Hacking Homebrew Animal Crossing New Leaf (ACNL) help: data corrupt??

[AndeRei]

I have the most recent .sav file (attached to this post) from my unmodded o3DS XL from before my microSD card had succumbed to hardware failure about 6 years ago. Now that Pretendo has come into public beta, I decided to homebrew my o3DS XL in hopes that I could actually recover the save file and play it online (when they get around to building support for it).

If it helps at all:

• I have not done a system format
• I still have the original (though corrupt) microSD card
• My copy of ACNL is the original digital release that has received the Welcome Amiibo update, and is not the re-released ACNL:WA game

Things I have tried:

• Pasting a copy of the original 00000001.sav file back into the "title/00000000/00086300/data" folder and attempting to run the game
• Doing the same thing, but using FBI to delete the secure value before running the game
• Importing a copy the original 00000001.sav with Checkpoint and JKSM
• Using ninfs with my moveable.sed and boot9.bin to decrypt a copy of the save and then retrying the above sequences
• Download Save3DS, but the program doesn't even open on my computer
• Run a copy of the original 00000001.sav through some converters online to turn them into .dat files (one specifically for Pokémon, one for VC games) to try opening it up through the online ACNL save editor which requires a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat
• Trying the above steps on my homebrewed n2DS XL
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game through the 3DS's data manager
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game with its ticket through FBI
• Attempted the prior sequences with and without the Welcome Amiibo update patch

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.. Even just knowing if I'm completely boned from experienced users would give me solace in knowing that there was never a chance to get it back in the first place. If it isn't possible to recover the whole save file, I hope it's at least possible to recover information like my Dream Address, villagers, and so on; that way I could at least use the aforementioned save editor to earnestly try to recreate my town.

 

[lone_wolf323]

I have the most recent .sav file (attached to this post) from my unmodded o3DS XL from before my microSD card had succumbed to hardware failure about 6 years ago. Now that Pretendo has come into public beta, I decided to homebrew my o3DS XL in hopes that I could actually recover the save file and play it online (when they get around to building support for it).

If it helps at all:

• I have not done a system format
• I still have the original (though corrupt) microSD card
• My copy of ACNL is the original digital release that has received the Welcome Amiibo update, and is not the re-released ACNL:WA game

Things I have tried:

• Pasting a copy of the original 00000001.sav file back into the "title/00000000/00086300/data" folder and attempting to run the game
• Doing the same thing, but using FBI to delete the secure value before running the game
• Importing a copy the original 00000001.sav with Checkpoint and JKSM
• Using ninfs with my moveable.sed and boot9.bin to decrypt a copy of the save and then retrying the above sequences
• Download Save3DS, but the program doesn't even open on my computer
• Run a copy of the original 00000001.sav through some converters online to turn them into .dat files (one specifically for Pokémon, one for VC games) to try opening it up through the online ACNL save editor which requires a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat
• Trying the above steps on my homebrewed n2DS XL
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game through the 3DS's data manager
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game with its ticket through FBI
• Attempted the prior sequences with and without the Welcome Amiibo update patch

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.. Even just knowing if I'm completely boned from experienced users would give me solace in knowing that there was never a chance to get it back in the first place. If it isn't possible to recover the whole save file, I hope it's at least possible to recover information like my Dream Address, villagers, and so on; that way I could at least use the aforementioned save editor to earnestly try to recreate my town.

that sav file needs to be decrypted to be used with jksm or the such. which means you need it to get at the antisave feature for it to say the file isnt corrupt and continue using it.

 

[AndeRei]

that sav file needs to be decrypted to be used with jksm or the such. which means you need it to get at the antisave feature for it to say the file isnt corrupt and continue using it.

I had tried my best to follow a ninfs thread in order to decrypt the .sav with ninfs, but perhaps I had done it wrong?
The title is "Restore save data from dead 3DS/2DS" but I can't seem to link it here as I'm a new user.

One option gave me an empty "00000001" folder and a separate "00000001.metadata" file on the side.
Another option gave me a "00000001" file with no extension.

 

[LNLenost]

If you can link the garden.dat or garden_plus.dat file I can do something. I recovered my savefile in an absurd way

 

[AndeRei]

If you can link the garden.dat or garden_plus.dat file I can do something. I recovered my savefile in an absurd way

I don't have a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat file, just the raw .sav file that was taken directly off my microSD before my o3DS XL had been modded. Some of the steps I detailed in my initial post were my attempts to get my o3DS XL to produce a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat backup so that I could edit the information in the online save editor tool. If you know how I can do this, please let me know as I really appreciate your offer.

 

[LNLenost]

I don't have a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat file, just the raw .sav file that was taken directly off my microSD before my o3DS XL had been modded. Some of the steps I detailed in my initial post were my attempts to get my o3DS XL to produce a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat backup so that I could edit the information in the online save editor tool. If you know how I can do this, please let me know as I really appreciate your offer.

Do you have FBI or checkpoint?

 

[AndeRei]

Do you have FBI or checkpoint?

I've got both, but perhaps I'm not using them correctly!

Things I have tried:

• Pasting a copy of the original 00000001.sav file back into the "title/00000000/00086300/data" folder and attempting to run the game
• Doing the same thing, but using FBI to delete the secure value before running the game
• Importing a copy the original 00000001.sav with Checkpoint and JKSM
• Using ninfs with my moveable.sed and boot9.bin to decrypt a copy of the save and then retrying the above sequences
• Download Save3DS, but the program doesn't even open on my computer
• Run a copy of the original 00000001.sav through some converters online to turn them into .dat files (one specifically for Pokémon, one for VC games) to try opening it up through the online ACNL save editor which requires a garden.dat/garden_plus.dat
• Trying the above steps on my homebrewed n2DS XL
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game through the 3DS's data manager
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the game with its ticket through FBI
• Attempted the prior sequences with and without the Welcome Amiibo update patch

 

[LNLenost]

I've got both, but perhaps I'm not using them correctly!

