Hacking SWITCH NOOB PARADISE - Ask questions here

[DaveyMames]

Hi, I followed the switch guide up to here: https://switch.homebrew.guide/hacking/fuseegelee/aftersetup
My system is unpatched and vulnerable to fusee-gelee. I downloaded Atmosphere (Hekate) (v0.17.1/2021.01.14) and Hekate v5.5.3 from SDSetup.com.

After pushing the Hekate payload I tapped "Launch > CFW (sysMMC)". I get this error on the Switch screen "sd card is exfat and installed HOS driver only supports FAT32. Failed to launch HOS”. What did I do wrong?

I haven't installed any updates. Do I need to install the SD card update in OFW for the above to work?

My SD card was originally quick formatted in Windows to exfat. Do I now need to restart the whole guide, this time formatting the card as FAT32? How do I do that when Windows 7 doesn't offer FAT32 as an option?

What's the point in formatting as FAT32 when that means I can't store games over 4 GB in size on the card?

 

[Adran_Marit]

Hi, I followed the switch guide up to here: https://switch.homebrew.guide/hacking/fuseegelee/aftersetup
My system is unpatched and vulnerable to fusee-gelee. I downloaded Atmosphere (Hekate) (v0.17.1/2021.01.14) and Hekate v5.5.3 from SDSetup.com.

After pushing the Hekate payload I tapped "Launch > CFW (sysMMC)". I get this error on the Switch screen "sd card is exfat and installed HOS driver only supports FAT32. Failed to launch HOS”. What did I do wrong?

I haven't installed any updates. Do I need to install the SD card update in OFW for the above to work?

My SD card was originally quick formatted in Windows to exfat. Do I now need to restart the whole guide, this time formatting the card as FAT32? How do I do that when Windows 7 doesn't offer FAT32 as an option?

What's the point in formatting as FAT32 when that means I can't store games over 4 GB in size on the card?

your switch only has fat32 firmware installed, when using the switch the recommened layout is exfat software on switch with a fat32 microSD card for best compatibility

1) copy the files off the sd card to a folder on pc
2) use guiformat to format sd card as fat 32
3) copy files back to fresh sd card
4) profit

USB install for adding games to the switch over 4gb, when installing to sd card the switch automatically splits the games so there is no worries that way

 

[DaveyMames]

your switch only has fat32 firmware installed, when using the switch the recommened layout is exfat software on switch with a fat32 microSD card for best compatibility

1) copy the files off the sd card to a folder on pc
2) use guiformat to format sd card as fat 32
3) copy files back to fresh sd card
4) profit

USB install for adding games to the switch over 4gb, when installing to sd card the switch automatically splits the games so there is no worries that way

Thanks. So do I need to use Tinfoil to install games of any size or do I simply copy and paste games via USB? Just to confirm, are you saying the Switch will automatically split games over 4 GB in size that I install via USB to the SD card?

Is there any limit to the number of games I can have installed or am I only limited by my storage capacity?

 

[Adran_Marit]

Thanks. So do I need to use Tinfoil to install games of any size or do I simply copy and paste games via USB? Just to confirm, are you saying the Switch will automatically split games over 4 GB in size that I install via USB to the SD card?

Is there any limit to the number of games I can have installed or am I only limited by my storage capacity?

Use tinfoil/nut to install games of any size via usb

the number of games is limted only by storage space on sd

 

[VincentVile]

Hello! Fairly new to the Switch modding scene but not modding in general. Most games I download through Tinfoil work perfectly but a few, mainly Scott Pilgrim, Doom Eternal & Cyber Shadows, bring up a black screen saying error occurred when I try to play them. I’m currently running on atmosphere, when I go to my system info page it says 9.1.0|AMS 0.16.2|S if that helps. Any tips or tricks greatly appreciated.

 

[TheWolfLord]

Do you have to upgrade firmware to play games installed on emummc?... Probably right? How do you go about doing this without messing with your sysnand.

Edit: This solved most of my issues. Just use daybreak to install a firmware update.

 

[Adran_Marit]

Hello! Fairly new to the Switch modding scene but not modding in general. Most games I download through Tinfoil work perfectly but a few, mainly Scott Pilgrim, Doom Eternal & Cyber Shadows, bring up a black screen saying error occurred when I try to play them. I’m currently running on atmosphere, when I go to my system info page it says 9.1.0|AMS 0.16.2|S if that helps. Any tips or tricks greatly appreciated.

I'm willing to bet you don't have a high enough firmware installed... use daybreak to upgrade to a newer firmware also update your atmosphere files

 

[TheWolfLord]

I'm deciding if I want to just not worry about this and just update my OFW normally and go ahead and burn fuses. Since I'll always have access to CFW so long as my switch doesn't get fried by the jig(3d printed when not using autorcm so lol), is there any reason to care? I can only imagine regretting this if an untethered cold-boot shows up that requires 3.0.0 or lower. But with CFW you can downgrade anyway... so correct me if I'm wrong but the only issue would be if said hypothetical exploit required the correct number of fuses too. What's the odds of that I wonder?

