Tutorial  Updated

How to use LayeredFS for Backup Loading + What Games Work/Don't

This thread is outdated
A lot of information in this thread is heavilly out of date.
If you have time, and have Staff permission, feel free to edit this thread and remove this statement once necessary.

Some information that needs to be addressed:
  • SX OS and Atmosphere now supports proper LayeredFS, instructions for using it has changed since this tutorial was made
  • Supported Firmware information is out of date
  • LFSKit needs to be updated to properly support non 5.x.x firmware
  • Compatability chart needs to be re-made
-PRAGMA


WARNING
  • DO NOT GO ONLINE WHEN DOING THIS (YOU WILL BE BANNED)


How to use LayeredFS for Backup Loading

Firmware Supported: ONLY 5.x.x
Use the PRAGMA LFS Kit below.

PRAGMA's LFS Kit

DOWNLOAD
SOURCE
  • Go from NOTHING in your SD Card to playing a game backup in a few clicks!
  • Decrypt .XCI -> romfs/exefs folder with main.nmpd auto edited aswell as folder's name auto renamed to donor titleid
  • Download NOTHING except LFSKit!
ENJOY!

yyTJ8rr.gif


Picking a Donor Title and getting Donor TitleIDRunning Game Backups!


    1. A donor title is the application we will run to open the backup.
      Pick a game you don't care about (Download a Demo or a free game from eShop, for example Octopath Demo)
      saves are something no one knows much about, we don't fully know where or how they are stored.
      They might overwrite the donor titles save, so seriously pick a game you DONT care about, not a game you rarely play.

    2. I also recommend picking a donor title/game combo that has been tested and reported working just so you know if YOU did something wrong or not.
    3. Find the TitleID of the donor title you chose from http://nswdb.com or http://switchbrew.org/index.php?title=Title_list/Games
      Region must be the same, choose the TitleID for the base-game NOT for the update title, even if your updated.

    1. Once again, boot into Hekate-IPL (Step 1).
    2. Enter "Launch firmware" and select "RomFS".
    3. Your now in your system's home menu.
    4. Open the Donor Title you set the TitleID of on that folder and .npmd file earlier.
    5. The game will load up flawlessly.
      If you opened the Title lets say, Fortnite, and Fortnite booted, the titleid of the folder in sd:/atmosphere/titles/{fortnitetitleid} doesnt exist, or doesnt start with 0100.
      If it gives you an error screen, either you didnt edit the main.npmd properly, or its an incompatible title/donor combo.
    To see which games work and which dont using which donor titles, look below.
    If you notice that you used a combination of Game and Donor title that isnt in the list below, post in the thread and I will add it. (look under to see what I need to add to chart).


Troubleshooting

  • Black Screen/Infinitely Loading
    Leave it for around 5 minutes then press the home button and go back into the game without closing it. Often this can do the job.
  • Freeze when Loading
    Close the game and try again, its a common occurence, you may have to try up to 4-5 times before getting it to work, sometimes you may even have to reboot between retries.
 
Last edited by PRAGMA,
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Click to expand...
J

jenipapo

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Game: Fifa 18
Donor: Octopath Demo
Boots: Yes
Saves: Yes
Firmware: 5.1.0
Issues: If I close the game and try to open again, I got an error and a full restart(RCM)+payload is needed.

Game: DKC Tropical Freeze
Donor: Fortnite
Boots: Yes
Saves: Yes
Firmware: 5.1.0

Game: Payday 2
Donor: Pokemon Quest
Boots: Yes
Saves: ? (have not tried yet)
Firmware: 5.1.0

Game: Hyrule Warriors
Donor: Fallout Shelter
Boots: Yes
Saves: Yes
Firmware: 5.1.0
 
yofredy

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Target: Splatoon 2
Loaded Game: Rocket League
Work: Doesn't work (Black screen)

Target: Fortnite
Loaded Game: Rocket League
Work: Works, but error screen appears when close and open the game again
Save: IDK (i think not)
 
Last edited by yofredy,
Zumoly

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You're missing some keys. Try getting all the keys and retry.

bluedart said:
Code: 
************** Exception Text **************
System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\bluedart\Desktop\Switch\Pragma\01000C900A136000\exefs\main.npdm'.
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
   at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy, Boolean useLongPath, Boolean checkHost)
   at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share)
   at PRAGMAsLayeredFSKit.XCIForm.XCIDecryptButton_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
PRAGMAsLayeredFSKit
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Users/bluedart/Desktop/Switch/Pragma/PRAGMAsLayeredFSKit.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Core
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.7.2558.0 built by: NET471REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

I made it all the way to the end and it just crashes with that when I try and do the last step. Tried a few other programs like "SwitchBackupRedirector" and "XCIToTitle". Those just sort of hang or say "finished" without making anything. So, what should I be doing?
Click to expand...
 
