Hardware N3DS XL Black Screen of Death

[Kerpumples]

Black screen of death. One day I turned on my ds and this was the result. Recovery mode doesn't work, I've tried with and without the sd card and have taken out the battery. If anyone can help at all I'd greatly appreciate it, I'll answer any questions if necessary.

 

[TurdPooCharger]

Do you have custom firmware?

 

[Kerpumples]

Do you have custom firmware?

Yes but in the time between the last time I played. No updates had occurred nor had I touched the sd card. And I usually have wifi off anyways

 

[TurdPooCharger]

1. Try booting without any microSD card and gamecart inserted in the n3DSXL. On top of those, do the battery trick again.
   
2. Use Luma3DS v9.1 for the sdmc:/boot.firm
3. Black screen on SysNAND boot
4. Clear Home Menu extdata

***

I'll reply later, on errand.

 

[Kerpumples]

I tried it all but nothin.

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I tried it all but nothin.

When you turn on the 3DS system and hold either the (START) or (SELECT) buttons, do these boot?

• (START) → Luma3DS chainloader → GodMode9
• (SELECT) → Luma3DS v9.1 configuration

If neither appears, I'm inclined to believe your n3DSXL never had in the first place or longer has custom firmware installed.

To rehack your 3DS, buy the R4i Gold 3DS Plus flashcart and use the ntrboot method.

 

[Kerpumples]

When you turn on the 3DS system and hold either the (START) or (SELECT) buttons, do these boot?

• (START) → Luma3DS chainloader → GodMode9
• (SELECT) → Luma3DS v9.1 configuration

If neither appears, I'm inclined to believe your n3DSXL never had in the first place or longer has custom firmware installed.

To rehack your 3DS, buy the R4i Gold 3DS Plus flashcart and use the ntrboot method.

I tried that stuff before and it didn't work. Idk if it's internal

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I tried that stuff before and it didn't work. Idk if it's internal

Possible scenario 1
The n3DSXL is stuck in sleep mode. If the blue light turns on and strobes between bright and dim, try waking it by rubbing a strong magnet against the the backside of the (START), (SELECT), and YXBA area to unstuck the sleep switch.

Possible scenario 2
Despite saying otherwise, your n3DSXL never had [ boot9strap / Luma3DS / GodMode9 ] custom firmware installed in the first placed. Nonetheless, your n3DSXL decided to somehow softbrick its 3DS firmware. The common avenues of softbricking on stock systems are either frakenfirmware from a bad system update or "gamecoin"-type brick.

• cfw 2ds xl has black screen on bootup and cant get to home menu

The only way to fix this is to (re)hack the system through ntrboot.

Possible scenario 3
Your attempts at hardware troubleshooting as seen in this reddit thread:

• [r/3DS] N3DS XL Black Screen of Death internals followup

, has lead to hardbricking the SoC (ARM CPU). If not the hardware debugging itself that damaged the chip, your n3DSXL was being charged to a wall outlet when a power outage or thunderstorm occurred that overcharged / fried that motherboard.

Despite trying to revive or illicit any boot response with ntrboot, all it shows are blue led and black screens. An example of how a brain dead n3DSXL behaves can be seen here.

• Repairing dead new 3ds LL [post #19]

Possible scenario 4
One of the accessory components connected to the main motherboard either has a broken flex cable or has itself died. The 3DS systems do not have fail-safe redundancy when a part no longer (properly) communicates with the motherboard.

To Troubleshoot this, one would have to swap the broken n3DSXL's motherboard into a fully functional donor n3DSXL for A/B parts testing to find which part requires replacing.

This method is not cheap and carries the risk of hardbricking or damaging the donor n3DSXL.

 

[Kerpumples]

For possible scenario 2, would the r4i cart which emulates ds games work

 

[TurdPooCharger]

For possible scenario 2, would the r4i cart which emulates ds games work

It can't be any DS flashcart. Only those models listed in that ntrboot list are compatible.

Except for the R4i Gold 3DS Plus and Ace3DS X that have a dual mode switch, flashcarts that are compatible require a working (o/n)(2/3)DS(i)(XL/LL)(phat/lite) system to reflash it into the ntrboot mode rom.

