How to dump your own 3DS/DS games/saves.

There's three different ways to dump your own 3DS/DS games/saves.
(The tools used to dump 3DS/DSi games are not currently public.)

• WiFi
  • PROS
    • Only needs a Slot-1 card.
  • CONS
    • Needs WiFi set up to let the DS connect, which isn't always possible.
    • Needs you to run a server program on your computer, which might mean you need to dig around in your firewall settings.
    • Slow transfer speeds (hours for the larger games).
    • Will not work on a DSi/XL.
    • Does not work with any DSi games.
    -
• Slot-2
  • PROS
    • Can be done without wireless.
  • CONS
    • Requires a Slot-2 flash card in addition to a slot-1.
    • Won't work if the internal battery is dead.
    • Will not work on a 3DS/DSi/XL.
    • Does not work with any DSi games.
    -
• Hardware
  • PROS
    • Backs up any save.
    • Fast backup speeds.
    • Doesn't require a specific DS model.
    • Works on all known DS games AND current-known 3DS games.
  • CONS
    • Doesn't dump the ROM.
    • Requires you to buy some hardware.
    • Uses unsigned drivers, so you may need to fiddle with some windows settings to use it.
    • Does not work with DSi games.

-

Spoiler: WiFi

The tool used to dump games is Wood Dumper.

1. Transfer that file to your Slot-1 flash card.
2. Run it.
3. When it tells you to "Set a target card", take your Slot-1 flash cart out and put the actual game cart in.
4. Press A, and then look for an IP address on the top screen.
5. Go to your computer, and open Firefox3+, IE8+ or Chrome 5+.
6. In the address bar, type "ftp://", then the IP address listed on the DS, followed by a colon, then the number 21. For example something like ftp://192.168.2.4:21.
7. If in firefox you get a message that the port is blocked, you need to unblock port 21. If not, skip this step.
   • In the address bar, type "about:config" with no quotes and press enter.
   • Agree to the warning.
   • Right-click in the window and choose New -] String.
   • For the name, type "network.security.ports.banned.override" with no quotes.
   • For the value, use "21" with no quotes.
   • Restart firefox and try again.
8. Just press enter if it asks you for a username and password.
9. The screen that shows up should list the game as a file. Click it to start downloading it from the DS.

-

The tool used to dump game saves depends...
For 3DS saves, you will need DSaveManager.

For normal DS saves, the tool is NDS Backup Tool WiFi.
(For Heartgold/Soulsilver/Black/White, you need this tool.)
You will also need SmallFTPd 1.0.3.

1. Transfer both the program and it's .INI file to your flash cart.
2. Find your computer's internal/local IP address. In your start/globe menu, go to the "run" command. If you're on vista/7, you'd use the little white box near the bottom. Type in "CMD" and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. In the black box that comes up, type "ipconfig" and press enter. It'll list a series of four numbers as your IP(v4) address, like 192.168.2.3. Write those down.
3. Edit the .INI file that comes with the backup program. You can edit it with a text editor like notepad. Change the IP address to the one you found in the previous step, and change the port number from 21 to 8080. Change both the user name and password to "test" with no quotes. Save the changes.
4. You may need to go into your firewall or other security program and allow access on port 8080.
5. Open SmallFTPd.
6. Go to Settings - General, and set the port to 8080.
7. Go to Settings - Advanced, and check "use local IP".
8. Go to Settings - Users. Choose to add one, and make sure it's username and password are both "test" with no quotes. For "directories", use "c:\temp" (no quotes) as the physical path. Give the user permissions LRW.
9. Save the settings.
10. Click the play button, and the server should start.
11. Run the backup tool on your DS/Lite.
12. It should connect to your computer. If it does not, double-check your settings and security software.
13. Take your flash cart out of your DS.
14. Put the real game in your DS and then press A.
15. Press B to dump the save.

Spoiler: Slot-2

The tool used depends on which Slot-2 cart you have.

If you have an EZFlash 3in1 the tool to dump games (a.k.a. Rom Backup) and backup saves is NDS Backup Tool 3in1. By default this tool will back up to /NDS_Backup though this location can be changed in the included INI file. It works by copying the original DS game or save data to the 3in1, then after a reboot it copies the backup from the 3in1 to a Slot-1 flash cart. DLDI patching may be required if your flash cart does not support automatic DLDI patching.

