Hacking 3DS NOOB PARADISE - Ask questions here

[charmeld]

Hello I get a new 3ds, it is in version 9.2.0-20e. Should I upgrade to a newer firmware for the hacker? How to do with this version Thank you

 

[Hayato213]

You can hack it on 9.2.0 and then update.

https://3ds.hacks.guide/homebrew-launcher-(soundhax)

 

[djender]

If you go into the eShop, Menu, Settings/Other, and Updates, which games are displayed? What happens if you download and install the updates from this menu?

If I go to that menu, the games that ask me for update do not show up. Why is that?

 

[Lacius]

If I go to that menu, the games that ask me for update do not show up. Why is that?

It could mean the updates are already installed. It could also be a regional thing.

 

[djender]

It could mean the updates are already installed. It could also be a regional thing.

I was thinking this too. In that case the only option is to install the cia update isn't it?

 

[Lacius]

I was thinking this too. In that case the only option is to install the cia update isn't it?

I don't recommend using out-of-region games unless you have to, if that's the problem.

 

[Mafg]

I switched region from japan to US following the instruction from the 3ds.hacks.guide website. Then it deleted all my previously installed games and cfw related apps(including FBI, Anamone, Luma Update, and more). Is this normal? I could reinstall the games I guess but I'm not sure of the other cfw apps.

 

[YukidaruPunch]

Hey, guys! Bought my 3DS. I plan on hacking it in two or three days, maybe. I've two questions:

1) About that "Finalizing setup" part on the 3DS guide... Do I really have to install all of that? Anemone? GodMode9? Truth be told, some of what came after that seemed to be a LOT of tinkering and I wish I could keep it to a minimum, if possible. Other than FBI, Checkpoint, Luma3DS Updater and the Homebrew Launcher Loader, I wish I could avoid tinkering that much, to be honest. What does GodMode even do? What is CTR? Do I really have to install all of that if all in planning on doing is having FBI to install some cias?

I have a Wii U with regular Haxchi and wouldn't install CBHC for the life of me. I wish I could avoid tinkering that much, if possible. After the previous steps, isn't the CFW already installed? Considering I'm not a tech savvy person, why do I have to do all that for? Do ai risk losing Luma if I don't do all that and there's an update? What is optional about that part and what is not?

Also, question Number 2: the system came with a 2GB SD which apparently comes with the system. Could I use it to do all the first parts of the tutorial, back up my NAND (considering I do everything the guide tells me to), and than pass all files for a 32GB micro SD which I'm already using? Is 2GB enough for the NAND dump?

 

[Quantumcat]

Hey, guys! Bought my 3DS. I plan on hacking it in two or three days, maybe. I've two questions:

1) About that "Finalizing setup" part on the 3DS guide... Do I really have to install all of that? Anemone? GodMode9? Truth be told, some of what came after that seemed to be a LOT of tinkering and I wish I could keep it to a minimum, if possible. Other than FBI, Checkpoint, Luma3DS Updater and the Homebrew Launcher Loader, I wish I could avoid tinkering that much, to be honest. What does GodMode even do? What is CTR? Do I really have to install all of that if all in planning on doing is having FBI to install some cias?

I have a Wii U with regular Haxchi and wouldn't install CBHC for the life of me. I wish I could avoid tinkering that much, if possible. After the previous steps, isn't the CFW already installed? Considering I'm not a tech savvy person, why do I have to do all that for? Do ai risk losing Luma if I don't do all that and there's an update? What is optional about that part and what is not?

Also, question Number 2: the system came with a 2GB SD which apparently comes with the system. Could I use it to do all the first parts of the tutorial, back up my NAND (considering I do everything the guide tells me to), and than pass all files for a 32GB micro SD which I'm already using? Is 2GB enough for the NAND dump?

GodMode9 isn't installed, it is a B9S payload you can use for unbricking and other system stuff like making and restoring backups. You'll need that. You don't need Anemone if you don't want custom themes. You may as well install everything it says, it takes only a few seconds for each one.

