Topic: 3DS Repaired & Memory Wiped

Hi all,

I sent my 3DS to get repaired but when I received it back the system was wiped. Everything is lost - purchased software, game saves, Streetpass progress, Ambassador games etc. customer service is closed but dues anyone have any advice? I am really annoyed & devastated at losing all the money & time I put into the console.

They usually warn you about this before the repair, so that you can do your best to backup games and such.

The only thing that you can do is contact Nintendo about it. If your system was wiped there is nothing that you can do to get back the original content. Is your NNID still on the system? If that is the case you might have to redownload your stuff.

That is weird (or rare). Are you able to still redownload past eshop purchases?

I've accessed the eshop & it states that there are no previously downloaded titles. There is no NNID settings on the console despite the fact I linked it to my Wii U created one.. My 3DS is called 'fr3' when it previously had my details saved. Apart from the profile info the system seems newly set up. The whole thing seems like it was formatted!

I was hoping that someone may have been in a similar situation & Nintendo fixed it. I'll have to contact them tomorrow but I work midt of the day so closing the lines at 7pm (UK) us really inconvenient.

Yeah if it was formatted then the only thing you can do is contact Nintendo. They are the only ones who has a chance of restoring it, but honestly if it was formatted I am not sure if they can replace the stuff. They might give you some eshop credit to rebuy the games but that's something you will have to discuss with them.

This must be a pretty devastating thing to hear though, and it just drives home the point that Nintendo need dedicated account systems that aren't tied to a system. Not having any kind of safety for your games purchased online when you lose or damage your console is pretty terrible to be honest. :/

I know they usually end up deleting everything from the SD card (which is why they recommend you not to send it with one inside). But this is the first time I hear the system as a whole gets completely formatted.

All you can do is contact Nintendo, provide them with all the information they ask for and hope for the best result.

Sounds like they replaced the motherboard and thus the onboard memory. This would turn your 3DS into a "new" one as far as NNID etc are concerned. BTW: Nintendo does not routinely delete everything on your SD card - that would just be silly - but the card can get damaged or lost so you should always back it up or keep it when you send your 3DS in for repairs.

Another thing to remember is Club Nintendo, if your system was connected to CN before the wipe...then you'll have a chance of restoring those games via Nintendo. Anything you download is automatically registered on your CN account.

You need to link your Nintendo Network ID to your 3DS. If you games aren't there, call Nintendo and tell them the serial number of your replacement 3DS. As long as you go through the right steps, you'll get your games back.

I backed up the SD just in case but the console won't recognise it. It states the software is inaccessible. I knew there was a chance they stuff might get deleted but I didn't expect them to format the whole console so that I could not use my SD card or redownload my software. I had my system linked to Club Nintendo so hopefully that helps.

I'll have to try & ring them on lunch today & hopefully get it sorted.

Their customer service is pretty good, so...I'm sure you'll be fine then.

I've heard they are so Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the advice/ suggestions guys. Very much appreciated.

I'll update this later after I ring customer service.

I had to exchange my 3DS that I bought recently to the store because of stuck/dead pixels. I had to wait a week for Nintendo to allow me to use my old NNID again. Once they did, I was able to re-link to the NNID and re-download my purchased games.

Rang Nintendo tonight. They advised me to sign in with my NNID, which I did. It seems like all my previously bought/ downloaded software. Which is a massive relief. However I have to format my SD Card so that it works with the console now. Which kinda defeated the purpose if backing it up IMO. My saves & Streetpass progress are gone because if this.

At the end if the day at least my games are there. @dkxcalibur did your SD card work?

No way to transfer the SD card huh? :c
Ah well, anyways yeah...told ya you should be fine. xD

You probably can still use the same data, just format the SD card and copy only the game data back to it afterwards, don't rewrite the new system-related data.

Sounds like a good idea , are the game saves in an obvious folder within the SD Card?

I think most are in the "3DS" folder.