Talha_Yilmaz

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i have a quick question. If i want to try another donor game, can i just rename the folder on the SD directly to the wanted title id? Or do i have to use the XCI Decrypter all over again?
 
D

Dvdxploitr

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Game: Gear Club Unlimited
Donor 1: Fortnite
Donor 2: Pinball FX3
Works: NO
Firmware 5.1.0

Black screen on both

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Talha_Yilmaz said:
i have a quick question. If i want to try another donor game, can i just rename the folder on the SD directly to the wanted title id? Or do i have to use the XCI Decrypter all over again?
Click to expand...


you need to rename the folder and patch the main.npdm file with the titleid of the new donor....
 
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jenipapo

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Game: Dragon Quest Heroes 1 and 2 (JAP)
Donor: Fallout Shelter
Boots: Yes* (Not playable)
Saves: No
Firmware: 5.1.0
Issues: Game boots, but when it tries to save, just before the play starts, it freezes.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Game: Fifa 18
Donor: Fallout Shelter
Boots: No
Saves: No
Firmware: 5.1.0
Issues: Black screen.
 
bluedart

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Zumoly said:
You're missing some keys. Try getting all the keys and retry.
Click to expand...

Okay, I've been at this for over 8 hours in 100 degree weather, so I'm not exactly at my best right now The fact of the matter is I followed the program's instructions exactly, so if I'm "missing keys" then the program could be improved- either by providing more correct instructions, or by obviating unnecessarily obstreperous ones. I'll take any useful and actionable information that you guys have for me.
 
Zumoly

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bluedart said:
Okay, I've been at this for over 8 hours in 100 degree weather, so I'm not exactly at my best right now The fact of the matter is I followed the program's instructions exactly, so if I'm "missing keys" then the program could be improved- either by providing more correct instructions, or by obviating unnecessarily obstreperous ones. I'll take any useful and actionable information that you guys have for me.
Click to expand...

Hang on some more you're not far off. Check'em keys from maxconsole.
 
Zumoly

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MiniCheese27 said:
No, you don't get what I mean, the crashing isn't the homebrews fault it's just a problem the layeredfs system we're using. Your system crashing or not crashing is usually just luck or based on your doner game setup.
Click to expand...

Actually launching a donor game requires you to reboot to do anything else at all (launching new game or homebrew).
A main.npdm editor with a keyboard for renaming would surely be useful!
 
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Zumoly

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MiniCheese27 said:
Oh do you? Probably should've noticed that pattern by now.
Click to expand...

Yeah! The LayeredFS might be improved later on.
Also something to note folks: Backup your entire SD card (probably not with the layered games though but the Nintendo folder will do) while you still can! Homebrew being unstable now could cause this folder to become empty (erased). It happened to me but thankfully I was able to get back my data (11GB). You've been warned!
 
PRAGMA

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Database moved to https://lfsdb.com/
This is so that I can update the list a LOOOOOT easier. Having to copy every details from posts was EXTREMELY tedious and a LOT more work then you think.
We are on page 48/49 yet from the posts, I was only up to the start of page 19 as of right now. Thats how long it takes.
With the new website, I can just copy the entire contents of a file, and paste it to the end of a json file, and the database would be updated :P
 
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I cannot get a game to run for the life of me, I followed everything down to the letter on these tutorials but whenever I inject pokken into fortnite, I always get the same error, something went wrong/turn off system, I just don't understand what I am doing wrong, I followed ShinyMK's hekate cfw/RCM smash tutorial aswell to see if the version of hekate I was using was wrong or something, but nope same error as usual, the only thing left to try is to format my sd card and try again, but that shouldn't be a problem because I am sure I formatted my SD card as exfat32 before doing kind of CFW/Homebrew stuff with my switch.

If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.
 
Talha_Yilmaz

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Guys you know what causes the "The software was closed because an error occurred" error? It comes immediately when i try to start the Game.
I tried Skyrim with octopath traveler demo as donor. It should work according to OP.
 

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