 

[Kerpumples]

It can't be any DS flashcart. Only those models listed in that ntrboot list are compatible.

Except for the R4i Gold 3DS Plus and Ace3DS X that have a dual mode switch, flashcarts that are compatible require a working (o/n)(2/3)DS(i)(XL/LL)(phat/lite) system to reflash it into the ntrboot mode rom.

This is what I have

 

[TurdPooCharger]

This is what I have
-snip-

That one appears to be the R4i Gold 3DS RTS made by www.r4ids.cn. That one is compatible but requires finding another working system that can flash it with the ntrboot mode rom. Do you or a friend of yours have a second system (read the rest of the ntrboot page)?

 

[Kerpumples]

I have a spare 3ds that belongs to a friend that I can use. What do I do

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I have a spare 3ds that belongs to a friend that I can use. What do I do

It depends whether or not your friend's 3DS is hacked with custom firmware. You follow either (3DS Single System) or (3DS Multi System) to put the flashcart in ntrboot mode. The flashcart will be in ntrboot mode when the Konami banner no longer appears in HOME Menu. Follow that guide hacking your borked n3DSXL.

Several attempts may be required,

• placing the magnet at the sleep switch's sweet spot
• (re)inserting the 3DS microSD card to the card reader to get a good connection
  
• (re)inserting the flashcart to the gamecart readerto get a good connection
• holding the button combo up to 10 seconds before letting go and removing the magnet

If the n3DSXL motherboard's SoC or CPU is still alive, you should be greeted by the SafeB9SInstaller screen asking to install boot9strap to your 3DS internal NAND.

 

[Kerpumples]

It depends whether or not your friend's 3DS is hacked with custom firmware. You follow either (3DS Single System) or (3DS Multi System) to put the flashcart in ntrboot mode. The flashcart will be in ntrboot mode when the Konami banner no longer appears in HOME Menu. Follow that guide hacking your borked n3DSXL.

Several attempts may be required,

• placing the magnet at the sleep switch's sweet spot
• (re)inserting the 3DS microSD card to the card reader to get a good connection
  
• (re)inserting the flashcart to the gamecart readerto get a good connection
• holding the button combo up to 10 seconds before letting go and removing the magnet

If the n3DSXL motherboard's SoC or CPU is still alive, you should be greeted by the SafeB9SInstaller screen asking to install boot9strap to your 3DS internal NAND.

Ok I will try this tomorrow.my friends console is hacked to cause I did it

 

[Kerpumples]

It depends whether or not your friend's 3DS is hacked with custom firmware. You follow either (3DS Single System) or (3DS Multi System) to put the flashcart in ntrboot mode. The flashcart will be in ntrboot mode when the Konami banner no longer appears in HOME Menu. Follow that guide hacking your borked n3DSXL.

Several attempts may be required,

• placing the magnet at the sleep switch's sweet spot
• (re)inserting the 3DS microSD card to the card reader to get a good connection
  
• (re)inserting the flashcart to the gamecart readerto get a good connection
• holding the button combo up to 10 seconds before letting go and removing the magnet

If the n3DSXL motherboard's SoC or CPU is still alive, you should be greeted by the SafeB9SInstaller screen asking to install boot9strap to your 3DS internal NAND.

So I hadnt done that yet, i waited a bit and managed to launch recovery mode L R A Dpad Up, the screen is black but i can hear it

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

So I hadnt done that yet, i waited a bit and managed to launch recovery mode L R A Dpad Up, the screen is black but i can hear it

But then I did some suggested hardware stuff and removed and re inserted these two plugs and now I don't get music when I input the recovery mode inputs

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

So I hadnt done that yet, i waited a bit and managed to launch recovery mode L R A Dpad Up, the screen is black but i can hear it

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


But then I did some suggested hardware stuff and removed and re inserted these two plugs and now I don't get music when I input the recovery mode inputshttps://ibb.co/2vBcB3r

 

[Deleted User]

(Deleted)

 

[TurdPooCharger]

So I hadnt done that yet, i waited a bit and managed to launch recovery mode L R A Dpad Up, the screen is black but i can hear it

This seems similiar to the Black Screens of Death with background music brick that occasionally occurs on the New 3DS XL system.

