Fastest way to verify cartridge?

[namename11]

I have around 120 cartridges that I want to "verify". I know they are fine right now but maybe things will be worse in 5-10 years.

What I have in mind is an app that lets me generate a checksum for the XCI that's on the inserted game card, saves it to a log, and let's me confirm that it's in working condition by inserting every few years.

Of course this would be easier on PC with a bunch of MIG SWITCH dumpers and a program to automate everything, so I am happy with that to if anyone knows about software like that.

 

[sudeki300]

verify in what way, don't understand what you're trying to do?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I have around 120 cartridges that I want to "verify". I know they are fine right now but maybe things will be worse in 5-10 years.

What I have in mind is an app that lets me generate a checksum for the XCI that's on the inserted game card, saves it to a log, and let's me confirm that it's in working condition by inserting every few years.

Of course this would be easier on PC with a bunch of MIG SWITCH dumpers and a program to automate everything, so I am happy with that to if anyone knows about software like that.

Easy, just put them into a legit console and start them.

 

[namename11]

verify in what way, don't understand what you're trying to do?

I want to verify the checksum of the XCI currently on the cartridge against the database that would be built when I first inserted it and logged the checksum using this theoretical app.

Easy, just put them into a legit console and start them.

Not easy with 120 cartridges, even with 3 consoles as I don't think I can play 120 games every 5 years..... some are 250+ hours.

The System obviously can not verify 32GB cartridges just because an icon is displayed on the homepage.

 

[Yamathedestroyer]

verify in what way, don't understand what you're trying to do?

I would presume in trying to detect whether the solid state memory in the Cartridges and its content are still intact. Compared to Cartridges on Consoles until the N64 which used classical ROM and DS and 3DS Cartrdiges which use MaskROMs the Nintendo Switch 1 uses Macronix XtraROM Memory which is based on and attached like NAND, so have buffered Access and less long lifespan. Whereas most ROMs lifespan is practically infinite, XtraROMs lifespan is roughly 20yrs.

Switch 2 Cartridges are especially worse in this scenario since those apparently just use normal NAND in SLC Mode, so worst case its lifetime is below 10 Yrs.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I want to verify the checksum of the XCI currently on the cartridge against the database that would be built when I first inserted it and logged the checksum using this theoretical app.

Not easy with 120 cartridges, even with 3 consoles as I don't think I can play 120 games every 5 years..... some are 250+ hours.

The System obviously can not verify 32GB cartridges just because an icon is displayed on the homepage.

If the game starts, it's 99% OK, it's very uncommon for carts to be corrupted. I wouldn't worry about it, it's not like playing through every cart just to check for corruption makes any difference. Either it's corrupted or it's not.

 

[namename11]

If the game starts, it's 99% OK, it's very uncommon for carts to be corrupted. I wouldn't worry about it, it's not like playing through every cart just to check for corruption makes any difference. Either it's corrupted or it's not.

I was playing Majora's Mask 3D a few months ago, and it worked fine for a while, then crashed. Didn't work after that. It was very old [launch day ish] and unused but I still feel bad.

Some of my Switch games are absurdly expensive on the secondary market, so this homebrew app would make my life a lot less stressful.

 

[gamer765]

Fastest way to verify a game cartridge is legit, is by licking them. If it's legit, you're in for a hell of a surprise. Godspeed verifying all 120 cartridges.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I was playing Majora's Mask 3D a few months ago, and it worked fine for a while, then crashed. Didn't work after that. It was very old [launch day ish] and unused but I still feel bad.

Some of my Switch games are absurdly expensive on the secondary market, so this homebrew app would make my life a lot less stressful.

Might make it more stressful though, if you find that some of your carts fail the check.

What Switch games are even that expensive? Genuinely curious.

 

[shadowofdarkness]

I was playing Majora's Mask 3D a few months ago, and it worked fine for a while, then crashed. Didn't work after that. It was very old [launch day ish] and unused but I still feel bad.

Some of my Switch games are absurdly expensive on the secondary market, so this homebrew app would make my life a lot less stressful.

For 3DS games you should check out this thread

Thread 'Corrupted Cartridge Fixer Release'

Mar 15, 2023

3DS Cartridge Fixer Tool​

Spoiler: Explanation / story

Lately, there have been news about NAND Flash media deteriorating just because of sitting unused in storage for too long. 3DS Cartridges use a fancy NAND Flash chip, so, naturally, there is some cause for concern that they, too, will start failing.

When cleaning my collection, I decided to check all my 3DS games for this very reason - and to my surprise, my Paper Jam Bros. cartridge has completely failed. On an unhacked 3DS, it would load infinitely, and on 3DSes with Luma CFW it would immediately throw an ARM 11 Exception when launched...

• skawo
• Replies: 718
• Forum: Nintendo 3DS

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I do hope someone eventually makes a Switch version of that software, sadly that software's creator said it would not be him.

 

[8BitWonder]

You can use nxdumptool to dump your cartridges from Switch > PC, iirc it even generates checksums alongside the dump. If not you can generate their checksums after its dumped to PC with a batch script.

You'd either need to keep your own database of checksums and verify against that, or find No-Intro's switch Datfile to compare with.

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

There is that nswdb site with imgcrc information.
I don't know how to they calculate it but it might also be a source to check whether your roms are still good.
Just ask ChatGPT or ClaudeAI to write you some script for nxdumptool.

The MIG dumper doesn't have a command line tool so I guess that will be hard to automate.

 

[namename11]

Might make it more stressful though, if you find that some of your carts fail the check.

But hopefully I can prevent that by verifying regularly, as that way I know I am providing power to them regularly.... something I am not sure simply inserting into a Switch can do "perfectly".

What Switch games are even that expensive? Genuinely curious.

IIRC I have two Shantaes [probably Pirate's Curse and Risky Revolution], one Sally Face, one Ender Lilies, one Fran Bow, Shelter Generations etc. Some are not that expensive (around 200) but EL was like 500 for my JPN collectors edition last I checked. Also the bigass Persona 3/4 ones that I never played because of the remakes...

For 3DS games you should check out this thread

Thread 'Corrupted Cartridge Fixer Release'

Mar 15, 2023

3DS Cartridge Fixer Tool​

Spoiler: Explanation / story

Lately, there have been news about NAND Flash media deteriorating just because of sitting unused in storage for too long. 3DS Cartridges use a fancy NAND Flash chip, so, naturally, there is some cause for concern that they, too, will start failing.

When cleaning my collection, I decided to check all my 3DS games for this very reason - and to my surprise, my Paper Jam Bros. cartridge has completely failed. On an unhacked 3DS, it would load infinitely, and on 3DSes with Luma CFW it would immediately throw an ARM 11 Exception when launched...

• skawo
• Replies: 718
• Forum: Nintendo 3DS

• 
• 
• 

I do hope someone eventually makes a Switch version of that software, sadly that software's creator said it would not be him.

Yeah, this fixed one of my shovelware games but not any other sadly. Probably won't get Switch versions any time soon.

You can use nxdumptool to dump your cartridges from Switch > PC, iirc it even generates checksums alongside the dump. If not you can generate their checksums after its dumped to PC with a batch script.

You'd either need to keep your own database of checksums and verify against that, or find No-Intro's switch Datfile to compare with.

This would be much faster with a few MIG SWITCH dumpers connected to my PC but I don't think those can read the entire card as one XCI. Too much work with a library of 120 either way. Getting a few $50 V1 Switches and using my existing ones is what I am aiming for the day this app becomes real.