Hacking New (hackable) console - how should I proceed?

[VIERcntHOLZ]

Got myself a Switch with 4.0.1 and a (hackable) Serialnumber as followed: XAJ400348XXXXX.

Now I'm a bit overwhelmed and need a few Informations on how I should further proceed.
What I want:

Play Backup games in singleplayer (without leaving Airplane mode, like ever).
Use a bit of Homebrew

What I'm bummed about:
I want to keep my fuses as intact as possible, If I'm updating my Switch, I'll burn them, right?
Right now I dont have exFAT support, but found a Thread on how to add it, without updating.

How should I proceed?

1. Get me (on 4.0.1) going with latest CFW (ReiNX) and a AutoRCM
2. Update without burning fuses trough a Gamedump/Backup to - well - be updated and have exFAT added?

Or how would you suggest me proceeding

 

[Zer0w]

Use Choi to update without burning any fuses (this thanks to the use of AutoRCM)
https://gbatemp.net/threads/choiduj...ller-homebrew-for-the-nintendo-switch.513416/

But before doing any of this, make a full backup of your switch first, if you mess up you can revert back and start again.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/backup-...-your-biskeys-tseckeys-keys-txt-guide.513386/

 

[VIERcntHOLZ]

Okay, so
1. Get me (on 4.0.1) going with latest CFW (ReiNX) and a AutoRCM

is right, right? haha

 

[Zer0w]

Okay, so
1. Get me (on 4.0.1) going with latest CFW (ReiNX) and a AutoRCM

is right, right? haha

Start by making a backup first, this is important.

After this you can start updating to 5.1.0 with ChoiDouJourNX

 

[Anthraxx]

DON'T be like me, DO make a full NAND backup the first time.
You can find a pretty great guide to start here: https://reinx.guide/ Personally I'd use Hekate CTCaer for the backups, but that's up to you. I don't recommend following their upgrade guide though. Use ChoiDujourNX as Zer0w said.
AVOID upgrading as far as 6.0, the current build of ReiNX doesn't support it yet.
It's quite realistic to not connect a hacked Switch to wifi at all, but if you do need to, you can use bogus DNS servers like DNS90 to ensure Nintendo servers are inaccessible.

 

[deliverator]

first off, there's the Switch NOOB Paradise Thread which you can browse. All your questions have been asked before.

first thing of course, do a NAND Backup and put it in a safe place, several safe places.
Then you can run ChoiDujourNX. There's youtube videos that will walk you through the process and have all the files you need in the description.

I use 90DS for my DNS server on my CFW only switch, plus I also use SX PRO stealth mode. That way I can FTP through wireless into my switch. overkill yes?

Good luck, stay safe, have fun.

 

[Kubas_inko]

If you want a quick guide, take a look here

 

[VIERcntHOLZ]

First off, thank you guys.

I just confirmed the hackability by following This Thread.

I'm just a little unsure about the AutoRCM.
I dont mind keeping my Switch in PowerSafe mode, and so on, so I'd like to use AutoRCM as early as possible, due to the fact i'm using a "Tinfoil Jig modded Joy-Con" to get into RCM and id like to remove it as early as possible.
So my next step would be, to get AutoRCM going and after that updating to 5.1 (as you guys suggested) using ChoiDojour, right?

Or am I doomed to get one of those 3d Printed ones?

 

[Kubas_inko]

First off, thank you guys.

I just confirmed the hackability by following This Thread.

I'm just a little unsure about the AutoRCM.
I dont mind keeping my Switch in PowerSafe mode, and so on, so I'd like to use AutoRCM as early as possible, due to the fact i'm using a "Tinfoil Jig modded Joy-Con" to get into RCM and id like to remove it as early as possible.
So my next step would be, to get AutoRCM going and after that updating to 5.1 (as you guys suggested) using ChoiDojour, right?

Or am I doomed to get one of those 3d Printed ones?

Take a look at my guide I gave you.
There is a tutorial for choidujour and such if you want.
Also, don't use tinfoil, please. It can be the most dangerous method.
And for the AutoRCM, if you know how to use it properly, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it.

 

[Canna]

But before doing any of this, make a full backup of your switch first, if you mess up you can revert back and start again.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/backup-...-your-biskeys-tseckeys-keys-txt-guide.513386/

As this person has said the first thing to do is to make a full backup with the guide link above

then read and research the information found on the Switch NOOB Paradise Thread so you can learn

 

[VIERcntHOLZ]

Without doing any updating Im not able to use exFAT SD Cards yet.
FAT32 would work for the backup?

 

[Kubas_inko]

Without doing any updating Im not able to use exFAT SD Cards yet.
FAT32 would work for the backup?

Yes, it can backup in parts.

 

[Canna]

Without doing any updating Im not able to use exFAT SD Cards yet.
FAT32 would work for the backup?

Yes is will work but will split your rawemmc gpt (rawnand.bin) backup into 15 or 30 parts.. and that's no problem as you use a simple script to combine them into 1 file on your pc. which will be called rawnand.bin...

But if you follow my guide buddy, LINK it does not matter, you can use exfat with my method, as exfat support only matters with booting into switch normally aka horizon....

So basically follow my guide you will be fine, and you may format to exfat regardless of exfat support..

