Tutorial  Updated

How to use NitroHax3DS (Including Managing Cheats File Size)

NitroHax3DS is a tool to apply cheat codes to NTR (NDS) games on the 3DS. This tutorial guides you on how to install, add cheats, and how to deal with the 2,500kb (2.5mb) cheats.xml file size limit. This tutorial does not show you the general usage of NitroHax, as the homebrew GUI generally takes care of that for you.

Requirements
  • A 3DS with Luma 6.1.2 or newer using boot9strap is the recommended setup for your 3DS and for any homebrew.
    If you are still on arm9loaderhax, pasta cfw, or anything alike, then try updating your hacks to boot9strap.
  • NitroHax3DS 0.99.NTR (Final ver?) CIA file, Do not use the DSi release downloads.
  • FBI 2.6.1 (Final) for installing NitroHax3DS CIA file.
  • Revolution 4 Cheat Code Editor (R4CCE) for managing the cheats.xml cheats and therefore the file size.
  • An Action Replay XML file (cheats.xml), e.g., DeadSkullzJr Repo (right click -> save link as), CodeJunkies EU, CodeJunkies US
NitroHax3DS Installation and Usage

Please follow the instructions on the NitroHax3DS readme for general Installation and Usage Instructions.

Lowering the cheats.xml file size

While NitroHax3DS has no actual cheats.xml file size limit, it should NOT exceed 2.5MB, nor should it really even get close to that size. NitroHax3DS loads the cheats.xml to RAM and the 3DS only has 4MB of RAM. This means you would potentially run out of ram, or leave too little amount of RAM available for the game or system to work sufficiently.

To be on the safe side I recommend lowering the cheats.xml file size to be less than 1.5MB in size. The lower it is, the better. You should only have cheat codes for games you want to use, and only have cheat codes you plan to actually use. White screens and crashes may be caused by the cheats.xml being too large (even if it's around 1.5MB).
  1. Open R4CCE, click `File` -> `Open` -> And open the cheats.xml file.
  2. Remove all cheats for games you do not have and/or want to use, the more you can remove the better.
  3. Once you have the cheats.xml lowered as much as you can, Put it on the root of your 3DS SD Card.
F.A.Q

Q: I get a white screen when booting from Nitro but not when I boot normally;
A: The game may be unsupported, or the cheat code may be incompatible with your specific ROM region.

Q: I'm encountering a problem that happens even if I disable all cheats, yet doesn't happen if I play without NitroHax3DS;
A: It might be a NitroHax3DS problem. If you feel strongly that it could be a NitroHax3DS bug, report it on the GitHub Issues page and not here.

Q: Do DSi Enhanced Games work? What about DSi Exclusive Games?
A: No! [source] Sadly DSi Enhanced Games are not supported! This is due to NitroHax using an incredibly outdated Cart loader code that is not compatible with TWL game cartridges. This means both DSi Enhanced and DSi Exclusive games are not supported. E.g., Pokemon SoulSilver/HeartGold (DSi Enhanced), and Face Training (DSi Exclusive).

Got a question not here? Post it below.
 
Last edited by PRAGMA,
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Random possibly out of place question, if I follow up to step 3, will I be able to use the gateway bluecard or an acekard2 type of cards?
 
PRAGMA

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Thunder Kai said:
Now it boots me to the power down screen
Click to expand...
If you still need help, Its probably the cheats.xml, If its over 2.5mb it wont load;

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

gudenaurock said:
Huh, I tried MKDS and it kicked killed itself after sitting on the loading codes screen for a minute.
Click to expand...
Your cheats.xml is over 2.5mb's, In DSi Code Manager remove some games;

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

Pecrow said:
Random possibly out of place question, if I follow up to step 3, will I be able to use the gateway bluecard or an acekard2 type of cards?
Click to expand...
im pretty sure flashcards do work with this but I really dont see the point, Both of them have cheat engines integrated in the cards firmware so whats the point?

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

Gray_Jack said:
@ShinyMK
Advance Wars Dual Strike works fine with NitroHax
Click to expand...
Thanks! Added it to the list;
 
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ShinyMK said:
If you still need help, Its probably the cheats.xml, If its over 2.5mb it wont load;

im pretty sure flashcards do work with this but I really dont see the point, Both of them have cheat engines integrated in the cards firmware so whats the point?
Click to expand...

That I have never been able to run either of then on my n3ds :(
 
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Can confirm that Final Fantasy III does not work in Nitrohax, Nitrohax refuses to load cheats list when cart is inserted before launching, if inserted after launching, whitescreen occurs.
 
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Ok, i've don't know what i've done wrong. I've installed Luma 6.0.1 dev, patched my twlbg.cxi (and checked it wasn't corrupted) and placed it in the sysmodules folder. But every time I start up nitrohax, or even a regular ds game for that matter, it hangs at a black screen, assumedly before twl_firm starts up because i don't even get a flash of white. I even switched my twlbg.cxi to one pre patched from that chaos site and it didn't work, so i'm assuming that's not the problem. What am i doing wrong?
 
