Hacking Gateway3ds to CFW? Not sure what state my 3DS is in now.

[mikefor20]

I still use my Gateway, mostly because I don't use my 3DS a lot anymore and it's a hassle to get all my games again in CIA format and convert all the saves.

That being said, if you want to switch it's fairly easy, just a bit time consuming. You can use this tool to help you export your Gateway saves to decrypted format: https://gbatemp.net/threads/gateway-save-export-helper.465503/
It's a lot easier than the alternative, which requires manually renaming the .sav on the SD and exporting one at a time.
It's best to do this first, since accidentally updating (or not knowing not to remove your emuNAND when the guide tells you to do so) will leave you unable to boot into GW mode until you downgrade your sysNAND, or make an emuNAND and downgrade that.
Once that's done you can just follow http://3ds.guide assuming you don't have Gateway Fast Boot. If you have Gateway Fast Boot, the easiest way to get rid of that is to restore a NAND backup from before you installed it. I think there's a way to do it even if you don't have an earlier NAND backup, but I don't know the details.

If you would like to dual boot GW and Luma, keep your emuNAND and continue following the guide as normal, ignoring the "Move emuNAND" part, and make sure to never update your emuNAND past 11.2 or boot Gateway sysNAND mode on 11.3+ (the latter will wipe B9S from your system)
Once you're done with the guide you can follow this to regain GW support: https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-using-luma3ds-gateway-on-b9s.431691/
This is the setup I have, although I used BootCtr9 as a bootloader so I can boot GW by default, and I hardly ever use Luma.

I MUCH prefer the method I outlined for the EmuNAND before. Since he already has A9LH(or B9S for that matter) Use Godmode9 to BACKUP EMUNAND. Then do the guide. when you get to moving the emunand STOP, BACK UP YOUR WHOLE SD. Then move the EmuNAND to SysNAND. When you are done, format the SD in godmode and create a new EmuNAND. Then use godmode to restore your old EmuNAND backup. Then Finish the 3ds guide. Sounds complicated but it beats making a new EmuNAND for GW. You can delete all the installed CIAs off the EmuNAND after that. I do that in Luma. This way you'll wind up with 11.2 EmuNAND already complete with everything you want. At that point, if you want online in GW, I would update all but 3 title to 11.6. I like a tutorial earlier in the thread.

I'm in a similar situation to the OP, with a 4.5 3DS, gateway and a CFW which hosts the majority of my games via CIA.
I've been thinking about upgrading the whole thing but one point that holds me back is, what do I actually stand to gain? I can run every game via CIA (not tried a new rom on the gateway for a year or so though), so for the sake of myself, and maybe the OP, what are the pro's and cons?

If I lost the ability to use the gateway (which I mainly use to store games larger than 1GB on a 32GB card), I'd probably have to upgrade the SD in my 3DS, which is another set of headaches but the nerd in me wants to tinker with new hacks.

Do both! Get Luma. Nobody ever was sorry for going to CFW. It's FASTER. Everything from boot to loading is WAY faster than old EmuNANDS. It's better compatility and Luma is safe. GW is fun and gives you the option of a second SD but Luma is way better.

If you want to keep using GW, do the dual boot route (luma on sysnand, and GW on emunand)
You can install b9s on your 3DS and restore all games from your emunand to sysnand.

It's all up to you.
Is gw that important to you?
The cheat engine function is already available on NTR AR.

See, your post shifts from helping to "Is gw that important to you?" Please stop it.

Not a whole lot besides some neat Luma3DS features (a lot of which you can get with NTR-CFW anyway) and support for the latest firmware. And never having to worry about firmware updates again as they're mostly painless with Luma.
It's mostly the little things. You certainly won't miss Gateway once all is said and done, but it is a bit of a hassle to switch.
FreeShop is much more convenient than .3DS files though. You can use FreeShop on GW too, but .3DS roms are like the one benefit GW still has, and it's not much of a benefit anymore.

