Hacking Alternative ways to flashing CFW on New Nintendo 2DS XL

[3dsdude21]

Hi, I actually posted this on another forum but the replies didn't help much so I hope someone can help me with this.

I know the most recommended method is just buying a flashcart such as the r4i gold 3ds+ and flashing cfw onto it. However, I have been exploring some alternatives and I would just like to know if it's worth the trouble or am I just better off doing it the normal route.

For starters, I have a newly bought Nintendo 2DS XL, and I also have a NDS, along with a DSTT flashcart. I heard that to flash cfw, there's a 2 device method (i.e flash onto one, then transfer it into another) or something like that. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Another thing I have heard is that if you have cfw, you can even use the really old flashcarts (like my DSTT) to play the DS games. Can I confirm if this is true? Does it involve downgrading the firmware? Cause I'm not really a big fan of that.

Here comes my question. If I can play DS games using the DSTT, and then downloading cfw to play the rest, such as GBA, SNES and 3DS, would this method be a good alternative? Or is it just simply too much trouble and I should go for the tried-tested-proven method that everyone is talking about (i.e just buy a R4i gold 3ds+)?

From some replies in the other thread I posted in, the responses were mixed. For instance, I heard that the R4i gold 3ds+ has save states. And judging by how old my DSTT flashcart must be (guesstimate would be roughly 8-10), I'm guessing it doesn't have save states. Another one said that this whole 2 device method is actually no trouble at all, so I really am at a loss now.

Thanks guys if you read this far, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hunter]

I know the most recommended method is just buying a flashcart such as the r4i gold 3ds+ and flashing cfw onto it. However, I have been exploring some alternatives and I would just like to know if it's worth the trouble or am I just better off doing it the normal route.

this is the most recommended way, but you can also use the seedminer method and hack your 3ds with the aid of a $2 DSiWare game

For starters, I have a newly bought Nintendo 2DS XL, and I also have a NDS, along with a DSTT flashcart. I heard that to flash cfw, there's a 2 device method (i.e flash onto one, then transfer it into another) or something like that. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

you could use your DSTT with your NDS to generate a ntrboot card with that,

Another thing I have heard is that if you have cfw, you can even use the really old flashcarts (like my DSTT) to play the DS games. Can I confirm if this is true? Does it involve downgrading the firmware? Cause I'm not really a big fan of that.

you can do this with twloader but it is highly recommended to get a card that can use the native twl firmware and boot natively without extra software

Here comes my question. If I can play DS games using the DSTT, and then downloading cfw to play the rest, such as GBA, SNES and 3DS, would this method be a good alternative? Or is it just simply too much trouble and I should go for the tried-tested-proven method that everyone is talking about (i.e just buy a R4i gold 3ds+)?

GBA SNES etc can be played natively using the Virtual Console injection''

end of story. hack your 3ds with your DSTT if you want, then get a R4i Gold Plus to play DS games

 

[3dsdude21]

this is the most recommended way, but you can also use the seedminer method and hack your 3ds with the aid of a $2 DSiWare game

you could use your DSTT with your NDS to generate a ntrboot card with that,

you can do this with twloader but it is highly recommended to get a card that can use the native twl firmware and boot natively without extra software

GBA SNES etc can be played natively using the Virtual Console injection''

end of story. hack your 3ds with your DSTT if you want, then get a R4i Gold Plus to play DS games

Wow, thanks for the really informative reply. Hmm...the whole point of asking about this method was so that I could explore the option of spending $0 and just working with what I have. If I need to spend money then it seems like getting the new flashcart in the first place would be the better option.

On that note though, I really appreciate you going through all my questions one by one. If it were you, which would be the fuss-free and long-term method for you? Would you recommend just getting a new flashcart and getting ntrboot from there? And would I be right to say that my ds games would run more smoothly if I use the R4i gold 3ds+ as compared to the DSTT, because I can use the native twl firmware? Cause I rather spend the money than having to worry about any performance issues or inability to update my firmware and stuff down the line.

 

[Hunter]

Wow, thanks for the really informative reply. Hmm...the whole point of asking about this method was so that I could explore the option of spending $0 and just working with what I have. If I need to spend money then it seems like getting the new flashcart in the first place would be the better option.

