Hacking Hardware Picofly - a HWFLY switch modchip

[MoeXzl]

You mean backing it up from hekate??
Does modchip creates problem with nand backups??

I just cut off the CPU shield on RAM side.

No, it's not the modchip that's causing problems. It is possible that you have a black screen in OFW. Which means your resistance is too low for CMD & DAT0.

 

[Myst0gan]

You don’t have to do that. The less cutting the better

I do that for practicality, since it's simpler to access the apu in case of problems

No, it's not the modchip that's causing problems. It is possible that you have a black screen in OFW. Which means your resistance is too low for CMD & DAT0.

So, you're suggesting to boot into ofw to see if everything works fine??

Edit: how do I boot into ofw without Hekate??

 

[Maxterjam]

Hello, guys.

I need a little help with a doubt i have about picofly. I´m planning to install the hwfly rp2040 chip i ordered from AliE into my switch lite. I have watched lots of videos about the installation, i have the tools and a little experience with micro soldering. The thing is that i have read some threads and messages here about people having black screens after inserting the micro SD with the files in the switch and the console does not boot after that even by removing the chip, and i dont want that to happen for sure. My question is: Can a malfunctioning chip damage the console to the point it does not boot anymore or it was caused by a poor installation or a short circuit the installer caused? Any advices or things to take into account before proceeding with the installation? Thanks.

 

[MoeXzl]

So, you're suggesting to boot into ofw to see if everything works fine??

That's how I would do it. I install the chip and before I put everything together I check everything. Does OFW work and can I make a Nand backup via Hekate?

 

[Myst0gan]

That's how I would do it. I install the chip and before I put everything together I check everything. Does OFW work and can I make a Nand backup via Hekate?

How do I boot into ofw without Hekate??

 

[BlueBeans]

Hello, guys.

I need a little help with a doubt i have about picofly. I´m planning to install the hwfly rp2040 chip i ordered from AliE into my switch lite. I have watched lots of videos about the installation, i have the tools and a little experience with micro soldering. The thing is that i have read some threads and messages here about people having black screens after inserting the micro SD with the files in the switch and the console does not boot after that even by removing the chip, and i dont want that to happen for sure. My question is: Can a malfunctioning chip damage the console to the point it does not boot anymore or it was caused by a poor installation or a short circuit the installer caused? Any advices or things to take into account before proceeding with the installation? Thanks.

The majority of the time it’s installer error. I haven’t come across anything I wasn’t able to fix. They’ve all been something I did or didn’t do.

 

[MoeXzl]

How do I boot into ofw without Hekate??

Press Vol.- + Vol.+ on „No SD screen“

 

[Myst0gan]

Press Vol.- + Vol.+ on „No SD screen“

Thanks again for the suggestions. Ofw boots (also from hekate). I've made a nand copy (it took me forever since I have a slow Chinese sd card for testing) and dumped also the keys, everything works fine

 

[Phantomas77]

If I wrap it up with kapton tan I always get problem and picofly keeps spitting error codes, so I have to put the tape on whatever is beneath and over it.
I'll have to try not cutting shield method on V1 and lite and see if it works.
Cutting off the shield from RAM gave me few mm of air between picofly and big shield

You should cut the metal shield on V1 and V2, if you're not planning to place the chip on top of it. The space in between the shield and the CPU metal cover is too small (OLED has a bigger gap) and you'll be risking shorting data and power lines to ground.

For Lite, you can place the chip on top of the eMMC metal shield (remove the sponge from it). It's a perfect pocket for Pico, just remember to insulate everything well with kapton tape.

 

[chronoss]

Hi !!!

Someone have tested Tiny chip on last switch firmware and pico 2.75 fw ?

I have some problem with the chip :

• v1 patched : black screen after Atmo logo
• v2 error pkg11, can't add more resistance on the chip

and i have no led on the chip on all pico fw

 

[psycho-neon]

Hi !!!

Someone have tested Tiny chip on last switch firmware and pico 2.75 fw ?

I have some problem with the chip :

• v1 patched : black screen after Atmo logo
• v2 error pkg11, can't add more resistance on the chip

and i have no led on the chip on all pico fw

I use waveshaee rp2040 tiny chip, all is working. Check if you have an original rp2040 tiny and not a clone.


You can add resistor on the legs for v1.
V2/Lite and Oled doesn't need extra resistor.

 

[chronoss]

I use waveshaee rp2040 tiny chip, all is working. Check if you have an original rp2040 tiny and not a clone.


You can add resistor on the legs for v1.
V2/Lite and Oled doesn't need extra resistor.

I use this one...

 

[psycho-neon]

I use this one...

Can you take a photo of the back as well? Original ones have waveshare logo in it with rev1.1

Another thing also is if you can check the 3 resistors in it make sure its 47ohm not 470 or 4700

 

[Phantomas77]

I use this one...

How did you manage to program it? It looks like those dudes had few extra ones after dinner and soldered 180° inverted flex port. This what it should look like

Just buy original directly from Waveshare, at least you'll get what you pay for.

 

[chronoss]

Can you take a photo of the back as well? Original ones have waveshare logo in it with rev1.1

Another thing also is if you can check the 3 resistors in it make sure its 47ohm not 470 or 4700

How did you manage to program it? It looks like those dudes had few extra ones after dinner and soldered 180° inverted flex port. This what it should look like

View attachment 409801

Just buy original directly from Waveshare, at least you'll get what you pay for.

 

[psycho-neon]

That's a clone. This is the original one.

 

[chronoss]

That's a clone. This is the original one.

So, no solution for clone chip ?

 

[psycho-neon]

So, no solution for clone chip ?

Either try another chip (it could be a faulty chip) or use an old firmware possibly 2.73 and hope for the best.

 

[chronoss]

Either try another chip (it could be a faulty chip) or use an old firmware possibly 2.73 and hope for the best.

When i try 2.72, i have a green led but always black screen... no test with 2.73 for now

 

[psycho-neon]

When i try 2.72, i have a green led but always black screen... no test with 2.73 for now

Try to remove the chip and test the switches. Black screen is something else. Is it booting to ofw? @.@