Ok, do this:
1) On Universal Updater download the Vapecord plugin. Reboot the console, open Rosalina and set Plugin Loader to ENABLED.
2) Copy the sav file to the game's folder (aka the first thing you tried)
3) Follow the steps Vapecord tells you, and backup you garden_plus.dat file.
4) Close the game and open FBI.
5) Go to sd:\Vapecord\Save\ACNL\and you should find a .dat file (not sure that is the right path)
6) Link the .dat file here.

 

[AndeRei]

Ok, do this:
1) On Universal Updater download the Vapecord plugin. Reboot the console, open Rosalina and set Plugin Loader to ENABLED.
2) Copy the sav file to the game's folder (aka the first thing you tried)
3) Follow the steps Vapecord tells you, and backup you garden_plus.dat file.
4) Close the game and open FBI.
5) Go to sd:\Vapecord\Save\ACNL\and you should find a .dat file (not sure that is the right path)
6) Link the .dat file here.

Thanks! I followed your instructions and Vapecord's how-to. It asked me to name it instead of just saving automatically, so I hope that this is okay. The .dat is in the .zip!

 

[LNLenost]

Great! I'll try and see what can I do.

 

[AndeRei]

Great! I'll try and see what can I do.

Thank you very much!

 

[LNLenost]

Thank you very much!

As of now, the game tells me "save data corrupted", trying a method that fixed the issue 4 me

Post automatically merged: May 10, 2024

Hey, was your town like this? If yes everything may be saved

 

[AndeRei]

As of now, the game tells me "save data corrupted", trying a method that fixed the issue 4 me

Post automatically merged: May 10, 2024

Hey, was your town like this? If yes everything may be saved

It wasn't like that, no. My town was JumpCity and I had at least 8 villagers including Chow, Hippeaux, Poncho, Celia, and Whitney.

I very much appreciate you going through such great lengths to help me. If there's nothing more that can be done, I will be resolute in knowing that my town is gone for good. Maybe I can use the Vapecord plugin to try recreating it from what few pictures I have and what little else I can remember.

 

[LNLenost]

It wasn't like that, no. My town was JumpCity and I had at least 8 villagers including Chow, Hippeaux, Poncho, Celia, and Whitney.

View attachment 436416

I very much appreciate you going through such great lengths to help me. If there's nothing more that can be done, I will be resolute in knowing that my town is gone for good. Maybe I can use the Vapecord plugin to try recreating it from what few pictures I have and what little else I can remember.

While doing this I corrupted my own savefile for the third time xD

Also thx for the picture

 

[AndeRei]

While doing this I corrupted my own savefile for the third time xD

Also thx for the picture

Oh dear, I hope you can recover your own save

 

[LNLenost]

Oh dear, I hope you can recover your own save

No problem, if I cant recover it i do have some backups

Or I can just redo what I did (basically nothing) with Marc Robledo's save editor

Also i'm stil trying things on ur savefile. Do u have a photo of the map?

Post automatically merged: May 11, 2024

Great news! My savefile is fixed (yay!)

 

[AndeRei]

No problem, if I cant recover it i do have some backups

Or I can just redo what I did (basically nothing) with Marc Robledo's save editor

Also i'm stil trying things on ur savefile. Do u have a photo of the map?

Post automatically merged: May 11, 2024

Great news! My savefile is fixed (yay!)

Busy day, apologies for the delayed reply. Glad you got your file back!

I don't have any pictures of the map itself, but I pieced this together in the town editor from what little I can remember along with the few screenshots I have left. It's not 100% exact but this should be pretty close. I only had a screenshot of one villager's house and it's because they moved literally right in front of my own house.

 

[LNLenost]

I don't have any pictures of the map itself, but I pieced this together in the town editor from what little I can remember.

Great! In case the save is gone, I can remake for you the structures. Sadly I cant place the furniture because I dont know what was inside.

 

[AndeRei]

Great! In case the save is gone, I can remake for you the structures. Sadly I cant place the furniture because I dont know what was inside.

You're already doing so much for me, I can take the time to learn how to use the editor better for some stuff if the save is gone.

If the whole save can't be recovered, do you know if it's possible to recover individual pieces of info such as:

• Villagers
• Dream Address
• Catalog
• Badges and badge progress
• Patterns
• Play time
• Happy Home Showcase
• other potentially important info

 

[LNLenost]

You're already doing so much for me, I can take the time to learn how to use the editor better for some stuff if the save is gone.

If the whole save can't be recovered, do you know if it's possible to recover individual pieces of info such as:

• Villagers
• Dream Address
• Catalog
• Badges and badge progress
• Patterns
• Play time
• Happy Home Showcase
• other potentially important info

Depends on how much corrupted it is, but probably I can recover something.

Post automatically merged: May 12, 2024

You're already doing so much for me, I can take the time to learn how to use the editor better for some stuff if the save is gone.

If the whole save can't be recovered, do you know if it's possible to recover individual pieces of info such as:

• Villagers
• Dream Address
• Catalog
• Badges and badge progress
• Patterns
• Play time
• Happy Home Showcase
• other potentially important info

Quick question: your game version is 1.5 right? Because it's giving me a strange error...