How To Patch TWL_FIRM to play normally blocked DS games

In this tutorial I'll show you how to install the patched "TWL_FIRM" CIA so you're able to play blocked DS cartridges like as example Flashcards that were blocked by Nintendo over the years. However keep in mind that not every Flashcard works this way and, as example, the Action Replay DSi Card only ends up in a white bootup-screen without going further!

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What You'll Need:

• (Recommended) EmuNAND setup
• (Recommended) EmuNAND/SysNAND backup before you begin, as example with EmuNAND9
• TWL_FIRM.zip (this pack would be illegal to upload on GBATemp, please search on Google, the pack I used here was from someone named "AuroraWright" from a certain ISO-Site)
• A CIA manager (recommended: FBI)
• TWL Slot-1 Launcher (only needed for some flashcards which won't show up else)

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Step 0 (only recommended, not mandatory) - Make an SysNAND/EmuNAND backup

• This step is only recommended but NOT MANDATORY! But in case you derp something up you'll thank me later
• Simply use a tool like EmuNAND9, start it via Homebrew Launcher (in SysNAND/"Menuhax" mode) and go to "EmuNAND Manager Options" > "Dump EmuNAND to EmuNAND.bin" and you're good to go.

Step 1 - Copy the right CIA file to your 3DS

• Unpack the downloaded "TWL_FIRM.zip" file somewhere on your PC.
• There are 2 files now, "twlfirm_n3ds.cia" and "twlfirm_o3ds.cia". You need to choose the right one for your 3DS.
• You need to choose the "n3ds" one if your 3DS is a "New 3DS" or "New 3DS XL".
• You need to choose the "o3ds" one if your 3DS is a "3DS", "3DS XL" or a "2DS".
• Once you know which file to copy over simply put it in any folder you'll later find it again, as example "X:/CIA/Patches"

Step 2 - Use FBI/Install FBI into home menu

• I cannot really provide a guide on how to install FBI here so you should refer to the official, above mentioned FBI thread on how to install it. However I recommend using the home menu installed version (aka. CIA version) so there won't be any problems now since this is a system CIA we're going to replace here.

Step 3 - Use FBI in NAND-Mode and install the CIA

• Open FBI (obviously )
• Press the "L" button once, on the top-screen you should now read a text that says "Destination: NAND". IF YOU FORGET THIS YOU'LL GET AN ERROR NOW!
• Now go to the folder you've placed the right CIA from Step 1 into.
• Select it and press "A" to install. Press "A" again to confirm it.
  • If you now get an error like "DESCRIPTION_INVALID_COMBINATION" you've not followed all steps here. Go back by pressing "Start" and then pressing "L" to switch to NAND-Mode. Now try to install the CIA again.
• After this it'll tell you that the title is already installed. Simply press "A" to overwrite it.
• Once done press "Start" and go back to your home menu/homebrew launcher.

Step 4 (only recommended, not mandatory) - Install TWL Slot-1 Launcher

• Since you already know how to install CIA files from Step 3 simply download the above mentioned "TWL Slot-1 Launcher" CIA and install it again as mentioned in Step 3, however this time it'll not ask you to replace anything and install it right away.
• This will help you later on to start cartridges which you'd not be able to start else.

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Okay, that's it!
If you have any questions please ask them here but try to provide as many infos as possible!

Thanks for reading

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

*** Guide Changelogs ***

11.02.2016 - 16:39: INITIAL GUIDE VERSION
12.02.2016 - 21:35: Fix design-issues due to the "super nice mods" merging posts... Gee, thanks guys...

 

[Orphen07]

This is a well written guide, with that, however, I would like to make some suggestions:

• For the people who skim over the Recommended sections of guides, insist on creating an emuNAND backup.
  
• If your CIA manager does not install the patches due to "Title already existing," please include that you will have to delete 0004013820000102 (N3DS) or 0004013800000102 (O3DS) before installing TLW_FIRM.
• Unlike other DSiWare, TWL_Slot1 Launcher only needs to be installed on emuNAND. This gives people less excuse to mess with updates on SysNAND.

