Backing up the 3DS?

robman60

Hi guys,

My R button is screwed and it's looking as if I'll have to send it for repairs. I've heard of multiple users who've lost data during repairs, even when the repairs were unrelated to memory.

So basically, how do I go about backing up the memory, and will it back up all built-in applications such as the activity log and StreetPass Mii Plaza?

Thanks in advance!

Wolverine359

robman60 wrote: »

Hi guys,

My R button is screwed and it's looking as if I'll have to send it for repairs. I've heard of multiple users who've lost data during repairs, even when the repairs were unrelated to memory.

So basically, how do I go about backing up the memory, and will it back up all built-in applications such as the activity log and StreetPass Mii Plaza?

Thanks in advance!

As regards the games and game save files etc on the memory card, you can do a straight copy onto another card, eg if you wanted more storage. But the likes of streetpass data etc is a trickier situation afaik, not sure if there is a way of backing up that kind of data. Ninty should be able to sort you out though, since its just a mechanical problem they'll probably just replace the faulty trigger and leave the software elements alone (or at least that's what they should do, imo anyway).

Banjo

Streetpass data (hits, puzzles, quest progress), Miis, settings, activity log and dsiware are stored in the Nand which you can’t back up via any dodgy method yet, let alone a legit one (that I know of). If they have reason to flash your nand, it's gone. In the case of dsiware you can redownload the game but your save is gone.

Game data, dlc, vc games, 3DS eshop games (I haven't bought any Retail games from the eShop, only eshop-only titles) and Letterbox use the sd exclusively far as I can tell. Back it up or remove it. Or both!

On the off chance you ever find yourself in the wierd situation where you have to replace your 3DS without being able to transfer the account from the old one to the new one (eg stolen, lost, total failure), Nintendo *can* transfer your eShop account - which is tied to the hardware, not you - to your new 3DS if you send it in to them but :
They have to agree to first. And that's not always easy to get them to do. Not saying it's impossible but....don't make any f'ing plans
On your SD card there's a Nintendo 3DS folder, and in there there's a sub-folder who's name is a huge alphanumeric code (let's call it Code1), and in there there's another folder with an alphanumeric code-name, who we'll call 2.
If you replace your handset, the new handset will have a completely different Code1 and Code2.
If Nintendo agree to port your account across and you send that new handset in to them, when it comes back it will now use the same Code1 as the original 3DS, but the Code2 will be different again.
once you move all your original folders from the 1st Code2 folder to the new one, they should be picked up again.

The reason I mention this is that apparently copying the contents of one folder on the SD to a new location is apparently too much work for the Nintendo repair guys to do for you, so they leave you to figure it out by trial and error.

Also the guys in Support don't seem to have a handle on what you lose, what you keep and what can be recovered when you send your hardware in to Repairs so take any promises they might make with a pinch of salt and google 'em.