Hekate supports exfat.

YOU CAN USE EXFAT CARD TO BACKUP IN HEKATE

 

[Jaucent23]

just buy the team xecuter dongle, save your self the trouble of trying to figure things out, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this thread i guess. so yea go buy that instead

 

[Kubas_inko]

just buy the team xecuter dongle, save your self the trouble of trying to figure things out, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this thread i guess. so yea go buy that instead

sure...

 

[FusionNeo]

The Switch scene definitely seems confusing at first just because it's evolving so rapidly, but it's not that bad anymore.

As everyone has mentioned, use the linked guides above to backup your NAND.

What I would personally do before doing that is to format your SD as exFAT. Even though your Switch doesn't have the exFAT update, it doesn't need it since it's not booted into the OS. Hekate will read it just fine. So backup your NAND etc.

Once you have backed up your Biskeys by following that guide, plug your SD card into the computer and keep that NAND backup in a safe location. You'll be grateful you have it. Once you have it transferred to your computer, format the SD card to FAT32, and follow the guide for Choi linked above to update your Switch to 5.1.0 with exFAT support WITHOUT burning fuses:

Once you're updated, your Switch will enable AutoRCM by default. It is REQUIRED to prevent you from burning fuses, because if the console ever boots into OFW those dudes will burn.

Once you're updated, you're free to run Homebrew.

Other thoughts:

1) I would recommend using tumGER's SD files (type that into Google and it's the first result.) This creates a modifiable zip file that is tailor made to whatever you have with all the proper files you'll need for the SD card.

2) Since your Switch will be in AutoRCM, you'll need to launch a payload every time to boot the console. If you have an Android phone you can just use that. If not, I would highly recommend purchasing an NS Atmosphere. It's a dongle that allows you to launch your own payload when you're on the go, and it includes a jig to get into RCM (you probably won't need it since you'll have AutoRCM enabled, but it's good to have.) It's $14 but if you download the app and make a new account you can get a $4 off coupon bringing it down to $10. I can't link to it but if you type in "Bitfunx NS Atmosphere" you'll find it.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ashura66]

just buy the team xecuter dongle, save your self the trouble of trying to figure things out, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this thread i guess. so yea go buy that instead

OR take a couple of minutes to read trough some threads and save yourself the money

 

[Jaucent23]

OR take a couple of minutes to read trough some threads and save yourself the money

yea i agree with that statement, but this post was made because he chose to not take the time to do that and expect all the answers........ but yes take the time to google or buy something that saves you time

 

[VIERcntHOLZ]

I really enjoyed hacking my 3DS back then.
But actually I disagree with a statement like "Yea, buddy, read trough 400 Pages of FAQ Noob Thread to get you going" if it can be explained in a short Message like FusionNeo did.

 

[eskinner3742]

I copied this from another thread asking about the same thing. You definitely want to use choidoujour to update without burning fuses.

Let me flood you with a million links that just might help.

First thing is to determine what serial number you want to get for a modable switch: https://gbatemp.net/threads/switch-informations-by-serial-number.481215/

Once you get your switch, you need to find a way to boot into RCM mode: https://gbatemp.net/threads/the-ultimate-list-of-mods-to-enter-rcm.502145/

RCM mode is basically a recovery type mode that we use to push the custom firmware (CFW) files. Typically done by shorting a pin in the right joycon rail to make the switch tablet think you're holding it's non-existant home button while you also hold volume up then press power. Be careful what method you use as you COULD cause damage to your switch ie. jamming a screwdriver into the side. There is also an option you can enable through hekate (check the atmosphere tutorial below) that will make the switch automatically boot into RCM mode

Next, you need to choose a custom firmware that you want to run, there are a few differences but in the end they all help you achieve homebrew. Right now it seems like we have 3 options so I'll link you to guides on each

Atmosphere: https://gbatemp.net/threads/guide-universal-cfw-instalation-guide.517122/
ReiNX: http://reinx.guide/
RajNX: https://gbatemp.net/threads/rajnx-c...free-starter-pack-for-nintendo-switch.513785/

There's also SX OS but that stuff is not free but hey the easy to use dongle is nice if you're willing to drop the money so here's their official site: https://sx.xecuter.com/#prod-sxpro
Another semi-cfw-related link I'll post is to painless linux which is just linux running on your switch: https://github.com/natinusala/painless-linux

The above guides cover everything in pretty great detail. Before starting always make sure you back up your NAND and boot files so you have a "clean" backup in case something goes wrong (which is pretty unlikely) And definitely don't jump right in before you read everything over and get an understanding of what exactly you'll be doing. Which, jist of it all is, you force your console into a a recovery type mode (RCM) plug it into your computer, install drivers for your PC to read your switch, then push the payload file to patch a few things and get the CFW up and running. Once in custom firmware you'll be able to open the picture album and launch the homebrew menu so you can run those sweet sweet emulators (or whatever homebrew app you're after) It's really quite simple, maybe a little overwhelming, but not hard at all.

I recommend checking out the Homebrew development section of the forum to find some homebrew apps to run and play with: https://gbatemp.net/forums/switch-emulation-homebrew-software-projects.292/

I hope I was at least somewhat helpful in pointing you to some useful information.