Hacking Is there currently any way to write saves (captured with an R4 save dongle) to Sky3DS?

[crimsonnight]

Hi everyone, the title of this post says it all really - saves taken from retail carts. If there is a method to accomplish this, could someone please lay out the procedure in a series of easy-to-follow steps? If there is no way at the moment, is it something that's being worked on - a tool perhaps? I did create another thread on the topic at the beginning of the year (https://gbatemp.net/threads/any-way-to-backup-saves-from-retail-3ds-carts-to-use-with-sky3ds.378750/), but a working solution wasn't found and it became too convoluted; I'm really hoping there's been an update on this topic since then! Thanks

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Yes, you'll need the retail cart with the save on it though. svdt should be able to do it, it's a homebrew.

 

[crimsonnight]

Yes, you'll need the retail cart with the save on it though. svdt should be able to do it, it's a homebrew.

Sky3DS can't run homebrew can it?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Sky3DS can't run homebrew can it?

Using Cubic Ninja it can.

 

[crimsonnight]

Using Cubic Ninja it can.

Thanks, I'll look into that then Most of the retail carts I still have, for some of my games though, I just have the .sav files - is there any way to write those?

 

[Zidapi]

Hi everyone, the title of this post says it all really - saves taken from retail carts. If there is a method to accomplish this, could someone please lay out the procedure in a series of easy-to-follow steps? If there is no way at the moment, is it something that's being worked on? Thanks

I know nothing about managing sky3DS saves, but I'm pretty sure the save dongle extracts saves in the standard encrypted format.

So they should work with whatever method sky3ds users use to manage their saves.

You also need to keep in mind that the save dongle only works with a very limited number of games.

Only save with crypto version 1.0 will be compatible.

This post by MelonGx may be of use

Don't spread wrong information. I have tested that GW launcher can't dump Sky3DS save.

Details:
Dumping Sky3DS ROM - OK but ultra slow
Dumping Sky3DS save - 3DS freezes (no response during at least 1 hour)
Restoring Sky3DS save - Write save chip error

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For Sky3DS save importing, please use official or 3rd-party DiskWriter to export the save, and then inject converted .ZAV save with binary editors.

The .ZAV save must match for a .3DZ ROM with Sky3DS Template's header.
If you want to use a .ZAV save with custom ROM header, you should edit Sky3DS Template with official or 3rd-party Template Editor.

If you don't have .ZAV save, you should convert your .SAV save into it.
To convert a header-less .SAV save into a header-required .ZAV save, you should have both a GW-usable console and a GW/MT. Otherwise you can't do any conversion.

 

[crimsonnight]

I know nothing about managing sky3DS saves, but I'm pretty sure the save dongle extracts saves in the standard encrypted format.

So they should work with whatever method sky3ds users use to manage their saves.

You also need to keep in mind that the save dongle only works with a very limited number of games.


This post by MelonGx may be of use

Hi Melon,

Don't worry - it's just for older 3DS games. The the ripped save files don't work with the Sky3DS diskwriter (despite being the correct format), I think due to a conflict with the template file. We messed around with the template file in the other thread but never reached a solution. I'm concerned that this will also be the case with the method suggested by Jdbye, but I will report back and let everyone know.

 

[crimsonnight]

Yes, you'll need the retail cart with the save on it though. svdt should be able to do it, it's a homebrew.

This method doesn't seem to be working with Sky3DS

 

[MelonGx]

Something update from #6's quote of my old response:

If you have a 2nd hacked 3DS, or only one 3DS with either of
- SysNAND 6.0-9.2 + KeyY 6.0 (Post-Oct-2013) game
- SysNAND 4.1-9.2 + KeyY 1.0-2.2 (Pre-Oct-2013) game,
you can use SaveDataFiler + CFW method instead of hex editor injecting .zav to DiskWriter .sav method.

GW side
1) Rename your .sav/.zav into 000400000FF40A00.sav (MT users don't need this step)
2) Mount the game
3) Open SaveDataFiler and export CTR card
4-1) Copy exported "filer" folder to 2nd 3DS's SD/MicroSD root, then boot 2nd 3DS's CFW (for 2nd 3DS)
4-2) Boot CFW (for only one 3DS)

CFW side
1) Insert Sky3DS
2) Open SaveDataFiler
3) Delete CTR card's Secure Value (if your game is Pokemon or other anti-save-restore games)
4) Import exported save to CTR card

I forgot whether Save Dongle dumped save is the same as GW .sav/.zav format or not.
If yes, use it as a GW .sav/.zav and follow all the above steps to convert.
If no, I have no idea.

