Homebrew HELP NEEDED: Old 3DS XL with CFW -> Update failed (?) -> Black screens only

[FortieSicks]

-Tried to summarize everything in the title.
-This might be a long post, but I'm going to try and give you guys all the information I can think of..

First of all, I'm far from knowledgeable in this subject.
I CFW'ed a few PSP's in my time and was able to use an R4-card with my DS.
That's as far as my knowledge goes. So please have patience with me


INFORMATION ON DEVICE/SOFTWARE:
I used a guide to downgrade my 3DS XL and install a CFW.
I know I had 2 home screens. With different background color. One was the "official" one (grey/white background), the other had a black background and was to play games.
Also had the app to install .cia files (FBI if i remember correctly?) Might be confusing the agencies there haha!
I tried to find the guide, but I couldn't and I'm not even sure what CFW I installed or whatever, so I added print screens of my SD card and the 3ds folder in the hope that you guys recognize what program/CFW/etc I'm using (if that even matters?)


Root:

3ds folder:

Perhaps something critical is missing? I'm not sure..


WHAT HAPPENED:
Anyway, before this happened, last time I played was around January. Not sure of the firmware of that time, but when I got on the 3ds (black background, so CFW), somewhere in the beginning of may, it asked for an update (I think I needed to update to 11.4, not to sure). I waited for it to install the update my 3DS but froze and didn't do anything. Fool of a Took as I am, I turned off the 3DS, wanting to reinstall the firmware. Tried turning the device on, nothing but black screens.


CURRENT SITUATION:
The screens are black right away. The back-light is turned on, but nothing appears at anytime after I press the power button (no homescreen or 3ds/nintendo-logo, nothing). The power button turns blue (or red when low battery). There is no sound. Pressing any button does nothing. Switching WiFi on/off does nothing. The WiFi light doesn't turn on. It turns "on" right away when I press the power-button, but I have to hold the power button for a good 15 sec for it to power off.


POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
I saw a forum topic where someone, who might have had the same problem (his info wasn't that detailed), got it working again after following the advice form someone else to follow the guide on http://3ds.guide. However, because I was unsure what firmware I was running before I tried the update and, as far as i know, have no way to check the firmware on my 3DS I was afraid to start with this guide.

I also have the otp.bin and the otp0x108.bin files. Not sure if useful, but the guide I used to downgrade said to keep a backup of these files.


WHAT I TRIED:
-Turning the device on/off again.
-Letting the battery run empty, recharge and turn on
-Turn device on/off with/without SD-card
-Turn device on/off with empty SD-card
-Turn device on/off with/without game-card
-Forced update (screens stay black, not sure if button input is detected)

Because I'm not sure what CFW I have or whatever, I was afraid to start messing with the files on the SD-card. So I haven't tried anything that involved moving around/adding/deleting files form the SD-card.

 

[FortieSicks]

I think I posted this in the wrong section. If a mod could please move this to the correct one? Thanks!

 

[Cuphat]

It sounds like you are using an ancient version of Luma3DS from back when it was called AuReiNAND and before it changed from using the /rei folder to the /aurei (and later /luma) folder. From the last modified date, looks like AuReiNAND v3.9.

Update to the latest version by replacing your arm9loaderhax.bin with the one from Luma 7.0.5.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

-Tried to summarize everything in the title.
-This might be a long post, but I'm going to try and give you guys all the information I can think of..

First of all, I'm far from knowledgeable in this subject.
I CFW'ed a few PSP's in my time and was able to use an R4-card with my DS.
That's as far as my knowledge goes. So please have patience with me


INFORMATION ON DEVICE/SOFTWARE:
I used a guide to downgrade my 3DS XL and install a CFW.
I know I had 2 home screens. With different background color. One was the "official" one (grey/white background), the other had a black background and was to play games.
Also had the app to install .cia files (FBI if i remember correctly?) Might be confusing the agencies there haha!
I tried to find the guide, but I couldn't and I'm not even sure what CFW I installed or whatever, so I added print screens of my SD card and the 3ds folder in the hope that you guys recognize what program/CFW/etc I'm using (if that even matters?)


Root:
View attachment 88041

3ds folder:
View attachment 88042

Perhaps something critical is missing? I'm not sure..


WHAT HAPPENED:
Anyway, before this happened, last time I played was around January. Not sure of the firmware of that time, but when I got on the 3ds (black background, so CFW), somewhere in the beginning of may, it asked for an update (I think I needed to update to 11.4, not to sure). I waited for it to install the update my 3DS but froze and didn't do anything. Fool of a Took as I am, I turned off the 3DS, wanting to reinstall the firmware. Tried turning the device on, nothing but black screens.


CURRENT SITUATION:
The screens are black right away. The back-light is turned on, but nothing appears at anytime after I press the power button (no homescreen or 3ds/nintendo-logo, nothing). The power button turns blue (or red when low battery). There is no sound. Pressing any button does nothing. Switching WiFi on/off does nothing. The WiFi light doesn't turn on. It turns "on" right away when I press the power-button, but I have to hold the power button for a good 15 sec for it to power off.


POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
I saw a forum topic where someone, who might have had the same problem (his info wasn't that detailed), got it working again after following the advice form someone else to follow the guide on http://3ds.guide. However, because I was unsure what firmware I was running before I tried the update and, as far as i know, have no way to check the firmware on my 3DS I was afraid to start with this guide.

I also have the otp.bin and the otp0x108.bin files. Not sure if useful, but the guide I used to downgrade said to keep a backup of these files.


WHAT I TRIED:
-Turning the device on/off again.
-Letting the battery run empty, recharge and turn on
-Turn device on/off with/without SD-card
-Turn device on/off with empty SD-card
-Turn device on/off with/without game-card
-Forced update (screens stay black, not sure if button input is detected)

Because I'm not sure what CFW I have or whatever, I was afraid to start messing with the files on the SD-card. So I haven't tried anything that involved moving around/adding/deleting files form the SD-card.

You probably just need to update to the latest Luma3DS. Does holding Select on boot bring up the settings menu?

 

[FortieSicks]

It sounds like you are using an ancient version of Luma3DS from back when it was called AuReiNAND and before it changed from using the /rei folder to the /aurei (and later /luma) folder. From the last modified date, looks like AuReiNAND v3.9.

Update to the latest version by replacing your arm9loaderhax.bin with the one from Luma 7.0.5.

Thank you for the reply! This did something. I'm in the Luma3DS v7.0.5 configuration. How do I make sure it always enters the CFW? The one I can update and still use homebrew and play roms etc.?
Am I right in saying that when I leave the first option "Autoboot SysNAND" UNchecked, press START to save, it will from then on always start in EmuNAND?
Will this also be the latest update or enable me to update te firmware like I used to on my CFW?

You probably just need to update to the latest Luma3DS. Does holding Select on boot bring up the settings menu?

Thank you for your advice even though I did not get a chance to try it (yet). But if you look at what I said in my reply above, is that the Settings menu you mentioned?


Thanks guys!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Thank you for the reply! This did something. I'm in the Luma3DS v7.0.5 configuration. How do I make sure it always enters the CFW? The one I can update and still use homebrew and play roms etc.?
Am I right in saying that when I leave the first option "Autoboot SysNAND" UNchecked, press START to save, it will from then on always start in EmuNAND?
Will this also be the latest update or enable me to update te firmware like I used to on my CFW?




Thank you for your advice even though I did not get a chance to try it (yet). But if you look at what I said in my reply above, is that the Settings menu you mentioned?


Thanks guys!

OK so your A9LH install appears to be working correctly. Just enable "Show current NAND/user string in system settings" (and enable "Boot emuNAND by default" if you were using emuNAND) and press Start and it should boot directly into CFW from then on.

 

[FortieSicks]

OK so your A9LH install appears to be working correctly. Just enable "Show current NAND/user string in system settings" (and enable "Boot emuNAND by default" if you were using emuNAND) and press Start and it should boot directly into CFW from then on.

Perfect! It now autoboots in EmuNAND. Awesome! Was afraid it bricked. Can't believe it was this simple..

Follow-up question. Was this caused by my canceling the update or is there anything I should and van do to avoid this in the future?
I used to just update when it told me there was an update.

Anyway, thanks to both of you!!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Perfect! It now autoboots in EmuNAND. Awesome! Was afraid it bricked. Can't believe it was this simple..

Follow-up question. Was this caused by my canceling the update or is there anything I should and van do to avoid this in the future?
I used to just update when it told me there was an update.

Anyway, thanks to both of you!!

In a recent firmware update (11.3?) compatibility with CFW broke, so all CFW had to be updated to support the latest firmware version.
That sort of thing doesn't happen often, so most of the time it's safe to update, but it's best to update your CFW before you update the 3DS.

 

[PrincessLillie]

Perfect! It now autoboots in EmuNAND. Awesome! Was afraid it bricked. Can't believe it was this simple..

Follow-up question. Was this caused by my canceling the update or is there anything I should and van do to avoid this in the future?
I used to just update when it told me there was an update.

Anyway, thanks to both of you!!

Great! You might want to upgrade to boot9strap to keep getting Luma3DS updates. https://3ds.guide/updating-to-boot9strap

 

[FortieSicks]

Great! You might want to upgrade to boot9strap to keep getting Luma3DS updates. https://3ds.guide/updating-to-boot9strap

Not sure what I did, doesn't seem like much has changed, but i did it! Thanks for the advice.
I am now able to update like I would normally?

 

[PrincessLillie]

Not sure what I did, doesn't seem like much has changed, but i did it! Thanks for the advice.
I am now able to update like I would normally?

Yep! You're good to go!

 

[FortieSicks]

Thanks everyone! Mods, you can close this