacks they announced?

 

[gamesquest1]

When the fuck are they going to release these two hacks they announced?

they very rarely release the good stuff in any usable form, they just say "this is possible .......this is roughly how we did it" then wait for someone else to replicate it

 

[MadMageKefka]

depending on the titles, SD card space might be the first issue you run into before you hit the 300 title limit. (again, depending on the titles...)

Or if you're a crazy bastard and have a 256 GB micro sd in your 3ds like me! Lol.

 

[Darksphere92]

Or if you're a crazy bastard and have a 256 GB micro sd in your 3ds like me! Lol.

i have a 128GB Micro sd, only 60GB left, i should be able to make it with 60GB left.

 

[metroid maniac]

Who really needs 300 different games at their fingertips simultaneously?

 

[Darksphere92]

Who really needs 300 different games at their fingertips simultaneously?

a person who wants to be prepared for the end of the world and wants to still have games to play.

 

[MadMageKefka]

Who really needs 300 different games at their fingertips simultaneously?

Someone who likes to show off to people who dont know about console hacking. I know I do