Hardware nand flash dump (3ds xl)

[eggsample]

I think that NAND backups you already dump are useless.
You need to connect 3DS to SD reader to PC USB, power 3DS, wait seconds for BLUE screen and than download NAND to PC.

 

[gamesquest1]

they actually should be fine, it really doesn't matter when you connect it, its adviced when it powered off so you dont interrupt any writing that is happening to the nand which *could* possibly brick/corrupt whatever was getting wrote to the nand at the time.

you can check the nand in a hex editor and look for nscd....it should be right near the start of the file

 

[ghormoon]

I think too that the nand doesn't really care at all ... I did it like that because if I connect it off, my PC usually don't recognize the card then, but maybe I'll try to BSOD it like that and reconnct next time ...
anyway NCSD (0x00000100-0x00000103) present, also there is the long FFFF part (dsi mode?) so I think it really is the same
between the live dump and the black screen dump (diffrent boot) there's first difference on 0x0eb64000 then some more up to 0x0ed09cc6 next few 0x147e0000-0x147edb50 so it most propably is just some user data, maybe I'll try to match it with partition list if I'll find ....

in the evening I'll try dumping 7.1 and maybe if I'll make some safe enough pogopinboard holder, I'll try flashing 6.2 back

 

[gamesquest1]

I think too that the nand doesn't really care at all ... I did it like that because if I connect it off, my PC usually don't recognize the card then, but maybe I'll try to BSOD it like that and reconnct next time ...
anyway NCSD (0x00000100-0x00000103) present, also there is the long FFFF part (dsi mode?) so I think it really is the same
between the live dump and the black screen dump (diffrent boot) there's first difference on 0x0eb64000 then some more up to 0x0ed09cc6 next few 0x147e0000-0x147edb50 so it most propably is just some user data, maybe I'll try to match it with partition list if I'll find ....

in the evening I'll try dumping 7.1 and maybe if I'll make some safe enough pogopinboard holder, I'll try flashing 6.2 back

you only get the BSOD when you have the SD card connected to the pc THEN turn the 3DS on, once on the blue screen it will stay there, and you can do 2 dumps and compare them they should be identical as nothing is wrote to the nand when its on the BSOD

 

[ghormoon]

I'll try that, but maybe my card reader (internal in notebook) won't BSOD it, since I've been fiddling with that yesterday for 2 hours and no BSOD appeared ... but imho the black error won't write anything too, so that one should do ...

 

[gamesquest1]

I'll try that, but maybe my card reader (internal in notebook) won't BSOD it, since I've been fiddling with that yesterday for 2 hours and no BSOD appeared ... but imho the black error won't write anything too, so that one should do ...

yeah 2 dumps on the black screen should be identical as it stops the 3DS being able to read/use the nand, as i said before though its just recommended that you have the 3DS powered off before connecting the SD adapter....just to prevent anything going wrong if its writing to the nand when you connect the SD to your computer

 

[Myski]

The black screen, I guess is caused by the .. guessed it already .. card reader. I wouldn't worry too much about it, if the dumps are identical and of proper size (mentioned in the 3ds hacking FAQ).

I've been getting many different error codes with that cheap generic reader I mentioned in previous post, also black screen boots and normal uninterrupted boots (to 3ds main menu, like no card reader present at all). Unreliable it is, but seems to read fine if you just get it to brick and not booting to main menu.

All dumps seemed to be identical, before that uninterrupted boot ruined the consistency by writing into nand.

E: Pictures of my completed mod. Apologize for really bad camera, but this is all I have right now.

So I ended up using standard 5-pin electical terminal block as a connector after getting real tired of the micro usb crap, I don't know if the female pins I had were defective in some way but they got broken almost by looking at them in a mean way, when slightly bending wires etc (yes, the actual solder pads on the usb itself broke off from two of the connectors, rather than my solder joints, total crap). Could have used a 4-pin alternative but I had these on hand and thought it would be nice to leave one unused for any potential needs in future, like the usb also has 5.

This one goes to the "blatantly obvious it's a modded console" league but I don't see anything wrong with it. It doesn't require the removal of back plate to get access to it, nor is there chance for user error by plugging charger into that slot, a potential problem with the usb mentioned earlier in the thread.

I used a really small hand file to do the hole in the upper housing, took about an hour to finish. The connector fits there really nice and tight, with a little help from a drop of epoxy glue. I also have a dremel tool, but found this one better to be done by hand, if you just have the patience.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the unfinished work.

The finished side of the 3DS, notice the black connector:

Spoiler

No visible changes to the upper size of the upper housing:

Spoiler

Type of connector used, super-sized view:

Spoiler

 

[Ka-Wing]

Is is enough for the wires to make connection, just to push the wires to the pins and hold it with electrical tape?

 

[gamesquest1]

Is is enough for the wires to make connection, just to push the wires to the pins and hold it with electrical tape?

