Troubleshooting (MSET9)

This page offers troubleshooting advice for commonly encountered issues with the "Installing boot9strap (MSET9)", "Installing boot9strap (MSET9 CLI)" and "Installing boot9strap (MSET9 Play Store)" pages. If you are unable to solve your issue with the advice on this page, please join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord and describe your issue, including what you have already tried.

MSET9 (application / script)

Python 3 is not installed

Python is not installed on the computer you are using. Download it from the Python website, double-click the installer, and follow the prompts to install Python. Once Python is installed, try again.

HOME Menu extdata: Missing!

Please power on your console with your SD inserted, then check the MSET9 status again.

If this does not work, your SD card needs to be formatted:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Start again from Section I Step 7

Mii Maker extdata: Missing!

Mii Maker data was not found on the SD card. Please power on your console with your SD inserted, then launch Mii Maker, then check the MSET9 status again.

If this does not work, your SD card needs to be formatted:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Start again from Section I Step 8.

Title database: Not initialized!

Ensure that you have reset the title database.

• Please power on your console with your SD inserted
• Launch System Settings and navigate to Data Management -> Nintendo 3DS -> Software -> Reset (image)
  • This will not wipe any of your data
• If you get a reset prompt, after resetting, power off your console and start again from Section I Step 14

If you do not getting a reset prompt, your SD card needs to be formatted:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Run the MSET9 script:
   • Windows: Double-click MSET9-Windows.bat
   • macOS: Double-click MSET9-macOS.command and enter your password if prompted
   • Linux: open a Terminal window, cd to the root of your SD card, then type python3 mset9.py and press Enter
5. Type the number corresponding to your console model and version, then press Enter
6. Type 2 then press enter to check the MSET9 status
   • This will create the dummy databases again
7. Close the MSET9 script window
8. Start again from Section I Step 12.

Error 01: Couldn't find Nintendo 3DS folder

You are not running MSET9 from the root of the SD card, or the SD card is missing the Nintendo 3DS folder.

Remember, your SD card should look like this:

INFO

If your SD card layout is correct, then your SD card most likely isn't being read by your console and needs to be formatted:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Start again from the beginning of Section I

Error 02: Your SD is write protected

Write-protection is enabled on this SD card. If you are using a full-size SD card, ensure that the lock is flipped in the upright position. Otherwise, try ejecting and reinserting your SD card.

Error 04: You don't have 1 ID0, you have (#)!

You have multiple ID0 folders. To determine the correct folder, follow these instructions:

1. Rename the Nintendo 3DS folder to BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS
2. Reinsert your SD card into your console
3. Power on your console
4. Wait for the console to generate the SD card data
   • Your applications will have disappeared. This is normal and will be resolved shortly
5. Power off your console
6. Insert your SD card into your computer
7. Navigate to the Nintendo 3DS folder on your SD card
8. Write down the first few characters of the folder you see
   • This is your true ID0, which we will keep in the real Nintendo 3DS folder
9. Delete the ID0 from the current Nintendo 3DS folder
10. Move the true ID0 folder from the BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS folder to the Nintendo 3DS folder
11. If it exists, move the Private folder from the BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS folder to the Nintendo 3DS folder

Once you've done this, continue from Section I Step 3.

Error 05: You don't have 1 ID1, you have (#)!

This occurs when you use multiple SD cards with the same 3DS and then merge the SD card contents together. Both are "valid", but the 3DS can only read one at a time.

You will need to determine which one contains your data. First of all, back up all of the folders, in case something goes wrong:

INFO

Now, delete all but one of the folders from your SD card. Generally, you will want to delete the smallest one(s), as the one with all your data will probably have more space occupied. You can compare which folder is occupying more space by right-clicking it and clicking "Properties":

INFO

INFO

Your SD card should now look something like this:

INFO

Now, put your SD card into your 3DS and turn it on. If your data is still there, you deleted the right folder and have now determined your correct ID1. If everything has disappeared, go back into the backup folder that you made earlier and try the other folder.

Error 06: You need at least 16MB free

Your SD card does not have enough space to trigger MSET9. Free up some space and try again.

At the end of this guide, you will need at least 1.3GB to make a NAND backup, so it's best to free up at least that much.

Error 07: One or more files are missing or malformed!

One or more files that MSET9 needs to run is missing or corrupted. Re-download the MSET9 Release .zip and extract it to the root of your SD card, replacing all existing files, then try again.

