Tutorial  Updated

Running Atmosphere on Patched SX Core Switch

Running Atmosphere on Patched Sx Core/HWFY Consoles (Erista, Mariko) is actually possible. You can use the Homebrew that aren't compatible with SX OS. (You can't use SX OS anyways.)
WARNING
1- I do not take responsibility for what happens to your switch!
2- Don't enable AutoRCM!
3- There might be issues on installation in Marikos.
4- DO NOT use this guide to downgrade your SysNAND.


REQUIREMENTS: Latest Hekate, Latest Atmosphere with fusee, and you may need 30gb free space on your sd, check the 2nd Part.


PART 1: BASIC SETUP
There are 2 methods that you can follow during this process. "Spacecraft-NX Method" requires you to open the back of your Switch and when you follow this method you won't be able to boot to SX OS. I would recommend the "Clean Up Method" since it is both easier to do and gives you the same end result as Spacecraft without all the hassle of flashing the chip. Aditionally, before trying any of these methods you may want to back up your save data on your emuNAND via JKSV or Checkpoint.

Step 1: Extract and copy downloaded files to your Switch's Micro SD card. Copy fusee to \bootloader\payloads and rename hekate bin file to "payload.bin". Also download hekate ipl from this thread remove the .txt extension from it by renaming the file, then and copy it to /bootloader/.
Step 2: Download sx gear boot.dat from the here, don't copy it to SD Card yet.
Step 3: Put Micro sd card back to Switch and boot it up while holding +.
Step 4: Choose Options, click Sx Core, and than cleanup.
Step 5: Press Payloads, launch Hekate.
Step 6: Set your date, time.
Step 7: Launch CFW EmuMMC (Make sure you have an emuNAND first, see Part 2 of the guide.) [Take precautions for not getting banned like setting up 90DNS or by simply closing your modem for now.]
Step 8: Close your Switch and insert SD Card to PC.
Step 9: Delete the existing boot.dat file in the SD and copy over the SX Gear boot.dat and boot.ini.
Step 10: Download the latest sigpatches and copy them.
Step 11: Now you can boot via Launch EmuMMC without the need of CleanUp.

(The new clean up method is from Switchway discord server.)
You should follow this guide to install Spacecraft-NX to your modchip. After that you should download Hekate and Atmosphere files to your SD Card. Rename hekate bin to payload.bin.


PART 1: SETUP
There are 2 methods that you can follow in here. First one requires to open up your Switch's back plate and get your modchip to debug mode. The second one will be done via SD Card. I would recommend the second method. Aditionally, before trying any of these methods you may want to back up your save data on your emuNAND via JKSV or Checkpoint.
PART 1.A:
You should follow this guide to install Spacecraft-NX to your modchip. After that you should download Hekate and Atmosphere files to your SD Card. Rename hekate bin to payload.bin .

PART 1.B:
1- You need to have an EmuMMC to do this method. Create one if you don't have it already.

2- If you haven't configured a wifi protection for your EmuNAND (90DNS, Incognito) then turn off your router after the 3rd step.


3- If you updated via ChoiDujourNX on your emuNAND then you have to either get a donor boot0/boot1 or backup your sysNAND boot0/boot1 and then restore it via NxNandManager or EMUtool (if you're using a partition based emuNAND) or simply replace the files in your sxos/emunand/ folder (if you're using a file based emuNAND). This is because your ChoiDuJourNX corrupts your boot0/boot1 and will prevent you from being able to boot into emuNAND on Atmosphere.
Hekate also has this function for emuNAND. If you use that, please be sure you're NOT flashing sysNAND!


Step 1: Download SX Gear (can be found on SX Portal), Latest Hekate and latest atmosphere (fusee too). (If the SX Site is down then you can get SX Gear from the SX Discord Server.)
Step 2: Extract downloaded archives to your SD Card.
Step 3: Create a file called hekate_ipl.ini in the /bootloader/ folder and copy this code inside to it:
[config]
autoboot=0
autoboot_list=0
bootwait=3
backlight=100
autohosoff=0
autonogc=1
updater2p=0
bootprotect=0

[Atmosphere CFW]
fss0=atmosphere/package3
icon=bootloader/res/icon_payload.bmp
kip1patch=nosigchk
emummcforce=1

[Stock sysNAND]
fss0=atmosphere/package3
stock=1
emummc_force_disable=1
icon=bootloader/res/icon_switch.bmp

Step 4: Rename hekate bin to payload.bin.
Step 5: Create a file called exosphere.ini in the SD Card's root and paste this code inside it:

# Key: debugmode, default: 1.
# Desc: Controls whether kernel is debug mode.
# Disabling this may break Atmosphere's debugger in a future release.

