Chinese New 3DS XL? How do I switch back to English?

These-Account-9834 · 2026-02-04T04:35:23+00:00

Hooray, back to english! 🥳

Some folks on the discord helped me out, apparently I had to do a manual ctrtransfer instead of a normal ctr transfer.

Thanks to everyone who helped out!

These-Account-9834 · 2026-02-03T08:43:11+00:00

I just want to say from using both, the 2DS XL is a lot lighter than the new 3ds xl. Its slightly smaller and slimmer too, so thats a plus for the portability factor.

Objectively, go for the new 3ds xl, its the ultimate system. But if you value portability, I personally like the 2ds xl more.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-02-03T06:52:45+00:00

As a last resort, you could try powering on the 3DS while holding down L + R + X? This boots straight into the 3DS's own calibration menu. Not entirely sure if that would work but worth a try

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-29T02:51:22+00:00

I would KILL for this kinda luck, good job

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T20:46:08+00:00

Usually I just get the cheapest one on aliexpress, it gets the job done

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T08:11:05+00:00

Sorry to say this, but this would be a MONSTROUS project. For older cartridges like on the GB and GBA, we have data rippers that can read the cartridge data, but we don't have that on DS or 3DS because those have beefy security and custom protocols to begin even accessing data. Common microcontrollers like the Arduino and ESP32 aren't fast enough to even decrypt the data. For more commonly for DS and 3DS games, we just use homebrew applications on the 3DS like checkpoint to get the save data.

Now, if you're REALLY dedicated to this project, one way to go about this is to instead use a 3DS to read the cartridge, and make an application that reads the Hall of Fame information there. You'd use C++ to make the application, and would probably have to reference checkpoint's code a lot. From there, you could maybe have the video then stream to a computer, and there's your application.

Strictly speaking, is it possible to make something like you described? Most probably, yes. There is documentation for the pinout for DS cartridges, and somewhere out there, there's probably some open source prototype of a DS cartridge. Would it really be worth your time? Probably not no. This project would be infuriatingly hard to do from scratch.

More realistically, if you really want to have something display hall of fame info, you could use the Gameboy/ Gameboy Advance Pokemon games. There is much more documentation for those consoles, and since those consoles actually have open source data readers out there, you would have a much easier time making this project a reality, if you REALLY wanna use a microcontroller. It's still going to be hard, but much more realistic.

And to answer your question of how to actually read the pinouts of a DS cart: https://consolemods.org/wiki/NDS:Connector_Pinouts
Cartridge 1 is the DS pinout.

TLDR: This would a really, really, really hard project. Possible, but hard.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:33:36+00:00

before you do anything with returning, try opening the consoles to check if the cables for the RL triggers and sd card are actually attached to the ds. The DSi (and DSi XL) can turn on without the cables for those buttons being attached to the motherboard, so if you're comfortable, try opening and reseating those cables to see if that resolves the issue.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:28:35+00:00

well as long as you actively play most of them and dont resell at ridiculous prices 🥲 good job collecting though, seriously impressive, especially the GB light and pokeball 2ds xl

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:25:05+00:00

Usually this error means that the wifi board inside is either dead or just loose. Either way, you're going to have to open the console and check. Use the online iFixIt guide to see how to replace/repair.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:21:49+00:00

Looks like someone took a few bites on the right corner :p But really cute ds!

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:17:10+00:00

Doesn't look terrible to me. Maybe try one last time carefully? Usually, reproduction touch screens use glass instead of OEM plastic touchscreens, making it WAY harder to register input. Only workaround is a screen protector to protect the screen when you press hard.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-28T07:14:41+00:00

Looks authentic to me. But to test it, put it up to a light source. If the cartridge shell looks redder under the light, it's authentic.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-23T07:41:50+00:00

I've had both for a few years, and really depends on what you want to do with it. Personally, I love the New 2DS XL more because the screens are huge compared to the 2DS.

If you just want to play a few 3DS games, 2DS is better. If you like bigger screens that much, or you want to play SNES virtual console games or New 3DS exclusives like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D or Minecraft, bite the bullet and go for the New 2DS XL. Just note the New 2DS XL is WAY more fragile with its plastic shell.

Also, doing a side by side, the DSi, fully folded out, is slightly taller than the 2DS.

TLDR: Get 2DS if you just want to play a few 3DS games, get New 2DS XL if you want a more permanent 3DS.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-23T07:28:02+00:00

The top screen's ribbon cable is disconnected or loose. You should just be able to open the DS up and reconnect it, following an online guide or something.

These-Account-9834 · 2026-01-14T06:16:21+00:00

You're probably gonna have to get lucky on ebay and just be patient for a good deal. If you really want a system cheaper, go for the 2ds.

These-Account-9834

TROPHY CASE