Topic: Update Freezing

I posted earlier about my 3DS system becoming corrupted due to having to power off during an update that was not making progress. Well, it turns out there was no way to fix it other than sending it to Nintendo and paying up $95 since it was out of warranty. I decided just to get an XL since I'd been wanting one forever... and now that console froze on the update, too!

My internet connection is fine. I'm typing this message on a computer on the same network. I played Brawl online to test it out, and Brawl of all games works fine. So it happens on two different systems on a network without any other problems. My new system has frozen during the update process twice now. After restarting the second time, it showed the Miiverse features even though the update wasn't done, so I tried playing Mario Kart, and that seemed to be going well until I tried using the home menu to close out of the game and my system froze. So it seems this console is corrupted now, too.

The second time I updated it, it picked up where the first update left off. I'm trying again now, and it seems to be making progress from scratch or has skipped ahead to a different update. Doesn't look like it'll finish either.

Needless to say, I am extremely agitated with the situation. Is this a common problem that anyone's heard of starting with the Miiverse update? Any suggestions? Not sure if I can just return it to Gamestop since I opened it and it's having problems, but I just opened it today.

I miss the days when consoles didn't need updates; they just worked.

You came back! I don't know ya but a lot of people missed you!

Are you using the same SD card from your old one into your new one?

No, I intended to do a system transfer from my broken one to my new one so I could get all my downloads, but you have to update before doing a system transfer, so I haven't switched out the SD card yet.

Hmm… Its could be some poor luck involved. I'm not sure it is common problem but hopefully someone else will come to this forum. I don't have any other ideas that you could try out.

To clarify, it's freezing during the download, yes? As in, you're going into the system settings and voluntarily prompting the update and it freezes while obtaining the new data? If so, I have heard of similar issues as far back as the DSi, though with both systems it is quite uncommon. Some even more exceptional scenarios have had people unwittingly downloading beta updates with strange features. It has been salvageable for some users.

Do you have Spot Pass and such turned on or off? Assuming you can access the System Settings with your 3DS in its current shape, my suggestion would be to turn automatic updates on and keep your 3DS in sleep mode at the main menu with the Wi-Fi turned on for a while (ideally overnight) and see what comes of it. This will at least prevent you from partially installing updates again since you need to have downloaded the entire package for it to actually get applied.

Not sure what the problem is but I know that if you were to take it back to Gamestop you will only receive the trade in value since you already opened it. Other then that I am not much help.

Why don't you try leaving it updating overnight?

I did in fact bring it back to Gamestop for an exchange, but I wanted to ask to make sure I do it right this time.

I have Spotpass, etc. turned on for my original 3DS. For the new one, I have whatever the default settings are. I imagine everything is on.

I didn't know anything about automatic updates. I'll see if I can figure out how to do that for my new, new system.

Thanks, all.

I have found out that it is in fact something with my connection, but I have no idea what. Both my new system and my old one (that told me I had corrupted data) can connect online at my local library to download or play games without crashing.

I never used to have problems with the network, and other devices (Wii U, iPad, PC, phone, etc) work just fine online. Any techies have an idea what this could be? Whenever I do something online with a 3DS, it inevitably crashes moments later and I have to hard reset.

A friend recommended looking up port forwarding or establishing a static IP. I don't know the first thing about networking jargon, and I am having trouble finding a definitive answer on how either of these things should be done. I did end up setting a static IP, but it didn't fix the problem, assuming I did it right. I looked up port forwarding and found a wide variety of answers. I don't want to mess it up worse by doing the wrong ports, whatever ports are. From what I can tell, Nintendo recommends just opening all ports, but people say this will interfere with other devices getting online and opens it to being hacked (not that I imagine 3DSes get hacked).

@Adam: Its must be a very simple thing such as you have an weak signal for your 3DS. My laptop and PS Vita can reach the router no problem when my Nintendo 3DS cannot. Try moving your device closer to your router before you try any port forwarding, static IP, DNS, and etc. I don't think static IP address is an problem but its could be.

No, it is not a weak signal. I can see that I have all three bars in the upper-left corner, and I have tried it in different areas.

Actually, and I'm not sure why no one has thought of this, the problem could be a communications problem further down the line. Perhaps one of the servers that your connection uses to communicate through is broken in some way, perhaps your provider has a bad connection somewhere, or someone is piggybacking part of the route's data for their own nefarious uses. If you have a friend, or access to another wifi in some other location, try the update there. I think one of the flaws of the 3DS not mentioned is that there is less error checking. Most systems you can interrupt downloads of any type, even system updates, and start back up when the connection is restored, but the 3DS doesn't allow that.

Basically, to know exactly what is wrong someone who knows how the 3DS and how the internet as a whole work would have to be in your location to check everything out themselves. You could try a Starbucks for testing this out. With the DS, there were some connections it just didn't work with at all, even if all the settings were perfect.

Yea, I mentioned earlier that I was able to update and do other things on both systems at the library, but even once updated, I still can't do things online at home. If I attempt downloading any large files (retail games), updating, or playing a game online, either system will freeze. Even if I am just connect to the internet and go to Home menu from an offline game, it can freeze. I was able to download small VC games though and use the browser though it would not lad images.

This is probably not gonna help much but i've tried to use my Wii U's online in the house of my parents.
When it's near the router that's directly plugged into the "wall" it works perfectly fine.
When i try to connect to the repeater though it doesn't get a steady signal. All the other devices that connect to the repeater work very well though.
Just saying that this stuff is often strange as heck i guess.

exactly what happens to my 3DS...

Clearly networking is all sorcery.

Try doing it at a Nintendo Zone.

Are there any other devices actively using a Wifi connection? This could be a lack of bandwidth problem.

As I said, I already found an alternative connection at the library for my downloading needs. The question is how to fix it for at home, where I would like to be able to play online. There is no Nintendo Zone nearby that I know of, but that would not be helpful, anyway.

Bandwidth is not a problem. I have plenty to spare.