1. Download the tool from the link above and extract the NDS and INI files to the root of your flash cart.
2. (Optional) If you want to change the destination folder of the backup you can edit the INI file with your favorite text editor.
3. Make sure an EZFlash 3in1 card is in Slot-2 before you run the tool or it will give a warning and shutdown.
4. Follow the on screen instructions to swap the flash cart for an original game.
5. From here follow the on screen instructions. Backups are temporarily written to the EZFlash 3in1.
6. The DS should shutdown after a backup operation has completed.
7. Swap the original game for the flash cart and run the tool again to retrieve the backup from the EZFlash 3in1.

-

If you have a Slot-2 flash cart with DLDI support like the Supercard Supercard, M3, or older model EZ4 (the newer models and kernels with SDHC support do not have DS mode and thus no dumping tools) you want Wood Dumper Slot-2

1. Download the tool and DLDI patch it for your Slot-2 cart.
2. Transfer it to your Slot-2 cart and run it.
3. Put the game you want to dump into your DS, and press A.
4. When it's completed you will find a DS rom with a datestamp in the root of your card.

-

For the save data of Heartgold/Soulsilver you need this tool for a 3-in-1.
There's another tool that works with other Slot-2 carts, but it's experimental for now, use it at your own risk.

Spoiler: Hardware

One piece of hardware is the NDS backup Adapter+ (plus, not normal). Unlike the original adapter (and other models) this supports newer games with various hardware changes, including Pokemon Heartgold and Pokemon Soulsilver, as well as 3DS games.
This device works by actually sticking a DS game cart into it, and then putting it into a USB port on your computer to back up or restore the game/save on it. It comes with the required software and a manual for using it, but this review includes more detailed instructions as well as information on getting the 64-bit drivers working if needed.

A second device is the NEO SMS4.

One final note: piracy is bad, don't do it. These programs and instructions were created for the legal owners of DS games to backup the games and save data.


Many thanks to Xastabus and FAST6191 for filling in the missing information.

 

[Zorua]

You can also dump/restore saves using AR DSi.

 

[Kekkon]

Is it possible to do this in reverse? As in put a flashcart save onto a real game?

 

[Deleted-236924]

I tried this with savegames_manager (To backup save file from HeartGold), but it didn't work.
I set everything up as it said on the first post, but for some reason it gets stuck at "Connecting to AP"

Yes, my Wi-Fi works when using normal games.

 

[Rydian]

The NDS Backup Adapter+ got a software update to support 3DS carts.

 

[Urza]

a procedure allowed in the US under copyright law for archival purposes, meaning that you are doing this as a protective measure against the potential destruction of your original media.
The exemption for backup of software on proprietary formats only applies when said formats have become obsolete.

As NDS cards are not an obsolete format as defined by the document, it is definitively illegal to dump NDS games in the US. I recommend you remove this line from the topic post, as it is false legal advice.

Original text of the granted exemption (from the 2006 summit):
QUOTE2. Computer programs and video games distributed in formats that have become obsolete and that require the original media or hardware as a condition of access, when circumvention is accomplished for the purpose of preservation or archival reproduction of published digital works by a library or archive. A format shall be considered obsolete if the machine or system necessary to render perceptible a work stored in that format is no longer manufactured or is no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace.

http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2006/index.html

 

[Rydian]

Thanks, fixed.

 

[Dorian2112]

Hey im trying to put a certain .sav file for pokemon pearl onto my retail version of the game. When i use wooddumper and press A when i have the game in slot 1 i see some white and green letters then my ds lite shuts off i think. is there anything i might be doing wrong?



nvm i got it to work


wait i just saw does wooddumper dump the rom onto the computer????

becuz i wanted to put a save file into my game not take the game out

 

[Dorian2112]

There is a newer/different version of NDS Backup Tool Wifi, it's here
http://www009.upp.so-net.ne.jp/rudolph/nds/Backup/

With this one you don't need to install a server yourself, it has its own server so using it is similar to wood dumper.