• New 3DS XL Screens only display recovery mode

Those who experience this specific brick have,

1. black screens and working sound in HOME Menu
2. both working screens and sound in Recovery Mode

The cause of the brick was found to be faulty camera module. The short term solution is to disconnect the camera ribbon cable; long term would be to replace the cameras.

***

Because your brick is different,

1. black screens and no sound in HOME Menu
2. black screens and working sound in Recovery Mode

, you might have two separate components that are faulty (ie, might be something else other than just the cameras).

But then I did some suggested hardware stuff and removed and re inserted these two plugs and now I don't get music when I input the recovery mode inputs

The image of your motherboard that you linked at:

• https://ibb.co/2vBcB3r

, doesn't point out which two plugs you're referring to.

You may want to study what each part is at:

• [ifixit] Nintendo 3DS XL 2015 Teardown

 

[Kerpumples]

This seems similiar to the Black Screens of Death with background music brick that occasionally occurs on the New 3DS XL system.

• New 3DS XL Screens only display recovery mode

Those who experience this specific brick have,

1. black screens and working sound in HOME Menu
2. both working screens and sound in Recovery Mode

The cause of the brick was found to be faulty camera module. The short term solution is to disconnect the camera ribbon cable; long term would be to replace the cameras.

***

Because your brick is different,

1. black screens and no sound in HOME Menu
2. black screens and working sound in Recovery Mode

, you might have two separate components that are faulty (ie, might be something else other than just the cameras).


The image of your motherboard that you linked at:

• https://ibb.co/2vBcB3r

, doesn't point out which two plugs you're referring to.

You may want to study what each part is at:

• [ifixit] Nintendo 3DS XL 2015 Teardown

I guess I should've pointed out they were highlighted yellow. One was the black ribbon which I believe to be the camera ribbon, and the flex ribbon connector at the to right with the black plastic top. I'll try just leaving the black ribbon unplugged if that's what you mean

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I guess I should've pointed out they were highlighted yellow. One was the black ribbon which I believe to be the camera ribbon, and the flex ribbon connector at the to right with the black plastic top. I'll try just leaving the black ribbon unplugged if that's what you mean

Hey, my bad. Sorry about the misunderstanding. My monitor is set to 2700 K color temperature with the program f.lux, so I ended up missing them as yellow highlightings blend in. I see them now, lol.

The flex cable on the right is indeed the camera module. This one is an rare exception in that it can be disconnected with bootable HOME Menu.

• New 3DS XL Screens only display recovery mode [post #28]

Because of how the camera module, speakers, and upper LCD flex cables are routed in the hinge, replacing the camera carries a high risk damaging the other two. Some people opt to keep 3D mode turned off and never use any games or apps that require camera.

See if disconnecting only the camera cable alone is enough to get the n3DSXL to boot Recovery Mode and/or HOME Menu.

If you intend to replace the camera assembly yourself,

• [eBay] NEW Front Back Camera Flex Cable For Nintendo 3DS XL
• [eBay] 2015 Ver. Nintendo New 3DS XL Camera Ribbon Cable Flex Wire Replacement Part US
• [aliexpress] Repair Parts Camera For 3DS/XL LL for New 3DS/ XL LL Camera Lens Flex Cable Replacement
• (pick one of the above -or- search other eBay, aliexpress listings)

***

The other cable to the left is the lower screen touch digitizer. It should be relatively easy to replace.

• [ifixit] Nintendo 3DS XL 2015 Lower LCD and Touchscreen Replacement
• [eBay] Digitizer Touch Screen Replacement for New Nintendo 3DS XL 2015

***

Or have someone else fix it,

• wiigotem: [eBay] 2015 Nintendo New 3DS XL Game System Repair Service,Hinge,Slot,Charger Port&More
  
• testerfan: [eBay] Fix Broken AS IS Nintendo New 3DS XL 2015 Model System Parts and Repair Service!