Hacking Save files lost after ARM11 crash

[kantaroo]

Hi, I stupidly updated the firmware of my Old N3DS XL last night and then it crashed on re boot with an ARM11 error.
Looking through the forum this morning I figured that the problem was that I had an out of date Luma3DS file (last updated 2 years ago). So I downloaded the latest version of Luma3DS and followed the instructions here:
https://3ds.hacks.guide/restoring-cfw

It all seemed to work smoothly, the 3DS rebooted and seemed to work fine. I was even able to update online the game I was trying to play last night.
However, when I opened one of the other games that I regularly play, I realised that my old save files have been deleted.
I did a back up copy of my sd card before I updated the Luma3DS, and I was wondering if it is possible to rescue the save files from that. Alternatively I have the copy of my sd card from 2 years ago.

Is it possible to rescue the save files from either of those two sd card backups?

Many thanks.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Now that one is puzzling. (Re)installing the homebrew CIA files from the finalizing page doesn't delete any saves. Reinstalling a game overwrites save data of this one game.

What happened when starting the game which lost data? Did it complain about corrupted save data? It might be anti-savegame restore if the game is using that anti-feature.

You can try simply copying the 00000001.sav file from the backup(s) to the appropriate location on the SD. If the game used anti-savegame restore you have to delete the secure value before starting the game. To find out the title ID search on
http://3dsdb.com/

 

[kantaroo]

Hi thanks for your help. I think something must have happened to my SD card, perhaps when I got the ARM11 error.
Using your instructions I was able to go back to by 2019 backup and restore the save files from there. Unfortunately the save files in the 2021 backup seem to be useless. I have changed to a different SD card to be safe.

Thanks again.