Full Guide Release!

https://plailect.github.io/OTP/

All regions now supported!

If you appreciate this guide and the work I put into maintaining it, I accept donations through both Bitcoin and PayPal.

If you felt like the guide helped you out then I'd really appreciate it! If I get enough I may buy a 2DS for testing hardware stuff so I don't break another N3DS.

If the guide didn't help you out then I'm really sorry about that

 

[Sukid]

Okay, so it HAS been said earlier in this thread, but I want to put this here incase anyone else is stubborn and tries to work around it rather than do this. It honestly takes less time to just start over than to try to find some other workaround.

If the browser freezes and does not flash or animate in any way during the arm11.bin execution, the downgrade was not successful.

To avoid this problem in the first place, fully update your emuNAND before downgrading it. If you want to be especially thorough, downgrade your emunand to a more recent firmware(eg 9.2) then update via Nintendo.

If you already have this problem, fix it by updating via game card. As long as the firmware version on the game card has an entry point through which you can use Sysupdater to reinstall 9.2, you should be fine. My Smash Bros. cart installed 9.9, which may not have been ideal but it worked. I'm not too knowledgable of entry points of FW versions below 8.x so I was hesitant to use my Pokemon Y card.

Fortunately, I had oot3dhax so after some bashing it over the head sysupdater worked its magic and I was able to start over. You may not need a hardmod but I definitely suggest not doing this unless you have a solid entrypoint like oot3dhax. Cubic Ninja would be the best though. >.>

 

[Seita]

I try to install the arm9loaderhax.3dsx and I get a red screen at the bottom. Any idea why?

 

[ootnes2]

If the browser freezes and does not flash or animate in any way during the arm11.bin execution, the downgrade was not successful.

Or it may mean you forgot to copy arm11.bin to your sd card. Shouldn't you be able to tell if the downgrade worked by seeing if you are at 2.1.0-4?

I try to install the arm9loaderhax.3dsx and I get a red screen at the bottom. Any idea why?

This isn't a post about installation, only about getting OTP.

 

[Sukid]

No, what I meant was a partial downgrade. I'm not sure in what way it's partial, but it still shows you're on 2.1 when you check. However that is indeed another thing that could mean, I forgot about that.

 

[leerz]

You don't need to rename anything. The NAND injection works with any name.
The only thing that considers the name is the sysNAND restore option, that automatically picks a NAND.bin file if it exists (no idea why).

but I'm using decryp9gui, maybe that's the cause? I change the selected filename and flashed.

 

[ootnes2]

No, what I meant was a partial downgrade. I'm not sure in what way it's partial, but it still shows you're on 2.1 when you check. However that is indeed another thing that could mean, I forgot about that.

One partial downgrade issue is that the browser may not downgrade, such that spider won't work.

 

[leerz]

He is talking about renaming the file to emunand_bricked which he needs to done for the patched to work. It sounds like he's not unbricking the nand before he flashes it.

I'm not trying to be an asshole, but if someone isn't going to follow the tut step by step they shouldn't come asking for help. Especially on something like this that has a high brick chance.
Not following and then asking for help pretty much says you told me how to do it but I didn't want to listen, Now fix my screw up.

lol if your read what I wrote, you will not be replying in this manner, piratesepiroth did read and his comments were spot on. lol I read the whole guide and tried to make a few shortcuts that in writing will do the exact same thing. that's what I did, the bricked bin is for new 3ds not for o3ds, my question and hunch is maybe I need a super virgin 3ds and use the exact files as stated on the guide. dging and backing up nands can be done in several ways, I just went with the different route. that's improvisation and commenting constructively is called proper communication

anyway, not gonna hate on you, but I guess you do have a slight valid point, I should really just retry and just follow the 123 steps. maybe that will work.

... oh. Uuuh, this might not actually be a brick if this is your only criteria. Try deleting all userdata in the "Nintendo 3DS" folder on the SD card. I've found that that's actually the culprit of downgrades not booting so many times.

thanks, but I removed the memory card after the restore. i tried to avoid the memory card thing in the first place. will retry with the 123 steps thanks

 

[leerz]

sorry for 2nd post, time check 10:49am,

anyway, got the OTP.
I'm really wondering which part of the process is making it not work?
decrypt9 maybe or sysupdater? the first sysupdater I used was 417kb, the new setup, the one that didn't brick was only 249kb
decrypt9 version was decrypt9gui and on my newsetup it was decrypt9wip

Therefore I conclude, strictly use the files in the guide.
if I have time, maybe I'll check which part made it brick, (was it sysupdater or decrypt9gui)
anyway, Thanks for all your help.

