ROM Hack Rebuilding a USUM ROM I hacked

[Francesca]

This used to go more or less smoothly back when I did it with older games, but I'm getting absolutely nowhere right now.

I've downloaded the newest tools, done the editing, got the files all ready for rebuilding.

Apparently, the newer Hacking Toolkits should be able to build ROMs without any outside help, supposedly including into .cias? Couldn't do that before. I tried building the edited files into .3ds and .cia both; most of the time with different methods, I got nothing. Once, I got a .3ds file with _edited in its title that was 0 B in size.

I tried to do it the old way with a 3DSBuilder and finally got myself a .3ds file that I quickly converted to .cia with an old version of Simple CIA Converter that I downloaded a while ago (I don't think this program needs updating for newer ROMs?).

Now here's the next thing that happened - when I put the cia file on my emunand ready to be installed, I need way more (like double the size) of the .cia I've got. i.e. I need 6.5 GB of free space to install the game on top of the 3.7 GB of the .cia file being on the card. Even deleting all the games doesn't give me that free space (aye, I was stingy when I bought the card but it hadn't been a problem until this point), but the point is, should I really be needing so much free space to install my hack?

I am currently wondering if this can be fixed somehow or, perhaps, there's an alternative method of applying the edits I've made to an unmodified .cia of the game - something I heard of but never tried in practice. I'm on Luma btw, but haven't kept up with the latest updates so I'm not sure what can be used and if my CFW 3DS can handle it.

Would really appreciate any help especially specific directions!

 

[Majickhat55]

Ok, well you don't necessarily need to rebuild it as a .CIA unless you want to install it as a completely different title (it will overwrite any vanilla game of the same name; can't change the TitleID of a 3DS Pokemon game on a console for whatever reason). You can simply use layeredFS patches with Luma to use your rom edits, which I'm more than sure you've been told before.

Anyway, the 3DS builder in HackingToolKit (depending on your version) uses the outdated application. As such, You need a good exeFS.bin (or extracted folder) romfs.bin (or extracted) and a good header, the program will detect the game on it's own if everything is correct, if not you need to fill in the product code, etc of the actual game.

As for rebuilding to a .CIA you can use 3DS simple .CIA converter, IMO it's one of the easiest methods outside of CMD tools to rebuild your game on a PC and the GUI is self explanatory. Otherwise you can simply put the .3DS file on your SD card and use a Godmode9 script to convert it to a .CIA on the console itself. Again this isn't really necessary considering layeredfs. You need to make sure you're using the correct version of HackingToolkit to extract your game, as you're not going to be able to "build" a working game with encrypted base files....

 

[Francesca]

I'm okay with not installing it as .cia at all, but this is the only way I'm familiar with and have done multiple times before. Will definitely look into layeredFS if nothing works out.

As such, You need a good exeFS.bin (or extracted folder) romfs.bin (or extracted) and a good header, the program will detect the game on it's own if everything is correct, if not you need to fill in the product code, etc of the actual game.

What do you mean by GOOD exefs and romfs? I did provide the folders where I did all the editing as well as a decrypted ExHeader, but left the product code as the default XXXX, which is something I've done before. Not sure if that's my problem; if it is, maybe that one iso site has the product codes? Should be way faster than re-installing the vanilla game and checking what the code is inn one of the installation programs.

 

[jpmasterflex]

This used to go more or less smoothly back when I did it with older games, but I'm getting absolutely nowhere right now.

I've downloaded the newest tools, done the editing, got the files all ready for rebuilding.

Apparently, the newer Hacking Toolkits should be able to build ROMs without any outside help, supposedly including into .cias? Couldn't do that before. I tried building the edited files into .3ds and .cia both; most of the time with different methods, I got nothing. Once, I got a .3ds file with _edited in its title that was 0 B in size.

I tried to do it the old way with a 3DSBuilder and finally got myself a .3ds file that I quickly converted to .cia with an old version of Simple CIA Converter that I downloaded a while ago (I don't think this program needs updating for newer ROMs?).

Now here's the next thing that happened - when I put the cia file on my emunand ready to be installed, I need way more (like double the size) of the .cia I've got. i.e. I need 6.5 GB of free space to install the game on top of the 3.7 GB of the .cia file being on the card. Even deleting all the games doesn't give me that free space (aye, I was stingy when I bought the card but it hadn't been a problem until this point), but the point is, should I really be needing so much free space to install my hack?

I am currently wondering if this can be fixed somehow or, perhaps, there's an alternative method of applying the edits I've made to an unmodified .cia of the game - something I heard of but never tried in practice. I'm on Luma btw, but haven't kept up with the latest updates so I'm not sure what can be used and if my CFW 3DS can handle it.

Would really appreciate any help especially specific directions!

I had the exact same problem...but only with Ultra Sun...I did it for Mario and Luigi: Super star saga Bowser's Minions and had no issues...i even tried rebuilding it back before i edited anything just to see if it worked for Ultra Sun...but it seems it can only extract..not rebuild ..Something about label syntax or volume label being incorrect...

 

[Majickhat55]

It could be the .CIA/.3DS you're using to extract as well, make sure it's downloaded from a good source. I've never had an issue using these programs to rebuild any game as a .CIA.

 

[jpmasterflex]

It could be the .CIA/.3DS you're using to extract as well, make sure it's downloaded from a good source. I've never had an issue using these programs to rebuild any game as a .CIA.

I used Godmode9 to create a cia from version i downloaded from the freeshop...if thats not a good source..then what is?

 

[Majickhat55]

I used Godmode9 to create a cia from version i downloaded from the freeshop...if thats not a good source..then what is?

That's an excellent source my friend. If you dump the .CIA then you hackingtoolkit3DS (Not 9DS) extract the game, and then try to rebuild it as a .3DS without making any edits it should work just fine. If it does, try your edits again and make sure to keep the file structure as clean as possible. Delete any extra files you created inside the contents before rebuilding.

That's really all the advice I can offer.

 

[jpmasterflex]

That's an excellent source my friend. If you dump the .CIA then you hackingtoolkit3DS (Not 9DS) extract the game, and then try to rebuild it as a .3DS without making any edits it should work just fine. If it does, try your edits again and make sure to keep the file structure as clean as possible. Delete any extra files you created inside the contents before rebuilding.

That's really all the advice I can offer.

Tried that but i just re-read the extraction thread and it seems i needed to re encrypt my cia file if i wanted to use it withe the latest version...that's the only thing i didnt try..i figured it was either or..i didnt think encryption was flatout required

 

[Majickhat55]

Tried that but i just re-read the extraction thread and it seems i needed to re encrypt my cia file if i wanted to use it withe the latest version...that's the only thing i didnt try..i figured it was either or..i didnt think encryption was flatout required

No you don't there are many versions of HackingToolkit..... pay attention to the NAME. HackingToolkit3DS only works with decrypted files...... HackingToolKit9DS only works with encrypted files.

 

[jpmasterflex]

No you don't there are many versions of HackingToolkit..... pay attention to the NAME. HackingToolkit3DS only works with decrypted files...... HackingToolKit9DS only works with encrypted files.

Yeah i realized that when i re-read the thread

 

[Majickhat55]

Yeah i realized that when i re-read the thread

Easy mistake man, it's only a one letter difference haha

 

[jpmasterflex]

Easy mistake man, it's only a one letter difference haha

I got it to work and build...but now its just crashing...so i switched to using .Net 3ds Tool kit and everything works fine