Hacking Some game carts refuse to run without game update (even in airplane mode)

[Deleted User]

I tried to install Doom and Zelda (v001) NSPs with tinfoil (ignoring FW req), but upon trying to run the games, I was prompted for a software update, as the games simply refused to run despite being on airplane mode and choosing "cancel" upon update prompt. These NSPs are not XCI conversions, but pulled with CDNSP GUI.

No biggie, I'll just play those with my legit game carts I thought. But now even with the game carts, the games continue to prompt for updates, and simply refuse to run when cancelling the update request. Before I had even tried to install NSPs, both game carts used to work fine, like when I cancelled update prompt for DOOM, the game would still run in airplane mode. The Zelda cart had always loaded properly as its v000. I've tried deleting save data and software data as well in case save version was the issue without any success.

Strangely, all other NSPs work 100% and does not prompt for forced, mandatory software updates except for these 2 games at the moment. Card reader was tested and also functions 100% on all other game carts.

I am on 3.0.1, hekate 3.2, SDfiles 7.3.1. Switch has never once connected to internet since purchase.

Any idea on what's causing this?

 

[Draxzelex]

V001 carts are updated revisions of games that naturally require higher firmware to run because they are updated. When you installed the V001 NSPs, it might have flagged something in your system that lets it know there are game updates for those games.

 

[Deleted User]

That's true, but firm 3.0.1 was high enough for v1.3 Zelda (v001) and DOOM is v000 so requires 3.0.1 out of the box. I meet FW reqs on both, so it's a bit odd.

Is it because those games are NSPs, and somehow flagged to know there are updates, as opposed to XCIs which have no clue either way?

It just seems strange the dozens of other installed NSPs also have updates available for them, but don;t suffer this issue.

 

[iriez]

Did you select the option in tinfoil to ignore fw version?

That should be the solution, but if not just grab the update with cdnsp and install it.

 

[Draxzelex]

Did you use the bypass firmware requirement feature in Tinfoil when installing them?

 

[Deleted User]

Oh right, I forgot to mention I did bypass firm requirement, even though my FW was high enough.

Unfortunately, I can't install the latest update without dealing with fuses, and I have a HUGE backlog of games even at the low firm of 3.0.1

 

[Draxzelex]

You can update without burning fuses. You just have to use AutoRCM which is manageable with sleep mode or ensuring you only power off in RCM.

 

[Zumoly]

Or if you don't mind you can use devmenu and reset the required fw version for those games.

 

[Deleted User]

You can update without burning fuses. You just have to use AutoRCM which is manageable with sleep mode or ensuring you only power off in RCM.

Yeah I'm just taking one thing at a time. When I run out of content, I will for sure upgrade without burning, but since I literally have a years worth of gaming still untapped (Mario Odyssey, Bayonetta 1/2, Resident Evil, still haven't beat Zelda etc.) I was hoping to just enjoy the 30+ low firm games on my SD card and just wait patiently for the hacking scene to catchup

Or if you don't mind you can use devmenu and reset the required fw version for those games.

I don't know anything about this. Can you point me to a tutorial or youtube on how to do this? Thanks in advance
oh nvm, devmenu itself seems to require high fw

 

[DocKlokMan]

It's because those carts have update NCA's installed onto them already. You really shouldn't be converting XCI to NSP for exactly this reason. When you go to run them, they can see the update already contained in the NSP (and you can install that update without internet too). Now that the Switch is aware of the update it's not going to let you play the game without it. If you wish to continue converting XCI's to NSP (not recommended) always use rev000 versions of the games.

 

[Deleted User]

Sorry I should have mentioned these are not XCI conversions, but CDNSP files pulled with Bob's GUI

You make a good point about the game recognizing the updated NSP. It makes sense when trying to play a lower version on the cartridge (Zelda for example), it's rejecting because of the version mismatch.

It still doesn't explain why DOOM won't run, since both nsp and cart versions are v000 and I never tried updating either, but I'm going to try reinitializing the console to see if that helps reset things.

 

[DocKlokMan]

Sorry I should have mentioned these are not XCI conversions, but CDNSP files pulled with Bob's GUI

You make a good point about the game recognizing the updated NSP. It makes sense when trying to play a lower version on the cartridge (Zelda for example), it's rejecting because of the version mismatch.

It still doesn't explain why DOOM won't run, since both nsp and cart versions are v000 and I never tried updating either, but I'm going to try reinitializing the console to see if that helps reset things.

Please clarify this for me then?

I tried to install Doom and Zelda (v001) NSPs with tinfoil

 

[bundat]

In my experience, when a game won't let you play without installing a game update (i.e. the ones you can't just cancel and choose "Start Software", it's because of conflicting game versions of the save files.

e.g. I was playing a Mario Odyssey rev001 cart, this is actually a cart with the v1.1 update BUILT-IN.
You can see this by checking the cart's game data on Horizon (by pressing +), it shows v1.1.

Then I tried moving to NSPs, and installed the base game (v1.0).
I couldn't play without updating, because the game had a v1.1 save on my Switch, which was not compatible with the v1.0 game.

Then I just briefly played on another (borrowed) Mario Odyssey cart.
Then suddenly, I couldn't play even with the first rev001 cart.
Upon checking the new cart's game data of the game on Horizon (by pressing +), it shows v1.2!
It's a rev002 cart, and it caused my save to become compatible with only the v1.2 update of the game.

---

So... what I think happened in your case:
Doom v001 has a higher FW requirement that cannot be bypassed
(e.g. they actually use a NEW functionality of the higher FW in their game code)
And by trying to run it once, your saves have been converted from base version to v001
So you now can't use those saved games anymore on the v000 game.

 

[iriez]

Oh right, I forgot to mention I did bypass firm requirement, even though my FW was high enough.

Unfortunately, I can't install the latest update without dealing with fuses, and I have a HUGE backlog of games even at the low firm of 3.0.1

What i was saying is that you can download and install the game updates. You can also update your switch using ChoiDeJourNX with a few clicks without burning the fuses.

There are multiple solutions here, and you should probably just use choidejour and update to latest fw so you don't have to use all these complex work-arounds to get things to work.

 

[Clydefrosch]

What i was saying is that you can download and install the game updates. You can also update your switch using ChoiDeJourNX with a few clicks without burning the fuses.

There are multiple solutions here, and you should probably just use choidejour and update to latest fw so you don't have to use all these complex work-arounds to get things to work.

question, how does downgrading back work anyways? nandbackup? original firmware file? what happens to savestates and such?

 

[Codiox]

got the same problem here. but somehow the messages went away. cant explain why.

im always offline.

 

[Deleted User]

So... what I think happened in your case:
Doom v001 has a higher FW requirement that cannot be bypassed
(e.g. they actually use a NEW functionality of the higher FW in their game code)
And by trying to run it once, your saves have been converted from base version to v001
So you now can't use those saved games anymore on the v000 game.

Yeah, I think that's exactly what happened. I was trusting Switch Backup Manager to give me the correct firmware reqs on NSPs games and updates, but it wasn't 100% correct for all files. Just finished reinitializing and reinstalling everything back to the SD card, and DOOM/Zelda NSPs run as they should. Thanks for the help everyone!