The 2GB SD card won't have enough room for a backup. I would recommend getting a bigger one. For example a 16GB SD card is very cheap and can hold a couple of games at a time.

 

[YukidaruPunch]

GodMode9 isn't installed, it is a B9S payload you can use for unbricking and other system stuff like making and restoring backups. You'll need that. You don't need Anemone if you don't want custom themes. You may as well install everything it says, it takes only a few seconds for each one.

The 2GB SD card won't have enough room for a backup. I would recommend getting a bigger one. For example a 16GB SD card is very cheap and can hold a couple of games at a time.

I wish I could at least understand what it's doing. From what I've seen, it seems like the CTRNAND Luma3DS is writing specific come to the SysNAND in order to boot Luma3DS even without a micro SD, is that it? I'd wish it only rather booted to Luma CFW if I had a micro SD on instead of writing information to SysNAND. Would I be risking my system if I'd rather do that?

Also, I still don't understand what CTR is. What does it mean, what does it do?

 

[Quantumcat]

I wish I could at least understand what it's doing. From what I've seen, it seems like the CTRNAND Luma3DS is writing specific come to the SysNAND in order to boot Luma3DS even without a micro SD, is that it? I'd wish it only rather booted to Luma CFW if I had a micro SD on instead of writing information to SysNAND. Would I be risking my system if I'd rather do that?

Also, I still don't understand what CTR is. What does it mean, what does it do?

If you don't put Luma on your CTR-NAND, then if your SD card reader ever dies, your console will be bricked, as it won't ever be able to find a file to boot with. In addition, imagine you're travelling and your SD card gets corrupted, your console will be useless until you can buy a new SD card and put Luma on it. Whereas if you put it on CTR-NAND then you can still play cartridge games and DSiWare. It would be a very silly thing to do to not put it on CTR-NAND while you can. It takes about 30 seconds.

CTR-NAND is part of the onboard console memory.

 

[lone_wolf323]

I wish I could at least understand what it's doing. From what I've seen, it seems like the CTRNAND Luma3DS is writing specific come to the SysNAND in order to boot Luma3DS even without a micro SD, is that it? I'd wish it only rather booted to Luma CFW if I had a micro SD on instead of writing information to SysNAND. Would I be risking my system if I'd rather do that?

Also, I still don't understand what CTR is. What does it mean, what does it do?

Cfw is something thats wrote to the internals of the console itself. The ctrnand boot.firm is there as a safety for if the sd craps out. If it does and ctrnand wasnt done. then its going to be a thing of you whining the 3ds got "bricked" when its merely a sd card issue. You have very little to be bothered to worry of the sysnand being wrote to. Worries would be if you tried to stick a game or app on ctrnand where its going to be a constant read / write.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

I wish I could at least understand what it's doing. From what I've seen, it seems like the CTRNAND Luma3DS is writing specific come to the SysNAND in order to boot Luma3DS even without a micro SD, is that it? I'd wish it only rather booted to Luma CFW if I had a micro SD on instead of writing information to SysNAND. Would I be risking my system if I'd rather do that?

If you are not tech savvy, following the guide line by line is the best and the safest option.

The main modification on the NAND – installing B9S – is on partitions called FIRM0 and FIRM1. This replaces the normal bootloader – with B9S.

When turning on a 2|3DS modded this way, this is what B9S does is:

1. Try loading SD:/boot.firm (normally Luma3DS – the custom firmware)
2. If this fails: Try loading CTRNAND:/boot.firm
3. If this also fails: Turn off the console→ This is the infamous "I only get the blue LED on and then it fades off! Help!!!"

Having an additional copy of Luma on CTRNAND is a failsafe mechanism.

What is CTR?

CTR-001 is the very first 3DS model. Because of this many names contain these three letters.


