Hardware Emmc swap between O3Ds systems feasible?

[Balallax]

I am an electronic technician and I have tools that I can use to swap the Emmc chip from the 3Ds motherboards,

The only question is, since some info is encrypted into the Emmc, I was wondering if the encryption is only applied to the Emmc itself and it checks some serials and data from another ICs, or it takes all the way to the CPU, like an iPhone or Mac of some sort.

If it stays out of the CPU and just checks some other IC, I can replace it too, but since I couldnt get my hands on any schematic from any 3Ds system, I was wondering if the community could solve this puzzle for me.

This 3Ds in question had a bad trace between the charger inductor, charger IC and fuse near the battery, So I was thinking in put my Emmc in a "clean" board with no defects as I have two lying on my pile.

What do you guys think? Is it feasible?

 

[Kubas_inko]

You have access to 3DS board, but not to a working one (because otherwise, I don't know why you want to replace it)?

 

[Balallax]

You have access to 3DS board, but not to a working one (because otherwise, I don't know why you want to replace it)?

Bad traces in logic boards mean bad quality solder, print or even quality fault of the fiber used in it, or maybe damage by tension (which is not my case since the device never had a drop), so its just a matter of time for another issue appears. I just want to save time and effort trying to realize the repair again and use a good condition board.

 

[Kubas_inko]

Bad traces in logic boards mean bad quality solder, print or even quality fault of the fiber used in it, or maybe damage by tension (which is not my case since the device never had a drop), so its just a matter of time for another issue appears. I just want to save time and effort trying to realize the repair again and use a good condition board.

that's what I'm asking. Do you have a working board without the EMMC or what?

 

[Balallax]

that's what I'm asking. Do you have a working board without the EMMC or what?

I have two complete boards, without the peripherals, that I can use. My system is EUR, the boards are EUR and the other is USA.

 

[Mikemk]

I'm guessing you're trying to do an offline system transfer from a broken 3DS to a new one?

 

[Kubas_inko]

I have two complete boards, without the peripherals, that I can use. My system is EUR, the boards are EUR and the other is USA.

So you have 1 "non" working board and 1 working board. Why can't you use the working board instead? I just don't understand the hassle.

 

[Mikemk]

If you have the keys already dumped, you can decrypt and re-encrypt the NAND, but I don't think that'll work across regions.

 

[Balallax]

I'm guessing you're trying to do an offline system transfer from a broken 3DS to a new one?

From a point of view... I think so. But since system transfers have some limitations about regions, the fact that my device is hardmoded, save games, CIAs and etc... For me, this process would be easier than all the pain in the a*** of transfering everything from a system to another by software.

 

[Mikemk]

If it can turn on, use decrypt9

 

[Balallax]

So you have 1 "non" working board and 1 working board. Why can't you use the working board instead? I just don't understand the hassle.

I have 1 repaired device that had a board level damage that can appear again in the future in another component, and I have two probably working boards (just the boards), from different regions.

I dont want to risk lose about 6 years of data in games, in the moment I cant buy another newer system (I live in Brazil, Nintendo does not officially sells devices here so they cost a little fortune) I all I wanna know is if its feasible.
If anyone knows the risks, if it would work or not, if I would have to do some work around on some things, this kind of stuff,

Sorry if I'll look rude, but I'm not looking to give so many explanations, I work with board level repairs daily, so I know what I'm going to do, I just want to know if it will be just pop out the chip from one board to another, or its a complete waste of time since it will not work, and what I could do, if any way, to make it work.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If it can turn on, use decrypt9

after decrypting the NAND, and installing it to a new board, the new board would recognize the data on the NAND without problems so I could re-encrypt it easily?

 

[Mikemk]

I believe so. You could also use JKSM to backup saves

 

[bennyman123abc]

Stop offering alternatives and answer this guy's question.

Anyway, I'd have to do a little more research, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[Balallax]

Stop offering alternatives and answer this guy's question.

Anyway, I'd have to do a little more research, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Will try that tomorrow on my day off, will report back!

 

[bennyman123abc]

Will try that tomorrow on my day off, will report back!

I'm really looking forward to hearing the results! It seems like you may be the first person (At least outside of Ninty) that's trying this. I wish you luck!

 

[gamesquest1]

someone did something similar to create a us small n3ds before official release, basically afaik the emmc is encrypted with cpu specific keys, so just swapping the emmc is pointless, you would need to swap the cpu, they guy who made the region swapped n3ds actually swapped the emmc chip too, but he could probably just have just swapped the cpu then done a nand mod to dump the nand from the donor board then write the dump to the new emmc

https://web.archive.org/web/20170118090015/http://www.noodlevisions.com/?p=10