# Key: debugmode_user, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether userland is debug mode.

# Key: disable_user_exception_handlers, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether user exception handlers are executed on error.
# NOTE: This will cause atmosphere to not fail gracefully.
# Support may not be provided to users tho disable these.
# If you do not know what you are doing, leave them on.

# Key: enable_user_pmu_access, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether userland has access to the PMU registers.
# NOTE: It is unknown what effects this has on official code.

# Key: blank_prodinfo_sysmmc, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether PRODINFO should be blanked in sysmmc.
# This will cause the system to see dummied out keys and
# serial number information.
# NOTE: This is not known to be safe, as data may be
# cached elsewhere in the system. Usage is not encouraged.

# Key: blank_prodinfo_emummc, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether PRODINFO should be blanked in emummc.
# NOTE: This is not known to be safe, as data may be
# cached elsewhere in the system. Usage is not encouraged.

# Key: allow_writing_to_cal_sysmmc, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether PRODINFO can be written by homebrew in sysmmc.
# NOTE: Usage of this setting is strongly discouraged without
# a safe backup elsewhere. Turning this on will also cause Atmosphere
# to ensure a safe backup of calibration data is stored in unused
# mmc space, encrypted to prevent detection. This backup can be used
# to prevent unrecoverable edits in emergencies.

# Key: log_port, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls what uart port exosphere will set up for logging.
# NOTE: 0 = UART-A, 1 = UART-B, 2 = UART-C, 3 = UART-D

# Key: log_baud_rate, default: 115200
# Desc: Controls the baud rate exosphere will set up for logging.
# NOTE: 0 is treated as equivalent to 115200.

# Key: log_inverted, default: 0.
# Desc: Controls whether the logging uart port is inverted.

[exosphere]
debugmode=1
debugmode_user=0
disable_user_exception_handlers=0
enable_user_pmu_access=0
blank_prodinfo_sysmmc=0
blank_prodinfo_emummc=1
allow_writing_to_cal_sysmmc=0
log_port=0
log_baud_rate=115200
log_inverted=0

Step 6: Put the SD Card back to the Switch and you'll boot into Hekate.

Step 7: Select emuMMC in the main menu, then select Migrate emuMMC and finally select Emunand.

Step 8: Once the process is done, choose Close.

Step 9: Click on Launch and then Atmosphere CFW. If you would need to boot into SysNAND without cfw, you need to choose Stock SysNAND from Launch Options.

DONE (You don't need to follow Part 2: EmuNAND Setup)

If you would like to install sigpatches than you should change the hekate_ipl.ini like this:
#kip1patch=nosigchk changed to kip1patch=nosigchk

(This part of the guide has been adapted)

PART 2: EMUNAND SETUP
You have 2 options in here. If you already have an EmuNAND on SX OS as hidden partition follow " USING THE SAME EMUMMC ON BOTH CFWs", if not follow the other part. You shouldn't do both of them.

Step 1: Close your switch and take your sd back to pc.
Step 2: Create a folder called EmuMMC and than create a text file named emummc.txt.
Step 3: Copy this to text to file and then save it.
Code:
[emummc]
enabled=1
sector=0x2
path=emuMMC/ER00
id=0x0000
nintendo_path=Emutendo
Step 4: Enable see file extensions for Windows.
Step 5: Rename the file to emummc.ini .
Step 6: EmuMMC is now ready. You can run from EmuNAND, by clicking Launch and then "CFW EmuMMC " on Hekate.
You should have 30gb space for EmuNAND on micro sd card(You can use another sd card too, make sure to copy boot.dat , license files, hbmenu.nro and all the files that we downloaded to new sd).

Step 1: Click emuMMC and than create emunand as partition.
Step 2: Go back to menu, press Launch and than CFW emuMMC.


DONE! Now you can use the sys-mods or hb apps that aren't compatible with SX OS!

NOTE: It may take some time to boot up after restarts, it's normal.
NOTE 2: If you are going to download sigpatches you should use these (NOT for fusee).
IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BOOT:
A. If your Switch Stuck at Switch Logo During Boot (Mariko):
- Try deleting exosphere.ini and try booting up your switch. Turn off your router in case of a ban.
B. Try Fusee:
1- Boot into Hekate again.
2- Click Payloads and then choose fusee. See if it works now.
THIS SHOULD BE DONE ON EVERY BOOT INTO ATMOSPHERE.
 

