Hacking 3D Setup Bypass or Luma Error

[3dsWarrior]

Hi guys,

I have a pretty unique issue. I bought a new 3ds xl from ebay that was defect and managed to get it all working again after 2 days. I got into the home menu and reset everything to factory and then noticed that the 3d slider doesnt work, its fully defect (I took it apart and tried to slide it on top but it didnt recognize it).

Now there are 3 scenarios :

1. If I boot without an SD card it gets me into the initial setup that bricks the 3ds since i can't use the slider.

2. If i hold select while booting without an SD card i get into the luma menu that then turns into an error.

3. If i boot with a random SD card (since i dont have the one that was used by the person before) the blue light stays on but the screens stay black.

What can I possibly do here other than replacing the 3d ribbon cable and everything?

 

[Kwyjor]

I have a pretty unique issue.

Not really.
https://github.com/zoogie/2DSaver

that bricks the 3ds since i can't use the slider

Also, please don't use the word "brick" like that. It just makes things confusing.

i get into the luma menu that then turns into an error.

And it is usually helpful to specify exactly what error you are seeing in cases like this instead of just "an error".

If i boot with a random SD card (since i dont have the one that was used by the person before)

You don't really need anything that was on that SD card. See https://3ds.guide/restoring-updating-cfw .

 

[3dsWarrior]

How is it not unique? I haven't seen anyone with this issue in the sense of having a starting 3ds without an SD that doesn't work because of the 3d slider thing and at the same time getting an infinite black screen with an SD inside.

Also, I reinstalled LUMA onto the SD Card but as I said, when I insert the SD the DS does not start, it just goes into a black screen forever.

The 2DSaver doesn't help here either because I cannot start with an SD inside.

Post automatically merged: Jun 9, 2025

When I start the 3DS without the SD and hold SELECT I'm getting booted into Luma3DS v12.0 configuration menu. "booted from CTRNAND via B9S. Does that help with anything?

 

[KleinesSinchen]

How is it not unique?

Of course it is a unique issue probably caused by two individual hardware problems. Some people really like to question everything somebody who is asking for help says and add some snarky sentences for no reason.
Just ignore unfriendliness of any kind.


Although 2DSaver is intended to bypass the 3D setup issue, the name alone tells it was made for the 2DS (of course it will also work on a 3DS with broken slider).

Given you tried multiple tested and FAT32 formatted SD cards containing lastest Luma3DS boot.firm
The second hardware problem seems to be the SD reader. Consistent failure to boot with any SD shows there is something not quite right.
Clean SD reader, shine a light inside to see if any pins look bent and lastly consider replacing it.

Good luck!

 

[3dsWarrior]

Thank you so much! I just noticed that I can also boot into Godmode9 without the SD but I fear that doesn't really help. I tried loading into Godmode9 and then inserting the SD but that seems to just freeze the DS. I will now try another SD Card and if that doesn't help I will check the SD Reader.

Post automatically merged: Jun 9, 2025

It seems to be the SD Card Reader. I cleaned it and the pins look straight but it doesn't work so I just ordered a new one from ebay

 

[Kwyjor]

How is it not unique? I haven't seen anyone with this issue in the sense of having a starting 3ds without an SD that doesn't work because of the 3d slider thing and at the same time getting an infinite black screen with an SD inside.

On the one hand, getting stuck at the 3D calibration screen is a sufficiently common problem that a specific tool has been devised as a remedy. On the other hand, every 3DS is "pretty unique" depending on how you define it.

I reinstalled LUMA onto the SD Card but as I said, when I insert the SD the DS does not start, it just goes into a black screen forever.

Well, no, you said "If i boot with a random SD card", not "if I boot with an SD card after reinstalling Luma". Getting a blank screen after booting with a random SD card isn't particularly unique either. Thank you for clarifying.

If i hold select while booting without an SD card i get into the luma menu that then turns into an error.

I'm still wondering about this. After you see the Luma menu, do you see a specific error message, or is that menu unresponsive, or what? This might be important.

Of course it is a unique issue probably caused by two individual hardware problems. Some people really like to question everything somebody who is asking for help says and add some snarky sentences for no reason.
Just ignore unfriendliness of any kind

Spoiler

If I ever show up on a board saying that I have a "unique issue" because I saw "an error", then I expect to get exactly what I deserve.

 

[3dsWarrior]

Of course it is a unique issue probably caused by two individual hardware problems. Some people really like to question everything somebody who is asking for help says and add some snarky sentences for no reason.
Just ignore unfriendliness of any kind.


Although 2DSaver is intended to bypass the 3D setup issue, the name alone tells it was made for the 2DS (of course it will also work on a 3DS with broken slider).

Given you tried multiple tested and FAT32 formatted SD cards containing lastest Luma3DS boot.firm
The second hardware problem seems to be the SD reader. Consistent failure to boot with any SD shows there is something not quite right.
Clean SD reader, shine a light inside to see if any pins look bent and lastly consider replacing it.

Good luck!

The new SD Card Reader just came in, swapped it and I still get a black screen with blue light, sadly....

Post automatically merged: Jun 13, 2025

On the one hand, getting stuck at the 3D calibration screen is a sufficiently common problem that a specific tool has been devised as a remedy. On the other hand, every 3DS is "pretty unique" depending on how you define it.

Well, no, you said "If i boot with a random SD card", not "if I boot with an SD card after reinstalling Luma". Getting a blank screen after booting with a random SD card isn't particularly unique either. Thank you for clarifying.

I'm still wondering about this. After you see the Luma menu, do you see a specific error message, or is that menu unresponsive, or what? This might be important.

Spoiler

If I ever show up on a board saying that I have a "unique issue" because I saw "an error", then I expect to get exactly what I deserve.

No more error, without SD Card it just boots into the Intro Menu where I can't pass because of the 3D calibration.

When I put the SD Card in i get black screen and blue light. I just swapped the SD Card Reader and it's still the same. Also tried one 32 GB SD with Luma working on my old 3DS and a 64 GB SD with just the newest Luma.

 

[Kwyjor]

My question was what happens when you hold Select while booting without an SD card.

 

[3dsWarrior]

My question was what happens when you hold Select while booting without an SD card.

It boots into Luma3ds v12.0 configuration

 

[Kwyjor]

Yes, that was previously established. What happens *after* that?

If i hold select while booting without an SD card i get into the luma menu that then turns into an error.

 

[3dsWarrior]

Yes, that was previously established. What happens *after* that?

It boots into the intro as i mentioned before. I can't bypass the intro because the 2DSaver needs to be on an SD card.

Post automatically merged: Jun 14, 2025

Fixed with Nintendo Homebrew Discord. Thanks tho