Don't forget an extra SD worth of space for 3DS games. I think it's better to run both. If the task it too daunting. I might write up a good tutorial to do this right once and for all.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I MUCH prefer the method I outlined for the EmuNAND before. Since he already has A9LH(or B9S for that matter) Use Godmode9 to BACKUP EMUNAND. Then do the guide. when you get to moving the emunand STOP, BACK UP YOUR WHOLE SD. Then move the EmuNAND to SysNAND. When you are done, format the SD in godmode and create a new EmuNAND. Then use godmode to restore your old EmuNAND backup. Then Finish the 3ds guide. Sounds complicated but it beats making a new EmuNAND for GW. You can delete all the installed CIAs off the EmuNAND after that. I do that in Luma. This way you'll wind up with 11.2 EmuNAND already complete with everything you want. At that point, if you want online in GW, I would update all but 3 title to 11.6. I like a tutorial earlier in the thread.




Do both! Get Luma. Nobody ever was sorry for going to CFW. It's FASTER. Everything from boot to loading is WAY faster than old EmuNANDS. It's better compatility and Luma is safe. GW is fun and gives you the option of a second SD but Luma is way better.



See, your post shifts from helping to "Is gw that important to you?" Please stop it.



Don't forget an extra SD worth of space for 3DS games. I think it's better to run both. If the task it too daunting. I might write up a good tutorial to do this right once and for all.

You don't have to make a new emuNAND or go through that whole ordeal if you simply don't follow "Move emuNAND". It's an optional section after all.

 

[aos10]

I MUCH prefer the method I outlined for the EmuNAND before. Since he already has A9LH(or B9S for that matter) Use Godmode9 to BACKUP EMUNAND. Then do the guide. when you get to moving the emunand STOP, BACK UP YOUR WHOLE SD. Then move the EmuNAND to SysNAND. When you are done, format the SD in godmode and create a new EmuNAND. Then use godmode to restore your old EmuNAND backup. Then Finish the 3ds guide. Sounds complicated but it beats making a new EmuNAND for GW. You can delete all the installed CIAs off the EmuNAND after that. I do that in Luma. This way you'll wind up with 11.2 EmuNAND already complete with everything you want. At that point, if you want online in GW, I would update all but 3 title to 11.6. I like a tutorial earlier in the thread.




Do both! Get Luma. Nobody ever was sorry for going to CFW. It's FASTER. Everything from boot to loading is WAY faster than old EmuNANDS. It's better compatility and Luma is safe. GW is fun and gives you the option of a second SD but Luma is way better.



See, your post shifts from helping to "Is gw that important to you?" Please stop it.



Don't forget an extra SD worth of space for 3DS games. I think it's better to run both. If the task it too daunting. I might write up a good tutorial to do this right once and for all.

it was a question, if he still use GW (which he said he didn't use it that much from what he said), then he can create dual boot.

All your posts is forcing people to keep using their gw cards, it's like you work with gw, do you?

 

[mikefor20]

Not a whole lot besides some neat Luma3DS features (a lot of which you can get with NTR-CFW anyway) and support for the latest firmware. And never having to worry about firmware updates again as they're mostly painless with Luma.
It's mostly the little things. You certainly won't miss Gateway once all is said and done, but it is a bit of a hassle to switch.
FreeShop is much more convenient than .3DS files though. You can use FreeShop on GW too, but .3DS roms are like the one benefit GW still has, and it's not much of a benefit anymore.

No IF you move EmuNAND, then complete the guide, your SysNAND will be at 11.6. When you create an EmuNAND from that you'll wind up with a non GW compatable 11.6 EmuNAND. But then you just inject the EmuNAND backup over it and presto you have a 11.2 GW compatable EmuNAND. You need the backup. Or you'll have to dick around with other methods to get it where it needs to be.

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

it was a question, if he still use GW (which he said he didn't use it that much from what he said), then he can create dual boot.