On that note though, I really appreciate you going through all my questions one by one. If it were you, which would be the fuss-free and long-term method for you? Would you recommend just getting a new flashcart and getting ntrboot from there? And would I be right to say that my ds games would run more smoothly if I use the R4i gold 3ds+ as compared to the DSTT, because I can use the native twl firmware? Cause I rather spend the money than having to worry about any performance issues or inability to update my firmware and stuff down the line.

use your DSTT+NDS now to get 3DS + Virtual Console access, after that the DSTT is basically useless for DS games because there are heaps of different firmwares and having to try and find the right one for your card is close to impossible if it hasnt been dumped before

order one of these http://nds-card.com/ProShow.asp?ProID=575 (pay the $2 for tracking to speed up the shipment)
it takes 2-4 weeks to ship, and will then make the perfect addition for NDS games

 

[Jayro]

Yeah, just use your DSTT to do it, and don't forget to back up it's firmware before flashing NTRBOOTHAX to it, so you can easily restore it afterwards.

 

[Ryab]

Wow, thanks for the really informative reply. Hmm...the whole point of asking about this method was so that I could explore the option of spending $0 and just working with what I have. If I need to spend money then it seems like getting the new flashcart in the first place would be the better option.

On that note though, I really appreciate you going through all my questions one by one. If it were you, which would be the fuss-free and long-term method for you? Would you recommend just getting a new flashcart and getting ntrboot from there? And would I be right to say that my ds games would run more smoothly if I use the R4i gold 3ds+ as compared to the DSTT, because I can use the native twl firmware? Cause I rather spend the money than having to worry about any performance issues or inability to update my firmware and stuff down the line.

if you still have a console than can use the DSTT aka a ds or ds lite because the dsi and 3ds cannot run it then yes just follow this https://3ds.hacks.guide/flashing-ntrboot-(nds)

 

[3dsdude21]

use your DSTT+NDS now to get 3DS + Virtual Console access, after that the DSTT is basically useless for DS games because there are heaps of different firmwares and having to try and find the right one for your card is close to impossible if it hasnt been dumped before

order one of these (pay the $2 for tracking to speed up the shipment)
it takes 2-4 weeks to ship, and will then make the perfect addition for NDS games

Can I understand what's the rationale of doing the ntrboot process using the old DS if I can do the same by ordering the r4i gold 3ds+ and switching to ntrboot mode? For instance, is it more convenient and stuff?

Other than that, I understood everything else. Thanks!

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Yeah, just use your DSTT to do it, and don't forget to back up it's firmware before flashing NTRBOOTHAX to it, so you can easily restore it afterwards.

Yep, same question also. Is there any reason behind recommending doing the ntrboot process using the old DS if I can do the same by ordering the r4i gold 3ds+ and switching to ntrboot mode? For instance, is it more convenient and stuff? Thanks!

 

[Hunter]

Can I understand what's the rationale of doing the ntrboot process using the old DS if I can do the same by ordering the r4i gold 3ds+ and switching to ntrboot mode? For instance, is it more convenient and stuff?

Other than that, I understood everything else. Thanks!

the only reason I would say that, is that you can get CFW today using your NDS+DSTT when you would need to wait 2-4 weeks to get it using the R4i Gold Plus,
so just speeding up the process to access 3DS+Virtual Console stuff today, and access NDS later

 

[Jayro]

Can I understand what's the rationale of doing the ntrboot process using the old DS if I can do the same by ordering the r4i gold 3ds+ and switching to ntrboot mode? For instance, is it more convenient and stuff?

Other than that, I understood everything else. Thanks!

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Yep, same question also. Is there any reason behind recommending doing the ntrboot process using the old DS if I can do the same by ordering the r4i gold 3ds+ and switching to ntrboot mode? For instance, is it more convenient and stuff? Thanks!

Just saves you money if you already have a flash cart that can do it. It's a one-time hack, so you only need to do it once.

 

[3dsdude21]

the only reason I would say that, is that you can get CFW today using your NDS+DSTT when you would need to wait 2-4 weeks to get it using the R4i Gold Plus,
so just speeding up the process to access 3DS+Virtual Console stuff today, and access NDS later

Ah I see. That makes sense. If I choose to get the r4i flashcart, and since I flashed using my DSTT, it would mean that I do not need the r4i gold 3ds plus am I right? I can get the older RTS version instead? AFAIK that's the only difference between the 2 flashcarts. One comes pre-flashed, the other doesn't.