More of a nitpick, but "blocked DS games" can be interpreted as if there are DS games that won't work on the 2/(n)3DS, even though this is for flashcards and Action Replay-esque devices specifically.​

Other than that, great guide. Sorry if I seem too demanding and/or condesending!

 

[ElyosOfTheAbyss]

do toy need to install on emu and sysnand?

 

[Orphen07]

do toy need to install on emu and sysnand?

Thankfully, this only needs to be installed on emuNAND.

 

[SANNIC789]

i installed the TWL_FIRM patch on my emuNAND and this is not working do i need to put it in my sysNAND as well or will it brake it?

 

[Orphen07]

i installed the TWL_FIRM patch on my emuNAND and this is not working do i need to put it in my sysNAND as well or will it brake it?

To first answer your question, no, this only needs to be installed to emuNAND (Don't even look at sysNAND files unless it's absolutely necessary). Furthermore, we cannot help you with your issue unless more information is provided:

1. What are you trying to run, exactly? Flashcards that autoboot on the original DS & DS Lite will not work, period.
   
2. Are you using this in conjunction with TWL Slot-1 Launcher? If you are using this by itself, maybe using the Slot-1 Launcher will remedy the problem.
   
3. Are your NANDs unlinked? I don't think this would be an issue, but I'm going to ask for the sake of thoroughness.
   
4. Were the files in accordance to your 3DS model? I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but sometimes mistakes happen. Again, asking for thoroughness' sake.

 

[SANNIC789]

To first answer your question, no, this only needs to be installed to emuNAND (Don't even look at sysNAND files unless it's absolutely necessary). Furthermore, we cannot help you with your issue unless more information is provided:

1. What are you trying to run, exactly? Flashcards that autoboot on the original DS & DS Lite will not work, period.
   
2. Are you using this in conjunction with TWL Slot-1 Launcher? If you are using this by itself, maybe using the Slot-1 Launcher will remedy the problem.
   
3. Are your NANDs unlinked? I don't think this would be an issue, but I'm going to ask for the sake of thoroughness.
   
4. Were the files in accordance to your 3DS model? I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but sometimes mistakes happen. Again, asking for thoroughness' sake.

1. i know about that its a flash card with banners and it is confirmed to work on this

2. um if you mean i dont have the patch from the iso site then no its with the patched or u mean im not useing CFW i got rx tools

3. well yes thay are with tiny formater o and the real sys formater at the same time lol

4. u mean like the dbs files? in nintendo3ds yes it is in both sys and emu and i put the cia's in a dsi folder if your asking that

 

[Orphen07]

i know about that its a flash card with banners and it is confirmed to work on this

Ok. That is what I wanted to know.

um if you mean i dont have the patch from the iso site then no its with the patched or u mean im not useing CFW i got rx tools

No no, what I meant was, some flashcards work just by patching TWL_FIRM. Are you using TWL_FIRM as well as TWL Slot-1 Launcher, or just this?

u mean like the dbs files? in nintendo3ds yes it is in both sys and emu and i put the cia's in a dsi folder if your asking that

Not anything like that, but rather, I meant to ask "Did you install n3DS files on the o3DS?", for example.

 

[SANNIC789]

Ok. That is what I wanted to know.

No no, what I meant was, some flashcards work just by patching TWL_FIRM. Are you using TWL_FIRM as well as TWL Slot-1 Launcher, or just this?

Not anything like that, but rather, I meant to ask "Did you install n3DS files on the o3DS?", for example.

1. good

2. well yes the TWL_FIRM was installed on emuNAND as i launched it, and i tryed booting the demo ds games and thats not working to

3. no i installed the old 3ds file im shur i did that

 

[LaurelAshley]

So, I patched my TWL and trying to run my AceKard2i through the slot-1 launcher and I'm stilling get "an error has occurred" :/

I'm on 10.5 emuNAND (9.2 sysNAND) with rxTools cfw. 0:

I installed it via Dev Menu because I always have issues w/ FBI. I would think that would work fine :/

 

[Orphen07]

So, I patched my TWL and trying to run my AceKard2i through the slot-1 launcher and I'm stilling get "an error has occurred" :/

I'm on 10.5 emuNAND (9.2 sysNAND) with rxTools cfw. 0:

I installed it via Dev Menu because I always have issues w/ FBI. I would think that would work fine :/

So long as the installation went without issue, it shouldn't make a difference as to what you installed it with. Has it worked since restarting the 3DS?

