3DS:Bannerbomb3/Installing boot9strap (USM)

Technical Details

In order to exploit the SAFE_MODE firmware of our system, we need to inject an exploited WiFi profile. We can do this using an existing exploit, BannerBomb3.

To accomplish this, we use your system’s encryption key (movable.sed) to build a DSiWare backup that exploits the system in order to inject the exploited WiFi profile into your connections list.

Once the WiFi profile has been injected, we will use SAFE_MODE, which is a recovery feature present on all 3DS consoles, to activate the exploited WiFi profile.

For a more technical explanation, see the following links for information on the BannerBomb3 and unSAFE_MODE exploits: BannerBomb3, unSAFE_MODE.

Compatibility Notes

These instructions work on USA, Europe, Japan, and Korea region consoles as indicated by the letters U, E, J, or K after the system version.

If your (Right/Left Shoulder), (D-Pad Up), or (A) buttons do not work, you will need to follow an alternate branch of Seedminer. For assistance with this matter, join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord and ask, in English, for help.

What You Need

The latest release of SafeB9SInstaller (direct download)
The latest release of boot9strap (direct download)
The latest release of Luma3DS (the Luma3DS .zip file)
usm.bin (direct download)

Instructions

Section I - Prep Work

In this section, you will copy the files needed to trigger the unSAFE_MODE exploit onto your console’s SD card.

Your SD card should be inserted in your computer
Copy usm.bin to the root of your SD card
Copy boot.firm and boot.3dsx from the Luma3DS .zip to the root of your SD card
- The root of the SD card refers to the initial directory on your SD card where you can see the Nintendo 3DS folder, but are not inside of it
Create a folder named boot9strap on the root of your SD card
Copy boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha from the boot9strap .zip to the /boot9strap/ folder on your SD card
Copy SafeB9SInstaller.bin from the SafeB9SInstaller .zip to the root of your SD card

Section II - BannerBomb3

In this section, you will trigger the BannerBomb3 exploit using the DSiWare Management menu, which can be used to overwrite your Wi-Fi slots with hacked data. Your Wi-Fi connection settings will be temporarily overwritten while the exploit is active.

Reinsert your SD card into your console
Power on your console
Launch System Settings on your console
Navigate to Data Management -> DSiWare -> SD Card (image(not really))
- Your console should show the BB3 multihax menu
- If the BB3 multihax menu doesn’t open, follow this troubleshooting guide
- If the BB3 multihax menu says “cfw installed already”, you already have custom firmware and should continue from here
Use the D-Pad to navigate and press the (A) button to select “Install unSAFE_MODE”
- Your console will automatically power off
Power on your console
Launch System Settings on your console
Navigate to Internet Settings -> Connection Settings
Ensure that all three connections are named “Haaaaaaaxxxxxxxxx…”
- Do NOT change these settings!
- If all three connections are NOT all named “Haaaaaaaxxxxxxxxx…”, STOP! Something went wrong in this section and MUST be fixed before you can continue
Power off your console

Section III - unSAFE_MODE

In this section, you will enter Safe Mode (a feature available on all 3DS family consoles) and navigate to a menu where unSAFE_MODE will be triggered, which will launch you into the boot9strap (custom firmware) installer.

With your console still powered off, hold the following buttons: (Left Shoulder) + (Right Shoulder) + (D-Pad Up) + (A), and while holding these buttons together, power on your console
- Keep holding the buttons until the console boots into Safe Mode (a “system update” menu)
Press “OK” to accept the update
- There is no update. This is part of the exploit
Press “I accept” to accept the terms and conditions
The update will eventually fail, with the error code 003-1099. This is intended behaviour
When asked “Would you like to configure Internet settings?”, select “Yes”
On the following menu, navigate to Connection 1 -> Change Settings -> Next Page (right arrow) -> Proxy Settings -> Detailed Setup (image(not really))
If the exploit was successful, your console will have booted into SafeB9SInstaller
- If your console instead freezes on a white screen, hold the POWER button until it turns off, then retry this section
- If your console instead freezes on a red screen, you are missing usm.bin from the root of your SD card

Section IV - Installing boot9strap

In this section, you will install custom firmware onto your console.

When prompted, input the key combo given on the top screen to install boot9strap
- If a step on the lower screen has red-colored text, and you are not prompted to input a key combo, follow this troubleshooting guide
Once it is complete, press (A) to reboot your console
Your console should have booted into the Luma3DS configuration menu
- Luma3DS configuration menu are settings for the Luma3DS custom firmware. Many of these settings may be useful for customization or debugging
- For the purpose of this guide, leave these options on the default settings (do not check or uncheck anything)
- If your console shuts down when you try to power it on, ensure that you have copied boot.firm from the Luma3DS .zip to the root of your SD card
Press (Start) to save and reboot

At this point, your console will boot to Luma3DS by default.

Luma3DS does not look any different from the normal HOME Menu. If your console has booted into the HOME Menu, it is running custom firmware.
On the next page, you will install useful homebrew applications to complete your setup.

Section V - Restoring WiFi Configuration Profiles

In this section, you will trigger the BannerBomb3 exploit a second time so that you can restore the Wi-Fi connection slots that were overwritten in Section II.

Launch System Settings on your console
Navigate to Data Management -> DSiWare -> SD Card (image (not really))
Use the D-Pad to navigate and press the (A) button to select “Uninstall unSAFE_MODE”
- Your console will automatically reboot
Power off your console
Insert your SD card into your computer
Navigate to Nintendo 3DS -> <ID0> -> <ID1> -> Nintendo DSiWare on your SD card
Delete F00D43D5.bin from your Nintendo DSiWare folder and from your computer. This file will not be needed anymore

Continue to Finalizing Setup