Converting XCI to NSP

[Deleted member 572485]

I'm trying to convert an XCI to NSP using 4XCI. I have tried 2 different keys.dat files from the internet and both lead to the program printing the message "Unknown meta type! Are keys correct?"

Is this a glitch in the software or are both the keys.dat files I used corrupted? Can I dump the keys from my Switch myself? Is there any other software I can try?

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

Yes, you can dump keys with Lockpick on your own Switch.
Your own keys should work if you are on a firmware same or newer that the game is requires.

 

[Gep_Etto]

Why waste your time doing that? There's no longer any practical difference between using an .xci or .nsp file.

 

[Draxzelex]

I'm trying to convert an XCI to NSP using 4XCI. I have tried 2 different keys.dat files from the internet and both lead to the program printing the message "Unknown meta type! Are keys correct?"

Is this a glitch in the software or are both the keys.dat files I used corrupted? Can I dump the keys from my Switch myself? Is there any other software I can try?

View attachment 283489

Why not just directly install the .XCI file?

 

[get0ffmylawn]

Why not just directly install the .XCI file?

I'm currently trying to do the same thing as OP but with TinFoil, GoldLeaf, etc. with no luck. Running atmosphere, how do you 'directly' install the .xci

 

[mikefor20]

Just install it. XCI is still usefull to play off usb. You can set up SX with an 8GB emunand. SX just for USB

Dual boot Atmo and SX FTW!..

To install xci use any modern installer

 

[mikefor20]

Why waste your time doing that? There's no longer any practical difference between using an .xci or .nsp file.

There was NEVER an advantage to using NSP
except screwing SX users. The scene should use XCI. NSP is crippled and incomplete.

 

[Chaosta]

I'm currently trying to do the same thing as OP but with TinFoil, GoldLeaf, etc. with no luck. Running atmosphere, how do you 'directly' install the .xci

easiest way for me is connect switch to pc, open tinfoil, usb drivers run & switch shows up on pc. drag any game to the "install" folder in "this pc > SWITCH". when the transfer bar is done, back out of tinfoil and itll be installed.

 

[Draxzelex]

There was NEVER an advantage to using NSP
except screwing SX users. The scene should use XCI. NSP is crippled and incomplete.

No advantages? So you don't count the smaller file size and faster load screens as advantages? Not counting .NSZ files (because they take up the same space as an .NSP file once installed), .NSP files are the smallest versions of a game. .XCI files by default are larger due to being padded with empty data so they fit on cartridges. Its also been a well known fact that .NSP files also load faster than .XCI files. You can not only read the thread yourself here but watch the videos the person recorded himself. .NSP files are far from "crippled" unless you download them from bad sources which is the fault of the uploader not the file. They are also far from incomplete as they literally contain the same contents as their .XCI equivalents, apart from some metadata. In fact, its .XCI files that are actually incomplete. According to Switch developer blawar, all .XCI files are missing some data that cannot be extracted with current means and that is due to lotus, the Switch cartridge reader, not being fully cracked. This means that if someone were to hypothetically make a Switch flashcart, all .XCI files would have to be redumped. If you don't believe, you can ask him yourself.

 

[mikefor20]

No advantages? So you don't count the smaller file size and faster load screens as advantages? Not counting .NSZ files (because they take up the same space as an .NSP file once installed), .NSP files are the smallest versions of a game. .XCI files by default are larger due to being padded with empty data so they fit on cartridges. Its also been a well known fact that .NSP files also load faster than .XCI files. You can not only read the thread yourself here but watch the videos the person recorded himself. .NSP files are far from "crippled" unless you download them from bad sources which is the fault of the uploader not the file. They are also far from incomplete as they literally contain the same contents as their .XCI equivalents, apart from some metadata. In fact, its .XCI files that are actually incomplete. According to Switch developer blawar, all .XCI files are missing some data that cannot be extracted with current means and that is due to lotus, the Switch cartridge reader, not being fully cracked. This means that if someone were to hypothetically make a Switch flashcart, all .XCI files would have to be redumped. If you don't believe, you can ask him yourself.

Lol. Once installed the results are identical. And XCI can be mounted NSP can't. BiG win for XCI. I DGAF about flash carts.NSP lacks the ability to be mounted without install. Crippled!

 

[Chaosta]

Lol. Once installed the results are identical. And XCI can be mounted NSP can't. BiG win for XCI. I DGAF about flash carts.NSP lacks the ability to be mounted without install. Crippled!

Crippled? the ability to even run xci mounted is on a crippled cfw OS... which is growing increasingly irrelevant as time passes. There goes your "pro's".

 

[godreborn]

I don't know if it would make a difference, but isn't the keys file supposed to be called keys.txt?

 

[mikefor20]

Crippled? the ability to even run xci mounted is on a crippled cfw OS... which is growing increasingly irrelevant as time passes. There goes your "pro's".