I know the guide can be overwhelming with the amount of information – until you get used to the terms. Please do not compare B9S with CBHC on the Wii U (which I also avoid). Bricking a 3DS requires a lot of ignorance and as long as you have a NAND backup any software damage can be repaired.* The tools are very advanced and safe. You would have to ignore warnings like this one (The example would not even lead to a bricked device as installing Luma to FIRM0/1 is possible):

If you have any further questions or problems, we are always here to help. Have fun.
_____________________
* While B9S is intact you can simply restore a NAND backup. If even B9S is destroyed (software caused bootrom error – blue screen) this can still be repaired with ntrboot.

 

[hiimkir]

Hi guys. I've read many times here smth like this:

The only MCU(?) brick that can be done is closing an N3DS on 2.1 (which you shouldnt even do anymore)

What is this "2.1"?

 

[YukidaruPunch]

I believe I understand it a little better now. I was afraid that by putting Luma on CTR-NAND I would risk making a permanent change to the internals of the system and this could bite me in the ass in the future somehow. Thing is, the previous modifications I had already done have already been permanent changes. The system's gonna look for boot.firm somewhere and by being stubborn and wanting it to only look on the micro SD I would actually be risking myself down the line. I thought it would boot like I had never done any modifications to it.

I understand it better now. Thanks, everybody. It would be stupid not to do such a precarious measure.

Guess I've been spoiled by how carefree Haxchi is. The idea of a system where I load CFW whenever I want and can be uninstalled by simply removing a modified game just blows my damn kind. I thought it would be the same here, and I now understand that's totally not the case. Thanks again!

 

[Quantumcat]

Hi guys. I've read many times here smth like this:

What is this "2.1"?

Firmware 2.1. In the very beginning of A9LH you had to downgrade your console to 2.1 to install it. But you don't need to do this anymore, so don't worry about it (sadly there are still old youtube guides floating around telling people to do this).

 

[hiimkir]

Firmware 2.1. In the very beginning of A9LH you had to downgrade your console to 2.1 to install it. But you don't need to do this anymore, so don't worry about it (sadly there are still old youtube guides floating around telling people to do this).

Thank you.
(Is thanking a good manners here, or it counts as spamming?)

 

[Quantumcat]

Thank you.
(Is thanking a good manners here, or it counts as spamming?)

Thanking is lovely but you can also just Like someone's post for the same effect

 

[Mafg]

Guys I just changed the region of my 3ds. I just wanted to clarify few things. Is it correct that from now on I'm not able to use eshop - for game downloading and updates - and any online features from any games?

 

[Roxxxance]

Thanks for the rich answer.
You guys are wonderful <3
I'll buy another 3ds to flash a CFW as I really want to keep one unmodified. Last question. I started reading guides, and as far as I understand the only thing needed to get a CFW is a SD card reader. What's the purpose of all those flashcards sold on internet?

You can't run commercial games with plain homebrew. You need CFW for that. Lower firmwares just allow extra ways to install CFW.

Having CFW is not at all risky, and there's never any reason to uninstall it so there's no reason to be worried about that. The risky part of uninstalling CFW is if you modify any system titles (eg to have a custom sleep screen or region change), then those system titles no longer have a legit signature and if the 3DS no longer runs CFW it won't be able to run those system titles and the console will either not boot up or behave badly (eg having an error whenever the keyboard is opened). But, if all you do is play pirated games and don't modify your system beyond this there's no issue. And absolutely zero issue if you never uninstall CFW (which there is never any reason to do anyway).

That being said, there are a select few games that can be gotten as "legit cias" that will run without CFW once installed. If you are happy only playing those (and no patched roms or anything), and are capable of amending the 3DS guide instructions to just run FBI through homebrew which will only work on a low enough firmware (used to be 9.2 but probably works on 11.3 now), you can do it without installing CFW (you would want the experience of installing CFW on a couple of consoles first). But I wouldn't bother - there's no risks having CFW and everything to gain.