Hacking 3DS CFW noob... Encrypted, decrypted, .3DS>.CIA etc.

[DaveC1964]

I have a hacked 3DS (Luma).

I want to install some games on it. I see things floating around some encrypted some decrypted. Which do I need to run on 3DS hardware (no emulators)?

I have some .3DS files, I converted with Simple converter to .CIA. I assume they were dumped from carts. After the conversion to cia using my boot9.bin and install they work fine.
I have some other .3DS files that were from the e-shop. If I do the conversion the same way as above they do NOT work. I just get that hex-dump screen then a re-boot. What am I doing wrong? How do I get those to work? Is there something I should look for specifically as in encrypted etc? Is there a different tool to convert e-shop titles to work?'

Also after converting the .3ds to .cias can I install those .cias to any 3DS or are they locked to the one 3DS where the boot9 came from?

If after installing all games to the SD card, if I back up that card on a PC then write files to a different SD but use in same unit (like if I upgrade card size) will it still work and have folder structure in tact or are there hidden files somewhere?

Thanks.

 

[Hayato213]

Should work fine if you copy and paste the same files to a larger SD card as long it is going back to the same 3DS.

 

[Kwyjor]

I want to install some games on it. I see things floating around some encrypted some decrypted. Which do I need to run on 3DS hardware (no emulators)?

If you want to run commercial games, then of course you should either download them from the eShop or install them from your own cartridges using cartinstall. If you are looking at homebrew, then most homebrew these days is distributed as .cia files that you should install with FBI. Some homebrew is distributed as .3dsx; those files are launched via the Homebrew Launcher.

.3DS files are raw cartridge dumps and have no real purpose.

I have some other .3DS files that were from the e-shop.

eShop software is only distributed as .cia files, so I have no idea what you think you have.

If after installing all games to the SD card, if I back up that card on a PC then write files to a different SD but use in same unit (like if I upgrade card size) will it still work and have folder structure in tact or are there hidden files somewhere?

That is the standard way of moving data to a new SD card, yes. There are no hidden files.
https://en-americas-support.nintend...ansfer-data-between-sd-cards-or-microsd-cards

Whenever you use a new SD card, make sure it is first properly formatted as FAT32 and test it with h2testw.

 

[DaveC1964]

If you want to run commercial games, then of course you should either download them from the eShop or install them from your own cartridges using cartinstall. If you are looking at homebrew, then most homebrew these days is distributed as .cia files that you should install with FBI. Some homebrew is distributed as .3dsx; those files are launched via the Homebrew Launcher.

.3DS files are raw cartridge dumps and have no real purpose.

eShop software is only distributed as .cia files, so I have no idea what you think you have.

That is the standard way of moving data to a new SD card, yes. There are no hidden files.
https://en-americas-support.nintend...ansfer-data-between-sd-cards-or-microsd-cards

Whenever you use a new SD card, make sure it is first properly formatted as FAT32 and test it with h2testw.

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

Thanks. I have an archive designated "e-shop games" in the .zip there are some games that end in .3DS. They do look like e-shop game titles. I am not sure what was used to create them. Maybe they were .cia and were converted to .3DS for some reason.

What if I found an e-shop .cia would I need to do anything to get it to run on my hardware or are those only meant for emulators?

 

[Deleted User]

What if I found an e-shop .cia would I need to do anything to get it to run on my hardware or are those only meant for emulators?

CIA is the most used format for all 3DS ROMs, and since you already can install them, you don't need to do anything else but that.
Also, if you're already searching for CIA files online then you might as well go the whole hog and get all your digital titles from said CIA versions instead of making them yourself.

Those online have mostly been through the trial and error phases so should work with your handheld.

 

[DaveC1964]

CIA is the most used format for all 3DS ROMs, and since you already can install them, you don't need to do anything else but that.
Also, if you're already searching for CIA files online then you might as well go the whole hog and get all your digital titles from said CIA versions instead of making them yourself.

Those online have mostly been through the trial and error phases so should work with your handheld.

When I create my own .cia files from .3DS file dumps they are locked to the specific unit by that boot9 file right? Basically I can only use on one unit.

So if I find a .cia file online how will that one work? I am assuming those are cracked or some such thing?

 

[lone_wolf323]

When I create my own .cia files from .3DS file dumps they are locked to the specific unit by that boot9 file right? Basically I can only use on one unit.

So if I find a .cia file online how will that one work? I am assuming those are cracked or some such thing?

When you create a dumped .cia. Its not locked to anything. Just use FBI to install that file to the other console you plan on using.

 

[Deleted User]

So if I find a .cia file online how will that one work? I am assuming those are cracked or some such thing?

The majority are, but it's best to read the explanation that goes with the CIA you're getting.
Some may need Seeds, though by 2020 almost every one that needs it already has a non-Seed version available.

So most are the 3DS equivalent to plug-and-play.

I've never gone through the phase of using the 3DS file format; when I went Homebrew the Tutorial recommended CIA and that's what I've always used.

 

[DaveC1964]

When you create a dumped .cia. Its not locked to anything. Just use FBI to install that file to the other console you plan on using.

Ok I thought because I needed to use a file from my specific 3DS (boot9.bin) that it use that as some kind of key. Noob mistake I guess.

 

[Kwyjor]

Maybe they were .cia and were converted to .3DS for some reason.

.3DS files used to be used with 3DS flash carts, but those are expensive and poorly supported; no one would ever be likely to recommend them, especially when alternatives exist.

Ok I thought because I needed to use a file from my specific 3DS (boot9.bin) that it use that as some kind of key. Noob mistake I guess.

While some files in CFW installation are specific to each 3DS, boot9.bin is identical for all consoles. It so happens that it is almost as easy to dump it as it is to download it from somewhere.

 

[Deleted User]

Follow this guide to update everything to the latest version. Once this is finished, you will be able to hold down START before pressing the power button when the console is shut down and keep holding it until you see the Luma3DS chainloader and press A to launch GodMode9. You can then scroll down to the game card slot ([C:]) and click on either of the *.3ds files and you will have an option to install them directly, and they will appear on your HOME Menu. You can also use FBI to browse to where you keep your CIA files and then click on one and you will have an option to install it.