Hacking Gateway3DS firmware mirror?

[RowanDDR]

Where can one download Gateway3DS firmware these days? I'm on version 4.0b (which doesn't get a mention at https://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/Gateway_3DS), whereas I gather v4.2 is the latest. Or was 4.0b simply the name for 4.2 before it passed testing?

 

[Essometer]

https://wiidatabase.de/3ds-downloads/hacks/gateway-3ds-installationsdateien/

But keep in mind that Gateway 3DS is pretty outdated and it is generally a better idea to switch to a newer hack like LumaCFW.

 

[RowanDDR]

Thanks for the link!

I'm under the impression that Gateway lets me play ROMs which is why I keep it installed. Luma cant play ROMs from the microSD in the red card so its not "better" or am I missing something?

 

[fmkid]

Thanks for the link!

I'm under the impression that Gateway lets me play ROMs which is why I keep it installed. Luma cant play ROMs from the microSD in the red card so its not "better" or am I missing something?

You're right about Luma is not able to load .3ds/.3dz files as GW red flashcard does. But that fact doesn't make Luma CFW worse like GW at all (indeed, Luma has a lot of features/services/capabilities, making it a very complete piece of 3DS alternative software, and is so simple to install, and is free).

However, if you want, there's a way to have both Luma (through B9S) and GW red FC coexisting on your console:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/gateway-gw3d-11-10-b9s-and-cfw.550040/

 

[RowanDDR]

Thanks for info. Yes I already have things coexisting; when I turn on my 3DS it boots straight into Gateway emunand, whereas if i hold other buttons at boot, other things launch (Luma, etc). I don't think I ever updated from A9LH to B9S.. might give that a go now.

UPDATE: Hmm that didnt go exactly to plan - after installing B9S, when I turn on my 3DS I get this error straight away:

https://i.ibb.co/8KjNFcX/1605401472199-1.jpg

I got the error immediately after the following step of the guide:

Section III - Configuring Luma3DS

1. In the Luma3DS configuration menu, use the (A) button and the D-Pad to turn on the following:
   • “Show NAND or user string in System Settings”
2. Press (Start) to save and reboot

...and I now get that error every time I turn the 3DS on.

But all is not lost - if I hold SELECT when I boot it takes me to Luma3DS v10.2 config
And if I hold L on boot it loads an Emunand (although without gateway games support)

So I just need to figure out how to get it to autoboot into Gateway EmuNAND then at least I'm back to where I began (albeit now with BS9 instead of A9LH).

 

[lilyuwuu]

It is likely that your sysnand still has menuhax on it. Clearing home menu extdata should do the trick: https://3ds.hacks.guide/troubleshooting#clear-home-menu-extdata

To get gateway to work again, you'd need to follow the gw3d 11.10 thread on this forum. I (and many others) would generally not recommend it, as the vast majority of setups no longer tether to a gateway card, but iirc gateway still works best for cheats and obviously .3ds game dumps.

If you decide to get rid of your gateway setup: you may be able to follow the move emunand guide: https://3ds.hacks.guide/move-emunand.html, but any homebrew stuff you might have might be old enough that it may be better to start fresh

 

[RowanDDR]

Thanks for info @lilyuwuu, yep that's cleared the error!

I'm having a look a the gw3d 11.10 guide but its not too clear to me so I've posted some questions in that thread.

If you don't recommend Gateway for playing ROMs, whats the alternative? Not sure what you mean about tethering.

