Hacking Clearing up a Misconception about SDXC cards update

[Breeze926]

Ok so I feel like clearing this up because I've seen confusion about it in various threads.
TLDR: Some people say it's bundled with a certain firmware. This is not true. The SDXC update is separate from Firmware updates.

I tested this with my own Switch and my friends Switch. I had a Switch in 3.0.2 (that was the newest version back then.) and checked for updates. No updates were available. Then I inserted the Micro SDXC card to my Switch and was immediately prompted to update. I updated, and when I checked the firmware it was still 3.0.2. Later I inserted the same card to my friend's 4.0.1 (newest version at the time) and the same thing happened. Immediately prompted for an update that after it was done, the firmware stayed the same. The only thing left to test is that if you have a Switch with a firmware that isn't the newest and you do the SDXC update whether it would update your firmware as well or just apply the SDXC update.

Edit: Replies have shown that if you want the SDXC update (Which is in fact a compatibility for exFAT update) you can't just update since Nintendo will bundle a firmware update. What you can do is install the update manually.

 

[Deleted-442439]

We already know what happens, it will update if you don't have the newest FW.

 

[Garlik82]

I have the lastest FW and last week when I inserted my brand new sdxc card it prompt an update.

 

[SomeGamer]

I had my Switch on 1.0.0 when 2.0.0 was the latest, took the SDXC update, stayed on 1.0.0.

 

[rajkosto]

1. its not an SDXC cards update, it's an exFAT update that only shows up if you have exFAT as your first partition on the microsd
2. since exFAT requires paying royalties to microsoft, none of the firmware versions come with a kernel (package2) that supports it by default, it requires phoning home to nintendo to get the licence and new package2 (which will just update you to latest firmware if you arent on it already)
there is a package2 with exFAT support for each firmware version since 2.0.0, it doesnt require the latest one, but nintendo will only send you the latest one because why would they want you to be running old stuff ?
@SomeGamer, if you actually have a 1.0.0 with exFAT support you should share your nand dump (without PRODINFO stuff to keep your certs safe) because nobody has had that before

 

[realjumy]

I had my Switch on 1.0.0 when 2.0.0 was the latest, took the SDXC update, stayed on 1.0.0.

I just checked this afternoon and now I have a pretty 5.02 firmware... After weeks of avoiding going online...

They might have changed the process compared with older firmwares, as I tried to make everything as fast as possible so just the ExFAT was installed... But nope, it installed everything together.

 

[PikachuPro]

So are we screwed? Is there no way to get exFAT support without updating?

 

[TheCyberQuake]

Its been proven multiple times that its very likely your system will bundle in a system update along with the exfat update if you aren't on latest firm. Telling people it absolutely doesn't happen just because you got lucky and didn't have it happen is bad, because it's just not accurate.

 

[TAUSENN]

I just checked this afternoon and now I have a pretty 5.02 firmware... After weeks of avoiding going online...

They might have changed the process compared with older firmwares, as I tried to make everything as fast as possible so just the ExFAT was installed... But nope, it installed everything together.

Sorry to hear that but lmao!

 

[Breeze926]

Its been proven multiple times that its very likely your system will bundle in a system update along with the exfat update if you aren't on latest firm. Telling people it absolutely doesn't happen just because you got lucky and didn't have it happen is bad, because it's just not accurate.

I didn't say it doesn't happen. I stated that both times I did it it was on the newest firmware, and that I didn't know what happened on a lower firmware. Now people are replying saying that it does bundle a firmware update with the SDXC update. I just made this thread to clear it up and get more information so that anyone googling it can hopefully stumble upon this thread and get the information.

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So are we screwed? Is there no way to get exFAT support without updating?

Well...you could update to 5.0.2 to use exFAT since Atmosphere will be coming to it anyway, but I don't recommend it since lower is always better.

 

[realjumy]

So are we screwed? Is there no way to get exFAT support without updating?

In my case I did it knowing the risk. I wanted ExFAT support and i preferred to risk to an upgrade to 5.02 rather than to another future update.

 

[rajkosto]

You can just manually install the exFAT package2 for your firmware version if you have it, no need to ever update.
(it's not like exFAT is useful anyway, all the games get split into 2GB chunks regardless of FS)

 

[Glyptofane]

The title and post are misleading. You say it's a misconception and that it's not bundled with a firmware update which are both wrong. Both of your tests were done on then current firmware which doesn't really prove anything except that there is in fact a separate update for users on current firmware which should be expected really.

 

[realjumy]

You can just manually install the exFAT package2 for your firmware version if you have it, no need to ever update.
(it's not like exFAT is useful anyway, all the games get split into 2GB chunks regardless of FS)

Late, I guess :/

 

[riyyi]

You can just manually install the exFAT package2 for your firmware version if you have it, no need to ever update.
(it's not like exFAT is useful anyway, all the games get split into 2GB chunks regardless of FS)

Where would one obtain this package2? I'm on 3.0.2.

 

[tinkle]

Just update to lastest. With TX the standard, all Homebrew will be written for the latest anyway.

 

[realjumy]

Just update to lastest. With TX the standard, all Homebrew will be written for the latest anyway.

There's deeper access in lower firmwares. Better not to upgrade. I upgraded because I wanted to play online eventually, so at some point I just decided to take the risk (although I enormously regret it).

 

[msaraiva]

There's deeper access in lower firmwares. Better not to upgrade. I upgraded because I wanted to play online.

For people going the TX Dongle / OS route, there's no point, really. Homebrew is supported and you can cold boot if you want.

 

[3xkrazy]

You can just manually install the exFAT package2 for your firmware version if you have it, no need to ever update.
(it's not like exFAT is useful anyway, all the games get split into 2GB chunks regardless of FS)

Are there any tutorials or Howto on this?

 

[tinkle]

There's deeper access in lower firmwares. Better not to upgrade. I upgraded because I wanted to play online.

And if nobody develops for this "deeper access," then it's irrelevant.