All your posts is forcing people to keep using their gw cards, it's like you work with gw, do you?

LOL Anti-GW Gestapo propaganda is all you all spew. I like to play with my toys that's all. Why throw out something that works. It works fine. Maybe it's just too complicated for you. Simple minds. I can have both.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

No IF you move EmuNAND, then complete the guide, your SysNAND will be at 11.6. When you create an EmuNAND from that you'll wind up with a non GW compatable 11.6 EmuNAND. But then you just inject the EmuNAND backup over it and presto you have a 11.2 GW compatable EmuNAND. You need the backup. Or you'll have to dick around with other methods to get it where it needs to be.

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



LOL Anti-GW Gestapo propaganda is all you all spew. I like to play with my toys that's all. Why throw out something that works. It works fine. Maybe it's just too complicated for you. Simple minds. I can have both.

If you just don't touch emuNAND at all you'll save all that effort, is what I'm saying.

 

[mikefor20]

If you just don't touch emuNAND at all you'll save all that effort, is what I'm saying.

Then he has to boot into Gateway mode to use his CIA installed games. My way gets it working in all directions. Last I knew it had no option to copy emunand to system nand. Only move. You couldn't leave the EmuNAND alone and copy it over. If you can now more power to you.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Then he has to boot into Gateway mode to use his CIA installed games. My way gets it working in all directions. Last I knew it had no option to copy emunand to system nand. Only move. You couldn't leave the EmuNAND alone and copy it over. If you can now more power to you.

If he even has any CIA installed games that is.
Copying emuNAND is pretty simple, just skip formatting the SD card as part of the move emuNAND guide.
It would be best to system format emuNAND with TinyFormat afterwards to unlink the NANDs so he doesn't get the gift wrapping bug or have to deal with two separate friend lists using the same friend code.

 

[simbin]

Hello all,

Can someone point me into the right direction for what I'm trying to achieve? Been out of the scene for a while now and I'm trying to get back but I'm not sure where to start. The current state of my 3DS is that it's running Gateway 3DS on 11.2.0-35U Emunand where most of the games are CIA. But what's weird is I forgot how I made it autoboot to Gateway every time it starts (sometimes it hangs or has a static screen). Think it's using NTRBoot.

What should I strive for at the moment if I want the store as well? I saw that was a post that had Gateway updated to 11.6? But is CFW superior overall?

Thank you in advance!

I think A9LH / 11.2 Emunand combo is latest supported by Gateway?

What I did, was setup Luma Sysnand for my primary, and kept Gateway Emunand for extra secondary dual boot option, (.3ds format) less played games.

So my current setup is 64GB Luma Sysnand + 64GB Gateway Emunand

Nothing went to waste

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I think A9LH / 11.2 Emunand combo is latest supported by Gateway?

What I did, was setup Luma Sysnand for my primary, and kept Gateway Emunand for extra secondary dual boot option, (.3ds format) less played games.

So my current setup is 64GB Luma Sysnand + 64GB Gateway Emunand

Nothing went to waste

B9S works too, but yes 11.2 is still the max.

 

[godreborn]

the only purpose of the gateway flash cart is as a door stop. cheats - big deal.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

the only purpose of the gateway flash cart is as a door stop. cheats - big deal.

You're free to think that, but going into a thread about Gateway just to say that Gateway is shit is a bit useless, don't you think?

 

[mrjoshuaco]

the only purpose of the gateway flash cart is as a door stop. cheats - big deal.

Other people like things I don't - Reeeeee!

 

[mikefor20]

If he even has any CIA installed games that is.
Copying emuNAND is pretty simple, just skip formatting the SD card as part of the move emuNAND guide.
It would be best to system format emuNAND with TinyFormat afterwards to unlink the NANDs so he doesn't get the gift wrapping bug or have to deal with two separate friend lists using the same friend code.

