Hacking Gamestop updates all refurbished 3DS/3DS XL units to 7.X.X or above.

[ILOVEPIE]

I talked with a gamestop employee the other day and he confirmed that they wipe the memory of all refurbished or used 3ds units and install 7.X.X or above firmwares at their warehouse (apparently they have some way of flashing a new copy of the OS onto the 3ds). So no used or refurbished units from gamestop will work with the gateway 3ds.

 

[Criznittle]

are you positive every gamestop does this?

 

[Snailface]

I talked with a gamestop employee the other day and he confirmed that they wipe the memory of all refurbished or used 3ds units and install 7.X.X or above firmwares at their warehouse (apparently they have some way of flashing a new copy of the OS onto the 3ds). So no used or refurbished units from gamestop will work with the gateway 3ds.

They probably utilize some really high-tech method like running Yoshi's Island on it.

 

[Joe88]

are you positive every gamestop does this?

the stores do not do it
whenever they receive a used system its sent to their refurbishing warehouse
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/inside-gamestops-refurbishment-center/1100-6389498/

 

[Criznittle]

so you can still get a used 4.1-4.5 3ds at gamestop

 

[ILOVEPIE]

are you positive every gamestop does this?

certain, and to answer Snailface, no they don't use yoshi's island to update it, he said they completely wipe the system and reinstall it fresh, they probably have some sort of agreement with Nintendo that lets them do this.

so you can still get a used 4.1-4.5 3ds at gamestop

no you can't they send the used ones away to get wiped.

 

[CFallenleaf]

certain, and to answer Snailface, no they don't use yoshi's island to update it, he said they completely wipe the system and reinstall it fresh, they probably have some sort of agreement with Nintendo that lets them do this.



no you can't they send the used ones away to get wiped.

Thats not always true. With my second 3ds the didnt do this. I had to reset it myself

 

[ieatpixels]

Thats not always true. With my second 3ds the didnt do this. I had to reset it myself

when was that?

 

[Pedeadstrian]

so you can still get a used 4.1-4.5 3ds at gamestop

Even if it were possible, the odds of finding one with that firmware are very slim. Unless you know a really nice employee, they're not going to go scouring through each box to check the firmwares, especially if they're reset, because they'd have to go through the personalization thing first.

I got my hackable PS3 used from Gamestop, but only because you can downgrade every console that was released before a certain date (Jan. 2011, I believe). You'd be better off going through eBay, Craigslist, or some similar site, or just waiting until some godsend reverse engineers smealum's sspwn or whatever it's called.

 

[JayPea]

For those in the UK, CEX does exactly the same thing with their traded in 3DS units.

 

[19cookies]

For those in the UK, CEX does exactly the same thing with their traded in 3DS units.

I've got 2 of my <4.5 consoles from CEX so not all of their stores do. They even let me look through all the ones they had until I found the right firmware.

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

Stands to reason that if a unit was shipped from the facility to a store while 4.1-4.5 were the current firmware, they'd likely still be on that FW version on store shelves.

Of course, the odds of a used 3DS sitting on a shelf for a year and a half or better seem pretty slim.

 

[alexenochs]

They began doing this because a 33ds a mother bought for her young son had homemade 3d porn saved on it and they were sued over it I believe after that they started sending them in however some stores I'm positive do not do this and just format the system I'm sure gamesttopin a popular area of the world do but I used to live in Kentucky and I seen a gamestop there cut plenty corners

 

[CFallenleaf]

when was that?

In march.

 

[gypsynimrod]

no you can't they send the used ones away to get wiped.

This is not true.

 

[KiiWii]

If a secondhand trader, DOESNT turn on the wifi to check that it works fully, then they cant be expected NOT to update to latest FW via internet connection.

I know I work for one such company, and we do all testing/formatting/restoring in store. Doesn't make sense to "send it away" its just another cost!

I always try to re-sell them as <=4.5 if possible

 

[migles]

certain, and to answer Snailface, no they don't use yoshi's island to update it, he said they completely wipe the system and reinstall it fresh, they probably have some sort of agreement with Nintendo that lets them do this.



no you can't they send the used ones away to get wiped.

They probably utilize some really high-tech method like system settings>format all data and yoshis island update

now seriously, they probably just have one cart which updates the firmware and reset settings, like the psp had firmware discs... i remember a xbox accidentally was bought with one of thoose discs inside...

 

[Reecey]

Same as Game and CEX in the UK, they update all there units now as well, staff told me that.

 

[signz]

Well, would you look at that. If they really do that, there's finally a reason to like them. *prepares for the incoming pirate shitstorm*

 

[gamesquest1]

when you think about it, its in their best interests too, if people can pirate they potentially loose second hand game sales too....but that being said i know the cex by me doesnt format them as they charge a premium for installed games....they also generally just throw them out on the shelf like half an hour after taking it in....all their testing is done before purchase so i doubt they would just go updating it as that would actually be against the law.....as before they own it they wouldn't be allowed to accept the terms and conditions of updating it as it still belongs to the person potentially selling it.....yeah im sure some stores with jobsworth staff and managers go the extra mile to be self righteous idiots...but most generally don't give a crap and prefer to shift stuff faster by leaving them exactly how they are