Homebrew [Re-release] BootCtr - A simple boot manager for 3DS

[peteruk]

Pre-release v1.1. This version includes the forked CakeBrah from 173210 (one of the developers from rxTools), that should improve the boot rate for payloads, mainly for N3DS users. For now I am using the code coming directly from 173210's CakeBrah fork, so this is experimental. When the changes are merged by @mid-kid I will go back to the official repository and do a official release.

If we already have the original version installed, can we just swap out the main boot file ?

 

[m45t3r]

If we already have the original version installed, can we just swap out the main boot file ?

Yes, just replace the boot.3dsx file (or whatever the name you put).

 

[urherenow]

You may want to try booting rxtools with it, then booting it again to launch HBL then the 3dsx version of FBI and try to install something. Or try HBL+FBI directly and see if that works as well. Something broke this and it might be the Cakebrah changes.

 

[m45t3r]

You may want to try booting rxtools with it, then booting it again to launch HBL then the 3dsx version of FBI and try to install something. Or try HBL+FBI directly and see if that works as well. Something broke this and it might be the Cakebrah changes.

HBL+FBI get another code path that is completely unrelated to CakeBrah. Only binary payloads like Cakes.dat or code.bin uses CakeBrah.

 

[d0k3]

You may want to try booting rxtools with it, then booting it again to launch HBL then the 3dsx version of FBI and try to install something. Or try HBL+FBI directly and see if that works as well. Something broke this and it might be the Cakebrah changes.

HBL+FBI get another code path that is completely unrelated to CakeBrah. Only binary payloads like Cakes.dat or code.bin uses CakeBrah.

Just had a look at the new changes in that CakeBrah fork, and to be honest, I don't understand what they do . I'm already thinking about taking them over into my BrahmaLoader source code, though. Anyways, @urherenow , you mean booting rxTools devMode, then from that using BootCtr to launch HBL, then FBI, correct? It is possible that the latest CakeBrah changes might have messed up something in that. Just saying, but if you didn't already do it, could you make 100% sure that what you're trying to do works without any trouble in BootCtr v1.0? Also, HBL + FBI (without devMode) will only work for legit CIAs - I'm sure you already know, though.

 

[urherenow]

Just had a look at the new changes in that CakeBrah fork, and to be honest, I don't understand what they do . I'm already thinking about taking them over into my BrahmaLoader source code, though. Anyways, @urherenow , you mean booting rxTools devMode, then from that using BootCtr to launch HBL, then FBI, correct? It is possible that the latest CakeBrah changes might have messed up something in that. Just saying, but if you didn't already do it, could you make 100% sure that what you're trying to do works without any trouble in BootCtr v1.0? Also, HBL + FBI (without devMode) will only work for legit CIAs - I'm sure you already know, though.

I'm at work (I'm in Japan, so it's almost 10AM), but I'm not talking about devmode. I'm talking about rxmode. It used to work when you loaded it twice even though the 9.5 kernel isn't exploitable, because the patches were already done by rxtools. Now though, the patches get messed up when you boot HBL from within rxmode, and FBI.3dsx can't get proper permissions to install or delete stuff.

 

[d0k3]

I'm at work (I'm in Japan, so it's almost 10AM), but I'm not talking about devmode. I'm talking about rxmode. It used to work when you loaded it twice even though the 9.5 kernel isn't exploitable, because the patches were already done by rxtools. Now though, the patches get messed up when you boot HBL from within rxmode, and FBI.3dsx can't get proper permissions to install or delete stuff.

Alright, that makes it clearer... But, you say there's also trouble if rxMode is left out of the equation? Just asking to make sure, but you tried that (HBL + FBI without rxMode) with a legit CIA, and that has worked with BootCTR 1.0, correct?

 

[urherenow]

Alright, that makes it clearer... But, you say there's also trouble if rxMode is left out of the equation? Just asking to make sure, but you tried that (HBL + FBI without rxMode) with a legit CIA, and that has worked with BootCTR 1.0, correct?

Yes, it works without rxmode, but I didn't try your new build with 173210's Cakebrah changes though. That's what I'm suggesting you check.

HBL+FBI get another code path that is completely unrelated to CakeBrah. Only binary payloads like Cakes.dat or code.bin uses CakeBrah.

rxtools uses the Cakebrah (depends on what you use to launch it, of course). When Launching FBI from the HBL, from within an emunand setup with firmlaunch (READ: using an unexploitable kernel) FBI depends on the CFW's patches for permissions, because it cannot gain those permissions on its own. Something happened to rxtools recently that causes the patches to get messed up somewhere between launching rxmode, and launching HBL followed by FBI.

 

[d0k3]

Yes, it works without rxmode, but I didn't try your new build with 173210's Cakebrah changes though. That's what I'm suggesting you check.