Unlinking the nands is good. I forgot to tell him that. It used to be in the guide. I can't find it now. There used to be a page that said "If you used GW to downgrade to 4.5 then do this!. It included a couple of formats and you wound up unlinked.
OP use TinyFormat in your EmuNAND AFTER you transfer it to SysNAND. LOL. Not that it matters, I haven't heard from the OP since this thread started..

I think A9LH / 11.2 Emunand combo is latest supported by Gateway?

What I did, was setup Luma Sysnand for my primary, and kept Gateway Emunand for extra secondary dual boot option, (.3ds format) less played games.

So my current setup is 64GB Luma Sysnand + 64GB Gateway Emunand

Nothing went to waste

Actually you can update all IOS files to 11.6 except native_firm, GSP_Services and NWM_Services. Then you can get online in GW mode. You could try the AIO pack and use that EmuNAND for a bunch of CFW's for giggles.

B9S works too, but yes 11.2 is still the max.

Not really, there is a 11.6/11.2 hybrid option that gets ALL THE FUNCTIONS WORKING!

the only purpose of the gateway flash cart is as a door stop. cheats - big deal.

Go away. You are not wanted here GateHater. Piss off. godreborn =

You're free to think that, but going into a thread about Gateway just to say that Gateway is shit is a bit useless, don't you think?

Thank you. Typical Temper Anti-GW Gestapo Propaganda mindlessness. Lame.

 

[nine0nine]

gonna bump this instead of making a new thread. I read everyone's (very good) advice and decided it wasn't worth the hassle really, but today I finally hit the hurdle of running out of space on my internal SD card.

So, I have a few options. Firstly, I am going to make the gateway redundant, upgrade the internal SD and use that as my primary storage, then dump everything from the GW to the homescreen via CIA files.

2 things I am worried about, my game saves in 3DS roms, and the progress I made on the streetpass games on the 3DS itself. I know the latter is trivial, but I spent far too much time on streetpass collecting stupid jigsaw pieces to not at least try to preserve my progress.

So, firstly, what do I need to do to make sure I don't lose anything?

Secondly, is it any more difficult if I was to also upgrade to a N3DS in the process, would I still be able to retain my progress doing that too?

 

[Quantumcat]

gonna bump this instead of making a new thread. I read everyone's (very good) advice and decided it wasn't worth the hassle really, but today I finally hit the hurdle of running out of space on my internal SD card.

So, I have a few options. Firstly, I am going to make the gateway redundant, upgrade the internal SD and use that as my primary storage, then dump everything from the GW to the homescreen via CIA files.

2 things I am worried about, my game saves in 3DS roms, and the progress I made on the streetpass games on the 3DS itself. I know the latter is trivial, but I spent far too much time on streetpass collecting stupid jigsaw pieces to not at least try to preserve my progress.

So, firstly, what do I need to do to make sure I don't lose anything?

Secondly, is it any more difficult if I was to also upgrade to a N3DS in the process, would I still be able to retain my progress doing that too?

It would be easiest, if you plan to upgrade anyway, to do the following. If you do an official system transfer to your N3DS you won't lose anything like Mii Plaza or Activity Log etc.

If your N3DS is on 11.3 or less firmware

1. Back up all your Gateway saves.
2. Back up any installed game saves.
3. Uninstall all of your installed games
4. Install CFW on your N3DS with https://3ds.guide/homebrew-launcher-(soundhax)
5. Do a system transfer, while booted into your Gateway emuNAND on the old 3DS, selecting the option to move data wirelessly (NOT by PC)
6. Install all your games including ones you used with Gateway
7. Restore all your saves

If your N3DS is on 11.4 or higher firmware

1. Backup your Gateway saves
2. Backup your installed game saves
3. Uninstall your installed games
4. Convert your old Gateway console to B9S & Luma and update to the latest firmware
5. Follow https://3ds.guide/installing-boot9strap-(dsiware-game-injection), and choose to transfer wirelessly not through PC
6. Install your games and restore the saves

