It's here!

​

Info

@Normmatt has created a way to run B9S .firm files from bootrom via a DSi Flashcard and a magnet! This works on every 3DS on any firmware version.

For installation without a PC, user @TheCyberQuake has created a pack which will automatically install B9S and copy over essential starter homebrew from the flashcard's SD to the 3DS's. This will mainly be used for PC-less B9S installations. If you have a PC with you, use 3ds.guide. Read more here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/481141/

How does this work?

This works because of a flaw in the bootrom. Before the bootrom boots the NAND, it checks to see if Start+Select+X is held down, and if the shell is closed. If these requirements are met, it will boot an NDS cartridge from the bootrom. This give that cartridge bootrom access. You might be wondering how you'd hold down buttons while the shell is closed, and why you need a magnet. If you put a magnet in a specific spot on the 3DS, it will go into sleep mode. Using this, you can boot the NDS cartridge with the buttons held down while in sleep mode! Using a reflashable flashcard, you can boot B9SInstaller using the flashcard, and easily install it on your 3DS.

The 2DS doesn't need a magnet since a switch puts it to sleep instead of a magnet.

What does this mean?

1. Any 3DS model on any firmware can be hacked with minimal effort
2. You can unbrick any 3DS model from any type of brick.
   - Remember, you don't need a NAND backup for this. Just do a CTRTransfer.
   - This does not apply to MCU bricks.
3. Even consoles with fried NAND, or even the NAND chip physically removed, can use this

This is incredibly impressive stuff, and will most likely be released soon! edit: now!

FAQ

Q: Can Nintendo patch this?
A: Nope! Not without a new hardware revision.

Q: My flashcard is blocked by my firmware! Can I still use this?
A: Yes! The flashcard blacklist is not enabled on the bootrom.

Q: Why can't this work with my flashcard?
A: The installation requires you to flash NTRBoot to the flashcard's nand. Most DS flashcards, such as the original R4, have a ROM, which is not flashable.

Q: Can I install NTRBoot on my flashcard without another 3DS system?
A: If you can run NDS roms on your 3DS with it, then yes. If it's blocked on your 3DS version, then you'll need another 3DS system to use it.

Q: Will my 3DS flashcard work?
A: No, only the NDSi flashcards listed above.

Q: Will any other flash cards work?
A: Only the ones listed in the OP. However keep in mind that flashcards such as the DSTT, Supercard DS2 and R4 SDHC Dualcore are planned to be supported in the future.

Q: I tried to do this with my cartridge and it didn't work?
A: It doesn't work with regular DS cards.

Q: Can I unbrick from a ____ brick?
A: Considering the card has access to the bootrom, yes! This can unbrick any brick (except MCU), unless you've taken a knife to the motherboard.

Q: Can I install B9S on the latest firmware with this?
A: Again, since the card has access to the bootrom, you can do this easily! Just plug in your flashcard, boot up using the magnet and button combination, and install.

Q: Does this work on the New Nintendo 2DS XL?
A: Yes!

Release
Guide
Free NTRBoot Flashing
Free B9S Installations

Here is SciresM's post about this

Please see SciresM's presentation on bootromhax.​

 

[Columbo2811]

Thanks for the vid but I've just spent the past 10 mins trying this exactly and still no go. Because this 2ds was bricked by doing a safearm9loaderhax upgrade i cannot even power on the system without an sd card in the machine and arm9loaderhax.bin on the sd root. Does ntrboot initiate before the old arm9loaderhax? should I be able to boot this without arm9loaderhax.bin on the sd card even though the machine turns itself off straight away if the file is not there? Im about to see how far I can kick my 2ds down the street.

You have got the safeb9s boot.firm on your 2ds sd card haven't you?

 

[sion_zaphod]

Bootntr is first, so I'm assuming you have tried booting into a tool such as decrypt9 or godmode9 already via either a9lh or ntrboothax.....your sounds like a really weird case

The brick was caused by me using an incorrect firm0 or firm1 file when using safea9lhinstaller. I was attempting to upgrade an existing a9lh install. If I power the device on without an sd card in it the power stays on. If I power it on with an sd in but no arm9loaderhax.bin on root the power comes on and goes straight off. If I power it on with sd card in and arm9loaderhax.bin on root the power stays on but no display in any of these cases. I have a feeling that I used the no screen in it version. Am I screwed even using ntrboot?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

You have got the safeb9s boot.firm on your 2ds sd card haven't you?

