Hacking Question Beginner questions (yes, I read the FAQ & pinned threads)

[DCMaxxx]

Hi,

First, let me say that I got my switch in the last five days, and I'm pretty much a noob regarding Switch hacking.
I've read a lot, but since the scene evolves very quickly, informations are often outdated and does not reflect the current solutions.

My setup :
I've followed this guide (switch.homebrew.guide) last Sunday to patch the Switch.
My Switch is vulnerable to fusee gelee and I used the "Kosmos Default" package from sdsetup

When I boot to Hekate ; and tap launch ; I can choose between
- sysMMC (CFW)
- emuMMC (CFW)
- sysNAND (stock) - I assume 'stock' means the same thing as OFW

My questions :
From what I understand, emuMMC (CFW) and sysNAND (stock) are completely independent.
However, if I boot my switch to sysNAND (stock) (rebooting the switch, not going to RCM, not injecting the payload) :

- I can still see the NSP I installed when I was on emuMMC (CFW)
- my official games (installed with cards on sysNAND (stock)) are visible on emuMMC (CFW)
- my DNS settings (90DNS) are shared between both systems (sysNAND (stock) / emuMMC (CFW))​

First question : is it normal that NSP, official games and DNS settings are shared between my sysNAND and emuMMC ?

I've also read that as long as I keep my sysNAND clean, it's "relatively" safe to play online (I know that I might get ban even though I did everything correctly).
Second question : can I play offline to an official game (Mario Kart 8) on my emuMMC (CFW) and play online to the same game on my sysNAND (stock) ?

This is (of course) the first time an update comes out since I patched my Switch.
Third question(s) :

- Can I updated my sysNAND to 9.0.0 and keep my emuMMC ( ? (Probably won't do it, but out of curiosity)
- When a new version of Atmosphere comes out ; what's the process of update ? And do I need to backup my homebrews, NSP, game saves... ?
​

Thanks a lot for your help !

 

[TheCyberQuake]

If you didn't specifically set up emuMMC, then the emuMMC cfw option will instead boot sysMMC cfw. You should be able to tell by opening up settings and then System. You should see on the end either "|E" or "|S". E is emuMMC, S is sysMMC.
You have to specifically go through separate setup to have an emuMMC. So at this point your sysMMC is not clean, and unless you have a backup from the very beginning of hacking it, it will never be clean again.
You can update sysMMC while keeping emuMMC on a lower firmware, but 9.0.0 includes a GC update, meaning if you install it your gamecard slot will no longer work in any firmware lower than 9.0.0. In fact it will actually full on crash the switch immediately upon inserting a gamecard if it's updated and you are on the lower firmware emuMMC.
If your sysMMC can be made clean, and you fully separate the two MMC's, then you could play online on the sysMMC and would likely be fine so long as you legitimately own the game. Just don't ever bring the emuMMC online without 90DNS enabled.

 

[DCMaxxx]

...

Thanks a lot, I thought I was running emuMMC when I was in fact running sysMMC.
I guess that's why data (games & dns settings) are shared between sysMMC and sysNAND.

I'll restore my sysNAND and try to follow a guide to (properly) install emuMMC.

EDIT : Can I backup my saves to re-install them on my emuMMC when done ?

 

[pLaYeR^^]

Thanks a lot, I thought I was running emuMMC when I was in fact running sysMMC.
I guess that's why data (games & dns settings) are shared between sysMMC and sysNAND.

I'll restore my sysNAND and try to follow a guide to (properly) install emuMMC.

EDIT : Can I backup my saves to re-install them on my emuMMC when done ?

You can backup and restore saves with Checkpoint.

 

[DCMaxxx]

You can backup and restore saves with Checkpoint.

Thanks. Will try.

 

[pcwizard7]

Thanks. Will try.

FYI you need to run the games once on new nand for the games to appear in checkpoint to restore

 

[DCMaxxx]

FYI you need to run the games once on new nand for the games to appear in checkpoint to restore

You probably saved me a couple of hours
Thanks.