Hacking Major problem (and possible solutions), my 3DS will not load the HOME Menu!

[I pwned U!]

Outcome:

This 3DS was later unbricked after sending it to Nintendo for repair. All of my system save data and system ExtData was gone after the repair, but all of my other save data and ExtData remained intact.

Lesson learned:

Always have a NAND backup even if you are not on an exploitable firmware or using homebrew to modify the system!

Original post:

I am having a major problem with my first 3DS.

Here are the posts that I made about it:

http://techforums.nintendo.com/thread/33281

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/178003/My+3DS+will+not+boot.+How+do+I+fix+this

I was told that in order to fix the problem, I might need to have the motherboard replaced. Of course, the problem with this is that it would also replace the NAND and would use a different encryption key. I do not want to lose over 3 years worth of save data to fix the problem. If I did get a new motherboard, then would it be possible to swap out certain parts such as the NAND to keep the old encryption?

If not, then I have one last (unsual) idea. I now own another 3DS running firmware 4.1. This will probably sound crazy, but would it be possible to solder the NAND on the first 3DS to the new one in a way so that they can both be connected at once? If this did actually work, then I would like to create an encryption tool homebrew program that would run from the new 3DS, but allow me to select the other NAND as the source for the encryption key. Then I could decrypt the data from there and on the SD card from the first 3DS and encrypt it again, but this time selecting the 4.1 3DS NAND as the source of the encryption key.

Any help with these questions or the problem that I posted on the other websites would be greatly appreciated. I just do not want to lose my data forever.

 

[hippy dave]

Have you talked to Nintendo to see if they would salvage the save data while doing the repair? It's certainly something they could theoretically do, and it might even be a standard service, who knows.

 

[I pwned U!]

I have, but I was told that the repair people try not to lose any data, but they cannot make any guarantees and sometimes there is nothing that they can do about it.

 

[NicEXE]

If Nintendo's people cannot guarantee you that your data will be saved why do you ask us? If they can't do anything about it, it probably means that it can't be done in a feasible way.

 

[I pwned U!]

I just thought that maybe someone on this website might have some advice or had the same problem before. I want to explore every last possibility before I try to get it fixed.

 

[gamesquest1]

tbh you would probably be able to find a 4.x replacement motherboard, for cheaper than nintendo offers the repair for,

in the other forum you said there was a button combo to get into system settings.....have you tried formatting the system, you said you already ran a update, so its safe to say your 3ds won't be on 4.x no more anyway

 

[I pwned U!]

tbh you would probably be able to find a 4.x replacement motherboard, for cheaper than nintendo offers the repair for,

Yes, but then I will still lose all of my data unless the NAND swapping or decrypting ideas work.

 

[gamesquest1]

Yes, but then I will still lose all of my data unless the NAND swapping or decrypting ideas work.

what saves are you refering to, eshop games?
retail cart saves and gateway saves will still work fine (although you have updated so gateway won't work)

also there would be no real way to switch your nand or anything like that, and with your current 3ds being broken, there would be no way to run anything on it to decrypt the nand from that console even if any new tools are released

actually there is 1 realistic possibility, but it would involve you having another 7.2 3ds, if you can still make it into system settings you could try doing a system transfer to a working console

 

[I pwned U!]

Yes, some retail, Virtual Console, Ambassador Progam games that I downloaded from the eShop. I also have my Street Pass Mii Plaza data including the four paid games. In addition, my Nintendo Network ID and Club Nintendo account are tied to the first 3DS, which means that without a way to unlink them, they cannot be used on a replacement 3DS motherboard or the newer one that I own.

 

[gamesquest1]

Yes, some retail, Virtual Console, Ambassador Progam games that I downloaded from the eShop. I also have my Street Pass Mii Plaza data including the four paid games. In addition, my Nintendo Network ID and Club Nintendo account are tied to the first 3DS, which means that without a way to unlink them, they cannot be used on a replacement 3DS motherboard or the newer one that I own.

can you still use the button combo to get into system settings? if so see if you can do a system transfer to someone else (who doesnt have any eshop games as you will get there games when they transfer yours back to you) basically transfer to them, get your 3ds sorted and transfer back

 

[Reecey]

Find a new 3DS on 4x, it would be a way cheaper option and much less hassle.

 

[I pwned U!]

can you still use the button combo to get into system settings? if so see if you can do a system transfer to someone else (who doesnt have any eshop games as you will get there games when they transfer yours back to you) basically transfer to them, get your 3ds sorted and transfer back

My dad showed me a combo that took me to the part for a firmware update, but after it updated, it shut right back off again and had the same problem all over again. I encountered the same problem there when I pressed the back button in the menu. Is there more than one combo for the System Settings that will allow me to go to other menus?

Update:

I now found some other combinations on the HOME Menu page on 3dbrew. I am able to start up the touchscreen and circle pad calibration menus. I tried a combination that, according to 3dbrew, "...launches System Settings for the system setup." or launches the game card application if one is inserted, but it did not work for either option.

 

[I pwned U!]

Find a new 3DS on 4x, it would be a way cheaper option and much less hassle.

I already have one, but I cannot transfer my data to it.

 

[I pwned U!]

I also found some videos of someone having the exact problem:

 

[gamesquest1]

did you make a nand backup at any point? would be interesting to see if its a nand corruption issue if you know anyone who can solder the nand mod to restore the backup

 

[DragonSky]

I may be sound dumb but have you though of it to just backup your sd card and then sent to nintendo?
You can use your data again if you delete it you know aslong as it is on the same system.

 

[Subtle Demise]

I may be sound dumb but have you though of it to just backup your sd card and then sent to nintendo?
You can use your data again if you delete it you know aslong as it is on the same system.

Not with a different motherboard and therefore a new encryption key. They could transfer any purchased content to the new console, but any saves or other data will essentially be gone, because it will be irreversibly encrypted.

 

[I pwned U!]

did you make a nand backup at any point? would be interesting to see if its a nand corruption issue if you know anyone who can solder the nand mod to restore the backup

Unfortunately not, and doing so now would not make any difference because there would be no way to decrypt it. The only way it might be able to be decrypted is by connecting it to the 4.1 3DS and have both NANDs connected at the same time to change the encryption via homebrew. It is a very unusual idea, but I will do whatever I can to keep my data.

 

[DarkKnigh_t]

i think you should forget about losing data and focus and do everything just to get your 3ds working again i think thats more important right?

 

[DragonSky]

Not with a different motherboard and therefore a new encryption key. They could transfer any purchased content to the new console, but any saves or other data will essentially be gone, because it will be irreversibly encrypted.

Then he can ask to Nintendo not to move to a new console. Just sent it and with the broken 3DS.
They must understand about the savedata.