Hello, friend. Did you recently start playing a game using a rom from another region because it got dumped first, but want to transfer it to your main region? Well, look no further! This here is my attempt at writing a guide for those of you who, like me, were confused by the other one found here: http://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial...v-to-eshop-3ds-3dz-with-savedatafiler.380246/ This guide will walk you step-by-step, but I couldn't have done it without the help of the tutorial creator, liomajor, and the various commenters inside. This guide is made based on the assumption that you have Gateway with a fully functional emuNAND, but it may very well work for other flashcarts/CFW. It's also assuming you are using both .3DS or .3DZ. gamesquest1 detailed how to do this for .cia files, and the different steps you need for it will be listed at the bottom of the guide.

Here's what you need:

• Copy of the ROM that you want to transfer from, and its save. From now on, I will refer to this as ROM1.
• Copy of the ROM that you want to transfer to, and a save (just start the game and get to the earliest save point possible). From now on, I will refer to this as ROM2.
• SaveDataFiler. I can't put a link here, so do some of the usual Google-fu. From now on, I will refer to this as SDF.
• (Optional) A FTP app for your 3DS, which will drastically cut down the time it takes between steps, since you never need to take out your SD card.

Alrighty, let's get started! For this tutorial I will use the EU and US versions of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate as reference, since that's what I used and what a good amount of you readers will use as well.

1. Backup your save games.
2. Seriously, backup your save games. I cannot stress this enough. You're going to need to, anyway.
3. Using the method of your choice, copy your ROM1 save to your SD and rename the .sav to 000400000FF40A00.sav. You can find your save's file name by going to http://3ds.essh.co/, typing in the name of your game in the search bar, and going to the titleid column. For example, my save is from EU MH4U, and its titleid is 0004000000126100, so its save's filename is 0004000000126100.sav.
4. Turn on your console and load up the Gateway browser exploit.
5. Press Select and select ROM1 from your rom list.
6. Open SDF. You should see "CTR Card" followed by a bunch of numbers with broken next to them. Highlight CTR Card, press Y and then A to decrypt and export ROM1's save. It will now show up under the SD tab by a string of numbers which indicate the date, followed by the last several numbers of ROM1's titleid.
7. Turn off your console and open up your SD card.
8. Delete 000400000FF40A00.sav, then copy ROM2's save to your SD card and rename it to 000400000FF40A00.sav
9. Turn on your console and load up the Gateway browser exploit.
10. Press Select and select ROM2 from your rom list.
11. Open SDF. Using the same procedure as step 6, highlight CTR Card, press Y, and then A to decrypt ROM2's save. It will now show up under the SD tab in addition to the decrypted save of ROM1 from step 6.
12. Turn off your console and open up your SD Card.
13. Inside the folder "filer" you will find the subfolder UserSaveData. Inside will be two folders with the same names as the decrypted saves. Backup "filer" onto your PC.
14. This following may be different depending on the game used. Again, I will be referencing MH4U. Open ROM1's subfolder. You will know it's ROM1's subfolder because inside it will have a folder and files with ROM1's titleid. For MH4U, it has the files 00001261.dat, 00001261_.dat, and export.log, with the folder 00001261. Inside the titleid folder are the files system and user1. Again, this may be different depending on the game.
15. Copy the files from ROM1's titleid folder and replace the files from ROM2's titleid folder.
16. Turn on your console, and load up the Gateway Browser exploit.
17. Press Select and select ROM2 from your ROM list.
18. Open SDF, go to the SD tab, select ROM2's decrypted save folder (it'll be the one with the higher number, which indicates it was decrypted later) and press L + A to import the save. It will be stored as 000400000FF40A00.sav.
19. Turn off your console and open up your SD Card (I told you, an FTP client would save you a bunch of time).
20. Rename 000400000FF40A00.sav to ROM2's titleid.sav, which in my case is 0004000000126300.sav.
21. Turn on your console and load up the Gateway browser exploit.
22. Press Select, select ROM2 from your rom list, and start the game. Assuming everything went according to plan, your save from one region is now working for another region. Congratulations!

A common problem with this process is CTR Card showing as broken. That means you didn't properly copy whatever save you're trying to import/export from and rename it as 000400000FF40A00.sav.

For .cia files, a bunch of steps can be skipped. You don't need to do any save file renaming. Open SDF, go to the middle tab, find the titleids of ROM1 and ROM2, and export/decrypt them. Then open up your SD card, copy ROM1's filer files over ROM2's, and then go back to SDF and import ROM2's save.

If the files in your decrypted save folders are different from mine, then steps 14 and 15 will be different. I can't imagine them being too different, though. Got another problem? Let me know and I'll try to help.

 

[Ericthegreat]

Thank you, it's nice to know its possible.

 

[illicit]

thanks for this. it worked great.

