Homebrew Newbie needs help updating old 3DS

[TerminusPhil]

I'm starting 3DS hacking now and looks like I need homebrew. My 3DS version is very old (I've never updated it because I just used GW emuNAND until now), so old that I can't install homebrew.
I even found a guide to update 3DS into a homebrewable version, but it's some years old now. Some links don't work anymore and there's conflicting information

 

[dpad_5678]

Only use http://3ds.guide. Don't follow ant other guides as they could possibly be outdated.

 

[TerminusPhil]

Thank you
I hope this guide works just fine for me
Will post the final result later

 

[Xathya]

DO NOT UPDATE IF YOU WANT HAX AND .ROMZ

 

[TerminusPhil]

Used the guide and everything worked just fine.

Just one problem: now that I updated to the current version I can't use Gateway. Is there any way to downgrade to 9.2?

 

[Xathya]

Used the guide and everything worked just fine.

Just one problem: now that I updated to the current version I can't use Gateway. Is there any way to downgrade to 9.2?

yes just downgrade to 9.2 its worth cause gateway is best!!

 

[BL4Z3D247]

DO NOT UPDATE IF YOU WANT HAX AND .ROMZ

This couldn't be more out-of-date. With NTRBootHax ANY firmware can be hacked.

yes just downgrade to 9.2 its worth cause gateway is best!!

Can I ask what is best about an outdated 3DS flashcart and wasting SD card space for EmuNAND when you can just install B9S and CFW and have an up-to-date firmware along with things like FIRM protection, you know, something Gateway lacks?

Based on your posts in this thread you are severely behind on times, my friend.

 

[TerminusPhil]

Yup. I'm VERY outdated.

Untill last week I didn't even knew 3DS hacking was a thing. I was just happy with my Gateway.

Now I'm trying to catch up with 3DS tech, but I'd love to keep my old Gateway save files. If you know how I can pass them to an CFW, I'd be grateful for an explanation

 

[TerminusPhil]

I think I still want to downgrade though. I'm already used to GW, I just want to add more resources to my O3DS, not take any. GW was my first 3DS "hack", there I spend almost a thousand hours and all my saves are still intact. I wish I could play them again

 

[Quantumcat]

If you have B9S, follow https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-using-luma3ds-gateway-on-b9s.431691/ to re-enable Gateway. You will want to first make an emuNAND and downgrade it to 11.2. You can do this using 3Down (11.2 CTR transfer).

Then to rescue your game saves, follow this:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/importing-gateway-saves-to-cia-games.425743/

If I were you, I would then get rid of Gateway and only use Luma. If you continue to use Gateway you are taking a risk (if you boot in sysNAND accidentally your B9S will be erased/system bricked).

 

[TerminusPhil]

Considering that I'm as outdated as an GW (which holds true), I have a question.

Isn't it more advantageous to use a GW because of the extra storage space you have in the game cartridge?

I'm starting to accept that I have to stop using GW, but the extra storage sure is nice

 

[Lacius]

Considering that I'm as outdated as an GW (which holds true), I have a question.

Isn't it more advantageous to use a GW because of the extra storage space you have in the game cartridge?

I'm starting to accept that I have to stop using GW, but the extra storage sure is nice

There are no advantages to using Gateway, aside from not having to go through the work of transferring everything to your new Luma3DS setup (which I personally find to be fun). You can use whichever SD card has more space as your primary SD card, and you can swap with the second SD card if you need more space for games. So, Gateway doesn't help when it comes to space.

 

[TerminusPhil]

If you have B9S, follow https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-using-luma3ds-gateway-on-b9s.431691/ to re-enable Gateway. You will want to first make an emuNAND and downgrade it to 11.2. You can do this using 3Down (11.2 CTR transfer).

Then to rescue your game saves, follow this:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/importing-gateway-saves-to-cia-games.425743/

If I were you, I would then get rid of Gateway and only use Luma. If you continue to use Gateway you are taking a risk (if you boot in sysNAND accidentally your B9S will be erased/system bricked).

One more thing. Do I have to downgrade to rescue my game saves?

 

[drewby]

One more thing. Do I have to downgrade to rescue my game saves?

Taking a quick glance through the guide, looks like you'll be able to import your saves no matter what version you're on.

 

[TerminusPhil]

Taking a quick glance through the guide, looks like you'll be able to import your saves no matter what version you're on.

Thanks. I'm still catching up with the jargon. You really did help me now.

 

[TerminusPhil]

And I know this is a very noob question, but I have to ask anyway. How do I install games in this "new" setup

 

[Lacius]

One more thing. Do I have to downgrade to rescue my game saves?

You will need an emuNAND on 11.2 or lower in order to be able to backup your save files. You need to do this if you want to import the save games into your CIA-installed games. Optionally, you could just create a new emuNAND and perform a 9.2 CTRNAND transfer on it.

And I know this is a very noob question, but I have to ask anyway. How do I install games in this "new" setup

You can use a CIA-installer like FBI to install CIA files, or you can download and install games using freeShop.

 

[TerminusPhil]

You will need an emuNAND on 11.2 or lower in order to be able to backup your save files.

Ok, but how? Is there a guide to downgrading to 11.2 or one to creating an emuNAND on 9.2?

 

[Lacius]

Ok, but how? Is there a guide to downgrading to 11.2 or one to creating an emuNAND on 9.2?

For the sake of this guide, I'm assuming you no longer have an emuNAND.

1. Backup all of your SD card contents.
2. Run GodMode9.
3. Use GodMode9 to copy your sysNAND to a new emuNAND partition.
4. Use this guide and GodMode9 to perform a 9.2 CTRNAND transfer to the emuNAND partition.
   • Instead of using the 11.5 CTRNAND image in the guide, use a 9.2 CTRNAND image.
5. Follow this guide to run Gateway on your 9.2 emuNAND using B9S.
6. Follow this guide to backup your important Gateway save files.

If you don't want to do a CTRNAND transfer, there are other, more complicated, ways to downgrade.

 

[TerminusPhil]

For the sake of this guide, I'm assuming you no longer have an emuNAND.

1. Backup all of your SD card contents.
2. Run GodMode9.
3. Use GodMode9 to copy your sysNAND to a new emuNAND partition.
4. Use this guide and GodMode 9 to perform a 9.2 CTRNAND transfer to the emuNAND partition.
   • Instead of using the 11.5 CTRNAND image in the guide, use a 9.2 CTRNAND image.
5. Follow this guide to run Gateway on your 9.2 emuNAND using B9S.
6. Follow this guide to backup your important Gateway save files.

If you don't want to do a CTRNAND transfer, there are other, more complicated, ways to downgrade.

There's some things I don't quite understand yet.

1. How do I get and use and emuNAND partition?
2. How do I choose what CTRNAND I use?
3. What is CTRNAND?

Any and every response would be helpful