----------------------

For the hex editor injecting .zav method:

1) Change Sky3DS Template with .zav tagged header
2) Export Sky3DS save with DiskWriter
3-1) Replace DiskWriter .sav's 0x58-0x20057/80057 with the entire 128/512KB .zav (for Card1 save injection)
3-2) I FORGOT IT!! (for Card2 save injection)
4) Import the modified DiskWriter .sav

 

[crimsonnight]

Something update from #6's quote of my old response:

If you have a 2nd hacked 3DS, or only one 3DS with either of
- SysNAND 6.0-9.2 + KeyY 6.0 (Post-Oct-2013) game
- SysNAND 4.1-9.2 + KeyY 1.0-2.2 (Pre-Oct-2013) game,
you can use SaveDataFiler + CFW method instead of hex editor injecting .zav to DiskWriter .sav method.

GW side
1) Rename your .sav/.zav into 000400000FF40A00.sav (MT users don't need this step)
2) Mount the game
3) Open SaveDataFiler and export CTR card
4-1) Copy exported "filer" folder to 2nd 3DS's SD/MicroSD root, then boot 2nd 3DS's CFW (for 2nd 3DS)
4-2) Boot CFW (for only one 3DS)

CFW side
1) Insert Sky3DS
2) Open SaveDataFiler
3) Delete CTR card's Secure Value (if your game is Pokemon or other anti-save-restore games)
4) Import exported save to CTR card

I forgot whether Save Dongle dumped save is the same as GW .sav/.zav format or not.
If yes, use it as a GW .sav/.zav and follow all the above steps to convert.
If no, I have no idea.

----------------------

For the hex editor injecting .zav method:

1) Change Sky3DS Template with .zav tagged header
2) Export Sky3DS save with DiskWriter
3-1) Replace DiskWriter .sav's 0x58-0x20057/80057 with the entire 128/512KB .zav (for Card1 save injection)
3-2) I FORGOT IT!! (for Card2 save injection)
4) Import the modified DiskWriter .sav

All I have is a Sky3DS cart and one standard 3DS running the latest system software. Is there any method available for people in my situation? Cheers

 

[simo]

Hi everyone, the title of this post says it all really - saves taken from retail carts. If there is a method to accomplish this, could someone please lay out the procedure in a series of easy-to-follow steps? If there is no way at the moment, is it something that's being worked on - a tool perhaps? I did create another thread on the topic at the beginning of the year (https://gbatemp.net/threads/any-way-to-backup-saves-from-retail-3ds-carts-to-use-with-sky3ds.378750/), but a working solution wasn't found and it became too convoluted; I'm really hoping there's been an update on this topic since then! Thanks

Hi, I've created a somewhat similar topic but for copying for Sky3DS to retail cart in here https://gbatemp.net/threads/transfer-save-data-from-sky3ds-to-original-cart.395383/ , and I've tried many things because I do not have a Custom Firmware.

If you still have the saveDongle though, for some games using it again works. You set the last game on Sky3DS cart to the one you want to copy the save to, then insert into sky3DS in the dongle and use the savedongle's program to copy the save (R4i SaveDongle V1.5.exe)
It worked for me for Devil Survivor Overclocked and Tales of the Abyss. It might work for other games as well.

Hope this helps

 

[crimsonnight]

Hi Simo,

I've tried it for a few games now but am always getting a 'send data to device' error during the transfer

*EDIT* Just tried Tales of the Abyss too, and that failed in exactly the same way - everything I've has been from the same region too, so I don't know why it's not working for me. Does anyone else have experience with this method?

 

[simo]

Hi Simo,

I've tried it for a few games now but am always getting a 'send data to device' error during the transfer

*EDIT* Just tried Tales of the Abyss too, and that failed in exactly the same way - everything I've has been from the same region too, so I don't know why it's not working for me. Does anyone else have experience with this method?

That's weird, are you using PAL games ? I have an NTSC US 3DS btw. I'll try sending you a video about the process I do when I have some free time this week, maybe there is something we're not doing the exact same way.
Oh yeah, one think that comes to mind, at first it did not work with the firmware that was installed with my R4i save dongle. It worked once I updated the firmware. I've added the version 1.3 to the post

 

[crimsonnight]

That's weird, are you using PAL games ? I have an NTSC US 3DS btw. I'll try sending you a video about the process I do when I have some free time this week, maybe there is something we're not doing the exact same way.
Oh yeah, one think that comes to mind, at first it did not work with the firmware that was installed with my R4i save dongle. It worked once I updated the firmware. I've added the version 1.3 to the post

Cheers - I just made sure 1.3 was still the latest version as you replied, so that can't be the issue. Yep, everything's PAL region, maybe that's it... that would be weird though, if the process works, it should just work

 

[MelonGx]

All I have is a Sky3DS cart and one standard 3DS running the latest system software. Is there any method available for people in my situation? Cheers

Then go with the hex editor injection.