Sorry I would post a link but new members are not allowed.

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Just saves you money if you already have a flash cart that can do it. It's a one-time hack, so you only need to do it once.

I don't think I'm saving money though if I still need to get a new flashcart that can play the DS games. Because as mentioned by Hunter, the DSTT flashcart is so old that I'll need to get a new flashcart anyway right?

 

[Hunter]

Ah I see. That makes sense. If I choose to get the r4i flashcart, and since I flashed using my DSTT, it would mean that I do not need the r4i gold 3ds plus am I right? I can get the older RTS version instead? AFAIK that's the only difference between the 2 flashcarts. One comes pre-flashed, the other doesn't.

Sorry I would post a link but new members are not allowed.

the older one is the same price and out of stock, the ones that are from r4i-sdhc have time bombs that you cannot use their kernel after Sept 2019 and not worth the hassle

 

[3dsdude21]

the older one is the same price and out of stock, the ones that are from r4i-sdhc have time bombs that you cannot use their kernel after Sept 2019 and not worth the hassle

Ok...got it. Thanks man, what a great help

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Just saves you money if you already have a flash cart that can do it. It's a one-time hack, so you only need to do it once.

Oh wait I think I understand. Do you mean playing ds games on the old DS, and using 2ds for the cfw stuff? So in actual fact, I don't need to spend the money on the new flashcart?

 

[Hunter]

Oh wait I think I understand. Do you mean playing ds games on the old DS, and using 2ds for the cfw stuff? So in actual fact, I don't need to spend the money on the new flashcart?

you could do that if you wish, but as you said, there is no save states and cheats, the DSTT is very limited in what it can do, I am unsure if the ds_ntrboot_flasher will backup the firmware from your DSTT but you can always try it

 

[3dsdude21]

you could do that if you wish, but as you said, there is no save states and cheats, the DSTT is very limited in what it can do, I am unsure if the ds_ntrboot_flasher will backup the firmware from your DSTT but you can always try it

Oh yeah I forgot there's no save states and cheats. That's quite a big deal-breaker for me. Nah in that case I won't go that route. Could you explain your second sentence? "I am unsure if the ds_ntrboot_flasher will backup the firmware from your DSTT but you can always try it". I'm abit confused by all the terminologies so some guidance would go a long way.

 

[Hunter]

Oh yeah I forgot there's no save states and cheats. That's quite a big deal-breaker for me. Nah in that case I won't go that route. Could you explain your second sentence? "I am unsure if the ds_ntrboot_flasher will backup the firmware from your DSTT but you can always try it". I'm abit confused by all the terminologies so some guidance would go a long way.

ds_ntrboot_flasher is used on your DSTT+NDS to make your DSTT a ntrboot card, it may keep the backup in memory to to restore it when you are done, but I am unsure if it will

 

[3dsdude21]

ds_ntrboot_flasher is used on your DSTT+NDS to make your DSTT a ntrboot card, it may keep the backup in memory to to restore it when you are done, but I am unsure if it will

Restore it to become a DS flashcart to have the functionality to play DS games, is my understanding correct? Because a flashcart can only do one at a time: either NTRboot mode or flashcart mode but not both?

 

[Hunter]

Restore it to become a DS flashcart to have the functionality to play DS games, is my understanding correct? Because a flashcart can only do one at a time: either NTRboot mode or flashcart mode but not both?

correct, there are some DSTT firmwares floating around, you will need to test a few to get the right one, if you want to restore it's NDS compatibility, otherwise it will remain a ntrboot card

 

[3dsdude21]

correct, there are some DSTT firmwares floating around, you will need to test a few to get the right one, if you want to restore it's NDS compatibility, otherwise it will remain a ntrboot card

Seems like more trouble than it's worth to me. DSTT support is basically non-existent at this point, I think I'll be fighting a losing battle. And since I'll need to get a r4i flashcart in the end, and don't mind waiting, I think I'll just go for the normal method and keep my DS intact with the games I used to play (for memories sake).

Just want to say thank you again so much, Hunter for answering all my questions so patiently.