Not my build This is developed by @m45t3r . I'm just interested in those new changes, pros and cons, to Brahma. I understand what you mean, I think, there might be some changes to the 3DSX loader code, too.

 

[m45t3r]

rxtools uses the Cakebrah (depends on what you use to launch it, of course). When Launching FBI from the HBL, from within an emunand setup with firmlaunch (READ: using an unexploitable kernel) FBI depends on the CFW's patches for permissions, because it cannot gain those permissions on its own. Something happened to rxtools recently that causes the patches to get messed up somewhere between launching rxmode, and launching HBL followed by FBI.

I really don't know what is happening here, since I am basically using the reference code to launch binary payloads with CakeBrah (my code is similar to the example that is the current main.c file in CakeBrah), so whatever the problem is it must be something in rxTools or CakeBrah.

Do you have the same problem booting CakesFW or Reinand?

 

[noctis90210]

@m45t3r - sir just want to ask question, whats the difference between this bootctr & ctrbootmanager?
and which is most updated & better to use? thanks and have a nice day...

does the 1.1 ok to use or better to stick to official 1.0?

 

[m45t3r]

@m45t3r - sir just want to ask question, whats the difference between this bootctr & ctrbootmanager?
and which is most updated & better to use? thanks and have a nice day...

CtrBootManager provides a nice GUI and some additional functions (like loading .3dsx files from network). BootCtr is much more simple: it selects the entry based on the key pressed by the user.

Which one is more updated I don't know, I think only BootCtr has the newest CakeBrah changes for now, however I may be wrong. This only matters if you have a N3DS running CFWs, though.

 

[d0k3]

Which one is more updated I don't know, I think only BootCtr has the newest CakeBrah changes for now, however I may be wrong. This only matters if you have a N3DS running CFWs, though.

It matters for other ARM9 stuff (such as Decrypt9), too! So, those latest changes to Cakebrah only help for N3DS? And, are they already properly tested? I agree with you that the problem with FBI sounds a whole lot like a rxTools issue.

 

[m45t3r]

It matters for other ARM9 stuff (such as Decrypt9), too! So, those latest changes to Cakebrah only help for N3DS? And, are they already properly tested? I agree with you that the problem with FBI sounds a whole lot like a rxTools issue.

If you look at the Pull Request in GitHub (https://github.com/mid-kid/CakeBrah/pull/5) this is basically some bug fixes, so there shouldn't have any difference in funcionality except for improved boot rate. According to repports, it seems to help in the cases that even using a boot delay results in bad boot rate for some N3DS users, however the boot delay still seems to be needed (I tried to remove the boot delay from BootCtr after these changes and my boot rate dropped).

 

[JJTapia19]

I always get a black screen with only one green pixel on the bottom left corner on the top screen. Also if I rename the boot_default.3dsx in the boot_config.ini a get a file not found error. even if I have a .3dsx with the same name on the root of the sd card. What am I doing wrong?
I'm on new 3ds 9.0 U with homemenuhax 2.5 I'm trying to set the grid launcher as my default boot_hb.3dsx

 

[m45t3r]

I always get a black screen with only one green pixel on the bottom left corner on the top screen. Also if I rename the boot_default.3dsx in the boot_config.ini a get a file not found error. even if I have a .3dsx with the same name on the root of the sd card. What am I doing wrong?
I'm on new 3ds 9.0 U with homemenuhax 2.5 I'm trying to set the grid launcher as my default boot_hb.3dsx

Did you try to create a boot_config.ini file from scratch? Something like this:

[DEFAULT]
path = /whatever.3dsx

[KEY_R]
path = /whatever2.3dsx

 

[JJTapia19]

Did you try to create a boot_config.ini file from scratch? Something like this:

[DEFAULT]
path = /whatever.3dsx

[KEY_R]
path = /whatever2.3dsx

That worked. Thanks.

 

[d0k3]

If you look at the Pull Request in GitHub (https://github.com/mid-kid/CakeBrah/pull/5) this is basically some bug fixes, so there shouldn't have any difference in funcionality except for improved boot rate. According to repports, it seems to help in the cases that even using a boot delay results in bad boot rate for some N3DS users, however the boot delay still seems to be needed (I tried to remove the boot delay from BootCtr after these changes and my boot rate dropped).

Thought I'd let I know... I included the Brahma fix by 173210 into my BrahmaLoader release. The first round of tests is already looking pretty good, we can say for sure that there is no damage done by these changes. Thanks for drawing my attention to that fix!

 

[Vivec]

Can this be used to autoboot into rxTools 2.6? It uses rxTools.dat on the root.

 

[m45t3r]

Can this be used to autoboot into rxTools 2.6? It uses rxTools.dat on the root.

Probably not, since I think CakeBrah is only compatible with the newer code.bin from rxTools 3.0. I may be wrong, though.