Hacking Would like SX Core install guidance

T3chni · Jul 19, 2020

Heya all!

I'm planning on installing an sx core into me new (patched) switch but I just wanted to check to see if I have clued myself up on the correct parts of the process, heres me checklist (in order):
1. Carefully install the sx core
2. Format SD to exFAT and drop hekate and sxox bin files onto the SD root
3. Boot device into the sx selection screen, run hekate and grab nand backup
4. Get a licence request file and shutdown switch
5. Pop SD card into PC, copy backups over and grab a licence for sxos
6. Chuck SD card back into the switch (now with licence), boot to selection screen again and setup emunand
7. Boot to emunand and enjoy cfw!

Things i'd like guidance on:
- Im currently running fw 10.0.4 should I update to the latest and greatest from ofw beforehand? I would like to stay unbanned and run any latest game/DLCs (which im guessing some require a higher firmware to run), i'm not fussed about burning efuses as I do not plan on reverting to any older versions of fw. I also do not like the sound of using ChoiDujour and potentially bricking me system so i'd like the ability to update using stock nand and getting the update direct from nintendo.

- is the latest firmware (10.1.0 to my knowledge) even compatible with an sx core?

- Will booting to nand with an sx core installed get me banned if I try to go online? ill only be running cfw on the SD with emunand and will remove the SD out of paranoia when I want to use ofw and boot to nand

- BIS key keeps popping up when I research, I believe it has something to do with decrypting the nand data? I'm not sure if I need this or not, and is it simple/safe to obtain using hekate?

Things to note:
- My job requires microsoldering, repairs and mods to PCBs (or atleast that is part of my job xD) and i've been doing this for about 2 years so far. I imagine I should be proficient enough with a heaty melty stick to perform the install and i've done controller mods and modern phone/laptops and tablet repairs before (still hate ribbon cables!). Im slow but I prefer the extra careful approach!

- The reason I want to install an sx core is to backup my games and run them without the need to carry them around, have the ability to update to latest nintendo firmware to be able to play any new game releases and look into running mods/cheats for fun! Modded Skyrim in my pocket sounds hella fun! I hope that I can achieve this with the steps stated above! :0

I apologise in advance for any spelling/grammar mistakes and if im waaay of with anything ive stated or if ive posted this in the wrong place!. I am very new to the modding/cfw community and appreciate any helpful responses and your time reading this!

Thanks!!

izy · Jul 19, 2020

2. Format SD to exFAT and drop hekate and sxox bin files onto the SD root

thats a nono

T3chni · Jul 19, 2020

it is? using exFAT?

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

I was under the impression that exFAT allows for larger size files so I don't have to string together the boot 0/1 nand backup or something along those lines

MichaelShawJr · Jul 19, 2020

T3chni said:
it is? using exFAT?

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

I was under the impression that exFAT allows for larger size files so I don't have to string together the boot 0/1 nand backup or something along those lines

It does allow larger size files but the only files that are bigger than 4GB on switch are NSP or XCI but you can use Tinfoil to install those off a network PC or USB Flash Drive. Nintendo's Exfat drivers suck. It's fine for retail but files get corrupted super easily when using CFW. I used exfat because it was easier and eventually lost EVERYTHING on my Emunand. I luckily had a backup of all the important stuff on my PC, but now I only use FAT32

T3chni · Jul 19, 2020

MichaelShawJr said:
It does allow larger size files but the only files that are bigger than 4GB on switch are NSP or XCI but you can use Tinfoil to install those off a network PC or USB Flash Drive. Nintendo's Exfat drivers suck. It's fine for retail but files get corrupted super easily when using CFW. I used exfat because it was easier and eventually lost EVERYTHING on my Emunand. I luckily had a backup of all the important stuff on my PC, but now I only use FAT32

Oh man! Ok im defo glad I made this post! FAT32 looks like the way to go! Squee666 also just clued me up about the crappy nintendo drivers!

The8Darkness · Jul 19, 2020

Exfat is not fine on unmodded consoles either. Look at the amount of people with unmodded consoles having their data corrupted. I even personally know 2 people who had some data corrupted on their unmodded switchs.

Jeah some people used exFat since console launch and had no data corrupted - but its the same as not using seatbelts in a car - jeah you are fine for a long time and many will probably never have a crash, but you can still get unlucky and then you wish you had seatbelts on/were using FAT32.

T3chni · Jul 19, 2020

The8Darkness said:
Exfat is not fine on unmodded consoles either. Look at the amount of people with unmodded consoles having their data corrupted. I even personally know 2 people who had some data corrupted on their unmodded switchs.

Jeah some people used exFat since console launch and had no data corrupted - but its the same as not using seatbelts in a car - jeah you are fine for a long time and many will probably never have a crash, but you can still get unlucky and then you wish you had seatbelts on/were using FAT32.