Yes

 

[gamesquest1]

The brick was caused by me using an incorrect firm0 or firm1 file when using safea9lhinstaller. I was attempting to upgrade an existing a9lh install. If I power the device on without an sd card in it the power stays on. If I power it on with an sd in but no arm9loaderhax.bin on root the power comes on and goes straight off. If I power it on with sd card in and arm9loaderhax.bin on root the power stays on but no display in any of these cases. I have a feeling that I used the no screen in it version. Am I screwed even using ntrboot?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Yes

Nope, see it's weird as the fact it shuts down unless you have arm9loaderhax.bin on the sd means at least the firm is correct and a9lh is installed and running correctly, the only thing I can think is that you have some sort of mcu brick or something, but I don't see why that would have happened

 

[sion_zaphod]

Nope, see it's weird as the fact it shuts down unless you have arm9loaderhax.bin on the sd means at least the firm is correct and a9lh is installed and running correctly, the only thing I can think is that you have some sort of mcu brick or something, but I don't see why that would have happened

I know its weird. Its also doing my head in. I'm taking bets on how far I can kick this 2ds. Although part of me thinks it could still be a prob with my ak2i. Is there a way to test that ntrboot works on my other 3ds's that have already got b9s installed?

 

[KuroGentei]

Can anyone please show the button combo and timing needed for doing this on o2ds. I have been trying this for hours. I've tried boot9strap installer and gm9 as boot.firm and neither seem to work. I would like confirmation and perhaps a video of someone doing this on o2ds because I've tried everything (holding x+start+select+power until the power light comes on then releasing all buttons or holding all buttons for anything up to 10 seconds before releasing)(I've tried switching the sleep switch off after releasing the combo buttons). Without actually seeing how this is done on a 2ds I cant tell if I'm doing something wrong.

I also had this problem. Make sure all the buttons on your (old) 2DS are working.
My problem was fixed after I opened the 2DS and checked all the contacts.

 

[GravitySuitCollector]

I know its weird. Its also doing my head in. I'm taking bets on how far I can kick this 2ds. Although part of me thinks it could still be a prob with my ak2i. Is there a way to test that ntrboot works on my other 3ds's that have already got b9s installed?

Not really, unless you installed a version of boot9strap_ntr.firm to the card that loads something other than boot.firm (I used this version to load ntrboot.firm from SD instead https://gbatemp.net/threads/ntrboot-is-out.480586/page-10#post-7508890)

 

[urherenow]

@urherenow

Hi,

What is this setup you can do on-the-fly where you can B9S a console without having access to a PC for the SD card files afterwards. I have flashed my acki2 and it works, as I installed B9S on a stock 11.5 console.

I would like to use the card and take it to a friend or a person in work to use it.

You need a PC ONCE, unless you are giving them an SD card. What I did was build a boot9strap that looks for ntr_boot.firm and used the ntr version of that in the ntrboot folder (so this is what gets flashed into the ak2i, etc).

So now, I copy a folder I made with the starter pack, and a few other goodies to an SD or microSD (depending on what system it's for) and that's that. On the SD card, safeb9sinstaller is ntr_boot.firm, so Luma can already be there as boot.firm. No need to swap, and files can be deleted via godmode, or FBI.

 

[some1ne]

Q: Can I unbrick from a ____ brick?
A: Considering the card has access to the bootrom, most likely yes! This can potentially unbrick any brick (except MCU), unless you've taken a knife to the motherboard.

So, does this mean this method can also be done without any hardmod at all? https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-unbricking-progress.361171/

 

[Olmectron]

So, does this mean this method can also be done without any hardmod at all? https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-unbricking-progress.361171/

Yep.

 

[some1ne]

You need a PC ONCE, unless you are giving them an SD card. What I did was build a boot9strap that looks for ntr_boot.firm and used the ntr version of that in the ntrboot folder (so this is what gets flashed into the ak2i, etc).

So now, I copy a folder I made with the starter pack, and a few other goodies to an SD or microSD (depending on what system it's for) and that's that. On the SD card, safeb9sinstaller is ntr_boot.firm, so Luma can already be there as boot.firm. No need to swap, and files can be deleted via godmode, or FBI.

You don't even need a PC, you can use Gm9's ramdrive to copy essential files from one SD to another.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Yep.

How? You still need a way to do the unlock commands for the nand. Unless someone makes a special .firm for that.

