Hacking Can someone help me clear up my understanding of CFW?

rs1n

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So I was fortunate enough to recently obtain an unpatched Switch. Everything has been set up to use emuMMC on a 64GB SD card that is split between the emuMMC and a FAT32 partition. When running the Switch with emuMMC, using Goldleaf to install onto "internal storage" actually writes to the emuMMC, yes? (I.e. my console's original NAND is presumably untouched -- is that correct?) And is there really any performance difference between installing on the SD card (which I presume is just the FAT32 partition) or the "internal storage" (aka emuMMC, which is still on the physical SD card)?
 

mikefor20

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You are correct , any and all NAND functions are sent to the EmuNAND.

The EmuNAND can exist in a few forms. On NAND (BAD and uncommon) it can exist in files on your SD. This way is more vulnerable to issues. If your SD corrupts the EmuNAND is gone.) If your setup is not one of the first iterations of EmuNAND I will make the assumption you have the third and best EmuNAND type, the hidden partition type. So it is a partition on your SD that you can't really access. When running the Switch thinks the SD is actually the NAND and reroutes all commands to it.

Very simplified but thats the cliff notes.

Hope that sheds some light.
 
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rs1n

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You are correct , any and all NAND functions are sent to the EmuNAND. let me edit this

Thank you for the reply. One other question: When I change back to using stock NAND (with SD card pulled out), could I then use my Switch to update existing games? I'm under the impression that even though I installed an NSP on the emuMMC side, this NSP would have no traces whatsoever on the official NAND. So going online to update my legitimate titles should be fine, yes? Or are title data for any NSP still stored on the official NAND (even while using emuMMC) in some form/fashion that could result in a ban?

EDIT: In response to your edits -- yes my emuMMC happens to be the one that is in a "non-readable" partition (from Windows, anyway).
 
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mikefor20

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It SHOULD be safe to run SysNAND online if it never has been touched by the CFW. If you ran EmuNAND from the first boot and only LEGIT games on the SysNAND you SHOULD be okay. There are MANY threads on this. It's never certain and the future could hold some surprises.Do it at your own risk. Mileage may vary.
 
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rs1n

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It SHOULD be safe to run SysNAND online if it never has been touched by the CFW. If you ran EmuNAND from the first boot and only LEGIT games on the SysNAND you SHOULD be okay. There are MANY threads on this. It's never certain and the future could hold some surprises.Do it at your own risk. Mileage may vary.

Thanks again for the reply and patience (I'm probably the millionth one asking these questions; just didn't want to wade through 900+ pages on the "noobie" thread). I will just use my Lite as my official unit and keep this one completely offline for good measure.
 
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mikefor20

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There's some good tutorials on how to do it. YOU can set up an EmuNAND for online, separate EmuNANDs for CFW, EmuNAND for Ubuntu, Windows, Android if you like.. Lots of fun things to do. Go to the tutorial section, Click Switch, type nand and sort by date. Start at the newest tutorial going back until it's "Setting EmuNAND for online" or whatever looks fun.

If you stay offline you are banning yourself.

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

Thanks again for the reply and patience (I'm probably the millionth one asking these questions; just didn't want to wade through 900+ pages on the "noobie" thread). I will just use my Lite as my official unit and keep this one completely offline for good measure.

Definitely close to the millionth. You were nice so no worries. I usually shoot a LMGTFY link at ya. LOL
 
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rs1n

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There's some good tutorials on how to do it. YOU can set up an EmuNAND for online, separate EmuNANDs for CFW, EmuNAND for Ubuntu, Windows, Android if you like.. Lots of fun things to do. Go to the tutorial section, Click Switch, type nand and sort by date. Start at the newest tutorial going back until it's "Setting EmuNAND for online" or whatever looks fun.

This should make for some good reading this weekend. Thanks!

If you stay offline you are banning yourself.

Haha, I appreciate your straightforwardness. Very on point!
 

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