Hacking Question Switch "update" for SDXC / exfat?

[TerminatR]

Most people probably know what I am talking about, but in case not....

When you insert a micro SD card into your switch, it prompts for a system update. If you take the update, it allows your Switch to use SDXC format cards and exfat file format. As far as I know this update is "safe" in itself as long as you already have 4.1.0. PLEASE Correct me if theres any reason to believe this is incorrect.

Now - If you are less than 4.1.0 (ex: 3.0.0) there is no way to get this update unless you did it while 3.0.0 was current a long time ago.... or maybe this update didn't even exist back then, I don't know.

My question is..... will this be problematic for 3.0.0 users if/when backups can be used? Right now, backups are a single file with an XCI extension. Games can be 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB each. The limitations on fat32 are 4GB maximum per file.

Anyone know what the devs have to say about this subject? I guess no one wants to openly discuss piracy which is fair, but not being able to use the larger cards for ANYTHING, even emulators or other homebrew is kind of a bummer.

 

[sj33]

Are you saying that SDXC cards require a newer system update? I've used a 128GB SDXC since launch.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

Most people probably know what I am talking about, but in case not....

When you insert a micro SD card into your switch, it prompts for a system update. If you take the update, it allows your Switch to use SDXC format cards and exfat file format. As far as I know this update is "safe" in itself as long as you already have 4.1.0. PLEASE Correct me if theres any reason to believe this is incorrect.

Now - If you are less than 4.1.0 (ex: 3.0.0) there is no way to get this update unless you did it while 3.0.0 was current a long time ago.... or maybe this update didn't even exist back then, I don't know.

My question is..... will this be problematic for 3.0.0 users if/when backups can be used? Right now, backups are a single file with an XCI extension. Games can be 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB each. The limitations on fat32 are 4GB maximum per file.

Anyone know what the devs have to say about this subject? I guess no one wants to openly discuss piracy which is fair, but not being able to use the larger cards for ANYTHING, even emulators or other homebrew is kind of a bummer.

If you have access to piracy, you'll likely have access to cfw with emunand or coldboot, so you'll be able to have an updated firmware. Meaning it would be a non-issue because at that point you can just download the update and maintain access to homebrew/piracy.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

Are you saying that SDXC cards require a newer system update? I've used a 128GB SDXC since launch.

Sdxc support is an update that is separate from firmware updates. It never installs until you insert an sdxc card. But if you are on a lower firmware, it will also update to latest firm in the process. Though as I stated above it would be a non-issue for piracy.

 

[TerminatR]

Are you saying that SDXC cards require a newer system update? I've used a 128GB SDXC since launch.

Yeah. Even if you are at 4.1.0 when you insert a SDXC card for the first time, it will prompt a system update.

After the "update" it will still report 4.1.0 but you can now use the bigger card.

 

[Slimmmmmm]

There are a lot of options.

1 example is splitting files, but there are many other options, eg decrypting games (in time) or using a new FS altogether.
There might even be a way to download that individual update and install it with homebrew or other options.

 

[TerminatR]

You can always format the card first that way you don't need to update the system to use a sdxc card

I did format the card first using Windows 10 as exfat and prompted an update as soon as I inserted it into my Switch.

 

[sj33]

Curious, what happens if you insert the card without an internet connection (thus, no update to download)? Does it still force an update?

It presumably at least has to add system files to the card like the 3DS does.

 

[Slimmmmmm]

If you update you will get the firmware update too.
If you don't want to update your firmware wait for one of the answer to arrive from my previous post.

There will be an answer in time on your firmware, so patience and trust will go a long way

 

[TheCyberQuake]

I did format the card first using Windows 10 as exfat and prompted an update as soon as I inserted it into my Switch.

You can't format as exfat, you need to format as fat32, which the default windows formatter won't let you do. You need something like guiformat to do it.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

There are a lot of options.

1 example is splitting files, but there are many other options, eg decrypting games (in time) or using a new FS altogether.
There might even be a way to download that individual update and install it with homebrew or other options.

Or you could just listen to my reply explaining why it is a non-issue. If you have piracy you probably have cfw, which has emunand or coldboot that would allow updating while keeping cfw/emunand. If it was something like loadiine then it would likely be decrypted, and at that point they decrypted games almost never have any file larger than 4gb

 

[Hayato213]

I did format the card first using Windows 10 as exfat and prompted an update as soon as I inserted it into my Switch.

Nevermind you are correct, I had mine formatted on fat32

 

[sj33]

I think the point is that people want to be able to use a properly formatted high capacity card in the meantime.

Trying to format as FAT32 using guiformat first sounds like a good idea, though.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

I think the point is that people want to be able to use a properly formatted high capacity card in the meantime.

Trying to format as FAT32 using guiformat first sounds like a good idea, though.

Its the only option without cfw. Without the update there is no way to make it work, the OS is missing the proper drivers to work with exfat format.

 

[YigglyPoof]

I hacked my switch today with a 200gb card, heres how you do it:
-Format card with guiformat
-Insert in switch
-It will install the home menu stuff
-Insert it back into computer, and put files on card
-Put back in, and boom.

 

[Hayato213]

I hacked my switch today with a 200gb card, heres how you do it:
-Format card with guiformat
-Insert in switch
-It will install the home menu stuff
-Insert it back into computer, and put files on card
-Put back in, and boom.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Don't post if you don't know what you are talking about please. It just spreads misinformation and confusion.
It lacks the ability to format the cards without the update, but can read properly formatted cards just fine.

Not really true, I format it FAT32 with 32k cluster the switch detect it without any update, I format it exFAT with the same cluster, the switch doesn't detect.

 

[sj33]

This disagreement can be solved by simply trying it. FAT32 may require file splitting for files larger than 4GB but should still work.

 

[TheCyberQuake]

I hacked my switch today with a 200gb card, heres how you do it:
-Format card with guiformat
-Insert in switch
-It will install the home menu stuff
-Insert it back into computer, and put files on card
-Put back in, and boom.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Don't post if you don't know what you are talking about please. It just spreads misinformation and confusion.
It lacks the ability to format the cards without the update, but can read properly formatted cards just fine.

Please read what I replied to. I know about the fat32 trick and even mentioned it earlier if you bother to read. I was replying to a comment about using the "proper format card", which I translated as the proper sdxc format of exfat. Which will not work without cfw on lower firmwares that don't already have it.
Next time try to understand a conversation before butting in and ridiculing others falsely.

 

[JerryShaw]

So, anyway to update the patch but NOT update the firmware? My 128GB SDXC is on the way, NS on original 3.0.0.

 

[reminon]

So, anyway to update the patch but NOT update the firmware? My 128GB SDXC is on the way, NS on original 3.0.0.

Currently not possible, like what was said earlier in this thread. Format to fat32 or don't use.