 

[Deleted member 668561]

Once b9s is installed, if you do not have an emunand, create (godmode9 can do this), boot luma config, select autoboot emunand, sys settings should show emu and sys ver, get fbi installer and install sysupdater cia, use sysupdater according to the guide, i zipped everything, you copy all the files and folders to the console sd card, you have to find the the downgrade cia and gateway launcher yourself i cannot link them


Tbh gateway and luma are both cfw, they both run unsigned code, both can use cia, gateway is better at running earlier homebrew vs luma, ive had more errors and arm11 crashes with luma than with gateway, especially with retroarch, however luma is actively maintained, gateway isn't,

Ive been using gateway/emunand as my daily driver, even can use patched games online with no issue whatsoever

 

[lilyuwuu]

That pretty much sums it up. If you're just trying to play your backups then both will work about the same. Gateway is generally better for cheats (and I'm assuming stuff originally built for *hax -- retroarch on 3ds has never been particularly good...), but if you're not into either of those a luma-only setup is easier to troubleshoot (in that more will know how) and will be better supported going forward

 

[RowanDDR]

i zipped everything, you copy all the files and folders to the console sd card, you have to find the the downgrade cia and gateway launcher yourself i cannot link them

Thanks for the reply. I don't actually see any files attached/linked to your post or tutorial.

I have BS9 installed already. And I already have an Emunand from before I installed BS9, as that is what I had been launching from the Gateway menu and running my games though. Its a 10.x Emunand. I don't want to update it to 11.x .. well maybe later, but I'd just like to get the machine booting into the existing Gateway Emunand first.

Why would I need to use sysupdater and a downgrader? I can already configure different buttons to launch different things on boot of the 3DS, isn't there a .firm file I can launch with this method to launch into the Gateway Emunand? That was the setup I had with A9LH - at boot, boot_config.ini launched /a9lh/GW.bin which started the gateway menu. That's the only functionality I'm looking to restore.

 

[Deleted member 668561]

Thanks for the reply. I don't actually see any files attached/linked to your post or tutorial.

I have BS9 installed already. And I already have an Emunand from before I installed BS9, as that is what I had been launching from the Gateway menu and running my games though. Its a 10.x Emunand. I don't want to update it to 11.x .. well maybe later, but I'd just like to get the machine booting into the existing Gateway Emunand first.

Why would I need to use sysupdater and a downgrader? I can already configure different buttons to launch different things on boot of the 3DS, isn't there a .firm file I can launch with this method to launch into the Gateway Emunand? That was the setup I had with A9LH - at boot, boot_config.ini launched /a9lh/GW.bin which started the gateway menu. That's the only functionality I'm looking to restore.

since its a 10.x emunand you don't need to use sysupdater, only needed if emunand is 11.3 or higher

https://gbatemp.net/threads/gateway-gw3d-11-10-b9s-and-cfw.550040/

just copy the files and launcher.dat and hold start while booting

i've made the download links more noticeable

 

[RowanDDR]

Thanks I'll look into that.

In the meantime I got this sorted - I hold START on boot (launches Luma3DS Chainloader) then choose down_BootCTR9 from the menu - that launches Gateway.

 

[Deleted member 668561]

if you copied my files, holding start will bring up luma chainloader, select boot, and gateway will come up,

sounds like you're using the older tut, but you use luma chain-loader to load bootctr9 which also needs to be configured

boot_config.ini should contain this (for autoboot)
[BOOTCTR9]
key_delay = 1000

[DEFAULT]
path = /gateway.firm

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

the zip has everything preconfigured, so you should be able to just get the launcher.dat and boot,

only if you have an emunand above 11.2 you woulld use sysupdater to patch

 

[retrospect]

If emuNAND Gateway Mode crashes, does it reboot into sysNAND Gateway Mode? Back when Gateway was still supported I think mine used to do that. I'd be concerned that if it were to happen now BS9 would get wiped, which could be pretty inconvenient.

 

[deSSy2724]

https://wiidatabase.de/3ds-downloads/hacks/gateway-3ds-installationsdateien/

But keep in mind that Gateway 3DS is pretty outdated and it is generally a better idea to switch to a newer hack like LumaCFW.

Its not outdated in terms of online play..... you can still do franken firmware and use the latest .3ds roms and play online. Its just that it costs money and that you dont have all the options Luma3DS is giving you. For cheats and .3ds backups (scene releases) its still the best if thats the only thing you have and want to do....