More details on the steps

Backup Gateway saves

1. Get FBI.3ds from https://github.com/steveice10/fbi/releases and put it on your Gateway's microSD
   
2. Get JKSM.cia from https://github.com/J-D-K/JKSV/releases and put it on the root of your console's SD card
   
3. Load FBI through Gateway and install JKSM (go to SD then press A on JKSM.cia and A again to install)
4. Follow https://gbatemp.net/threads/importing-gateway-saves-to-cia-games.425743/ to just export your saves (don't need to import) and copy the JKSM folder to your PC afterwards for safe keeping

Backup any installed game saves

1. Follow steps 1 & 2 above
2. Use JKSM to export your game saves - go to the CIA section and tap Help to see how to export them all
3. Copy the JKSM folder to your PC for safe keeping

Convert your old Gateway console to B9S and Luma

1. If you use browserhax to launch Gateway mode: follow https://3ds.guide/homebrew-launcher-(soundhax) and follow move emunand when given the option
   
2. If you use A9LH: follow https://3ds.guide/a9lh-to-b9s and follow move emunand when given the chance

Other steps should be self-explanatory but if you need extra help let me know.

 

[nine0nine]

golden info quantumcat, really appreciate it!

Now I have a perfect excuse to buy a N3DS too.

 

[newbie_3ds]

Setup bootctr9 config file. to boot luma as default and GW as a hotkey. (ill uplad one for you tomorrow. don't have time now.

I will follow the guide but my emunand is already on franken 11.7 so
a. i guess i will ignore the step to move it to sysnand. is this correct?
b. Can i find somewere the config file to boot into emunand by default and boot into lume with a hotkey?
thanks in advance

 

[mikefor20]

I will follow the guide but my emunand is already on franken 11.7 so
a. i guess i will ignore the step to move it to sysnand. is this correct?
b. Can i find somewere the config file to boot into emunand by default and boot into lume with a hotkey?
thanks in advance

Ok ill write this up. Hold on

 

[mikefor20]

So the thing is IF you move your GW EmuNAND to SYS then it wont be there for GW mode. IF you COPY the EmuNAND to SysNAND and leave your GW nand then youll have LINKED NANDS. They will share the same folder. Everything you do on one WILL affect the other and you'll get the infamous gift wrapping bug.

Typically you'll want to move the EmuNAND to SysNAND because it will move over all your installed CIA games and saves for them. Goal is to play EVERYTHING EXCEPT GAMES ON THE RED GW CARD ON SysNAND. Faster, reliable, blah blah.

Quantums write up was great. Might be a better method. I never used the System transfer for this. Quick and dirty write up.

Might be an easier way. What I did was.

1. Back up my entire SD.
2. Back up the Saves for all the installed CIA files with JKSM
   
3. Use GodMode9 to Backup EmuNAND. Back that up to PC too.
   
4. Complete the guide. Moving the EmuNAND to SysNAND in the process.
5. Back up ENTIRE SD to PC again.
6. Use god mode to format and create EmuNAND. this creates a new EmuNAND partition and formats the SD
   
7. Copy the ENTIRE SD backup from step 5 back to the SD
   
8. use godmode9 to "restore EmuNAND backup" that you made in step 3.

At this point you'll have Luma on SysNAND in Latest firmware. Your EmuNAND will be as it was on 11.4 franken and still GW compatible but its still linked to both NANDS. Might be a better way but what I did was

1. Get TinyFormat CIA file , put it in SD:\CIA\
   
2. Boot in to SysNAND in Luma
3. Backup all saves for installed CIA files in JKSM (skip if you did this above)
   
4. Install Tinyformat with FBI
5. Run tinyformat. follow prompt formatting SysNAND
   
6. Use Freeshop reinstall all the CIA based games you had before (I would setup a bunch and use the sleepmode install). Or if you have the CIA files you can send batches over wireless using Boop and FBI!
   
