Hacking Old VS New Firmware (Which is Better for Homebrew)

[Notshane]

So, I have a Switch that is on 2.1.0, but if it already has the hardware exploit, does it matter if I update it to 6.2.0? Just curious so I can finally begin modifying it.

 

[mikefor20]

Just do a fuse less update. Then you can go back anytime

 

[chocoboss]

You can make a backup of your nand, then update to 6.2.0 using choixdujour / choixdujourNx to update without burning fuse. Then you will be able to downgrade for coldboot exploit or if you want

 

[Notshane]

Well, at the moment, I plan on homebrewing for some of the emulators and to mod Ultimate. Will it be a significant difference if I'm doing such on 6.2.0? Or, will it be more difficult to launch homebrew on 6.2.0?

 

[Hayato213]

You can preserve your fuse if you update your firmware using ChoidujourNX, as for playing game if you didn't use installer like Tinfoil to ignore game required firmware, then 6.2.0 is your answer. Being on lower firmware give you higher chance of getting access to a permanent CFW if one ever get released.

 

[Notshane]

I don't know know if I'll do full on CFW, as with the Wii U, I only added Loadiine to it so I could load emulators and homebrew games, such as Sm4sh.

But, if it's easy enough to make a NAND backup, I could try to find a video on how to mod, specifically, 2.1.0 and then another video on how to make a NAND backup, as well as another video for 6.2.0 later. Trouble is, I haven't found any useful videos yet at all. For:

- Setting up homebrew specifically for 2.1.0.
- Making a backup of the NAND.
- Setting up homebrew specifically for 6.2.0.

So, if anyone can help me there, I will finally be able to get started.

 

[hippy dave]

Make a nand backup before doing anything else. That's always the way to go. Use the latest hekate to get a verified backup.

 

[Notshane]

Make a nand backup before doing anything else. That's always the way to go. Use the latest hekate to get a verified backup.

Wouldn't I need to homebrew it first to begin the backup?

 

[Ninn]

Here is a little help with the first steps that you will need.

Accessing RCM https://guide.sdsetup.com/#/accessingrcm A video https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=55&v=3-UeB_enPrM

Waste some time Reading here and you should be good to go.

 

[hippy dave]

Wouldn't I need to homebrew it first to begin the backup?

Hekate is a bootloader that you run from RCM, which is what happens immediately when you turn on the Switch to do the hack. Technically hekate is homebrew software, but it's separate from the process of running a CFW that allows homebrew to run once the system is booted.

 

[Notshane]

Okay, thanks, guys. Hopefully, I can figure this stuff out, cause I'd feel bad to have to bump this again to ask for more help. Hopefully, it's easy, given I'm only using it simply atm, just to put on some emulators and then mod Ultimate. It's probably only gonna be difficult figuring out how to backup NAND, but I'm sure these links will help me.

 

[Notshane]

Appears I have already ran into my first problem. Around the middle of the video, he mentions putting some files on the microSD, but on 2.1.0, the Switch says it needs an update to use microSD. If it updates, it will go to 6.2.0. So, how can I backup my NAND on 2.1.0 then? Doesn't seem like there's a way if it's not reading the microSD without an update.

 

[smf]

Appears I have already ran into my first problem. Around the middle of the video, he mentions putting some files on the microSD, but on 2.1.0, the Switch says it needs an update to use microSD. If it updates, it will go to 6.2.0. So, how can I backup my NAND on 2.1.0 then? Doesn't seem like there's a way if it's not reading the microSD without an update.

It needs the update to use exFAT, so format the microSD to FAT32 or use another microSD that is formatted to FAT32.

 

[Notshane]

It needs the update to use exFAT, so format the microSD to FAT32 or use another microSD that is formatted to FAT32.

Hmm, that's a real shame. I hear exFAT is a lot better than FAT32 and I never thought I'd run into that issue again with Switchbrew. I figured Wii U would be the last time I had to format an SD to FAT32. Maybe I can just use another microSD strictly for a backup of 2.1.0 and use the exFAT for 6.2.0 if the homebrew will be barely any different, so I can keep the better FAT on the bigger file storage.

 

[pinbi7]

Fat32 is the way to go if you want to avoid corruption(switch games,homebrew,emulation)

I would do exfat if the only thing you want to play is nsp releases(switch games)

 

[smf]

Hmm, that's a real shame. I hear exFAT is a lot better than FAT32 and I never thought I'd run into that issue again with Switchbrew. I figured Wii U would be the last time I had to format an SD to FAT32. Maybe I can just use another microSD strictly for a backup of 2.1.0 and use the exFAT for 6.2.0 if the homebrew will be barely any different, so I can keep the better FAT on the bigger file storage.

Once you run choidujournx and select exFAT then you can switch back to your exFAT card, or format it to exFAT.

There are some people who would recommend running FAT32 over exFAT because of reliability issues.

 

[hippy dave]

Your whole line of questioning from the beginning was about running homebrew, in which case stick to fat32 to avoid exfat corruption. It's a sucky situation having to use a filesystem from the '90s, but that's life for now.

 

[Notshane]

Your whole line of questioning from the beginning was about running homebrew, in which case stick to fat32 to avoid exfat corruption. It's a sucky situation having to use a filesystem from the '90s, but that's life for now.

Yeah, that seems like the smartest decision then. It just took a few people to verify it for me then. Thank you again, guys.

Oh right, I noticed, but people are mentioning different means of homebrew here. So, is there just not one overall option like the Wii U with Loadiine? Or, are these just more methods to load into the default menus and stuff for it?

 

[Notshane]

Okay, so another minor question, can I put channels on the main menu like I could with the Wii U and Haxchi without modifying it significantly? (e.g. Homebrew Menu selectable from a menu square instead of Album) I saw this video that showed a person go on something called "Tinfoil" but I haven't found any competent videos about how to go about it. And that I need some files called "NSP" to install the channels directly to the menu.

Oh, and in the video, he has a theme on Retroarch that looks much better than the default. If anyone knows where this theme is available and how to put it on, that'd be great. As well as, uh, how to even run the 3D consoles like N64, PSX, etc. I've seen other people run them just fine, but they always crash for me. And in this same video, the guy even gets them running as he's explaining the overclocking, though that's not what I want to do with my Retroarch.



The link did not go to the timestamp I put, so just go to 5:23 to see the better theme he put for Retroarch. He also managed to segregate the consoles with separate sections, as well as give them each their own unique game icon in their game lists. If there's anything that anyone knows about how to do this, I would very much appreciate it.