You wouldn't really be able to get a secure enough connection, just try find someone who can solder it's pretty easy for anyone with even basic soldering experience .....the XL is at least, the standard 3ds is much trickier

 

[eggsample]

My last mod and old laptop story..
White 3DS XL with microUSB mod. Everythin looks good as all my mods.
Connecting do internal SD reader gives bad error with a lot of FFFs.
Reset and connected to external SD reader good error but cant dump, MMC not visible in the OS.
After that I connected do internal SD reader and can dump NAND.
Great.

I wasn't sure is this mod ok but as above shows machine and reader are important too.

@ Ka-Wing Be brave, do it right way and backup nand.
Connections without soldering are weak and it's hard to make good data transfer. Soldering prevents short circuits.

 

[Ka-Wing]

I already have the backup. I just want to restore it because I accidently upgraded it to 6.XX

 

[gamesquest1]

nobody has questioned if you have a backup.....but trying to use tape to connect wires to solder pads is not exactly a good idea, just ask around see if you have a friend who can do the soldering......not to mention you need to make the SD card mod......just too many wires to even consider something like that...the wires would have to remain in place for about 10 minutes for the flashing to complete.........you would be lucky to get them all in place for a few seconds without moving.....a gentle breeze and you have to start over

if there is genuinely 0% chance of you finding someone to solder it for you, you could have a look at conductive glue.
http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1790...ting_promoted_en_gb&utm_campaign=supplies_low

......but im not sure what kind of resistance this would add to the bond and if this would prevent it working....it would also not be suitable for any permanent mod

 

[wischmob]

Guys, now i have a problem. Or, to be specific, i have something which could evolve into a problem.

Today i finally put all parts together and finished the hardware mod of my 3DS XL. All went fine, soldering is good, cables are thin and not too long, no shortcuts. My only problem is that i had to find a working card reader. The two USB-based stick-like readers i had both didn´t work. One does give me a drive but Windows tells me to insert media into it, the other one doesnt appear in the Explorer at all. Then i had access to two computers with built-in card readers. One Medion PC (Win 8.1) and a Vostro laptop (Win 7). Those two allowed me to successfully dump my sysnand.
But here lies the real problem i have: both of the two gadgets did the dumps with equal md5 hashes, three tries each. But comparing the md5 hashes between those two gadgets showed me that they are different.

So now i have 6 dumps with 2 different md5 hashes. Is it normal that different card readers result in different md5 hashes? or do i have to try and find another working sd card reader, hoping that its nand dumps share md5 sum with one set of my already existing dumps?

Can someone please explain this phenomenon to me and / or tell me where to find that list of compatible sd card readers?

Thanks in advance. Greetz!

 

[bkifft]

But here lies the real problem i have: both of the two gadgets did the dumps with equal md5 hashes, three tries each. But comparing the md5 hashes between those two gadgets showed me that they are different.

So now i have 6 dumps with 2 different md5 hashes. Is it normal that different card readers result in different md5 hashes? or do i have to try and find another working sd card reader, hoping that its nand dumps share md5 sum with one set of my already existing dumps?

Can someone please explain this phenomenon to me and / or tell me where to find that list of compatible sd card readers?

Thanks in advance. Greetz!

The 3DS(XL) writes to NAND on each boot.

So if you have rebooted the NAND content and subsequently the hash changed.

 

[wischmob]

Thanks alot for the answer, bkifft.

Yes, i did one or two reboots to sysNAND and played a few rounds of Mario Kart inbetween my two "dumping sessions". So as long as i have stable md5 hashes until i normally reboot my 3DS everything is fine? That sounds good.

This leaves the question how the hell i can tell if a card reader will be compatible or not. The two PC´s are not mine; the laptop belongs to my mum and the PC is located at my grandma´s house (we had barbecue today, i asked my uncle about the soldering). I only have a PC without card reader at home, and the two USB-based ones didnt work. Any help for this?

 

[gamesquest1]

Errrrmmmm there was a list of USB compatible card reader.....think it's in this thread

EDIT: here it is
Actually I think that's the wrong list1 sec

 

[wischmob]

Well, lets see if we can find it - so far the search function only returned fubar for me. Maybe it should be pinned alongisde other necessary information about hardware NAND dumping in a sticky thread.

 

[gamesquest1]

Well, lets see if we can find it - so far the search function only returned fubar for me. Maybe it should be pinned alongisde other necessary information about hardware NAND dumping in a sticky thread.

Ok well this was the only one I can find

I used this one! Really Cheap but works good http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALL-IN-1-US...ory_Card_Readers_Adapters&hash=item5d3ebccee5

Tbh I have used the little £1 card readers you get from the discount stores, and they work fine.....they have a tendency to die pretty quick though for some reason XD

 

[wischmob]

meh, it sucks living in germany -.- that thing doesnt ship to germany. But at least its a bit of info i can work with... thanks alot!

 

[Kane49]

meh, it sucks living in germany -.- that thing doesnt ship to germany. But at least its a bit of info i can work with... thanks alot!

I haven't had one that wasn't compatible yet, different dumps usually just mean bad soldering.