 

[phillyrider807]

nevermind

 

[Draxzelex]

What is the best way to play Majora's Mask on the Nintendo Switch?

I never played the 3DS version, but understand that it contained quite a few QoL changes. So if possible I think I would like to play that version. But I'm guessing the N64 might be more feasible as it might be more challenging to work out the dual screen part of a 3DS.

The best possible way is with the N64 version, no debate.

I'm deciding if I want to just not worry about this and just update my OFW normally and go ahead and burn fuses. Since I'll always have access to CFW so long as my switch doesn't get fried by the jig(3d printed when not using autorcm so lol), is there any reason to care? I can only imagine regretting this if an untethered cold-boot shows up that requires 3.0.0 or lower. But with CFW you can downgrade anyway... so correct me if I'm wrong but the only issue would be if said hypothetical exploit required the correct number of fuses too. What's the odds of that I wonder?

Personally, there is nothing to gain by burning fuses. Updating without burning fuses is so easy nowadays that it is almost a non-issue and should just be made standard. True, with Fusee Gelee, we can always downgrade regardless of fuse count and there is no guarantee there will be an exploit on a lower firmware but no one knows what the future may hold. If you do decide to burn your fuses, I won't think any less of you.

 

[TheWolfLord]

The best possible way is with the N64 version, no debate.

Personally, there is nothing to gain by burning fuses. Updating without burning fuses is so easy nowadays that it is almost a non-issue and should just be made standard. True, with Fusee Gelee, we can always downgrade regardless of fuse count and there is no guarantee there will be an exploit on a lower firmware but no one knows what the future may hold. If you do decide to burn your fuses, I won't think any less of you.

I'm still holding a 1.0.0 for that rainy day XD. Well, what is my other option for playing online again then? Use syscfw to update OFW then boot into hekate and select stock and play online and basically turn on autorcm and never again boot normally so as to be sure the official loader isn't used? I'm a bit mixed up but won't running syscfw to upgrade without burning fuses be a big flag should I connect online on stock afterwards?

 

[Draxzelex]

I'm still holding a 1.0.0 for that rainy day XD. Well, what is my other option for playing online again then? Use syscfw to update OFW then boot into hekate and select stock and play online and basically turn on autorcm and never again boot normally so as to be sure the official loader isn't used? I'm a bit mixed up but won't running syscfw to upgrade without burning fuses be a big flag should I connect online on stock afterwards?

While running CFW on sysMMC is considered unsafe, it is a risk that I am personally willing to make. In order to minimize the risk, I only run CFW with no homebrew and I do it offline. So far, I have not been banned but I know that can change anytime. I cannot speak for you if you are willing to accept that risk no matter how small for some fuses but that is a risk I'm willing to take.

 

[Pokepicker]

The best possible way is with the N64 version, no debate.

Thanks for the reply. Would you care to elaborate as to how I would run N64 games on Nintendo Switch? Do I look into Retroarch? Maybe there is a seperate N64 emulator?

Other than that, I'm assuming it's as straight forward as loading a SNES rom into an emulator like Snes9x for PC-

 

[Draxzelex]

Thanks for the reply. Would you care to elaborate as to how I would run N64 games on Nintendo Switch? Do I look into Retroarch? Maybe there is a seperate N64 emulator?

Other than that, I'm assuming it's as straight forward as loading a SNES rom into an emulator like Snes9x for PC-

Unfortunately there is no standalone emulator for the N64 on the Switch. You would have to use Retroarch. More detailed instructions can be found in the Retroarch thread or Discord server.

 

[TheWolfLord]

While running CFW on sysMMC is considered unsafe, it is a risk that I am personally willing to make. In order to minimize the risk, I only run CFW with no homebrew and I do it offline. So far, I have not been banned but I know that can change anytime. I cannot speak for you if you are willing to accept that risk no matter how small for some fuses but that is a risk I'm willing to take.

I feel like you make a good point since running a modded console is a risk in and of itself anyway... may be worth it to save the fuses. You say you don't use homebrew on sysMMC, How do you upgrade your OFW? I was using Daybreak to upgrade EMUMMC. I haven't actually entered syscfw yet soooo maybe I need to delete something(Assuming the homebrew pack is gonna be there like for emummc.)

And any tips to make sure I never accidentally use the official bootloader? Or other best practices to keep in mind/or settings I should play around with.