 

[gamesquest1]

worth mentioning this may not work on all games, but i would say the large majority would probably be using the same save structure between regions.

in regards to doing this for cia installed games it would be a bit simpler, basically find the games title ID, figure out the unique ID so for example monster hunter 4 ultimate US is 0004000000126300, so for monster hunter it would just be these 4 numbers 1263, its always the 2 from last 4 digits eg 0004000000126300)

so basically go to SDF look for the unique ID 1263, dump the save, now if you already have the alternate region game installed look for the other regions unique ID and dump that too, so EU MH4 is 1261

turn off your 3DS, put the SD in your computer, go to the filer folder and find the 2 folders for each game then take the raw files from the US folder and replace the files in the EU folder with the US saves counterparts

go back to SDF and re-import the EU save and you should now have your save from the US game on your EU game

 

[mariorqs]

For the amount of attempts I've taken, I've made no progress. I tried clearing my SD of all saves, only having the renamed MH4U EU save.
I tried renaming it using FTP and transferring it after i mounted it.
I tried using a different SD card.
Each attempt ended with it saying CTR - broken

Its really frustrating as I tried this many times during the week. Any suggestions?

 

[Thirty3Three]

Dude, thanks so much man! I really appreciate the help

 

[plasma]

This was able to help me convert a Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Neppu save into a Raimei save with success, so I thank you!

 

[Pedeadstrian]

worth mentioning this may not work on all games, but i would say the large majority would probably be using the same save structure between regions.

in regards to doing this for cia installed games it would be a bit simpler, basically find the games title ID, figure out the unique ID so for example monster hunter 4 ultimate US is 0004000000126300, so for monster hunter it would just be these 4 numbers 1263, its always the 2 from last 4 digits eg 0004000000126300)

so basically go to SDF look for the unique ID 1263, dump the save, now if you already have the alternate region game installed look for the other regions unique ID and dump that too, so EU MH4 is 1261

turn off your 3DS, put the SD in your computer, go to the filer folder and find the 2 folders for each game then take the raw files from the US folder and replace the files in the EU folder with the US saves counterparts

go back to SDF and re-import the EU save and you should now have your save from the US game on your EU game

I assumed it might be different for other games, that's why I added the caveat in step 14. The same rough process should apply. And thanks for the .cia info, I'll add it to the first post.

For the amount of attempts I've taken, I've made no progress. I tried clearing my SD of all saves, only having the renamed MH4U EU save.
I tried renaming it using FTP and transferring it after i mounted it.
I tried using a different SD card.
Each attempt ended with it saying CTR - broken

Its really frustrating as I tried this many times during the week. Any suggestions?

Are you sure you mounted the right game? If you're trying to copy from EU MH4U to US MH4U, you need the EU MH4U save (1261) renamed to 000400000FF40A00.sav, and you need to have EU MH4U mounted. After that, it should show up in SDF. You might also wanna delete FF40D and DA001 if they're in your SD card. I don't know where they came from, but I deleted them anyway.

 

[mariorqs]

Are you sure you mounted the right game? If you're trying to copy from EU MH4U to US MH4U, you need the EU MH4U save (1261) renamed to 000400000FF40A00.sav, and you need to have EU MH4U mounted. After that, it should show up in SDF. You might also wanna delete FF40D and DA001 if they're in your SD card. I don't know where they came from, but I deleted them anyway.

I've done that more times than I can count and I cleared all the saves to make sure it doesnt load anything else. I have made sure I mounted the correct game each time. I know its the right save because i just change the filename back and i dont have an issue continuing my game.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

I've done that more times than I can count and I cleared all the saves to make sure it doesnt load anything else. I have made sure I mounted the correct game each time. I know its the right save because i just change the filename back and i dont have an issue continuing my game.

Hmm. I don't quite know what to tell you. I didn't come up with this method, I just wrote a detailed guide for it after doing it once successfully. Are you using both .3DZ files? If so, you could send me a copy of your save and I'll try and see if I can get it to work on my console.

 

[Rhokk222]

Heeeeey Pedeadstrian...
I'm in need of your wisdom buddy. Game in question is MH4U - both saves are NOT updated to new update. I'm trying to go from a (europe cia) to (american retail CTR legit card). After searching and finding your tutorial I think its possible. BTW... sysNand=9.2U, emuNand=9.4U, nands are linked.

What I've tried
1. While in Gateway mode, I launched SDF with my retail MH4U mounted.
2. Went to the 2nd tab (Ext) and pressed "Y" on lines 00001261(europe cia save) and 00001263(my retail usa save) to export.
3. Then, loaded the SD card in windows. Went "filer" then "ExtData". I see two folders which are named based on the timestamp SDF uses...

"20150218054918" has 4 items:
a folder named 00001261 (has 10 files)
a 00001261.dat
a 00001261_.dat
a export.log

obviously the 2nd folder "20150218054931" has
a folder named 00001263 (has 10 files)
a 00001263.dat
a 00001263_.dat
a export.log

I'm not 100% sure what I'm taking from the 1st folder and moving to the 2nd folder. I've tried only moving the contents of the sub folder which contains 10 files itself...
card1, card2, card3, cardbox, otomo1, quest1, quest2, quest3, quest4, and quest5.

