Hacking Any advantages of Luma vs Gateway? And few other questions

[Brad01]

Are there any advantages of using Luma compared to using Gateway, and vice versa?

I've been using Gateway for a while, but one thing I dislike about it is that I cannot run NDS games while in Gateway mode, and if I run it outside of it I of course need to redo the blue cart exploit. Although it doesn't take long it get a bit annoying. On top of this, I also can't run things formatted as DSi ware either. Is it possible to do either or both of these things in Luma? And lastly, is the DS2 Plus safe to use with Luma?

 

[Lacius]

Luma still receives active support and updates. Luma is future-proof against future updates. It also includes protections against bricks and updates.

Gateway does not.

 

[Temptress Cerise]

If you don't care about cheats that much. Then you could just switch to Luma3DS.

Just follow this: https://3ds.guide/

Keep in mind that Gateway3DS only supports up to 11.2. While Luma3DS supports up to 11.3 and is still getting updates.

If you decide to get A9LH+Luma3DS. Do not try to use Gateway3DS at all. You will either lose A9LH and be on a stock 11.3 system or brick.

 

[proflayton123]

The only thing is, GWs cheat menu is superior compared to the community work

 

[Brad01]

If you don't care about cheats that much. Then you could just switch to Luma3DS.

Just follow this: https://3ds.guide/

Keep in mind that Gateway3DS only supports up to 11.2. While Luma3DS supports up to 11.3 and is still getting updates.

If you decide to get A9LH+Luma3DS. Do not try to use Gateway3DS at all. You will either lose A9LH and be on a stock 11.3 system or brick.

I'm worried about bricking, so if I change I want to completely get rid of Gateway and clean install Luma. How exactly should I do this? Would this do work?
- reformat both the system SD card (I'm on an old 3DS XL) and the micro SD card I use between flash carts
- run an NDS game in normal mode to remove the blue cart exploit
- reformat the system

 

[proflayton123]

If you want your games and stuff in the GW emunand I'd suggest backing that up too

 

[Brad01]

If you want your games and stuff in the GW emunand I'd suggest backing that up too

I only have Cave Story installed, but I haven't progressed very far in it. Would it be possible to just totally format everything and then download it again from the e-Shop? I'm ok with losing my save data.

 

[KidIce]

If you decide to get A9LH+Luma3DS. Do not try to use Gateway3DS at all. You will either lose A9LH and be on a stock 11.3 system or brick.

I use both (or rather all three) and experience no such issues. I'm still on 11.2 for that very reason. I have no compelling reason to upgrade to 11.3, and several to keep GW functionality. My totally not tech/hacking savvy friends w/ GW's have had their systems A9LH'ed by me and also have not experienced any problems and they mostly use their GW's ("I'm afraid to use Freeshop, Nintendo might bust me. What's a CIA and then I do what w/ it? All the games I want to play are on my GW anyway. Etc."). In fairness though, I put the fear of god into them about updating, and I've had to update their systems/emuNAND for them ever since I did anything "hacky" to their 3DS's.

I'm worried about bricking, so if I change I want to completely get rid of Gateway and clean install Luma. How exactly should I do this? Would this do work?
- reformat both the system SD card (I'm on an old 3DS XL) and the micro SD card I use between flash carts
- run an NDS game in normal mode to remove the blue cart exploit
- reformat the system

None of that is required, stop overthinking it and just follow the guide... They've overthought it for your. You can just remove the GW files from your SD when you're done if you so wish... I would keep the save and cheat files you have though (back them up to your PC or something and then remove them from your SD) just in case GW ever adds 11.3 support.

Anyway, in your case, you will probably end up on 11.3 when your done. Using GW on 11.3 is impossible until they add support (SOON!!!). If/when they do you can use this tutorial to use Luma's chain loader to get into GW mode.

What system FW are you on BTW?

 

[Quantumcat]

What system FW are you on BTW?

If he's using the DS profile exploit to get into Gateway mode then he's obviously on 4.x.

 

[KidIce]

If he's using the DS profile exploit to get into Gateway mode then he's obviously on 4.x.

Oh right, I missed the fact that he is using an O3DS. Thought he might be using the N3DS MSET exploit w/ downgraded sysmodule method.

OP, forget I asked. :-)

 

[Quantumcat]

Oh right, I missed the fact that he is using an O3DS. Thought he might be using the N3DS MSET exploit w/ downgraded sysmodule method.

OP, forget I asked. :-)

You're right - he could be on an N3DS. I didn't think of that.

 

[KidIce]

You're right - he could be on an N3DS. I didn't think of that.