How exactly do u use this becuz when i run it and put pokemon pearl in it, i got to the url and port thingy and i dont see any files


@ Rydian

i followed ur whole steps thing for the nds backup wifi thing and whenever i try to back up my pokemon pearl .sav it tells me

"Data transfer failed."
"Please do over again."

which i did over again but i still got same thing why is it doing that???

 

[klim28]

Is it possible to do this in reverse? As in put a flashcart save onto a real game?

I would like to bring up this question

Is there a way to put a flashcart save onto a real game?

Thanks

EDIT : OMG!!! Accidentally deleted my save file on my Pokemon Pearl reatil cart XD Thats my test cart. Still experimenting and smashing some buttons.

 

[Rydian]

The same things that dump saves can restore them.

 

[TheMourningKing]

Hey im trying to put a certain .sav file for pokemon pearl onto my retail version of the game. When i use wooddumper and press A when i have the game in slot 1 i see some white and green letters then my ds lite shuts off i think. is there anything i might be doing wrong?

nvm i got it to work

wait i just saw does wooddumper dump the rom onto the computer????

becuz i wanted to put a save file into my game not take the game out

I have actually encountered a similar problem when using the WIFI dumping process. The nintendo ds (using an original NDS model) powers down after swapping in the cart and pressing "A" and was wondering whether you could clarify how you got it working or anyone else for that matter could help troubleshoot the problem.

Many thanks in advance

 

[vaati000]

I'm trying to use save_manager to put a Pokemon Black .sav file onto a cartridge, but to put a long story short, the top screen of my DS isn't working. Would anyone mind telling me the exact button presses I need to hit in order to get it working?

 

[imbetterthanulol]

This won't recognize my Pokemon White save with the wifi method, any reasoning?

Says "file not found"

But the rom backup works just fine =/

 

[KazoWAR]

You should add the NEO SMS4 under the hardware section since it can dump DS saves and ROMs, not sure about 3DS saves.

http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index.php?topic=6419.0

 

[Rydian]

Added.

 

[ShinyJellicent12]

There is a newer/different version of NDS Backup Tool Wifi, it's here
http://www009.upp.so-net.ne.jp/rudolph/nds/Backup/

With this one you don't need to install a server yourself, it has its own server so using it is similar to wood dumper.

When I follow the instructions, the thing says waiting connection. The save type is unknown
---
Game title: DSMIO UORE 00
Chip ID : EC 7F 00 88
ROM Size(Used) : 128.00MB ( 16.59MB)
SAVE Type : Unknown
---
(X) Change ROM (START) Turn Off
---
The top:
FTP server IP : 192.168.0.12 Port 21
Save File Size : Auto
User Name: anonymous
===Waiting Connection===

---
What do I do?

 

[Deleted-236924]

Managed to make it work on EZ-Flash IV after all.
All I had to do was convert it to .ds.gba using dsbuild.exe, then dldi patch it.
All those tools are found in the HOMEBREW AND DLDI folder that comes with EZ4Client.

Forget that. Gets stuck at 16384000 bytes dumped and no file appears at root.

You should add that savesgame_manager works even if the 3in1's battery is dead.

 

[Themanhunt]

Got problems here with the WiFi save dumper. I edit the ini file successfully, save and put it on my SD card. Run the app on my DS and it reverts to default settings...

I cant get past this.

Edit:

Fixed.

 

[BORTZ]

Whats the difference between WFC and wifi? When i configure my setting in a game it says that the connection is ok but when i go to connect to WFC, Wood Dumper fails to connect.

Hmmm. If it helps, im dumping FFTA2
I have a Dsl
Im using a Super Card 2 (GBAtemp edition)
and im using the colleges wifi.

 

[Deleted-236924]

Finally (I hope so) got it to work with my EZ-Flash IV.

I patched wooddumper_slot2 with the EZ-Flash IV dldi, then I used dldinoap on wooddumper.
Then I ran wooddumper with my DSTwo and swapped the card in slot-1 when it asked.

It dumped 56MB of data as of now, which is why I think I got it to work.
(Attempting to dump Pokémon White)

Nope. Got stuck at 73202712 bytes dumped.