Hacking Clarification before Hacking Switch

ChaoticGamer

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Hey guys!

I just want someone to look over what I am going to do to hack my switch and give me any help or other better alternatives.

So, I have my own switch and my friend decided that they were done with gaming and gave me their switch. I'm keeping mine all nice and safe while I am going to hack the one they gave me. Now, in all honesty, I'm really just going to pirate games and I just want to make sure I understand everything before I actually do it.

First, make sure to read over this to avoid a ban (even though I know it is not a guaranteed way)

Second, I am going to follow this installation guide for Hekate here and also making a backup for everything. Also for the backup, I need a clean SD card right? Just to make sure that nothing goes wrong. I also have a 32gb sc card that I was using to store games on my switch, so I was just going to format it to clean it up a bit. I was wondering if it needs to be formatted to a certain type.

Lastly, I am going to install ReiNX as the CFW and install games via Tinfoil with the NSP file using this guide. Also when installing Hekate, does ReiNX come as a CFW for it? I'm still a bit confused on some of the CFW installation.

I'm pretty sure that is all there is to it. Hopefully you guys can give me some insight in case I am wrong or just some advice. Thanks!
 

Draxzelex

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First, make sure to read over this to avoid a ban (even though I know it is not a guaranteed way)
Should be fine.

Second, I am going to follow this installation guide for Hekate here and also making a backup for everything. Also for the backup, I need a clean SD card right? Just to make sure that nothing goes wrong. I also have a 32gb sc card that I was using to store games on my switch, so I was just going to format it to clean it up a bit. I was wondering if it needs to be formatted to a certain type.
The SD card must be formatted to either FAT32 or exFAT. If its FAT32 and/or the SD card does not have 29.1 GB of available space (a 32 GB SD card does not have 32 GB of free space), then Hekate will perform a partial dump. If its exFAT, then it will dump the NAND as one file. Also it does not matter if your console supports exFAT or not as Hekate is loaded before the OS meaning exFAT support is irrelevant when using Hekate.

Lastly, I am going to install ReiNX as the CFW and install games via Tinfoil with the NSP file using this guide. Also when installing Hekate, does ReiNX come as a CFW for it? I'm still a bit confused on some of the CFW installation.
You do not install Hekate neither ReiNX or any CFW for that matter; they are loaded via a temporary exploit that is lost when the Switch reboots/shuts down. Hekate is a bootloader/payload whose primary job is to load CFW such as Atmosphere, ReiNX, or even SX OS. ReiNX has its own bootloader that must be used to load ReiNX. If you wish to use Hekate to load ReiNX, then you must place the ReiNX bootloader/payload in the appropriate folder on the SD card for Hekate then select Launch -> Payloads or setup a Launch Configuration in the Hekate.ini file that directly boots ReiNX.
 
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ChaoticGamer

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You do not install Hekate neither ReiNX or any CFW for that matter; they are loaded via a temporary exploit that is lost when the Switch reboots/shuts down. Hekate is a bootloader/payload whose primary job is to load CFW such as Atmosphere, ReiNX, or even SX OS. ReiNX has its own bootloader that must be used to load ReiNX. If you wish to use Hekate to load ReiNX, then you must place the ReiNX bootloader/payload in the appropriate folder on the SD card for Hekate then select Launch -> Payloads or setup a Launch Configuration in the Hekate.ini file that directly boots ReiNX.

Ah okay. So I should just follow this guide for ReiNX instead of following the guide for Hekate as ReiNX also has a way to backup the NAND and because that is what I am really going to use for installing games and what not.
 

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Ah okay. So I should just follow this guide for ReiNX instead of following the guide for Hekate as ReiNX also has a way to backup the NAND and because that is what I am really going to use for installing games and what not.
A NAND backup made in ReiNX is not as "clean" as compared to one made in Hekate. This is because Hekate is loaded before the NAND so there's no chance for any trace of CFW to be imparted into the NAND backup while ReiNX uses a homebrew application called the ReiNX toolkit to backup the NAND meaning some traces of CFW may be present in that NAND backup. Either way, Hekate by itself does not impart support for backup launching; you must use a CFW such as ReiNX, Atmosphere, or SX OS.
 

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The first thing you should do is put it in airplane mode, and just leave it that way until the day you remove all traces of hacking. Essentially you're banning yourself, but you leave the option of unbanning yourself in the future, which will not be the case if Nintendo bans you.

That 32gb SD card is going to fill up reeeaally fast. If you're not broke, you should go ahead and buy something bigger, maybe 128gb.

Are you going to put it in AutoRCM?

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

A NAND backup made in ReiNX is not as "clean" as compared to one made in Hekate. This is because Hekate is loaded before the NAND so there's no chance for any trace of CFW to be imparted into the NAND backup while ReiNX uses a homebrew application called the ReiNX toolkit to backup the NAND meaning some traces of CFW may be present in that NAND backup. Either way, Hekate by itself does not impart support for backup launching; you must use a CFW such as ReiNX, Atmosphere, or SX OS.

Do this!

Airplane mode, use Hekate ONLY to dump NAND, if you're not updated use ChoiDuJour to update without burning fuses and set it to AuoRCM, THEN install ReiNX last.
 
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ChaoticGamer

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A NAND backup made in ReiNX is not as "clean" as compared to one made in Hekate. This is because Hekate is loaded before the NAND so there's no chance for any trace of CFW to be imparted into the NAND backup while ReiNX uses a homebrew application called the ReiNX toolkit to backup the NAND meaning some traces of CFW may be present in that NAND backup. Either way, Hekate by itself does not impart support for backup launching; you must use a CFW such as ReiNX, Atmosphere, or SX OS.