Or am I good with just turning on Autorcm? Switch stays in autorcm even if the battery completely dies or it reboots after an update with daybreak or whatever correct, so no way to accidentally use the official bootloader? I plan to mostly stay docked(I guess I'd have to undock to inject with a dongle) but I guess that's fine.

 

[VincentVile]

Hello! So I attempted to move some files onto my DS card thru file manager on an android phone so I could update my cfw with daybreak. For some reason it wouldn’t connect to the file manager app on the phone. When I tried to go into rcm to reboot atmosphere I got an error code. Then when I tried to connect the sd to a computer & the switch itself it said the card needed to be formatted to be read. In order to format the card I’ll loose all my saves & games and have to rehack my switch. Is there any solution y’all know for this? Thanx

 

[Draxzelex]

I feel like you make a good point since running a modded console is a risk in and of itself anyway... may be worth it to save the fuses. You say you don't use homebrew on sysMMC, How do you upgrade your OFW? I was using Daybreak to upgrade EMUMMC. I haven't actually entered syscfw yet soooo maybe I need to delete something(Assuming the homebrew pack is gonna be there like for emummc.)

And any tips to make sure I never accidentally use the official bootloader? Or other best practices to keep in mind/or settings I should play around with.

Or am I good with just turning on Autorcm? Switch stays in autorcm even if the battery completely dies or it reboots after an update with daybreak or whatever correct, so no way to accidentally use the official bootloader? I plan to mostly stay docked(I guess I'd have to undock to inject with a dongle) but I guess that's fine.

So in order for me to update my sysMMC without burning fuses, what I do is download the system update in "OFW" by booting Stock mode via Hekate then I delete my Wi-Fi settings, reboot back into CFW for sysMMC, and install the update. You should also have AutoRCM already enabled before installing the update in CFW otherwise you will just burn the fuses. As long as you have AutoRCM enabled, you will never ever use the official bootloader unless you accidentally perform a system update outside of CFW (it happened to me one time by accident which was my own fault).

As for when the system dies if AutoRCM is already installed, it will stay there so you don't need to worry about re-enabling it. For more information on AutoRCM, I wrote an entire thread about it which you can find here. I should also reiterate that what I am doing is out of my personal volition and the fruits of my research from following the banning situation (I made a thread on that too by the way). You do not have to feel forced to follow my advice if it doesn't interest you or not safe enough.

Hello! So I attempted to move some files onto my DS card thru file manager on an android phone so I could update my cfw with daybreak. For some reason it wouldn’t connect to the file manager app on the phone. When I tried to go into rcm to reboot atmosphere I got an error code. Then when I tried to connect the sd to a computer & the switch itself it said the card needed to be formatted to be read. In order to format the card I’ll loose all my saves & games and have to rehack my switch. Is there any solution y’all know for this? Thanx

Is the SD card formatted as exFAT?

 

[VincentVile]

Yes originally

 

[Draxzelex]

Yes originally

Well that is an issue of itself since exFAT tends to corrupt the SD card but that can only be rectified by formatting the SD card. Does your computer also say that the card needs to be formatted in order to be read or just your Switch?

 

[TheWolfLord]

So in order for me to update my sysMMC without burning fuses, what I do is download the system update in "OFW" by booting Stock mode via Hekate then I delete my Wi-Fi settings, reboot back into CFW for sysMMC, and install the update. You should also have AutoRCM already enabled before installing the update in CFW otherwise you will just burn the fuses. As long as you have AutoRCM enabled, you will never ever use the official bootloader unless you accidentally perform a system update outside of CFW (it happened to me one time by accident which was my own fault).

As for when the system dies if AutoRCM is already installed, it will stay there so you don't need to worry about re-enabling it. For more information on AutoRCM, I wrote an entire thread about it which you can find here. I should also reiterate that what I am doing is out of my personal volition and the fruits of my research from following the banning situation (I made a thread on that too by the way). You do not have to feel forced to follow my advice if it doesn't interest you or not safe enough.
Is the SD card formatted as exFAT?

No, I appreciate the advice. It sounds more fun this way at minimum lol. Worse case I get banned and lose access to a couple decent online games.

So you said that you download the system update in OFW. Do you do it via the official Nintendo 'system update' in settings? I only ask because I figure that would automatically start the process and force you to reboot into their loader but I haven't used the switch much so I'm probably wrong. Do you download an update from Nintendo and then have to click a confirmation to install said update? If so then I imagine when you hop back into CFW you just normally install it instead of using some application like daybreak or choidujournx(Do you still have the Homebrew menu in albums on your sysMMC cfw?)

The rcm guide is great, though on the section about drained battery and options to take you say the following and I wonder if that would turn off autorcm since earlier in the guide you mention that holding power for 12 seconds while in rcm completely shuts down the switch.

1. Press the Power button once
2. Press and hold the Power button for 12 seconds