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luisdav

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you didn't do a new emunand or factory reset? Because even if there missing on the sd card the title icons should remain on the home screen?
No, I kept my emunand from SX. Then migrated to atmosphere, which just replaces some boot files. That didn't work for me, so I created a new whole emunand just for atmosphere. This is where I am now. But, I still have a backup of my SX emunand in my PC.
 

pcwizard7

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No, I kept my emunand from SX. Then migrated to atmosphere, which just replaces some boot files. That didn't work for me, so I created a new whole emunand just for atmosphere. This is where I am now. But, I still have a backup of my SX emunand in my PC.

1. restore your sx backup
2 - Boot into using sxos
3. Backup your saves using checkpoint or JSDK
4. Backup games that you don't have the nsp/xci for using nxdumptool
5- Backup your sd files to your pc
6- Boot SX Menu, do cleanup
7 - Boot hekate from SX Menu, backup from BOOT0/1,
8 - create a new emunand from nand
9 - restore sd files (you can keep the backup folder on pc)
10 - Boot atmos using fusee-primary
11. Install and used tinfoil to install link fake account it's in tinfoil>settings>Install Fake Nintendo account.
12 - Restore games and saves using the backup tools used before

Note: some games need a linked account to play and a fake one bypass this check. you may use it to install nsps but you may need to enable install unsigned code in the settings you will need the karnmi code

Note2: for games to show up in the save backup homebrew again you need to run the game once

EDIT.

you could have hekate access the sxos emunand, but it can't modify or backup it up so you might as well backup and restore
 
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luisdav

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1. restore your sx backup
2 - Boot into using sxos
3. Backup your saves using checkpoint or JSDK
4. Backup games that you don't have the nsp/xci for using nxdumptool
5- Boot SX Menu, do cleanup
6 - Boot hekate from SX Menu, backup from BOOT0/1,
7- Backup your sd files to your pc
8 - create a new emunand from nand
9 - restore sd files (you can keep the backup folder on pc)
10 - Boot atmos using fusee-primary
11. Install and used tinfoil to install link fake account it's in tinfoil>settings>Install Fake Nintendo account.
12 - Restore games and saves using the backup tools used before

Note: some games need a linked account to play and a fake one bypass this check. you may use it to install nsps but you may need to enable install unsigned code in the settings you will need the karnmi code

Note2: for games to show up in the save backup homebrew again you need to run the game once

EDIT.

you could have hekate access the sxos emunand, but it can't modify or backup it up so you might as well backup and restore
Wow, thank you very much for posting these steps. This is what I was needing. However, I cannot do step 3, my firmware is 12.0.2 and can't get start my nintendo to the home screen to use JSDK, I just can get to the SXOS menu. Is there another way to back up my saves?
 

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If you didn't have important saves or something, can you try creating a new emuNAND from Hekate?

Ok so creating a new emunand it booted successfully.

Also, I think I know what messe up my main emunand, I've restored my sysnand (9.1) BOOT0/1 to my 10.2 emunand... I think this is the reason it won't boot, right? Any way to recover it?
Maybe creating a new emunand, upgrading it to 10.2, backing up Boot0/1 from it and restoring to old emunand?
 

pcwizard7

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Wow, thank you very much for posting these steps. This is what I was needing. However, I cannot do step 3, my firmware is 12.0.2 and can't get start my nintendo to the home screen to use JSDK, I just can get to the SXOS menu. Is there another way to back up my saves?

1. add this folder structiure to sd:/emummc/ :
2. create emummc.ini with this inside
Code:
[emummc]
emummc!enabled = 1
emummc!sector = 0x2
emummc!nintendo_path = Emutendo

This allows you to boot Atmos with hekate of your sx emunand then you can go on with step 3 in previous steps
 
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GCS

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Ok so creating a new emunand it booted successfully.

Also, I think I know what messe up my main emunand, I've restored my sysnand (9.1) BOOT0/1 to my 10.2 emunand... I think this is the reason it won't boot, right? Any way to recover it?
Maybe creating a new emunand, upgrading it to 10.2, backing up Boot0/1 from it and restoring to old emunand?
I don't have knowledge or haven't tried restoring a backup on my emuNAND, so I don't have any experience with it. But I don't think that solution will work out.
Edit: Your old emuNAND's save data may have already replaced with the sysNAND saves. So I don't think there wouls be a point on trying to restore it.
 
