How to split NSP's for FAT32

I will make this tutorial better and cleaner, but I have been seeing a lot of people ask this question, and decided to make this quick tutorial in the meantime.

Place both files into a folder, then just simply drag and drop the nsp onto the dividensp.bat. make sure that the nsp itself is not in the same folder, you can drag it from anywhere. Then, just simply copy and paste the folder it made into tinfoil/nsp. Last thing, make sure that the archive tag is on for the .nsp folder. If it's not, tinfoil won't recognize/install correctly.
 

WesMods

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Forgive my ignorance but I've got everything in .xci to use with Xecuter SX Pro on an exfat format 256gb micro SD card. Am I better off getting everything in .nsp and using fat32 format, or is it 12 in one, dozen in another?
 

Insane

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Forgive my ignorance but I've got everything in .xci to use with Xecuter SX Pro on an exfat format 256gb micro SD card. Am I better off getting everything in .nsp and using fat32 format, or is it 12 in one, dozen in another?

Fat32 vs exFAT and XCI vs NSP are two different discussions. You can use XCI and NSP with FAT32.

Community says that NSP is more better than XCI. For reasons, you need to ask around because I can't figure out why exactly.
Pro NSP:
- smaller size
- only way to install updates and DLC
Contra NSP:
- installation needed
- deletion is kind of cumbersome (via system menu)
- easier detectable for big N (installs fake tickets)

Pro XCI:
- just drag and drop and play
Contra XCI:
- slightly larger size
- no DLCs and updates available as XCI

For Fat32 vs exFAT: Exfat is prone to some corruption issues via homebrew. Fat32 seems safe. If you use homebrew and emulators a lot, Fat32 is the much better filesystem with the drawback of having to split every XCI or NSP.
 
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WesMods

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Fat32 vs exFAT and XCI vs NSP are two different discussions. You can use XCI and NSP with FAT32.

Community says that NSP is more better than XCI. For reasons, you need to ask around because I can't figure out why exactly.
Pro NSP:
- smaller size
- only way to install updates and DLC
Contra NSP:
- installation needed
- deletion is kind of cumbersome (via system menu)
- easier detectable for big N (installs fake tickets)

Pro XCI:
- just drag and drop and play
Contra XCI:
- slightly larger size
- no DLCs and updates available as XCI

For Fat32 vs exFAT: Exfat is prone to some corruption issues via homebrew. Fat32 seems safe. If you use homebrew and emulators a lot, Fat32 is the much better filesystem with the drawback of having to split every XCI or NSP.
Thanks very much, perfect answer. It is how I was understanding but the Switch scene has been very busy, hard to keep up lately haha :)
 
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MichiS97

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Quick question: Can you just backup all files from an exFAT formatted SD Card, format the card to FAT32 and then copy everything back without losing anything? Just asking because I've got a few NSPs installed on that SD card and I don't really feel like reinstalling all of these.
 

Draxzelex

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Quick question: Can you just backup all files from an exFAT formatted SD Card, format the card to FAT32 and then copy everything back without losing anything? Just asking because I've got a few NSPs installed on that SD card and I don't really feel like reinstalling all of these.
Yes, you can do that.
 
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Zer0w

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So what if I use FAT32 and use tinfoil usb install to install the nsps, but then the files are actually like over 4gb once they're installed on a FAT32. What would one have to do if I wanted to make a backup, and wanted to copy the backed up files back over to the SD on a FAT32. But then the files are bigger than 4gb, so you're unable to copy it back is there a solution for that?
 
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Draxzelex

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So what if I use FAT32 and use tinfoil usb install to install the nsps, but then the files are actually like over 4gb once they're installed on a FAT32. What would one have to do if I wanted to make a backup, and wanted to copy the backed up files back over to the SD on a FAT32. But then the files are bigger than 4gb, so you're unable to copy it back is there a solution for that?
They're not over 4 GB once they're installed. Once installed, all of the .NCA files are made to be under 4 GB, even if an individual .NCA file exceeds 4 GB before installation.
 

HollowSuperHylianHedgehog

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I will make this tutorial better and cleaner, but I have been seeing a lot of people ask this question, and decided to make this quick tutorial in the meantime.

Place both files into a folder, then just simply drag and drop the nsp onto the dividensp.bat. make sure that the nsp itself is not in the same folder, you can drag it from anywhere. Then, just simply copy and paste the folder it made into tinfoil/nsp. Last thing, make sure that the archive tag is on for the .nsp folder. If it's not, tinfoil won't recognize/install correctly.


Extremely noob question: how can i Check or set the archive tag? Please step by step
 

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