New 3DS XL - Upgrading from 32GB to 64GB SD Card Problem - Files Vanishing/Can't Make it Work

mijarf · May 26, 2022

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a SanDisk SD Card 64GB, and did all I found on the internet to make it work on my N3DSXL. Formatted in FAT32 cluster 32kb, FAT32 cluster 64kb, reformatted, and so on.
The problem is: some folders always show as "corrupted", or empty when I copy them to the new SD card. Usually the folders are gm9, boot9strap and luma. Some other folders happens this too, but it happens mainly with the gm9 and luma folder. I was copying the contents of 32GB SD card that I use now.
Tried to copy the files more than once, tried to copy only the essential files, reformatted the SD, tried to correct the currpted stuff with chkdisk and AOMEI Partition Assistant and MiniTool Partition Wizard (and I used to formatt the SD card as well), tried to bage a backup img and restore it to the new SD, etc. I can boot into GodMode, holding Start without the SD in the console, then I plug the card again and the 3DS recognizes it. But when I go through the folders, they are empty as well.
The storage space is showing like everything is there, but I can't access it.
After 1 week of getting beaten by the SD Card, I bought another one and EVERYTHING happened the same way.
The first one was a SDXC and the second SDHC. I took another 32GB SD and did the same, but with the 32GB it works flawlessly, just copied and pluged into the 3DS, no problem at all.

Anyone knows what is going on? Any tips?
Any ideas?
I'm tired of suffering with this. Just wanted to install a lot of games that I won't play in the end.

Thank you and sorry if my english is not that good.

yuyuyup · May 26, 2022

The trick for me to solving a similar issue is following the steps to rename the SD folder properly

https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-sd-card-help.540666/post-8673732

Credit to ThoD

ThoD said:
Just copy paste everything from the old card to the new one except for the "Nintendo 3DS" folder. Once the files are transferred, go in the "Nintendo 3DS" folder on the old SD card, you will see a folder with a random name consisting of 32 characters (that's called the ID0 folder), inside that you will find another folder with a similarly random name (that's the ID1 folder). Copy the contents of the ID1 folder from the old SD card to the new one's ID1 (if there's no ID1 just turn the DS on and it will be created automatically, then transfer them over).

Basically, ID0 never changes and is part of the system-specific unique encryption key each 3DS has. ID1 on the other hand changes pretty much every time a new SD card is used among other times and the 3DS recognizes ONLY the most recently created one, which can make it so that sometimes just copy-pasting everything from one card to another as-is makes games inaccessible. The contents of the ID1 folder are anything you have installed, your saves (encrypted though), etc. and there should always only be 1 ID1 folder just to avoid troubles.

mijarf · May 26, 2022

yuyuyup said:
The trick for me to solving a similar issue is following the steps to rename the SD folder properly

link

Credit to ThoD

I already copied everything except for the Nintend 3DS folder. It didn't even boot. I copied the boot.firm and boot.3dsx from Luma and pasted in the root folder, but this way it only blinks the blue light. But folders like gm9 and luma shows empty.
I copy the files again to the folders in the SD card, but if I unplug and plug it again (on PC or 3DS or anything), the folders are "empty" again.
But I'll try again in the way that ThoD said.

mitrium · May 26, 2022

Try formatting using Rufus, 32k cluster size!
I tried some other formatting software like guiformat and didn't work for me, on the other hand; Rufus worked great at first try!

EDIT: Typo

mijarf · May 27, 2022

mitrium said:
Try formatting using Rufus, 32k cluster size!
I tried some other formatting software like guiformat and didn't work for me, on the other hand; Rufus worked great at first try!

EDIT: Typo

Thanks for the tip. I'll try formatting using Rufus then, and will also try what yuyuyup said.
I'll come back with the results!

mijarf · May 27, 2022

mitrium said:
Try formatting using Rufus, 32k cluster size!
I tried some other formatting software like guiformat and didn't work for me, on the other hand; Rufus worked great at first try!

EDIT: Typo

yuyuyup said:
link

Credit to ThoD

Well, tried to format with Rufus, using 32kb and later 64kb cluster. I didn't work yet.
When I copy the files to the SD card, everything goes without any problem. But then, I'll check the files, and some folders are showing as empty (mainly Luma now).
I don't know why this is happening. Tried to copy only a file or folder, but the problem happens anyway.

New 3DS XL - Upgrading from 32GB to 64GB SD Card Problem - Files Vanishing/Can't Make it Work

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