Error 18: Windows Locale Settings are broken!

When creating the MSET9 ID1 on Windows 10 and above, the script may fail with this error:

This occurs because of the beta UTF-8 support in Windows. You must disable it to run MSET9:

1. Hit Windows Key + R to open up the Run dialogue, type intl.cpl then click "OK"

   INFO

   

2. Click on Administrative, then Change System Locale

   INFO

   

   INFO

   

3. Uncheck the box next to Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support then click "OK"

   INFO

   

4. Click "Restart Now"

   INFO

   

After your PC has rebooted, try creating the MSET9 ID1 again.

MSET9 (exploit)

Red screen after reinserting SD card (Section II Step 11)

You may be missing SafeB9S.bin from the root of your SD card, or the file may be corrupted. Copy it from the MSET9 .zip, replacing any existing files then follow these instructions to remove the trigger file:

1. Force power off your console by holding the Power button for 20 seconds
2. Insert your SD card into your computer
3. Run the MSET9 script:
   • Windows: Double-click MSET9-Windows.bat
   • macOS: Double-click MSET9-macOS.command and enter your password if prompted
   • Linux: open a Terminal window, cd to the root of your SD card, then type python3 mset9.py and press Enter
4. Type the number corresponding to your console model and version, then press Enter
   • The current state should display Injected
   • If you have already removed the trigger file (or never injected in the first place), the current state will show Ready, and you may retry Section II
5. Type 4, then press Enter
6. Once the window says "Removed trigger file", type 0 and then press Enter
7. Reinsert the SD card into your console
8. Power on your console
9. Return to Section II Step 1

Alternatively, your SD card may be improperly formatted or partitioned. After removing the trigger file, format it:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Start again from from Section II Step 1

System Settings loading infinitely after reinserting the SD card

You most likely did something different from the MSET9 instructions, selected the wrong model/version, or your SD card needs to be formatted. Ensure you are choosing the correct model and firmware version when opening the script.

Follow these instructions to remove the trigger file and to retry Section II:

1. Force power off your console by holding the Power button for 20 seconds
2. Insert your SD card into your computer
3. Run the MSET9 script:
   • Windows: Double-click MSET9-Windows.bat
   • macOS: Double-click MSET9-macOS.command and enter your password if prompted
   • Linux: open a Terminal window, cd to the root of your SD card, then type python3 mset9.py and press Enter
4. Type the number corresponding to your console model and version, then press Enter
   • The current state should display Injected
   • If you have already removed the trigger file (or never injected in the first place), the current state will show Ready, and you are ready to retry Section II
5. Type 4, then press Enter
6. Once the window says "Removed trigger file", type 0 and then press Enter
7. Reinsert the SD card into your console
8. Power on your console
9. Return to Section II Step 1

If you continue to have this issue and are sure that you did everything correctly, ensure the trigger file is removed and format your SD card:

1. Copy everything off the SD Card to your PC
2. Format the SD Card (Windows, Linux, macOS)
3. Copy everything back
4. Start again from from Section II Step 1

An exception occurred after triggering MSET9

This likely indicates that you already have custom firmware. You should check for CFW.

Issues with SafeB9SInstaller

Before opening SafeB9SInstaller

Failed to open SafeB9SInstaller.bin

The file SafeB9SInstaller.bin is missing or misplaced. Download the latest release of SafeB9SInstaller, extract it, and place SafeB9SInstaller.bin on the root of your SD card. Do not add the .bin extension if you do not already see it.

SigHaxed FIRM was not installed! Check lower screen for more info.

MicroSD Card - init failed

Your SD card is most likely acting weird. Try reformatting your SD card (Windows, macOS, Linux). If this doesn't work, try another SD card.

SigHaxed FIRM - File not found

You are missing boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha from the boot9strap folder, or the boot9strap folder is misnamed. Download the latest release of boot9strap, and place boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha in the boot9strap folder.

SigHaxed FIRM - invalid FIRM

There is an issue with your boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha files. Re-download the latest release of boot9strap, and place boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha in the boot9strap folder.

Secret Sector - File not found

You are missing secret_sector.bin from the boot9strap folder, or the boot9strap folder is misnamed. Download secret_sector.bin using a torrent client, and place it in the boot9strap folder.

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Something else

Join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for assistance, and describe the issue that you see.

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