Hardware Swapping n3DS XL's CPU and NAND to New Board

TechAndrew

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Hello,
Is there anyone here who has the tools and ability to swap the CPU and NAND from a broken n3DS XL motherboard to a new working n3DS XL motherboard. There's so much data on that 3DS that needs to be salvaged, and I'm hoping that there's someone who's able to do this kind of repair for me.

Thanks,
TechAndrew
 

TechAndrew

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I'm pretty sure a 3DS can't read another 3DS's nand chip.
Unless the CPU is also swapped.

However, I found out that I dumped the following files from the 3DS before it got screwed up:
emergency_movable.sed
emergency_SecureInfo_A
emergency_ticket.db
emergency_title.db
firm0firm1.xorpad
NCSD_header_n3ds.bin
otp.bin

What's the procedure to allow the new motherboard to be able to read the files from the SD card?
 

TechAndrew

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I am not a professional, but if you try to replace the cpu on the new motherboard, how are you sure that it isn't the cpu that isn't damaged. Also may I suggest you take a look at https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-manual-system-transfer-for-saves-content.388033/ ? I feel as if this will answer your question
I'm not sure how I'll be able to do that with only these files:
emergency_movable.sed
emergency_SecureInfo_A
emergency_ticket.db
emergency_title.db
firm0firm1.xorpad
NCSD_header_n3ds.bin
otp.bin
 

Jordan Wessley

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Last edited by Jordan Wessley,

TechAndrew

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Do you have a NAND backup? If you do, you can use this (https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-manual-system-transfer-for-saves-content.388033/) to do a manual system transfer. It requires a movable.sed file so I will assume that you were referring to that in
Yes, I also have a NAND backup in addition to those files. However, I do not have the XORpad referred in the guide. When I attempted to XOR the FAT16 extracted portion of the encrypted NAND dump, the XOR'ed FAT16 portion wouldn't mount because it is corrupt... Is there an alternative or another solution?
 

Jordan Wessley

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As far as I know, there is only one alternative solution. Locating the malfunctioning part and actually replacing it to get your console. After doing some research, I couldn't find another way to decrypt the NAND or extract the saves.
Although I do have a question someone may be able to answer. After extracting the NAND dump, which of those files cannot be repacked for another system. I'm guessing this would be possible through extensive Hex editing and if possible can answer your question, @TechAndrew. You can take a look at https://gbatemp.net/threads/decrypt-and-re-encrypt-nand.375249/ for more info on decryption possibilities.
 
Last edited by Jordan Wessley,

TechAndrew

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As far as I know, there is only one alternative solution. Locating the malfunctioning part and actually replacing it to get your console. After doing some research, I couldn't find another way to decrypt the NAND or extract the saves.
Although I do have a question someone may be able to answer. After extracting the NAND dump, which of those files cannot be repacked for another system. I'm guessing this would be possible through extensive Hex editing and if possible can answer your question, @TechAndrew.
The most important question I have that needs to get answered is:
Is there any way to decrypt the NAND dump, other than or with the files I have?
There is no way to revive the motherboard; Fixing it is out of the question.
 

gamesquest1

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you should be able to recover your saves if thats your concern with just the movable.sed file, honestly swapping the cpu/nand is a pretty extreme job and would probably set you back a fair bit to get it done (although you would only really need to transplant the CPU, the nand could just be dumped and swapped around via the hardmod method


anyway read over this guide
https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-manual-system-transfer-for-saves-content.388033/

most of it is skipable as you already have your movable.sed file
 
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