Thousands of games available that work just fine. XCI and Super XCI are 100% convenient.
Still no advantage for NSP. Couple MB. BFD.

No reason to convert a XCI. Just install it. Or load it off USB. Loads damn fast off my SSD

 

[godreborn]

I can tell you that there is a site with the latest keys. it's about medium in terms of difficulty to find. most keys' files that I've found are outdated. looks like that game uses key 0A. I actually own the game as well as the other in the series, and I only download games I own, since I'm all digital. I haven't hacked my hackable switch either :

 

[ezkitty]

I use dbi to install XCI. What's the point of converting XCI to NSP?

 

[Gep_Etto]

Thousands of games available that work just fine. XCI and Super XCI are 100% convenient.
Still no advantage for NSP. Couple MB. BFD.

No reason to convert a XCI. Just install it. Or load it off USB. Loads damn fast off my SSD

You have chosen a very silly hill to die on.

 

[xHardcoreChildx]

I know this is old but.. I just wanted to clarify something about the NSPs. That guy up there is complaining and saying why waste time converting to NSP, but isn't NSP the standard format used by Nintendo eShop? It literally stands for Nintendo Switch Package. So yes I know people can convert XCI's into NSP, but isn't an NSP file straight from the source? (Nintendo). If it's a converted NSP you will get a warning on your installer program telling you that you're NCA signatures are invalid. If it's a NSP straight from the eShop, there will be valid NCA signatures.

Can someone please correct me if I'm wrong? I just want to learn everything I can about the scene.

As for my final statement, I believe XCI files are less reliable because they are literally cartridge rips and dependant upon the decryption software used (which can have glitches and skip data). So just like you find bad ROM's from older Nintendo systems or bad ISO files from Playstation rips, I'm sure you can have bad XCI files.

 

[Draxzelex]

I know this is old but.. I just wanted to clarify something about the NSPs. That guy up there is complaining and saying why waste time converting to NSP, but isn't NSP the standard format used by Nintendo eShop? It literally stands for Nintendo Switch Package. So yes I know people can convert XCI's into NSP, but isn't an NSP file straight from the source? (Nintendo). If it's a converted NSP you will get a warning on your installer program telling you that you're NCA signatures are invalid. If it's a NSP straight from the eShop, there will be valid NCA signatures.

Can someone please correct me if I'm wrong? I just want to learn everything I can about the scene.

As for my final statement, I believe XCI files are less reliable because they are literally cartridge rips and dependant upon the decryption software used (which can have glitches and skip data). So just like you find bad ROM's from older Nintendo systems or bad ISO files from Playstation rips, I'm sure you can have bad XCI files.

If you want to be super technical, then unfortunately the answer is no. Nintendo doesn't actually host .NSP files on the eShop. What people are downloading are the individual .NCA files that make up the .NSP file plus some metadata. When the public was still able to download from Nintendo's CDN from their computers, those tools had to automatically convert it to .NSP format to make it easier for people to use. As far as I know, the only tool that utilizes .NSP files is Nintendo's DevMenu. Either way, you're still right that anything dumped straight from the eShop won't have any invalid signatures whether its an a .NCA or .NSP file.

 

[xHardcoreChildx]

If you want to be super technical, then unfortunately the answer is no. Nintendo doesn't actually host .NSP files on the eShop. What people are downloading are the individual .NCA files that make up the .NSP file plus some metadata. When the public was still able to download from Nintendo's CDN from their computers, those tools had to automatically convert it to .NSP format to make it easier for people to use. As far as I know, the only tool that utilizes .NSP files is Nintendo's DevMenu. Either way, you're still right that anything dumped straight from the eShop won't have any invalid signatures whether its an a .NCA or .NSP file.

Thanks. That was some useful knowledge. Can you tell me what the most popular tool is right now for manipulating NSP/XCI files? Everything I find was created in 2018 so not sure if they're discontinued projects or just have no need for updates anymore. I was looking at Switch Backup Manager for instance. I have an XCI file that contains the base game and the update. I wanted to split them into separate NSP files.

 

[Showboobz]

I'm trying to convert an XCI to NSP using 4XCI. I have tried 2 different keys.dat files from the internet and both lead to the program printing the message "Unknown meta type! Are keys correct?"

Is this a glitch in the software or are both the keys.dat files I used corrupted? Can I dump the keys from my Switch myself? Is there any other software I can try?


The error isnt View attachment 283489

I'm trying to convert an XCI to NSP using 4XCI. I have tried 2 different keys.dat files from the internet and both lead to the program printing the message "Unknown meta type! Are keys correct?"

Is this a glitch in the software or are both the keys.dat files I used corrupted? Can I dump the keys from my Switch myself? Is there any other software I can try?

View attachment 283489

it isnt the program. Its the keys you have. I sometimes get that error too. What youre doing isnt wrong. Convert the xci or whatever route you choose. I perfer your option if xci's are accessible.
- google "key" words

*would have been great if people would help the guy instead of running off on personal preference, not everyone uses sx