Homebrew A9LH can now boot without SD card

[TheCyberQuake]

Yes I know everyone probably already knows this was being worked on by various people. I've seen a few people post this link but I haven't seen any threads for it, so I thought I would post one.

This is a commit on the latest a9lh, which has not yet been released but has been compiled by a user on reddit.

Using the latest version of safeA9LHinstaller (which can be found here), you can put the files found in this zip into SD:/a9lh/ and then run safeA9LHinstaller to update using those files.

I've tested it myself using 3 o3ds and have had no problems on any of them.

I did not make this. This is where I initially found the files:
Original Post

If someone has already posted about this (I tried searching but couldn't find it) please point me to the thread and I'll report my post to have it removed.

How it works:
In simple terms, this adds a mini-CFW onto the NAND where we install all our a9lh goodies. If you don't have an SD card in, or the SD card is missing arm9loaderhax.bin/arm9loaderhax_si.bin then it will instead load the mini-CFW.
This mini-CFW is only meant to be used in emergencies. Right now it only has signature patches and FIRM protection, meaning it can run unsigned code (any CIA installed) and will prevent system updates from overwriting the installed a9lh.

Video showing a9lh booting without SD:


While this does currently work, I recommend waiting until its official release, which will probably have a few bugfixes and will be fully tested.
Please do not attempt if you do not know what you are doing and do not have a way to recover should something go wrong

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Video proof?

 

[tombi]

I have installed A9LH today with the current version of everything with the guide. But if I remove my SD card my N3DS is instantly shutting down again. What must I do that this will work? ( I think this should be added to the guide on GitHub )

 

[TheCyberQuake]

Video proof?

I'll record some video proof in a bit and upload it.

I have installed A9LH today with the current version of everything with the guide. But if I remove my SD card my N3DS is instantly shutting down again. What must I do that this will work? ( I think this should be added to the guide on GitHub )

You download the files provided in original post, place them on the SD card in the a9lh folder, and then run the latest version of safeA9LHinstaller and press select to update. It should act almost exactly as before, but with the added bonus of being able to boot without an SD.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

While being able to boot without sd card is highly requested, is it necessary? Since most of what cfw requires sd card to do just about 95% of what you want with the sd card, it seems silly, WIthout sd card, all you can do is take pictures, browse internet and play game card. Everything else is required sd card for homebrew and the Install games which is the benefit of cfw in the first place. I don't mean to sound negative but it just what i don't understand.

 

[Quantumcat]

What is the difference between this and ShadowNAND?

 

[TheGreek Boy]

i download the zip and it haves 3 files firm0.bin,payload_stage1.bin and payload_stage2.bin i just send this files to sd:/a9lh folder?

 

[TheCyberQuake]

While being able to boot without sd card is highly requested, is it necessary? Since most of what cfw requires sd card to do just about 95% of what you want with the sd card, it seems silly, WIthout sd card, all you can do is take pictures, browse internet and play game card. Everything else is required sd card for homebrew and the Install games which is the benefit of cfw in the first place. I don't mean to sound negative but it just what i don't understand.

It isn't requested because people don't want to use SD cards, but rather as a "just in case" if their SD dies and they can't replace it immediately, or if their SD card slot dies the console won't essentially be a brick

 

[tombi]

This should be fine. The official A9LH release has not been updated yet so a user from reddit has compiled the change manually and uploaded it. You should only use the zip file if you are on version 19/06 (this is currently the newest version of A9LH). I think A9LH will get an official release update soon that will contain this new feature.

So if you read this thread after June 2016 you should really first update to the newest A9LH version to check if it has been officially released.

 

[gnmmarechal]

Video proof?

Uh, we've been able to do this for a few days now. I'm personally using Aurora Wright's latest A9LH, which supports this.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

What is the difference between this and ShadowNAND?

Nothing really. But afaik ShadowNAND hasn't released a version that actually contains CFW yet.

i download the zip and it haves 3 files firm0.bin,payload_stage1.bin and payload_stage2.bin i just send this files to sd:/a9lh folder?

Yes.

 

[The Catboy]

Video proof?

I don't have video proof, but I've been using it for several days now and it works just fine

 

[hibachib]

I can also corroborate that it does indeed work as described by following the link's directions.

The thing is that it seems to have added 2-3 seconds to my boot time, though. Kinda annoying when playing GBA games, as the system has to reboot to play those VC injects.

 

[tombi]

If somebody needs a proof that this is an official feature:
https://github.com/AuroraWright/arm9loaderhax/commits/master

In the commit list you can find this new commit:
https://github.com/AuroraWright/arm9loaderhax/commit/c8e3af3bb293856247939b7be52338c1552d4bb9
(8 days ago)

It is the first commit after the last release. That because there is currently no release for this. That because somebody has manually compiled it and uploaded the needed files. The next A9LH release will contain this feature. If you manually compile the newest A9LH code you will also have this feature.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Well whenever this A9lh Gets released offically, let me know.

 

[TheGreek Boy]

this is my a9lh folder can i continue whith this files ?

 

[sweis12]

this is my a9lh folder can i continue whith this files ?View attachment 54545

Wait for the official release. It should have some bugfixes.

 

[AmandaRose]

It isn't requested because people don't want to use SD cards, but rather as a "just in case" if their SD dies and they can't replace it immediately, or if their SD card slot dies the console won't essentially be a brick

Thats exactly the situation I am in my sd card slot has broken and I can't do a thing with my 3ds until I can replace the sd card slot.

 

[gnmmarechal]

Thats exactly the situation I am in my sd card slot has broken and I can't do a thing with my 3ds until I can replace the sd card slot.

Games like Pokémon, SSB require an SD card anyway x.x

Sent from my Nokia 3310 using Tapatalk

 

[AmandaRose]

Games like Pokémon, SSB require an SD card anyway x.x

Sent from my Nokia 3310 using Tapatalk

You missed my point with the version of a9lh I have I need the sd card for the 3ds to actually switch on now that my sd card slot is broken I can't do a thing with it until I replace the broken part.