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luisdav

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1. add this folder structiure to sd:/emummc/ :
2. create emummc.ini with this inside
Code:
[emummc]
emummc!enabled = 1
emummc!sector = 0x2
emummc!nintendo_path = Emutendo

This allows you to boot Atmos with hekate of your sx emunand then you can go on with step 3 in previous steps
It was not possible. Hekate do not recognize the sx emmunand. I tried something like in this tutorial. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330235902/https://rentry.co/mys8q/ but do not work.
 

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luisdav

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You only need to follow @pcwizard7 instructions in post #282. Just don't try to boot to the atmo with sx emunand.
Restart from the instructions. If JKSV doesn't work then you can try Checkpoint or SX Save Tool.
I can't start the switch using firmware 12.0.2. My sxos only supports upto 11.0.0. That's why I haven't been able to back up my saves.
 

GCS

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I can't start the switch using firmware 12.0.2. My sxos only supports upto 11.0.0. That's why I haven't been able to back up my saves.
Sorry I should have missed that part. So as far as I understand your emuNAND is on 12.0.2?
 

luisdav

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Sorry I should have missed that part. So as far as I understand your emuNAND is on 12.0.2?
That's right for my emunand under atmosphere. I have a back up of the emunand under sxos in my pc, which is 11.0.0, I tried to copy those files into the sd card and did the recommendations by pcwizard7 in post #285 but did not work. I'm starting to give up with this, I think I'll just have to stay with atmosphere, reinstall my game and lose all my saves...
 
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GCS

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That's right for my emunand under atmosphere. I have a back up of the emunand under sxos in my pc, which is 11.0.0, I tried to copy those files into the sd card and did the recommendations by pcwizard7 in post #285 but did not work. I'm starting to give up with this, I think I'll just have to stay with atmosphere, reinstall my game and lose all my saves...
Oh, so you have a backup of emuNAND on fw 11.0. Then you can just use that backup and boot into it with sx os. Then you can follow post #282
 

luisdav

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Oh, so you have a backup of emuNAND on fw 11.0. Then you can just use that backup and boot into it with sx os. Then you can follow post #282
Is there a way to do that with firmware 12.0.2? I have tried to downgrade it without success
 

GinOkami428

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So, this requires a modchip to work, correct? I ask as I'm new to the Switch modding scene, and have a patched "XKW" Switch (the Mario Kart 8 red box one).
 

felipejfc

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I don't have knowledge or haven't tried restoring a backup on my emuNAND, so I don't have any experience with it. But I don't think that solution will work out.
Edit: Your old emuNAND's save data may have already replaced with the sysNAND saves. So I don't think there wouls be a point on trying to restore it.

It actually worked :)

So, problem #1 (Black screen before even showing atmos splash screen): Was booting with custom boot.dat instead of going through SX Menu and doing cleanup
problem #2 (Black screen after atmos splash screen): Happened because I restored BOOT0 and BOOT1 from my 9.2 sysnand into my 10.2 emunand. What I did to recover was, create a new emunand (file based), upgrade to 10.2 with daybreak, got BOOT0 and BOOT1 from this emunand and restored into my Raw Partition Emunand. Success!

Also, because I never messed up with the SX OS Emutendo folder, all my content is also there :)
 
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felipejfc

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It recognize it after the migration, but atmosphere does not initiate

What is the problem? Does it log errors?
Black Screen? Before or after atmosphere splash screen?

Also, can you post your hekate_ipl.ini and also your emummc.ini?
 

luisdav

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What is the problem? Does it log errors?
Black Screen? Before or after atmosphere splash screen?

Also, can you post your hekate_ipl.ini and also your emummc.ini?
There is a black screen when I boot using fusee-primary and have to restart console again.

My hekate_ipl.ini file:
[config]
autoboot=0
autoboot_list=0
bootwait=3
backlight=100
autohosoff=0
autonogc=1
updater2p=0
bootprotect=0

[Atmosphere CFW]
fss0=atmosphere/fusee-secondary.bin
icon=bootloader/res/icon_payload.bmp
emummcforce=1
kip1patch=nosigchk

[Stock sysNAND]
fss0=atmosphere/fusee-secondary.bin
stock=1
emummc_force_disable=1
icon=bootloader/res/icon_switch.bmp

My emummc.ini:
[emummc]
enabled=1
sector=0x0
path=emuMMC/SD00
id=0x0000
nintendo_path=emuMMC/SD00/Nintendo
 

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