Wow! This seriously sucks! I'm glad i've been lucky enough to get a heads up beforehand by you gurus on here though xD

s2m · Jul 19, 2020

T3chni said:
Wow! This seriously sucks! I'm glad i've been lucky enough to get a heads up beforehand by you gurus on here though xD

To save yourself a lot of drama just buy something better than sandisk or some cheap chinese sdcard brand. And remember to do backups of your important files periodically. Also before installation, even if you're a pro you should watch some good tutorial videos (for ex. sthetix) before installation and invest into polymide kapton tape just to be extra safe.

T3chni · Jul 20, 2020

s2m said:
To save yourself a lot of drama just buy something better than sandisk or some cheap chinese sdcard brand. And remember to do backups of your important files periodically. Also before installation, even if you're a pro you should watch some good tutorial videos (for ex. sthetix) before installation and invest into polymide kapton tape just to be extra safe.

Ahh shoot, I've always gone with Sandisk as they seemed to always be the top brand name and ive already got myself a 256GB one. Doh! Ill see how goes and be sure to make backups, what brand SD would you recomend? I seemed to find that the general consensus is that UHS-1 is good enough speed wise? (I ran a check on me SD to ensure it does match up with UHS-1 standard too).

As for soldering I certainly don't consider myself a pro but I enjoy what I do and love to learn, I am pretty confident I should have the skills/tools for this install though, im both nervous and excited lmao. Yes! Kapton tape is a defo must "borrow" from my workplace ill make sure I grab some, was actually considering using some anyhow as the way the board sits around the emi shield concerned me.

Hmm ive been looking for a decent video tutorial but I think the big N have been sweeping them away (or im just not looking hard enough) I found a V1 installation guide by your suggested sthetix, don't suppose you have any suggestions of where to find some more decent install vids?

s2m · Jul 20, 2020

T3chni said:
Ahh shoot, I've always gone with Sandisk as they seemed to always be the top brand name and ive already got myself a 256GB one. Doh! Ill see how goes and be sure to make backups, what brand SD would you recomend? I seemed to find that the general consensus is that UHS-1 is good enough speed wise? (I ran a check on me SD to ensure it does match up with UHS-1 standard too).

As for soldering I certainly don't consider myself a pro but I enjoy what I do and love to learn, I am pretty confident I should have the skills/tools for this install though, im both nervous and excited lmao. Yes! Kapton tape is a defo must "borrow" from my workplace ill make sure I grab some, was actually considering using some anyhow as the way the board sits around the emi shield concerned me.

Hmm ive been looking for a decent video tutorial but I think the big N have been sweeping them away (or im just not looking hard enough) I found a V1 installation guide by your suggested sthetix, don't suppose you have any suggestions of where to find some more decent install vids?

I don't recommend sandisk, because out of 5 cards I owned I had 3 of them dead within a year - one in Switch, other two in android phones. Only state of two of them allowed me to recover some of lost files. On one occasion sandisk card died on me and I learnt about it after few hours in very painful way, when I've realised that last few hours of recorded videos and taken photos of my trip weren't saved.
Currently I run two Samsung sdcards, 64 and 256GB, both in switches. One in exfat and other in fat32 partitions. 64GB card hit 18 months now.

I haven't found anything better than his video to be honest. Since that video is step by step guide, he uses extra tools (trick with needle saves capacitors near shield). There are few videos of soldering sx available on youtube, but they are pretty much useless, because they only show moment of soldering points and sometimes of applying thermal paste. Just don't forget using right amount of flux, holding tip for not longer than second against soldered points and after about cleaning parts with isopropyl alcohol and getting sure there's no dripped solder in any other points than required and you will be fine.

The8Darkness · Jul 20, 2020

Brand and rating doesnt matter. All bigger sd cards perform nearly identical. I have 5 Sandisk, 5 Samsung and 2 Lexar Cards - all between 256-1000gb. All have nearly the same performance and no card ever had any issues besides of the Samsung one which I was running with exFat in the switch (sd is fine, just exFat corrupted data)

Its more about where you buy them from. Directly sold and shipped from amazon or other big shops like newegg, microcenter, etc... is fine. Buying from ebay or amazon but from a third party seller is not, you will very likely recieve fake sd cards if you dont buy directly from a big reputable seller.

