Ironhax / Tubehax FAQ

Ironhax / Tubehax FAQ
---------------------

Q: If I have a problem, how can I quickly and accurately get it answered?
A: In descending order of relevance:  (/hbg/ is not "Smealum's Tech Support")
   - Google  https://google.com
   - GBATemp https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-homebrew-development-and-emulators.275/
    - Somebody may have the same problem and a solution may have already been found.
   - Smealum https://twitter.com/smealum
    - He can troubleshoot a lot better than casuals piecing together information.
   - /tsg/'s OP (last resort)

   If you encounter an issue during setup, reread the steps you followed carefully.
   In some edge cases you'll encounter the following:
   - General failure. Did you follow the "Preparing the SD card" section?
   - Other general failure/freeze. Hold the power button to power off and try again. Yes.
   - Failure to install Ironhax. Try running Ironfall Invasion first to initialize the save data.
   - Tubehax doesn't work. Hard reset and ensure you change the firmware selected to the correct one.

Q: Is there better?
A: If your 3DS firmware (old or New) is at or below 9.2 you can gain a lot more than homebrew by using CFW.
   Otherwise, 9.3+ users are stuck with homebrew solutions like this.

Q: What is it/are they?
A: Homebrew methods for the 3DS.
   Ironhax refers to Ironfall Invasion (no longer on eShop). Tubehax refers to YouTube.
   Ironhax requires a pre-existing exploit (such as Tubehax or Ironhax) to prepare its save file.

Q: What are the requirements?
A: Have a 3DS, old or "New" (C-Nipple) both work. Any firmware. If you already have the following, you shouldn't need to update, but can.
   Have Ironfall Invasion (firmware 9.5+, no longer on eShop) and/or the YouTube application.
   Have the ability to read and process what you're reading.

Q: What can't I do with them? (tentative)
A: Anything that doesn't sound like "homebrew":
   - Pirate 3DS games
   - Downgrade
   - Run "CFW"
   - etc.

Q: What can I do with them?
A: What you could do before with Ninjhax/Cubic Ninja: homebrew.
   - Games
   - Emulators
   - /tsg/'s gambling simulator
   - Region free for physical imports, but not for DLC/updates
   - etc.
   List of Homebrew Applications: http://3dbrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Applications

   Mini Q: What about rxTools/Pasta/FBI/etc.?
   Mini A: Those leveraged an existing kernel exploit and operated via Ninjhax/etc. as opposed to, say, the browser.

Q: How do I use them?
A:
    1. Have Ironfall Invasion (update does not matter, no longer on eShop) [and/or only] YouTube
      - Ironfall Invasion requires a pre-existing exploit (such as YouTube) to prepare its save file.
    2. Read carefully: http://smealum.github.io/3ds/

Q: Why is the available homebrew so good/bad?
A: It's a mystery. Give it time and maybe that will change.

Q: Can I still use the eShop?
A: Most likely, until an update rolls around.

Q: Is this detectable/bannable? How easy is this to revert? etc.
A: Nintendo would have to be able to detect it first (via update).
   Bannable? No definitive proof, but it's a risk you take.

   YouTube/Tubehax is nothing more than a DNS change which can easily be reverted.
   Ironfall Invasion/Ironhax simply uses a save slot.

Q: Tips?
A: Ironhax can be used offline after being set up. Conversely, Tubehax requires an internet connection.
   Take out your SD card and format sysnand instead of using TinyFormat on emunand if emunand is already in a playable/usable state.

-------------------------------------
Spooky non-casual point of no return.
-------------------------------------

Q: No really, why is the homebrew so bad?
A: Disinterest, small community. Why reinvent the wheel for a niche community?
   Given the availability of Iron/Tubehax, one can assume the community will be considerably larger than before to reclaim interest.

Q: Why doesn't this let me do "What can't I do with them?"
A: These are userland entrypoints that have the same "access" as a game. Basically, not a lot.
   For those things to happen a kernel (system level) entrypoint is needed.

Q: Does having this increase the chances of finding/using a found kernel entrypoint?
A: Not really, but it still helps as it allows easier arbitrary code execution.
   For instance, rxTools/FBI/Pasta work from Ninjhax pre-9.3 by using the same kernel exploit, just from Ninjhax.

Q: Where/how can I get started making my own homebrew?
A: https://xem.github.io/3DShomebrew/
   https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-homebrew-development-and-emulators.275/
      (dedicated subforum for discussion, development, and releases)
   http://3dbrew.org

A majority of other questions probably fall into this realm.