THIS GUIDE IS DEPRECATED
THIS IS BETTER https://github.com/natinusala/painless-linux

This guide will show you how to boot Linux on your Switch from a Windows PC. If you're on Linux, you can directly use the shofel2_linux repository.

Credits :

• @kombos for the pre-built binaries
• @rajkosto for TegraRcmSmash and Windows imx_usb binaries
• Fail0verflow for their Linux port

What you'll need :

• A Switch
• A Windows PC
• Another SD card of at least 8Gb
  • you can use the same SD card that you already have on your Switch but be careful when partitioning !
• A USB A-to-C or C-to-C cable to plug your Switch into your PC

Step 1 : installing the driver

1. Get your Switch in RCM mode and plug it into your PC
   • It should appear as "APX" in Windows
2. Download and run the Zadig Driver Installer from here : https://zadig.akeo.ie/
3. In the list, choose the device "APX"
   • If it's not showing up, check "List all devices" in the options
4. At the right end of the green arrow, choose "libusbK (v3.0.7.0)"
5. Click on the big "Install driver" button

Step 2 : creating the root filesystem

Yes, this is still necessary. Yes, this will always be.

Open my another guide and follow the "Building the rootfs" section.
On Windows you'll have to use a IMG file and burn it with Etcher, or find a way to create an ext4 partition by hand (good luck with that).
I recommend the latest LXDE image which has the correct format for Etcher - it's a zip containing a bin, flash the .bin using Etcher.

You should be left with a SD card with two partitions on it.

Step 3 : a whole bunch of downloads

1. Download and extract this : https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux/archive/master.zip
2. Download this : https://files.sshnuke.net/TegraRcmSmash1101.zip
3. Extract the executable for your architecture in the shofel2_linux-master folder
4. Download this : https://github.com/rajkosto/imx_usb_loader/releases/download/08daaa/imx_usb.zip
5. Extract the executable and DLL in the shofel2_linux-master folder
6. Download this : http://launchmycraft.fr/boot_linux.bat
7. Put it in the shofel2_linux-master folder

This is what you should have in the linux_shofel2-master folder before continuing :

Step 4 : actually booting Linux

1. Put your Switch in RCM mode and plug it in your PC
2. Go in the shofel2_linux-master folder and open boot_linux.bat
3. It wasn't that hard, wasn't it ?

 

[natinusala]

Replace the ssid and pre-shared key in the Gigaspot file

 

[x0x0]

Something is booting but not sucessfully, after penguin loading. Switch always back to RCM mode. I used Etcher and arch_lxde image. Anyone?

 

[natinusala]

It means that the SD card was not successfully prepared, I suggest you try again

 

[x0x0]

It means that the SD card was not successfully prepared, I suggest you try again

What do you mean?

 

[natinusala]

Reformat the SD card and flash the bin again

 

[kevandkkim]

thank you for new gnome iso. awaiting.

 

[isoboy]

Step 5. Open up your switch, unplug the battery and do a power cycle to fix whatever messed up things your battery is going through.

 

[mariogamer]

Just to know is a virtual keyboard included in most image? I just installed an lxde image and it doesn't seem to be there.

 

[natinusala]

Just to know is a virtual keyboard included in most image? I just installed an lxde image and it doesn't seem to be there.

It's called Onboard

 

[wiiarctus]

Replace the ssid and pre-shared key in the Gigaspot file

Ok so I now use the GNOME image and edited the Gigaspot file like you said, but in the options it says "No Wi-Fi Adapter Found".

 

[natinusala]

Ok so I now use the GNOME image and edited the Gigaspot file like you said, but in the options it says "No Wi-Fi Adapter Found".

Did you reboot at least once ?

 

[wiiarctus]

Did you reboot at least once ?

Yes, 2 times

 

[natinusala]

WiFi with the gnome image is pretty straightforward - open the WiFI options from the top-right menu and connect to a network, no need to fiddle with files

 

[Mach]

Thank you, very easy, i just booted Arch Linux on my 4.1.0 switch, very easy indeed =) , Thanks a lot !

 

[x0x0]

Thank you, very easy, i just booted Arch Linux on my 4.1.0 switch, very easy indeed =) , Thanks a lot !

what image do you use?

 

[wiiarctus]

WiFi with the gnome image is pretty straightforward - open the WiFI options from the top-right menu and connect to a network, no need to fiddle with files

..?

 

[natinusala]

This means that the reboot trick didn't work for you or you did it wrong.

To reboot you must plug your Switch to your PC, then use the top-right menu, use the power button and "Restart". Then wait for Windows to recognize the APX and relaunch the BAT file.

 

[wiiarctus]

This means that the reboot trick didn't work for you or you did it wrong.

To reboot you must plug your Switch to your PC, then use the top-right menu, use the power button and "Restart". Then wait for Windows to recognize the APX and relaunch the BAT file.

It did work. Sorry I didn't know that you had to restart Linux on the Switch and then start the script one more time to connect to the Wi-Fi, it instantly connected!

 

[Mach]

what image do you use?

Arch Linux LDE with Chromium and Hardware Acceleration, burned it on my 32gb sd with Etcher, Win32disk wont worked tho

 

[MuppetPaster]

Wrote the LXDE image in a live USB Linux via dd to the SD-Card. Still the same result:
"waiting for root device mmcblk0p2" after linux starts booting on the switch.