7. restore the saves using JKSM

This way your EmuNAND will still be compatible with all you red cart saves. You CIA saves will be transferred, GW unlinked. EmuNAND at current firm. Luma on newest. lastly setup boot9 so you can boot in to GW mode

1. Go Here and get the .zip https://github.com/hartmannaf/BootCtr9/releases Use the boot_config.ini from the zip
2. Go Here https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-the-bootctr9-release-thread.435347/#post-7324372 and get the zip.
3. go here https://www.maxconsole.com/threads/gw-payload-converted-for-b9s.45065/ get the b9s compatible GW.bin
4. Make a directory in the SD root called /Payloads/
5. Put the GW B9S BIN (step 3) in to the /Payloads/ dir and rename it to GW.BIN
6. MOVE the boot.bin in the root of your SD (should be Luma itself) to the /Payloads/ DIR and rename it luma.bin
7. put the .bin from BootCTR9 (from step 2) in the root or your sd (rename it to boot.bin if it's not)
8. get the boot_config.ini from the zip in step 1 and place the ini in the SD root.

Use a texteditor(notepad+) to change the INI file. I put a spoiler with the correct daate. Just DELETE EVERYTHING in the INI and copy the and paste the spoilers contents in to the INI

Spoiler: Luma and GW ini for BootCTR9

Comments starts with ";" or "#", so you need to remove it first to the
;line actually do something.

;configuration with ascii boot Image
;You have also 1 sec to press the button for the payload you want to boot
[BOOTCTR9]
key_delay = 1000
boot_splash = 0
enableAutosoftboot = 1
enableArm9CompanionBoot = 1

;Section to allow a9lh net companion payload auto booting
[COMPANION]
path = /a9nc.bin
delay = 100
offset = 0
payload = -1

;luma with BootAnimation and enabled Pathfix
[DEFAULT]
path = /Payloads/luma.bin
delay = 1000
splash = 4
splash_image = /Animations/anim
screenBrightness = 0x30
enablePathFix = 1

;cakes.dat with splash screen and offset
[KEY_R]
path = /Payloads/GW.bin
delay = 1000
offset = 0x12000
splash = 3
splash_image = /Splashes/splash.bin

;Reinand.dat with offset and ascii splash
[KEY_DUP]
path = /ReiNand.dat
delay = 1000
offset = 0x12000
splash = 1

;Each key can be defined using a section, like the example below. Section
;names must be ALL caps, and between "[]". Valid keys:
;You MUST set at least "path" for each section, and it is the ONLY option you
;should set in the majority of cases.
;Double check the path, since it must be correct (including caps).
;Boot examples for almost every CFW out there.
;You can use only binary (.bin, .dat) payloads
;[KEY_A]
;path = /rxTools/sys/code.bin
;[KEY_B]
;path = /Cakes.dat
;[KEY_Y]
;path = /ReiNand.dat
;An important remark: the majority of CFWs set L button to show menu instead
;of autobooting. So it is generally a bad idea to set L button to CFW boot,
;but if you use a delay, you have time to release the key so the CFW menu will
;not be shown.

I disabled the BootCtr generic splash, and setup Luma a default (no button press) and GW for if you hold L while powering up. IF GW ASKS YOU TO ENTER A BUTTON CODE AND ENTER SYSNAND DON'T DO IT! If that happens then your EmuNAND has an issue. NEVER boot GW in to SysNAND. You can configure things your way but these options work for me.. You can add boot animations too!

 

[The Catboy]

I will follow the guide but my emunand is already on franken 11.7 so
a. i guess i will ignore the step to move it to sysnand. is this correct?
b. Can i find somewere the config file to boot into emunand by default and boot into lume with a hotkey?
thanks in advance

I personally suggest finding an 11.2 pack and flashing that to your emuNAND to remove the frankenfirm, then flashing that to your sysNAND. From there you can safely update your sysNAND using a CFW (such as Luma3DS.)
You can also load your emuNAND with Luma3DS and should be able to update to 11.8, then restore that to your sysNAND.