 

[joseole99]

For anyone that cares or wants a general timeline, I got my OTP and set up AuReiNand with a9lh on my 10.2 Pokémon N3DS in about 4 hours total. From blank slate to arm9loaderhax, running sysNAND 10.6 and emuNAND 9.2.

 

[Vlo]

My O3DSXL bricked form arm9loaderhax.3dsx (Dark Samus repo with my OTP). I was able to recover today with a hardmod.

 

[Tigroid]

I'd really like to follow this guide, but I have some questions first, if that's ok.
#1 The guide will have me downgrade emuNand, not sysNand, correct?
Nevermind, Steps 27-31 show the emuNand dump being used to build the sysNand backup, that makes MUCH more sense now!
#2 I have a N3DS emuNand Rei10.6 sysNand 9.2. I've never linked a NNID, and I used TinyFormat to set up my emuNand in the first place (they already have different themes installed to help differentiate between the two), do I really have to use it again?
#3 At the end of the guide I'll have a 2.1 sysNand, right?
#4 I can install CIAs on 2.1?
#5 After I finish following the guide (provided all goes well) I can just set up ReiNand and update using the Nintendo Updater, right?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't have the money to go replace my N3DS if something happens to it. Thanks!

 

[leerz]

I'd really like to follow this guide, but I have some questions first, if that's ok.
#1 The guide will have me downgrade emuNand, not sysNand, correct?
Nevermind, Steps 27-31 show the emuNand dump being used to build the sysNand backup, that makes MUCH more sense now!
#2 I have a N3DS emuNand Rei10.6 sysNand 9.2. I've never linked a NNID, and I used TinyFormat to set up my emuNand in the first place (they already have different themes installed to help differentiate between the two), do I really have to use it again?
#3 At the end of the guide I'll have a 2.1 sysNand, right?
#4 I can install CIAs on 2.1?
#5 After I finish following the guide (provided all goes well) I can just set up ReiNand and update using the Nintendo Updater, right?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't have the money to go replace my N3DS if something happens to it. Thanks!

3: yes, but you only need to be on 2.1 to get the OTP, after you get it, you will restore back your 9.2 sysnand with the arm11.bin thru the browser
4: you don't have to, you install the cia you need (sysupdater) while in emunand 9.2/10.3/10.6 before you downgrade. you will not need it in 2.1 since you will just use arm11.bin in the browser for the magic to work.
5. yes, after you complete the otp, and build your arm9loaderhax. this is only needed if you're not in 10.6 emunand yet. you must restore your emunand.bin first

 

[Sev501]

Successfully downgraded New 3ds using spider method. Just followed the guide to a T. No hiccups. Doing the last steps now. Whew. Flashing the unbricked nand is nerve-racking haha. No hard mod!

EDIT: Got my OTP/a9f file and just to make sure re-did it 2x hahah.. Now restoring 3ds to the way it was!! Whew!

Thank you @Plailect for the superb guide..

 

[DjoeN]

sorry for 2nd post, time check 10:49am,

anyway, got the OTP.
I'm really wondering which part of the process is making it not work?
decrypt9 maybe or sysupdater? the first sysupdater I used was 417kb, the new setup, the one that didn't brick was only 249kb
decrypt9 version was decrypt9gui and on my newsetup it was decrypt9wip

Therefore I conclude, strictly use the files in the guide.
if I have time, maybe I'll check which part made it brick, (was it sysupdater or decrypt9gui)
anyway, Thanks for all your help.

If you used the progams in the guide (Decrypt9WIP) you wouldn't had the problem in the first place
When the first guide came out i used Decrypt9UI on my first test system and had the same problem, for some reason Decrypt9UI was the wrong choice, after using Decrypt9WIP it all worked out like it should.

 

[leerz]

If you used the progams in the guide (Decrypt9WIP) you wouldn't had the problem in the first place
When the first guide came out i used Decrypt9UI on my first test system and had the same problem, for some reason Decrypt9UI was the wrong choice, after using Decrypt9WIP it all worked out like it should.

Thanks for confirming! this is exactly what happened on my first 4 attempts, I wonder why? shouldn't the functions be the same? - it is not like decrypt9ui makes bad dumps right?

