Hacking n3DSxl Only Boots To GodMode9, Nothing Else

[Thispi]

Hey guys, got another weird one here.

I recently got my hands on a New 3DS XL that initially only booted to GodMode9 using an SD card that only had an "arm9loaderhax_si.bin" file and a "ctrnand_full.bin.xorpad" file on the root of the SD card.

It would not boot to Luma, the stock 3DS system, or anything else, just GodMode9 (I'm not sure what version that was on, or why it was GodMode9 to begin with)...and without the SD card it would just turn off immediately.

So, I backed these two files up (just in case), then formatted the card and basically started a A9LH to boot9strap upgrade/replacement, while under that GodMode9.

After some trial and error, (and with use of the aeskeydb.bin file, because it had some OTPCrypto Fail going on during the SafeB9SIntaller safety checks) I was able to launch the "safe_SafeB9SIntaller.bin" payload, pass said checks, and successfully install Luma and the newest GodMode9 / boot9strap combination, so now, even without an SD card, I'm able to boot into both GodMode9 and Luma.

Now, my problem is, I can't seem to find a way to get this thing to do anything other than that.

I'm not sure what the .xorpad file is for, but it's about 1gb in size, but I can't seem to do anything with it.

I'm unable to boot into recovery/safe mode, and I have no NAND backups or anything related to this system, aside from what I mentioned came on the SD card with it.

What are my options here? Other than to just part this thing out, lol. Is it possible to bring this baby back to life?

 

[Quantumcat]

If you're able to boot into Luma then what is the issue?

 

[Thispi]

Well, I mean the Luma v7.1 Configuration screen, when you boot up the system holding Select.

After I hit Start to accept the configurations and reboot, it just black screens on me..is there a way to restore through this configuration screen?

This is how I have it configured:
Screen brightness: 4(x) 3( ) 2( ) 1 ( )
Splash: Off(x) Before( ) After( ) payloads
PIN lock Off(x) 4( ) 6( ) 8( ) digits
New 3DS CPU: Off(x) Clock( ) L2( ) Clock+L2( )

( ) Enable loading external FIRMs and modules
( ) Enable game patching
(x) Show NAND or user string in System Settings
( ) Show GBA boot screen in patch AGB_FIRM
( ) Patch SVC/service/archive/ARM9 access
( ) Set developer UNITINFO
( ) Enable exception handlers

I was kind of afraid to mess with any of these settings because a couple of them warned me to only select it if I know what I'm doing, which I clearly don't lol.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Umm maybe your "arm9loaderhax_si.bin" is actually the godmode9 payload. Try redownloading luma and replacing it

 

[Thispi]

Well, I did replace that file with the boot.firm file from the Luma3DS.7z as the guide mentions, and that's currently in my [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND directory, which is why (I'm assuming) it can now boot without the "arm9loaderhax_si.bin" file (and without an SD card), but like I said, I'm not sure what to do beyond this point, or why I can't even boot into recovery mode, or anything else besides the Luma Configuration screen and GodMode9.

 

[Deleted User]

Well, I mean the Luma v7.1 Configuration screen, when you boot up the system holding Select.

After I hit Start to accept the configurations and reboot, it just black screens on me..is there a way to restore through this configuration screen?

This is how I have it configured:
Screen brightness: 4(x) 3( ) 2( ) 1 ( )
Splash: Off(x) Before( ) After( ) payloads
PIN lock Off(x) 4( ) 6( ) 8( ) digits
New 3DS CPU: Off(x) Clock( ) L2( ) Clock+L2( )

( ) Enable loading external FIRMs and modules
( ) Enable game patching
(x) Show NAND or user string in System Settings
( ) Show GBA boot screen in patch AGB_FIRM
( ) Patch SVC/service/archive/ARM9 access
( ) Set developer UNITINFO
( ) Enable exception handlers

I was kind of afraid to mess with any of these settings because a couple of them warned me to only select it if I know what I'm doing, which I clearly don't lol.

Do you have boot.firm on the root?

 

[Quantumcat]

What firmware are you on? It might be too low. Try a 9.2 CTR transfer.

 

[Thispi]

Do you have boot.firm on the root?

Yes, boot.firm is on the root of the SD card, as well as at the root of the [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND directory

What firmware are you on? It might be too low. Try a 9.2 CTR transfer.

