Homebrew Question Clean up orphaned nca files from (emu)NAND

CreatoX · Nov 14, 2018

Hi All,

I tried to install some NSP files (SX OS/Tinfoil) to the NAND storage, but for some reason this went wrong. Some NCA files where copied, but the installation was not finished. Thereby no game is available for removal freeing up the space taken by the NCA files.
Now I have only 122MB free of 32GB and no games installed on the NAND.

Is there a way/tool which do not install but remove the NCA files used by the NSP?

Thanks

JK_ · Nov 14, 2018

I can help with deleting NCA's from NAND. Telling what is orphaned though is another matter. It isn't something I've looked at.

Edit: I think I should clarify. If you're willing to make a NAND backup first and take a chance, I'm sure I could help.

CreatoX · Nov 16, 2018

I created a backup for safety.

For what I want is quite simple. Some kind of tool where I select the NSP to UNinstall. Same as SXOS installer or Thinfoil, but in stead of placing the NCA files, removing them. Hereby all earlier installed NCA's will be removed and the space is available again.

If there is no such tool, than I can do it manually. There are ways to know which NCA's are inside an NSP. But then I need a tool for exploring the NAND and removing these files. Any idea's?

hippy dave · Nov 16, 2018

CreatoX said:
But then I need a tool for exploring the NAND and removing these files. Any idea's?

Hacdiskmount for Windows (see gbatemp thread) or https://github.com/ihaveamac/switchfs for other OSes (more hassle to get going).

wicksand420 · Nov 16, 2018

I've had this happen before when installing one of my game dumps to my sd with tinfoil while not having enough space on the sd card, go into settings and delete it with the data management, if that don't work you could use devmenu to delete it, but don't ask for a link for devmenu, because it is no allowed, use google.

Khar00f · Nov 16, 2018

of you try to re-install the game and it's successful, i believe that will fix the issue as the NCA's get overwritten not duplicated.

Although that might be hard to do with 122MB left, but maybe you can uninstall some already installed games.

Can't think of another user friendly way,

JK_ · Nov 17, 2018

CreatoX said:
I created a backup for safety.

For what I want is quite simple. Some kind of tool where I select the NSP to UNinstall. Same as SXOS installer or Thinfoil, but in stead of placing the NCA files, removing them. Hereby all earlier installed NCA's will be removed and the space is available again.

If there is no such tool, than I can do it manually. There are ways to know which NCA's are inside an NSP. But then I need a tool for exploring the NAND and removing these files. Any idea's?

This is a special build of my app in my sig with the system file checks removed.

Start JKSV.
Press ZL + ZR + Minus
My extra crap menu should pop up after the confirmation
AFAIK, installed game NCA's are in BIS: USER. Navigate to "sv:/Contents/Registered" or "sv:/Contents/placehld" and see what you find.
When you find the NCA you're looking for, press X and select delete. This build should allow you to do it without giving you shit.

You can even try deleting the whole Contents folder from the user partition if you want. It didn't brick my Switch. The Switch just recreated it after rebooting. Keep your backup handy though. Who knows what will happen.

Tell me if you need anymore help. I'll try to pop in more often.

CreatoX · Nov 17, 2018

JK_ said:
This is a special build of my app in my sig with the system file checks removed.

Start JKSV.
Press ZL + ZR + Minus
My extra crap menu should pop up after the confirmation
AFAIK, installed game NCA's are in BIS: USER. Navigate to "sv:/Contents/Registered" or "sv:/Contents/placehld" and see what you find.
When you find the NCA you're looking for, press X and select delete. This build should allow you to do it without giving you shit.

You can even try deleting the whole Contents folder from the user partition if you want. It didn't brick my Switch. The Switch just recreated it after rebooting. Keep your backup handy though. Who knows what will happen.

Tell me if you need anymore help. I'll try to pop in more often.

You're my hero!

First I copied the registered folder to SD. This gives me an indication where the large NCA files existed.
After that I deleted and recreated the registered folder. This gives me back all the space (!!)

Problem solved.

Great tool by the way! I will keep this nearby

Homebrew Question Clean up orphaned nca files from (emu)NAND

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