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BGC592 said:
Ok, i've don't know what i've done wrong. I've installed Luma 6.0.1 dev, patched my twlbg.cxi (and checked it wasn't corrupted) and placed it in the sysmodules folder. But every time I start up nitrohax, or even a regular ds game for that matter, it hangs at a black screen, assumedly before twl_firm starts up because i don't even get a flash of white. I even switched my twlbg.cxi to one pre patched from that chaos site and it didn't work, so i'm assuming that's not the problem. What am i doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Please answer the Troubleshoot bit at the end of OP
 
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ShinyMK said:
Please answer the Troubleshoot bit at the end of OP
Click to expand...

1. I didn't get any error generating my .cxi, even if i did, using a pre patched .cxi like i did would remove that as a problem
2. Yes, I was on the 6.0.1 dev hourly, also attempted it on the regular hourly after it was updated to support twlbg.cxi in sd:/luma/
3. Size of twlBg.cxi, the output of the python script, was approx 1269kb, pre-patched version i downloaded is 1291kb. Placed in /luma/, and /luma/sysmodules/ before updating luma, both didn't work
4. The latest version, the one that requires the cart to be inserted (i'd check in app, but it doesn't load due to said issue)
5. Attempted to load nitrohax with sm64ds, which didn't boot past a black screen.

Hopefully that's adequate, especially since it seems i'm the only one with this problem. Unless i'm doing something wrong.
 
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BGC592 said:
1. I didn't get any error generating my .cxi, even if i did, using a pre patched .cxi like i did would remove that as a problem
2. Yes, I was on the 6.0.1 dev hourly, also attempted it on the regular hourly after it was updated to support twlbg.cxi in sd:/luma/
3. Size of twlBg.cxi, the output of the python script, was approx 1269kb, pre-patched version i downloaded is 1291kb. Placed in /luma/, and /luma/sysmodules/ before updating luma, both didn't work
4. The latest version, the one that requires the cart to be inserted (i'd check in app, but it doesn't load due to said issue)
5. Attempted to load nitrohax with sm64ds, which didn't boot past a black screen.

Hopefully that's adequate, especially since it seems i'm the only one with this problem. Unless i'm doing something wrong.
Click to expand...
Wait so Nitro itself isnt loading? Do you mean its not showing on the home menu or when you boot it doesnt load? Can you give more details?
 

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General chit-chat
Help Users
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    I just found out that the EU version is better in literally every way, better sound quality, better lighting, and there's even a patch someone made to make the text look nicer
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    Do I restart now using what i've learned on the EU version since it's a better overall experience? or do I continue with the US version since that is what ive been using, and if someone decides to play my hack, it would most likely be that version?
  • Sicklyboy @ Sicklyboy:
    @TwoSpikedHands, I'll preface this with the fact that I know nothing about the game, but, I think it depends on what your goals are. Are you trying to make a definitive version of the game? You may want to refocus your efforts on the EU version then. Or, are you trying to make a better US version? In which case, the only way to make a better US version is to keep on plugging away at that one ;)
  • Sicklyboy @ Sicklyboy:
    I'm not familiar with the technicalities of the differences between the two versions, but I'm wondering if at least some of those differences are things that you could port over to the US version in your patch without having to include copyrighted assets from the EU version
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    @Sicklyboy I am wanting to fully change the game and bend it to my will lol. I would like to eventually have the ability to add more characters, enemies, even have a completely different story if i wanted. I already have the ability to change the tilemaps in the US version, so I can basically make my own map and warp to it in game - so I'm pretty far into it!
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    I really would like to make a hack that I would enjoy playing, and maybe other people would too. swapping to the EU version would also mean my US friends could not legally play it
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    I am definitely considering porting over some of the EU features without using the actual ROM itself, tbh that would probably be the best way to go about it... but i'm sad that the voice acting is so.... not good on the US version. May not be a way around that though
  • TwoSpikedHands @ TwoSpikedHands:
    I appreciate the insight!
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    @TwoSpikedHands just switch, all the knowledge you learned still applies and most of the code and assets should be the same anyway
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    and realistically they wouldn't

    be able to play it legally anyway since they need a ROM and they probably don't have the means to dump it themselves
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    why the shit does the shitbox randomly insert newlines in my messages
  • Veho @ Veho:
    It does that when I edit a post.
  • Veho @ Veho:
    It inserts a newline in a random spot.
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    never had that i don't think
  • Karma177 @ Karma177:
    do y'all think having an sd card that has a write speed of 700kb/s is a bad idea?
    trying to restore emunand rn but it's taking ages... (also when I finished the first time hekate decided to delete all my fucking files :wacko:)
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    @Karma177 that sd card is 100% faulty so yes, its a bad idea
  • The Real Jdbye @ The Real Jdbye:
    even the slowest non-sdhc sd cards are a few MB/s
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjCivnt5t50
  • Karma177 @ Karma177:
    @The Real Jdbye it hasn't given me any error trying to write things on it so I don't really think it's faulty (pasted 40/50gb+ folders and no write errors)
  • DinohScene @ DinohScene:
    run h2testw on it
     +1
  • DinohScene @ DinohScene:
    when SD cards/microSD write speeds drop below a meg a sec, they're usually on the verge of dying
     +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Samsung SD format can sometimes fix them too
  • Purple_Heart @ Purple_Heart:
    yes looks like an faulty sd
  • Purple_Heart @ Purple_Heart:
    @Psionic Roshambo i may try that with my dead sd cards
     +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    It's always worth a shot
    Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo: It's always worth a shot