Hi, I’m trying to recover an Old Nintendo 3DS XL that won’t boot.
The console was previously modded, but I received it from a friend on mine without its SD card.
I don't know exactly what happened to it. My friend told me that, at the time, she tried to modify one of the files on the console, and the modification went wrong / caused the console to stop working. Unfortunately, I don't know which file she modified or exactly what she did (and she doesn't remember).
Current symptoms are
- blue power LED stays on continuously
- both screens remain completely black
- no sound
- SELECT on boot does nothing
- START on boot does nothing
- Recovery mode (L + R + Up + A) doesn't work
- Putting Luma3DS boot.firm on an SD card does not change anything
I have another working 3DS XL, and I also have an R4i-SDHC 3DS RTS flashcart.
I used the working 3DS to flash ntrboot to the R4i using the 3DS Multi System method. The flashing process completed successfully. After that, the R4i no longer appears in the HOME Menu of the working 3DS(as expected).
For the broken 3DS, I prepared the SD card with:
-boot.firm = SafeB9SInstaller
-/boot9strap/boot9strap.firm
-/boot9strap/boot9strap.firm.sha
I then inserted the ntrboot-flashed R4i, placed a magnet around the A/B/X/Y area, and held START + SELECT + X + POWER simultaneously for several seconds.
Nothing happens: still solid blue LED and completely black screens.
There is also an important difference between the two consoles: the magnet definitely works with my working 3DS. When I place it in the correct position, the working 3DS reacts and enters sleep mode. However, the Old 3DS XL I received does not react to the magnet at all.
I have tried the ntrboot procedure multiple times. Could the fact that the target 3DS XL does not respond to the magnet explain why ntrboot is not triggering? Is there any other software-only way to diagnose or recover it?
I would prefer not to open the console or perform any hardware modifications for now. I'm desperated!
Thank you for your help!
EDIT:
My friend says the console was modded a long time ago, before Luma3DS was around. She remembers that she was trying to fix a Nintendo ban related to the old wave of bans affecting users who had played unreleased games online. She followed a guide and ended up writing something directly to the SysNAND. After that, the console became bricked. She doesn't remember exactly what guide she followed or what was written to the SysNAND.
The console was previously modded, but I received it from a friend on mine without its SD card.
I don't know exactly what happened to it. My friend told me that, at the time, she tried to modify one of the files on the console, and the modification went wrong / caused the console to stop working. Unfortunately, I don't know which file she modified or exactly what she did (and she doesn't remember).
Current symptoms are
- blue power LED stays on continuously
- both screens remain completely black
- no sound
- SELECT on boot does nothing
- START on boot does nothing
- Recovery mode (L + R + Up + A) doesn't work
- Putting Luma3DS boot.firm on an SD card does not change anything
I have another working 3DS XL, and I also have an R4i-SDHC 3DS RTS flashcart.
I used the working 3DS to flash ntrboot to the R4i using the 3DS Multi System method. The flashing process completed successfully. After that, the R4i no longer appears in the HOME Menu of the working 3DS(as expected).
For the broken 3DS, I prepared the SD card with:
-boot.firm = SafeB9SInstaller
-/boot9strap/boot9strap.firm
-/boot9strap/boot9strap.firm.sha
I then inserted the ntrboot-flashed R4i, placed a magnet around the A/B/X/Y area, and held START + SELECT + X + POWER simultaneously for several seconds.
Nothing happens: still solid blue LED and completely black screens.
There is also an important difference between the two consoles: the magnet definitely works with my working 3DS. When I place it in the correct position, the working 3DS reacts and enters sleep mode. However, the Old 3DS XL I received does not react to the magnet at all.
I have tried the ntrboot procedure multiple times. Could the fact that the target 3DS XL does not respond to the magnet explain why ntrboot is not triggering? Is there any other software-only way to diagnose or recover it?
I would prefer not to open the console or perform any hardware modifications for now. I'm desperated!
Thank you for your help!
EDIT:
My friend says the console was modded a long time ago, before Luma3DS was around. She remembers that she was trying to fix a Nintendo ban related to the old wave of bans affecting users who had played unreleased games online. She followed a guide and ended up writing something directly to the SysNAND. After that, the console became bricked. She doesn't remember exactly what guide she followed or what was written to the SysNAND.
Last edited by Spaira,