I see, so I should use Hekate regardless for the NAND backup. Does that mean I can use Hekate once for the clean NAND backup and then I can use ReiNX for the future? Also, how could I find the payload for ReiNX to use in the Hekate load up of CFW? I got the ReiNX file, but I don't see something that would resemble a payload file.

The first thing you should do is put it in airplane mode, and just leave it that way until the day you remove all traces of hacking. Essentially you're banning yourself, but you leave the option of unbanning yourself in the future, which will not be the case if Nintendo bans you.

That 32gb SD card is going to fill up reeeaally fast. If you're not broke, you should go ahead and buy something bigger, maybe 128gb.

Are you going to put it in AutoRCM?

Thanks for the reminder! And for right now, I just have the 32gb SD card lol. I'm really using it for just one game right now, so I should be fine until I can afford a bigger one and I do plan in putting it to AutoRCM.
 

regnad

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I see, so I should use Hekate regardless for the NAND backup. Does that mean I can use Hekate once for the clean NAND backup and then I can use ReiNX for the future? Also, how could I find the payload for ReiNX to use in the Hekate load up of CFW? I got the ReiNX file, but I don't see something that would resemble a payload file.



Thanks for the reminder! And for right now, I just have the 32gb SD card lol. I'm really using it for just one game right now, so I should be fine until I can afford a bigger one and I do plan in putting it to AutoRCM.

The reason you do the Hekate NAND backup first is so that you have a completely clean NAND to restore if in the future you want to have a clean system to go online with.

The reason you use ChoiDuJour to update without burning fuses is so you can return to the FW version that matches this backup. It's important that these match.

If in the future you update, be sure to use ChoiDuJour, and be sure to keep it in AutoRCM so that you don't accidentally burn fuses, as will happen if you start the system in stock FW. In some ways AutoRCM is a pain because if you power down or your system crashes you need to inject the CFW payload for the system to even work. I have a dongle that does this in case the system crashes when I'm not at home. But on the other hand most people just put it in sleep mode, so it's no big deal, and you also never have to use a jig again.
 

ChaoticGamer

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The reason you do the Hekate NAND backup first is so that you have a completely clean NAND to restore if in the future you want to have a clean system to go online with.

The reason you use ChoiDuJour to update without burning fuses is so you can return to the FW version that matches this backup. It's important that these match.

If in the future you update, be sure to use ChoiDuJour, and be sure to keep it in AutoRCM so that you don't accidentally burn fuses, as will happen if you start the system in stock FW. In some ways AutoRCM is a pain because if you power down or your system crashes you need to inject the CFW payload for the system to even work. I have a dongle that does this in case the system crashes when I'm not at home. But on the other hand most people just put it in sleep mode, so it's no big deal, and you also never have to use a jig again.

Oh, that's interesting. So, if I want to use AutoRCM and not use a jig again, I should use it and just leave it in sleep mode? Is there any downside to doing that? I read somewhere that all it does is just make the switch have a real slow charging time, but other than that it should be fine.

EDIT: The jig I'm using is the paperclip method by the way.
 

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I see, so I should use Hekate regardless for the NAND backup. Does that mean I can use Hekate once for the clean NAND backup and then I can use ReiNX for the future? Also, how could I find the payload for ReiNX to use in the Hekate load up of CFW? I got the ReiNX file, but I don't see something that would resemble a payload file.
All payloads have a .bin extension. I believe the ReiNX.bin file you are looking for is located in the /ReiNX folder.

Oh, that's interesting. So, if I want to use AutoRCM and not use a jig again, I should use it and just leave it in sleep mode? Is there any downside to doing that? I read somewhere that all it does is just make the switch have a real slow charging time, but other than that it should be fine.
AutoRCM only slows down the charge rate of the Switch in RCM, not in Sleep Mode or any other mode.
 

ChaoticGamer

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All payloads have a .bin extension. I believe the ReiNX.bin file you are looking for is located in the /ReiNX folder.

Alright, thanks!


So now, this is what I am going to do:

1. Format SD card to exFat for the NAND backup.
2. Use the Hekate guide for NAND backup and then load into ReiNX with Hekate after.
3. Enable AutoRCM
(quick question regarding RCM, if I enable AutoRCM and completely shut off the switch, this means the Switch will boot into RCM automatically upon turning it on, which means I would have to connect my switch again to my PC and inject the Hekate payload again, right?)
4. Use Tinfoil for the installation of NSP files.
5. Done!
 

Draxzelex

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(quick question regarding RCM, if I enable AutoRCM and completely shut off the switch, this means the Switch will boot into RCM automatically upon turning it on, which means I would have to connect my switch again to my PC and inject the Hekate payload again, right?)
You can either do that or perform a manual shutdown to turn off the console which involves holding the power button for 12 seconds.
 

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Alright, thanks!


So now, this is what I am going to do:

1. Format SD card to exFat for the NAND backup.
2. Use the Hekate guide for NAND backup and then load into ReiNX with Hekate after.
3. Enable AutoRCM
(quick question regarding RCM, if I enable AutoRCM and completely shut off the switch, this means the Switch will boot into RCM automatically upon turning it on, which means I would have to connect my switch again to my PC and inject the Hekate payload again, right?)
4. Use Tinfoil for the installation of NSP files.
5. Done!

Is your stock FW already fully updated?
 

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