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  • Using Checkpoint

    Checkpoint is a 3DS homebrew application that can backup and restore save files for 3DS cartridges, 3DS eShop titles (including GB and GBC virtual console), and NDS cartridges. This tutorial will walk you through its installation and usage.

    Prerequisites

    In order to use Checkpoint, you will first need access to CFW. A comprehensive guide on how to set it up can be found here. If you do not have what you need, you cannot use Checkpoint.

    What you need

    • A 3DS with CFW
    • The latest version of Checkpoint. A mirror of the CIA version can be found here. A mirror of the 3DSX version can be found here.

    Setup

    If your CFW is Luma 3DS, then Rosalina makes it possible to use the Homebrew Launcher as an alternative to the CIA version. You cannot use Checkpoint with the Homebrew Launcher without Rosalina's Homebrew Launcher.

    If you wish to use the CIA version:

    1. Download the CIA version of Checkpoint and put it on your 3DS's SD card.
    2. Use your CIA installer to install it

    If you wish to use Rosalina's Homebrew Launcher:

    1. Create the folder /3ds/Checkpoint on your 3DS's SD card if it does not already exist
    2. Download the 3DSX version of Checkpoint and put it the folder you just created

    When you are finished, you can proceed to the next step: Using Checkpoint

    Instructions

    Once you have installed Checkpoint, these steps will guide you through backing up and restoring save files. Once complete, any saves you back up will be located in /3ds/Checkpoint/saves on your 3DS's SD card.

    1. (If you're backing up a cartridge save and not an eShop title) Insert your cartridge, and make sure the 3DS menu can see it. This is important because sometimes the system can't read the cartridge unless it's inserted just right.

    2. Launch Checkpoint.

    3. Use the DPad to select the game whose save you want to backup or restore. Then press A to select the game.
    Untitled-1.png

    4. Use the DPad to select the save slot you wish to use (the selected slot has a blue background). If backing up the save, you can select "New..." to create a new slot. Be careful not to overwrite anything important.

    5. Press either the Backup or Restore button on the touch screen.
    Untitled-2.png

    6. Press "A" to confirm.
    Untitled-3.png

    7. If you chose to create a new save slot, use the on-screen keyboard to give it a name, then press "OK".
    Untitled-4.png

    8. If the save was exported correctly you should see a success message appear.

    Untitled-5.png

    9. Your backup is complete. Exit Checkpoint, and your save should be located on your SD card under /3ds/Checkpoint/saves/(your game)/(your save slot).

    10. MAKE A BACKUP OF THIS FILE BEFORE USING OR EDITING IT WITH ANY SAVE EDITORS.
    Untitled-6.png

    EXTRA. Things to take note:
    1. Your file in the folder MUST be named main
    2. There cannot be other files in the same folder your import from (such as main.bak)

    Credit to @NinFanBoyFTW for the screenshots.

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    Recommended Comments



    violentbuns

    im trying to get my edits to save and show on my 3ds games but i have no idea if what im doing is correct. i save it to the checkpoint save file and replace it with the edited file but it does not show up ingame. i tried using a finished game and an unstarted game to test to see what the issue is but they both turned up the same way. forgive me if its something easy to resolve and im just being slow 😅

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    AlamosIT
    On 6/7/2022 at 4:37 AM, violentbuns said:

    im trying to get my edits to save and show on my 3ds games but i have no idea if what im doing is correct. i save it to the checkpoint save file and replace it with the edited file but it does not show up ingame. i tried using a finished game and an unstarted game to test to see what the issue is but they both turned up the same way. forgive me if its something easy to resolve and im just being slow 😅

    Did you restore your save file with Checkpoint once you have replaced it?

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    sleepvertical

    Could anyone help me? I think something is having trouble at the very last step... 

    I'm trying to move my Crystal cart save to the virtual console using the checkpoint way and when I replace the save file on my SD card and try to load up the game I get: "The game data is corrupted it will now be initialized."

    I have read that the secure value should be deleted because sometimes that causes this but I did delete that. Nothing seems to change. I have dang near a shiny living dex on my crystal I just want to move to VC because I spent hundreds of hours farming eggs haha. 

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    IdkTBHSoWhyNot

    So real question I have a rar file so how can I convert it so I can get the save data? I know the rar file has save data I just need to convert it somehow.

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    theSLAYER
    1 hour ago, IdkTBHSoWhyNot said:

    So real question I have a rar file so how can I convert it so I can get the save data? I know the rar file has save data I just need to convert it somehow.

    Save data normally isn’t saved as a rar file. Are you sure the file contains save data. How did you obtain it? Mind uploading it?

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    IdkTBHSoWhyNot
    On 8/22/2023 at 5:25 PM, theSLAYER said:

    Save data normally isn’t saved as a rar file. Are you sure the file contains save data. How did you obtain it? Mind uploading it?

    I will send 1 of the 5 I gotten but if you can help me that would be nice

    20_-_Gen_VI_-_ORAS_Collection.rar

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    IdkTBHSoWhyNot
    21 minutes ago, theSLAYER said:

    Didn’t answer where you got the file from. Also extract the rar?

    I got the file from a person I trust on discord and I am on mac so I need to go on my PC later to extract

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    theSLAYER
    2 hours ago, IdkTBHSoWhyNot said:

    I got the file from a person I trust on discord and I am on mac so I need to go on my PC later to extract

    Looking at the file name:

    581D54DA-8C3D-4188-92B4-B46924CD4FE9.jpeg
     

    it is probably taken from RoC PC.
    extract the rar, and you’ll probably see a ton of files and folders.

    Go into the folder for savedata

    6798851F-3440-4824-9ED1-C16073E7E12A.jpeg

    Extract the save, rename it as main, then use it.

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