Tutorial  Updated

Recover DS mode after an NVRAM "brick" (eg after using a DS Bricker)

So, the reason I'm writing this tutorial is that I'm an idiot and I thought running a DS Bricker (r0mloader.nds to be precise) wasn't going to be a big deal, after all, even a DSi is able to survive it without any issues, so a 3DS should be immune too, right?
Well as it turns out, the DS mode bricks if you run such an application, and I learned it the hard way... after the DS mode on my 3DS bricked.
Now, the easiest way to solve the issue is to perform a system format, however, I found another way which is quicker and doesn't require messing around with NAND backups and/or files to get all your data back after a system format! And I guess there are other people like me who are way too curious, so hopefully if someone bricks their DS mode in a stupid way, they can restore it easily.

IMPORTANT: YOU WILL LOSE YOUR NINTENDO WFC PROFILE (if you have one) (which also applies to alternative WFC services) IF YOU FOLLOW THIS!

REQUIREMENTS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Power down your 3DS and plug the SD card into your PC.
  2. Download NVRAM Flash Manager, open the .zip, go to the CIA folder and copy the .cia file to the SD card.
  3. Download the flash.zip attached, and extract the flash.bin file to the root of the 3DS SD card.
  4. Unplug the SD card from your PC, put it back in your 3DS, and turn the console on.
  5. Launch FBI, select SD, navigate to where you saved the .cia file and highlight it.
  6. Press A, select "Install and delete CIA", then go to the Home menu and close FBI.
  7. Wait for the gift box to appear, unwrap it, and launch the application. You'll now be in NVRAM Flash Manager.
  8. Press B to restore the flash.bin file to the NVRAM.
  9. Wait for it to finish, then press Start to close the application.


    This is the right time to test the DS mode.
    Just launch any DSiWare or DS cartridge, and if it boots, it means the DS mode has been fixed. However, there are still some steps left.
  10. Launch the System Settings, go to Other Settings > Profile > Nintendo DS Profile and press OK. You'll see the username and birthday don't match with what's saved on the console, and the colour and message have been reset.
  11. Customize your colour and message if you wish, then press "Back".
  12. Select "User Name", and press OK.
  13. Select "Date of Birth, press the up arrow on the day counter, press the down arrow, and press OK.
  14. Select "Region Settings", if a prompt gets shown, press OK, then press OK one or two more times (depends on what country is selected)
  15. Press "Back", then select Nintendo DS Profile again and press OK. You should see the settings have been properly updated.
  16. Press "Back" three times, select Internet Settings, select Connection Settings and select one of the blue configuration slots (doesn't matter which one).
  17. Select "Change Settings", press "Save", press OK, and then press "Don't test". Note that this is needed to update the configuration settings for DSiWare titles, which gets reset when restoring the dump, even though you can't see it.
  18. If you had configured Nintendo DS connection settings, you're probably also going to need to reconfigure those, but I haven't tested that.
  19. Press "Back" three times and press Close.
And that's it. This should be all it's needed to recover the DS mode after an NVRAM "brick"
 

Attachments

  • flash.zip
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Last edited by lAkdaOpeKA,

Alex658

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Can anybody else confirm this is safe or that it works as intended?

Looks easy enough. A friend's 3DS appears to have DS mode bricked somehow (we bought it secondhand and DS mode doesn't work with either R4's, DSiWare or even the internet connection setup in mset)

My guess is that the previous owner downloaded and used a DSbricker disguised as a rom and sold it as a bargain 3DS to get rid of it. It was in version 1.1.0-0U though.
 

lAkdaOpeKA

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Can anybody else confirm this is safe or that it works as intended?

Looks easy enough. A friend's 3DS appears to have DS mode bricked somehow (we bought it secondhand and DS mode doesn't work with either R4's, DSiWare or even the internet connection setup in mset)

My guess is that the previous owner downloaded and used a DSbricker disguised as a rom and sold it as a bargain 3DS to get rid of it. It was in version 1.1.0-0U though.
Yes I've done it with my own 3DS and it worked.
Note though that NVRAM bricks, at least on newer versions, manifest themselves with the "An error has occurred" message after starting the game. If the screens stay black, you should try this first
 

Brayton

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Yes I've done it with my own 3DS and it worked.
Note though that NVRAM bricks, at least on newer versions, manifest themselves with the "An error has occurred" message after starting the game. If the screens stay black, you should try this first
My brother's Nintendo 3DS XL won't boot to DS mode, just stays black, it hasn't been hacked, and I'm almost absolutely sure it's new. What can I do?
 
Last edited by Brayton, , Reason: Forgot to add "What can I do?"

lAkdaOpeKA

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My brother's Nintendo 3DS XL won't boot to DS mode, just stays black, it hasn't been hacked, and I'm almost absolutely sure it's new. What can I do?
If it still hasn't got any data on it, you could try doing a system format

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

Also does it happen with all DS mode software or just a cart? Did you try entering the DS Internet Settings or DS Download Mode?
 
D

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Wonder how people even find this malware. Also if someone has a homebrew version of this malware that can be shared (not using nintendo property of any sort), please send it. I'm morbidly curious.
 
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Brayton

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If it still hasn't got any data on it, you could try doing a system format

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

Also does it happen with all DS mode software or just a cart? Did you try entering the DS Internet Settings or DS Download Mode?
First found out with DS Download Play, but: DS Download Play, haven't tried internet settings, no cartridge, no downloaded DSiWare (tested with nintendo fan network).
 

zoogie

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You might also want to look at this, @zacchi4k.
https://github.com/zoogie/Stuff/tree/master/3DS_NVRAMtool
This app is open source and it will fix bad DS profile checksums without overwriting any user's settings.

I had that on my hard drive for the longest time and didn't release it for whatever reason. I think it's from 2016.
 
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lAkdaOpeKA

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Bahamuth0

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Hi guys! I have a question about this topic:
A few days ago i bought a bricked 3ds and, after restoring NCSD Header with gm9 and use ntrboot and safeb9sinstaller method, managed to unbrick it.
The problem now is that i'm getting an error in ds related processes (like launching TWilight Menu, going to download play -> ds and using R4).
I'd like to know if NVRAM flash or NVRAM tools can help me fix this problem. Thank you very much!
 

fmkid

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Hi guys! I have a question about this topic:
A few days ago i bought a bricked 3ds and, after restoring NCSD Header with gm9 and use ntrboot and safeb9sinstaller method, managed to unbrick it.
The problem now is that i'm getting an error in ds related processes (like launching TWilight Menu, going to download play -> ds and using R4).
I'd like to know if NVRAM flash or NVRAM tools can help me fix this problem. Thank you very much!
You perharps can try first with this:
https://3ds.hacks.guide/troubleshoo...ionality-is-broken-after-completing-the-guide
 

Bahamuth0

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Thank you for the suggestion!
Unfortunately, i already tried it. I tried NVRAM tools and the .cias installation method too. Maybe this is a hardware problem :(
 

Bahamuth0

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Thank you very much for your help. I managed to fix the problem! I used the CTRTransfer method described in 3dshacks.guide and after that, used TWLFix-cfw. Now it seems to be working properly :)
 
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