Personally I have not seen a single sd, ssd or anything using flash memory die. And at least 90% of the issues people post about dead sds, lost data, etc... is because they got a fake product.

coronabeer · Jul 21, 2020

Just checked my SD card and it's in exfat. Will be switching to fat32.

theholyduck · Jul 21, 2020

i just put a sxcore into my switch yesterday. but i havent done more than the nand backup yet cause im buying a larger and better microsd card to put in. but i have some feedback

1. Carefully install the sx core

honestly if you have experience with microsoldering this one isnt too bad. 0201 capacitors are tiny and all. but with a soldering microscope and a decent iron its not the worst thing i have ever tried to do. the alignment flex pcb thingy is spot on.

2. Format SD to exFAT and drop hekate and sxox bin files onto the SD root
3. Boot device into the sx selection screen, run hekate and grab nand backup

the ExFat thing has allready been covered. Hekate doesnt work if you have a mariko unit yet. but you dont need it here the SX Core os thing can allready make NAND backups.

4. Get a licence request file and shutdown switch
5. Pop SD card into PC, copy backups over and grab a licence for sxos

Not needed at all. if you have the SX Core the liscence is included "onboard" the pcb if you will. same as with a SX pro.

6. Chuck SD card back into the switch (now with licence), boot to selection screen again and setup emunand
7. Boot to emunand and enjoy cfw!

Again these cant be done on Mariko switches with hekate. but if you are fine using the sx-os emunand setup. you can set this up in the sx settings thing.

T3chni · Jul 21, 2020

s2m said:
I don't recommend sandisk, because out of 5 cards I owned I had 3 of them dead within a year - one in Switch, other two in android phones. Only state of two of them allowed me to recover some of lost files. On one occasion sandisk card died on me and I learnt about it after few hours in very painful way, when I've realised that last few hours of recorded videos and taken photos of my trip weren't saved.
Currently I run two Samsung sdcards, 64 and 256GB, both in switches. One in exfat and other in fat32 partitions. 64GB card hit 18 months now.

I haven't found anything better than his video to be honest. Since that video is step by step guide, he uses extra tools (trick with needle saves capacitors near shield). There are few videos of soldering sx available on youtube, but they are pretty much useless, because they only show moment of soldering points and sometimes of applying thermal paste. Just don't forget using right amount of flux, holding tip for not longer than second against soldered points and after about cleaning parts with isopropyl alcohol and getting sure there's no dripped solder in any other points than required and you will be fine.

Hmm I really do hear mixed experiences with Sandisk, I personally haven't had any issues with corruption with any ive bought yet (all through amazon direct no eBay dodgyness) But I think ill go with a samsung if I start seeing any issues and ill keep regular backups just in case.

Ahh yeah flux is my game! ima do the mod at work so I got access to a decent iron, new tips, microscope and seat my butt has formed into xD Ty for the descriptive tips though, its hard to find all the info in one spot!

Hmm I couldn't see how or where sthetix used the needle? I saw it in the tools at the start. Was it to open the GPU shield? Could you elaborate as it sounds quite helpful!

The8Darkness said:
Brand and rating doesnt matter. All bigger sd cards perform nearly identical. I have 5 Sandisk, 5 Samsung and 2 Lexar Cards - all between 256-1000gb. All have nearly the same performance and no card ever had any issues besides of the Samsung one which I was running with exFat in the switch (sd is fine, just exFat corrupted data)

Its more about where you buy them from. Directly sold and shipped from amazon or other big shops like newegg, microcenter, etc... is fine. Buying from ebay or amazon but from a third party seller is not, you will very likely recieve fake sd cards if you dont buy directly from a big reputable seller.

Personally I have not seen a single sd, ssd or anything using flash memory die. And at least 90% of the issues people post about dead sds, lost data, etc... is because they got a fake product.

Well I hope my luck holds out with me SD i've already bought xD But yeah I always go for genuine sellers when it comes to any storage unless im not fussed if it goes corrupt.

theholyduck said:
i just put a sxcore into my switch yesterday. but i havent done more than the nand backup yet cause im buying a larger and better microsd card to put in. but i have some feedback

honestly if you have experience with microsoldering this one isnt too bad. 0201 capacitors are tiny and all. but with a soldering microscope and a decent iron its not the worst thing i have ever tried to do. the alignment flex pcb thingy is spot on.

the ExFat thing has allready been covered. Hekate doesnt work if you have a mariko unit yet. but you dont need it here the SX Core os thing can allready make NAND backups.

Not needed at all. if you have the SX Core the liscence is included "onboard" the pcb if you will. same as with a SX pro.

Again these cant be done on Mariko switches with hekate. but if you are fine using the sx-os emunand setup. you can set this up in the sx settings thing.

Lol im sick/twisted enough to find smaller components more of a fun challenge xD

Right! I had no idea about Hekate not working with mariko units, ill clue myself up with how backups are done within sxos!

Ahhh I was wondering if I still needed a licence, the fact that its included means less work for me so im happy to hear that xD

Hacking Would like SX Core install guidance

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