That, I'm not sure of because this console hasn't been able to boot to the regular 3DS home screen at all, so I can't get into system settings to verify that. Is there another way to check what firmware I'm on using only GodMode9?

Also, I followed the instructions from The Guide on the 9.2 CTR Transfer, which had me transfer the "9.2.0-20U_ctrtransfer_n3ds.bin" file to the CTRNAND but again, once it rebooted, it just black-screened on me.

 

[Deleted User]

Yes, boot.firm is on the root of the SD card, as well as at the root of the [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND directory



That, I'm not sure of because this console hasn't been able to boot to the regular 3DS home screen at all, so I can't get into system settings to verify that. Is there another way to check what firmware I'm on using only GodMode9?

Also, I followed the instructions from The Guide on the 9.2 CTR Transfer, which had me transfer the "9.2.0-20U_ctrtransfer_n3ds.bin" file to the CTRNAND but again, once it rebooted, it just black-screened on me.

Try booting without the sd card first and see what happens.

 

[Thispi]

Try booting without the sd card first and see what happens.

I did. It boots fine to GodMode9 and the Luma Configuration screen without the SD card in the system, but with or without the SD card it just black-screens during any boot where I'm not holding down either Start or Select.

Also, no recovery mode at all when I try to boot while holding down L+R+A+D-Pad Up.

 

[Bu2d85]

You probably have a hardware fault. The most likely is the wifi card, it probably just came loose. Do you have any sound after the system boots?

 

[Deleted User]

I did. It boots fine to GodMode9 and the Luma Configuration screen without the SD card in the system, but with or without the SD card it just black-screens during any boot where I'm not holding down either Start or Select.

Also, no recovery mode at all when I try to boot while holding down L+R+A+D-Pad Up.

The you probably need to ctr transfer to 9.2.What firmware did you install sighax on?

 

[Bu2d85]

The you probably need to ctr transfer to 9.2.What firmware did you install sighax on?

He already did that.

 

[Thispi]

You probably have a hardware fault. The most likely is the wifi card, it probably just came loose. Do you have any sound after the system boots?

Just popped it open to verify that the wifi card was seated properly, and it is. No sound after the system boots because the system doesn't boot at all, it goes straight to a black screen whenever I power it up, unless I boot into GodMode9 or the Luma Configuration Screen

The you probably need to ctr transfer to 9.2.What firmware did you install sighax on?

Tried that twice now with no luck, and I'm not sure what firmware this console is on, as it doesn't boot up at all, so unless there's a way to find that out using just GodMode9, I can't say for sure.

He already did that.

Twice! lol.

 

[Bu2d85]

I still think it's a hardware fault. Mine did the same thing after the great bodywash incident of 2016. (I spilled bodywash all over my N3DS.)

All of the symptoms are identical.

 

[Thispi]

I still think it's a hardware fault. Mine did the same thing after the great bodywash incident of 2016. (I spilled bodywash all over my N3DS.)

All of the symptoms are identical.

So even though you spilled body wash on it, it still turned on and only booted into GodMode9?

I'm not sure of this system's history, as I obtained it like this, but it doesn't seem like anything has been spilled in it, nor does it smell like body wash lol.

 

[Quantumcat]

Yes, boot.firm is on the root of the SD card, as well as at the root of the [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND directory



That, I'm not sure of because this console hasn't been able to boot to the regular 3DS home screen at all, so I can't get into system settings to verify that. Is there another way to check what firmware I'm on using only GodMode9?

Also, I followed the instructions from The Guide on the 9.2 CTR Transfer, which had me transfer the "9.2.0-20U_ctrtransfer_n3ds.bin" file to the CTRNAND but again, once it rebooted, it just black-screened on me.

Are you sure you are supposed to transfer the file to the CTR NAND? That sounds weird. Edit: just looked, and you do. How strange! Edit 2: Are you sure it's US region?

 

[Thispi]

Are you sure you are supposed to transfer the file to the CTR NAND? That sounds weird. Edit: just looked, and you do. How strange! Edit 2: Are you sure it's US region?

Actually, no, I'm not. Where can I find that out?

 

[Quantumcat]

Actually, no, I'm not. Where can I find that out?

You could try some different regions with the CTR transfer maybe?

 

[Thispi]

You could try some different regions with the CTR transfer maybe?

I tried the US one twice, I just downloaded the European one, so I guess we'll see what happens next lol.

This won't brick it any further if it's the wrong region?