4. Moved these x10 files from the EU folder to U folder and confirmed to replace.
5. I ran SDF while in Gateway mode with retail card mounted.
6. Went to the 3rd tab (SD) and pressed "A" to import on only line 00001263. Result completed secsessfully!
7. Restarted 3DS and went into my retail game.

Upon going to the character selection screen, I see my retail "U" guy and not my "EU" guy. I go ahead and load thinking its still going to maybe load my EU 15hr save and I get the message... "Another set of extra data is already stored on this SD card." "If this SD card is used, the existing save data will be overwritten when downloadable content, other hunters' Guild Cards, Sets, and so on are saved. Are you sure you want to proceed?" ...if I say no, it just says to turn the system off, insert another card, restart the game. If I say yes, it loads my 10 min usa retail save with no changes.

Should I be doing anything with the .dat or .log files? Did I skip anything?

:UPDATE:
redid everything all over, except this time I not only moved those x10 files but also moved both 1261 dat files over and renamed them to 1263. Upon starting the retail cart up, I still get my 10 min usa save guy on the selection screen and when loading, it gives me the same message as before.

It seems like following your .3ds method but injecting your .cia instructions is only moving the ext data and not the actual save? Which is why I'm not having luck on the character selection screen. I'm guessing what I did was correct but only for the ext data. I can find my 1261 save file via the SDcard in...
e:\Nintendo 3DS\BigLongNumberA\BigLongNumberB\title\00040000\00126100\data\00000001.sav
Isn't this what I need imported?

 

[Pedeadstrian]

*snip*

To my knowledge, it's impossible to import Gateway saves, whether they're .3dz, .3dz, or .cia to a retail cart, without the use of PowerSaves. Something about Gateway mode not being able to read retail carts (since you'll get the "Please insert the red Gateway card" message) and Classic mode not being able to open .cia applications. You can go from retail save to .3ds/.3dz/.cia (again, to my knowledge), but not the other way around.

 

[Thirty3Three]

WWould you have to rename the save files to match their region? Like the id number stuff? (ie: MM EU ends in 1256, while US ends in 1255) would I have to rename the files to match the region?

 

[Pedeadstrian]

WWould you have to rename the save files to match their region? Like the id number stuff? (ie: MM EU ends in 1256, while US ends in 1255) would I have to rename the files to match the region?

Not sure what step you're talking about. You only ever rename the actual save files to 000400000FF40A00.sav. And if you meant the decrypted save files, so long as the same file structure is used for MM as it is MH4U, then there would be no need, because the files you'd copy over wouldn't have the titleid in their names.

 

[jscjml]

How can you go from Retail save to .cia?

I have my MH4G save file i dumped from the Gateway Launcher (BFGJ.sav) and renamed it to FF40A.sav, but im still getting CTR card broken....
Any help?

 

[Pedeadstrian]

How can you go from Retail save to .cia?

I have my MH4G save file i dumped from the Gateway Launcher (BFGJ.sav) and renamed it to FF40A.sav, but im still getting CTR card broken....
Any help?

The CTR card error is only relevant for .3ds or .3dz ROMs. I honestly don't know if it's possible to go straight from retail to .cia, but you should be able to go from retail to .3ds and then .3ds to .cia. So you'd need a .3ds or .3dz copy. Again, I'm no expert at this process, but that's how I'd do it.

 

[jscjml]

Hm, well i actually do have my MH4G cart dumped and on the GW sd card, i mount it and have the FF40A.sav on my 3DS SD card, but even still when i mount 4G and start SDF it shows as CTR broken.
Heres what i did:

1) Dumped Game
2) Dumped Savefile from retail cart (through Gateway Launcher)
3) Put game onto Gateway card
4) Renamed BFGJ.sav to FF40A (the long name).sav, put it on the 3DS SD Card
5) Start Gateway in Gateway mode, hit select and mount 4G, then start SDF

and still, shows as broken.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

Hm, well i actually do have my MH4G cart dumped and on the GW sd card, i mount it and have the FF40A.sav on my 3DS SD card, but even still when i mount 4G and start SDF it shows as CTR broken.
Heres what i did:

1) Dumped Game
2) Dumped Savefile from retail cart (through Gateway Launcher)
3) Put game onto Gateway card
4) Renamed BFGJ.sav to FF40A (the long name).sav, put it on the 3DS SD Card
5) Start Gateway in Gateway mode, hit select and mount 4G, then start SDF

and still, shows as broken.

Have you tried running the dumped version of your game to see if the save works?

 

[jscjml]

Have you tried running the dumped version of your game to see if the save works?

The funny thing is, any game i use for my 64GB Sandisk MicroSD is shaky, in that it will either not boot up and shoot me "Game Card Removed" error, or it will do it later on while i play. Ill definitely keep trying so i can try and access my save though.

 

[hackotedelaplaqu]

Works great whith Shantae NTSC->PAL.
Thanks for this guide.

By the way, which process is 000400000FF40A00 ?