 

[Deleted member 668561]

If using luma chainloader, it will crash and boot back into luma (either sysnand or emunand, luma can be set to boot sysnand once emunand is patched)

Using Fastboot will boot the autoboot firm when crashing

 

[BaamAlex]

Its not outdated in terms of online play..... you can still do franken firmware and use the latest .3ds roms and play online. Its just that it costs money and that you dont have all the options Luma3DS is giving you. For cheats and .3ds backups (scene releases) its still the best if thats the only thing you have and want to do....

It is outdated. Doesn't matter if you mean "in terms of online play" or something other. Buying a gateway card these days is wasted money. Luma3DS+boot9strap is free and future-proof. And you don't have to search for any files or patch anything to hope that it "somehow works". So the only reasonable advice for gateway users is to "install CFW" and use its features. I don't understand why some people hold on so vehemently to Gateway-Entrypoints... The team behind it is already disbanded iirc.

 

[Deleted member 668561]

It works %100

you have to get the files from this google search https://bit.ly/3pwamsl

the temp considers 3ds firmware and system software as warez so link them directly or posting directly is not allowed, otherwise they'd be included, but my files got removed, so you have to search, feel free to complain to the temp staff...

Before axiogame went down, you could buy new boxed gateway cards for $15usd (two cards for the price of one nds mode card), they were the cheapest...


to me running unsigned code is running unsigned code, either way b9s is used to boot either luma or gateway anyway, so that is the entrypoint being used, im choosing which cfw i want to load



gateway is only outdated because most of the people who got burned were using fake cards, and the whole bandwagon around that, i'd rather just crack their menu software and make a better alternative


the card already has libs that allow for raw sector access: https://bit.ly/3pAq06c

so really one would just have to fork luma, but this anti flashcard bandwagon prevents that, imho i would have love to have more flashcards for 3ds mode, as one can physically add hardware extensions , 3ds luma + Bluetooth and 3g/4g (in the form as a cartridge), or even adding gpio like dserial, add a cpu/dsp for better emulation , unfortunately the scene now has a different kind of mindset (neez moar RAHMS), i blame smartphones


you don't like gateway don't use it, luma3ds isn't a religion so people need to quit forcing it down everyone's throat, yes if you don't have gateway or you're a complete noob (no offense) when it comes to computers then yes https://3ds.hacks.guide/ made for just you, otherwise everyone else isn't a complete N00B with computers; we know our way around and how to get stuff working, and show other people WHO WANT TO DO SO HOW

 

[retrospect]

so really one would just have to fork luma, but this anti flashcard bandwagon prevents that, imho i would have love to have more flashcards for 3ds mode, as one can physically add hardware extensions , 3ds luma + Bluetooth and 3g/4g (in the form as a cartridge), or even adding gpio like dserial, add a cpu/dsp for better emulation , unfortunately the scene now has a different kind of mindset (neez moar RAHMS), i blame smartphones

To be fair, it's not the whole scene. It's an issue here on gbatemp, with some users routinely trolling flashcard threads and seeking to derail them; but it's not an issue everywhere. The userbase here can be quite toxic and the Luma religion is bizarre. Luma is good, but there's a lot it could do that it doesn't, and that's probably down to lack of competition.

Nice to have found an ally. I agree too that it's a shame there aren't more hardware extensions. I was just thinking the other day how good it'd be to have the iQue Player SoC on a 3DS cart, but then I saw that they now go for more than a Switch on eBay.

 

[Deleted member 668561]

Ive seen it elsewhere, especially anyplace where someone asked for gateway support

Note: Gateway and Luma3ds isnt a hack or exploit,they are programs like a rebooter on xbox 360s, boot9strap/sighax/a9lh/hax/mset are exploits..... iirc b9s is a bootrom exploit which effectively allows one to fake sign code, and have full hardware access from when i press power, with b9s you can downgrade to/run any system ver you like (model specific), it is safe to update as of writing using sys settings, this combined with ntrboot and nand backup, you cannot brick a 3ds, i know cause ive bricked my new3ds several times messing with the sysnand, never had a gw brick though