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

R2.3 Release!

https://plailect.github.io/OTP/

All regions now supported!

I've decided to accept bitcoin donations at this address: 1BKtYkpHJmYJSsSnRYBBGPRYRMBaNfpHTB

If you felt like the guide helped you out then I'd really appreciate it! If I get enough I may buy a 2DS for testing hardware stuff so I don't break another N3DS.

If the guide didn't help you out then I'm really sorry about that

Hi, would like to seek additional intel regarding this:

C, K, and T regions may be able to switch to U, E, or J temporarily but that is outside of the scope of this guide.

I know you mentioned that this is outside of the scope of this guide, however, an idea comes to my mind, it is known that we can install the update packs/cias files from a different region (say use a U on a K on emunand), secureinfo must be injected, but won't that break the signature and cause a brick if flashed on the sysnand with no cfw to load it? if you have leads regarding this, will really appreciate it. I will gladly try to add an addendum for other region 3DS' Thank you.

 

[blackalabi]

Just to double check before I go ahead, is the mac script confirmed working now?

 

[DjoeN]

I'd really like to follow this guide, but I have some questions first, if that's ok.
#1 The guide will have me downgrade emuNand, not sysNand, correct?
Nevermind, Steps 27-31 show the emuNand dump being used to build the sysNand backup, that makes MUCH more sense now!
#2 I have a N3DS emuNand Rei10.6 sysNand 9.2. I've never linked a NNID, and I used TinyFormat to set up my emuNand in the first place (they already have different themes installed to help differentiate between the two), do I really have to use it again?
#3 At the end of the guide I'll have a 2.1 sysNand, right?
#4 I can install CIAs on 2.1?
#5 After I finish following the guide (provided all goes well) I can just set up ReiNand and update using the Nintendo Updater, right?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't have the money to go replace my N3DS if something happens to it. Thanks!

2. No it's not really needed, BUT you beter do it again to avoid any conflicts that can corrupt your emunand when downgrading to 2.1
The reason, people have confirmed it's more trusty to tinyformat your emunand first., so i would recommand doing the extra step and takeing the extra time, better not to regret anything later on!
3. END of the guide you should be back on sysnand 9.2/emunand 10.x (or whatever your old setup was)
But if you mean almost at the end , yes you should be on 2.1 if everything has gone as planned buit that's only temporary
4. No you can't and you don't need to, you are on 2.1 only to dump your personal OTP.bin, after getting your OTP.bin you restore everything and you should be back at the point before you started.
5. If you are back at where you started (sysnand 9.2/emunand 10.x) you can setup reinand or aureinand and once you are in emunand, you can update emunand. Once you setup your A9LH and use AuReiNand, then you can setup your sysnand or emunand and update that, but before all that:
- Make sure you get OTP dumped
- Make sure you setup your system to compile A9LH with your OTP.bin
- If you can't compile, there are threads on GBATemp where people ofter to do this for you for free
- Make sure you read up on setting up AuReiNand/ReiNand with A9LH
- Keep your backups you made with the guide!
- Be sure what you are doing

In the end:
- If you follow the guide, you should be OK
- Don't try to make shortcuts!
- Use the programs mentioned in the guide!
- If N3DSXL or 2DS -> Be sure to turn on WiFi in emunand BEFORE you downgrade your emunand
- Don't delete any files you backup
- IF you really don't want to mess up, get a hardmod first! it's also usefull for more then only this guide, (It's not more costly then the price of a new game)

 

[Plailect]

If you already have this problem, fix it by updating via game card. As long as the firmware version on the game card has an entry point through which you can use Sysupdater to reinstall 9.2, you should be fine. My Smash Bros. cart installed 9.9, which may not have been ideal but it worked. I'm not too knowledgable of entry points of FW versions below 8.x so I was hesitant to use my Pokemon Y card.

If you are on a New 3DS that has been flashed to 2.1 and use a cart to upgrade to >= v7.0, you WILL brick. You MUST stay on 6.X or lower.

 

[blackalabi]

Successfully got my OTP using the spider method on my N3DS. I had to use tinyformat on emunand twice to unlink my nands but my emunand downgrade from 10.5 -> 2.1 worked first time. I used the mac script to create my unbricked nand which flashed with no problem. Much thanks for the guide.

 

[Tigroid]

Thank you guys for answering my questions! I feel a lot better about doing this now!