 

[Cuphat]

@urherenow

Hi,

What is this setup you can do on-the-fly where you can B9S a console without having access to a PC for the SD card files afterwards. I have flashed my acki2 and it works, as I installed B9S on a stock 11.5 console.

I would like to use the card and take it to a friend or a person in work to use it.

GodMode9:

All you really need is an AK2i (with its microSD inserted, containing needed 3DS files as well), a magnet (unless target is O2DS), a microSD -> SD card adapter (if target system uses a full-sized SD card), and a screwdriver (for N3DSXL/N3DS targets only).

Take the microSD out of the Acekard and insert it into the target system, insert Acekard and trigger ntrboot B9S to install B9S to the system, then use Luma to chainload GodMode9. Copy the necessary files from the SD to RAMDRIVE, unmount SD and replace it with target's original SD, copy files from RAMDRIVE to SD. Done. Retrieve your stuff for usage next time.

I've got everything I need (except the screwdriver) in my 3DS and its grip:

Spoiler

 

[sion_zaphod]

Not really, unless you installed a version of boot9strap_ntr.firm to the card that loads something other than boot.firm (I used this version to load ntrboot.firm from SD instead https://gbatemp.net/threads/ntrboot-is-out.480586/page-10#post-7508890)

Tried flashing with this firm and putting gm9 as ntrboot.firm on my existing b9s hacked 3ds's. no button combo whatsoever starts gm9. And when i remove the magnet it comes out of sleep mode straight into home menu and no cart icon. If i eject the cart and put it back AK2i logo appears. I've tried the paper trick and various other things. My ak2i reads fine on all my systems including my old ds's fat and lite. I would be happy if this would work only one time on my 2ds so I can unbrick and never have to go through this s**t again

 

[some1ne]

GodMode9:

Just like this:

Spoiler: Picture

 

[Olmectron]

You don't even need a PC, you can use Gm9's ramdrive to copy essential files from one SD to another.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


How? You still need a way to do the unlock commands for the nand. Unless someone makes a special .firm for that.

I just read the first post of the link you shared. I didn't understand it at all, but it talks about unbricking a 3DS.

This can help you unbrick your 3DS, since it installs B9S immediately to the NAND, then you can boot FIRM payloads, and use GodMod9 to restore your NAND or CTRTransfer to 9.2 if you don't have a backup.

 

[pixelmasher]

Tried flashing with this firm and putting gm9 as ntrboot.firm on my existing b9s hacked 3ds's. no button combo whatsoever starts gm9. And when i remove the magnet it comes out of sleep mode straight into home menu and no cart icon. If i eject the cart and put it back AK2i logo appears. I've tried the paper trick and various other things. My ak2i reads fine on all my systems including my old ds's fat and lite. I would be happy if this would work only one time on my 2ds so I can unbrick and never have to go through this s**t again

Are you using 1.0.2 to flash? The earlier versions don't work properly.

 

[urherenow]

You don't even need a PC, you can use Gm9's ramdrive to copy essential files from one SD to another.

I didn't think of that. That's super cool!
But it still requires swapping cards, so pick your poison, I guess. My intent was to never have to swap cards again. My extra "goodies" include one of the FTP programs (forget the name) and the home menu microSD management cia, in case someone wants to use it and doesn't care about playing online (because ban risk, and last time I tried a .3dsx ftp thing, it really sucked).

 

[sion_zaphod]

Are you using 1.0.2 to flash? The earlier versions don't work properly.

Yes. I have also used the .nds flasher using my ds lite.

 

[urherenow]

Thread is moving too fast to keep up. For those removing the magnet and going to home menu... DON'T REMOVE THE MAGNET! To boot with the flashed card, it's using an SPI firm. The magnet needs to remain the whole time you're installing b9s. Hold the combo, press power, and wait a few seconds. Let go of the buttons, but leave the magnet, and you should see the installer menu. I imagine, the same would apply if you replace the b9s installer with godmode9...

edit: and as stated many times before, leave the sleep switch on, on the O2DS.

If it you have an Ak2i you can use an original ds system (phat or lite) to flash it. Dsi won't work and neither will 3ds.

Wait, what? Ak2i works with 3ds. I've hacked 3 systems already with mine.

 

[pixelmasher]

Yes. I have also used the .nds flasher using my ds lite.

Try restoring the already patched backup that zoogie posted.

 

[Cuphat]

TWait, what? Ak2i works with 3ds. I've hacked 3 systems already with mine.

He's talking about the .nds installer for AK2i, which is DS fat/DS lite only.