 

[LaurelAshley]

So long as the installation went without issue, it shouldn't make a difference as to what you installed it with. Has it worked since restarting the 3DS?

So I tried reinstalling the patched TWL_FIRM with FBI to NAND and it went through okay. Asked me to overwrite, did so, successful. So I tried using the launcher with my flashcart again, still error :/

The AceKard comes up and everything, it's just giving me that error every time.

I've just restarted as I'm typing and it STILL gives me an error! Man

 

[matpower]

So I tried reinstalling the patched TWL_FIRM with FBI to NAND and it went through okay. Asked me to overwrite, did so, successful. So I tried using the launcher with my flashcart again, still error :/

The AceKard comes up and everything, it's just giving me that error every time.

I've just restarted as I'm typing and it STILL gives me an error! Man

Update your RxTools build, if you are using an older one, it will give an error for some reason, I think that RxTools just ignores the AGB/TWL_FIRM installed to use its own patches.

 

[LaurelAshley]

Update your RxTools build, if you are using an older one, it will give an error for some reason, I think that RxTools just ignores the AGB/TWL_FIRM installed to use its own patches.

Sorry to be nooby, but how can I update my RxTools build? I just don't wanna do anything wrong. I've put so much time into this 3ds lol

 

[matpower]

You can find the latest nightly here: https://lavanoid.github.io/
It should have the latest TWL_FIRM patch too. You just install it by doing the same thing that you first did to get RxTools running, AKA: Copying the RxTools folder and getting the firm folder from the Python script.

Make sure to backup your RxTools folder before updating, just in case that the nightly broke something. Your emuNAND should be fine even if there is something wrong with that build, but you can always make a backup just to be sure.

 

[LaurelAshley]

You can find the latest nightly here: https://lavanoid.github.io/
It should have the latest TWL_FIRM patch too. You just install it by doing the same thing that you first did to get RxTools running, AKA: Copying the RxTools folder and getting the firm folder from the Python script.

Make sure to backup your RxTools folder before updating, just in case that the nightly broke something. Your emuNAND should be fine even if there is something wrong with that build, but you can always make a backup just to be sure.

okay, I'm gonna try thank you

 

[LaurelAshley]

You can find the latest nightly here: https://lavanoid.github.io/
It should have the latest TWL_FIRM patch too. You just install it by doing the same thing that you first did to get RxTools running, AKA: Copying the RxTools folder and getting the firm folder from the Python script.

Make sure to backup your RxTools folder before updating, just in case that the nightly broke something. Your emuNAND should be fine even if there is something wrong with that build, but you can always make a backup just to be sure.

That fixed it! Thanks so much

 

[samcambolt270]

ok, so here's my problem. I followed all directions to the letter, and the file has installed, but i still get a black screen when booting dsiware. I am not seeing what the issue is here...
Details: I have an unlinked emunand, emunand is 10.3, I am using menuhax to coldboot rxtools.

 

[matpower]

ok, so here's my problem. I followed all directions to the letter, and the file has installed, but i still get a black screen when booting dsiware. I am not seeing what the issue is here...
Details: I have an unlinked emunand, emunand is 10.3, I am using menuhax to coldboot rxtools.

Have you tried what I said above?

 

[samcambolt270]

Have you tried what I said above?

I have no idea how to update rxtools with the way it's set up now. I am using a .3dsx file being booted by rxtools. There is a .3dsx file in the nightly build i downloaded, but i am not sure if it would be as simple as replacing the files I have now. last time i messed with rxtools, i borke it and had to reformat the sd to get it working again.

 

[Fishaman P]

I'm aware that this guide is for unblocking flashcarts, but is there a method to remove the region lock on DSi-Mode games?
The TWL Slot-1 Launcher sounds like it would do the trick, but some confirmation would be nice.