Naw, he out right says he's on an O3DS. He even asks about the SCDS2+... Probably the biggest reason he wants to upgrade. I mean, that thing is stuck on what FW/GW loader version to work and keep from bricking? I initially discounted the SCDS2+ question because I assumed he had an actual GW (from the thread title) and would be buying the SCDS2+ as his new DS flash cart... I should have known better. :-)

@OP, if your are indeed using a SCD2+ and its GW emulation... ... ... SWITCH TO A9LH AND LUMA3DS NOW!!! You can keep using the SCDS2+ to play NDS games and be safe, but do not try to use it to play 3DS games anymore.

 

[Brad01]

Oh right, I missed the fact that he is using an O3DS. Thought he might be using the N3DS MSET exploit w/ downgraded sysmodule method.

OP, forget I asked. :-)

I'm running Gateway Ultra 3.7.2 Beta on an old 3DS XL, 4.2.0-9U / GW3D 11.1.0-34U.

 

[The Catboy]

As far as I also know, Gateway lacks TWL/AGB patches. You can apply a whitelist patch for TWL, but that still requires modifying the NAND. Whereas, Luma3DS has all of those patches and doesn't require writing them directly to the NAND.

 

[Brad01]

Naw, he out right says he's on an O3DS. He even asks about the SCDS2+... Probably the biggest reason he wants to upgrade. I mean, that thing is stuck on what FW/GW loader version to work and keep from bricking? I initially discounted the SCDS2+ question because I assumed he had an actual GW (from the thread title) and would be buying the SCDS2+ as his new DS flash cart... I should have known better. :-)

@OP, if your are indeed using a SCD2+ and its GW emulation... ... ... SWITCH TO A9LH AND LUMA3DS NOW!!! You can keep using the SCDS2+ to play NDS games and be safe, but do not try to use it to play 3DS games anymore.

I have a Gateway cart and a DS2 Plus cart, and I have never ever used the DS2P in EmuNAND or to run 3DS games, I'm terrified of bricking. I occasionally use it when I initially turn on my system to play some NDS games, but I'm still afraid of that messing my system up, so I still tend to avoid using the DS2 Plus in this system at all. I mostly just use the DS2P on my DS Lite and DSiXL.

 

[KidIce]

I'm running Gateway Ultra 3.7.2 Beta on an old 3DS XL, 4.2.0-9U / GW3D 11.1.0-34U.

Given your situation I would probably move my emuNAND to sysNAND instead of upgrading to 11.3 (there is a link towards the end of the guide and instructions on how to do so). I personally would rather keep my GW functionality than be on 11.3, but ultimately that is up to you.

My choice is for a few reasons. As mentioned the cheat engine (especially the builtin search functions). Second, scene releases are released as .3ds files not .cia's (even eShop exclusive games are released as .3ds file). I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to ROM collecting (all my scene dumps have their .nfo's for example). Having a GW means I don't have to convert them to CIA's and then install them...

And that would be the next thing, not having to install things; drag and drop to the GW's SD and not having to do anything else is really nice, especially on a new N3DSXL where the SD is far harder to access. Also there is the fact that you have to have enough free space to store the CIA and enough to install it. That doesn't go away using the eShop or Freeshop, they have to download the whole thing and then install it, meaning if you want to install a 1GB game you need to have 2GB free on your SD.

My GW also basically doubles my storage for less money. Reliable branded, from a retail store 64GB mSD's can be picked up for ~$20 in my neck of the woods. 128GB mSD's cost $60 to $100. 64GB SD in my 3DS + 64GB SD in my GW = $40 & 128GB space. 128GB SD in my 3DS = $20+ missing from my wallet and no other advantages.

Now that I've gone off at the mouth a bit, what is it exactly that is making you want to switch to A9LH anyway? Just curious.

 

[Deleted member 333767]

Why not have both?

 

[Brad01]

@KidIce I've hit a roadblock and need some help.
https://3ds.guide/safectrtransfer-(mset)
I got to the end of Section II, but when I try and boot into SafeCTRTransfer it just freezes. I went through the whole process three times and the same problem happens. What should I do? The firmware I'm on is 4.2.0-9U that I downgraded to with Gateway (still on my old 3ds).

 

[AlucardjX]

Luma is incomparable against GW,i thank the day i've decided to install A9LH,updated luma to 11.3 without any problem some days agoo,all works great,the start speed was awesome and stability too,Luma win against GW right now 7-0 for me

 

[CrispyCola]

Luma is incomparable against GW,i thank the day i've decided to install A9LH,updated luma to 11.3 without any problem some days agoo,all works great,the start speed was awesome and stability too,Luma win against GW right now 7-0 for me

The only 2 things that gateway does better in my opinion is the cheat menu and no 3DS-CIA conversion and / or fast .3ds rom loading.


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