[Guide] How to fix Switch games not booting after a FW/CFW update

Hi; i dont really know where to post this but i have a problem with AC NH.

I installed the game and the update1.4.2+Dlc using Awoo and Goldleaf (tried with both just in case) through Ns Usbloader but when i start the game it gets stuck loading in the nintendo black screen (the one with Nintendo Logo and switch logo), the console doesn't freeze because can hit home and close the game.

All other games function fine; i even installed the new Paper Mario and works fine.

I already updated sigpatches, and Atmosphere to latest version.

Im running:
FW: 9.1.0
AMS: 0.14.1
EMUNAND
Sd exfat 128gb cluster:128

I'm thinking i should update the FW with Choi but i don't understand very well how the AutoRCM works and that's why i haven't done it already.

 

You should definitely update to latest FW if you want to install latest game updates/dlcs...You can use Daybreak homebrew included with latest atmosphere to upgrade (you don't have to enable autorcm either when you upgrade); also please consider reformatting your sd to fat32 as exfat is extremely prone to corruption, which in turn can cause games to not run.

 

Great user guide, helped me a lot, thanks!!

I was trying to update from 9.0.1 (AMS 0.9.4) to 10.1.0 (AMS 0.14.1), and was so afraid to get a very expensive brick, there was a lot of updates from 0.9.4 to 10.1.0 and my switch didn't start after updating last time I tried.

This was my setup:

-Hekate ctcaer 5.0.2
-Atmosphere 0.9.4
-Switch firmware: 9.0.1

I was trying to update to Atmosphere 0.10.1, but there were many changes so I didn't wanted to take any risk (big mistake), but I decided to update because there are new options that I wanted to try (and games).

After a few tries, it worked (0.10.1) still on CFW 9.0.1, but a crazy racing game looked weird (oversized) and I desisted to update, then back to 0.9.4.

Two or three weeks later, second try: Same crazy racing game and now testing with another game, a male swordman elf and the results: It get an overpowered start, cheats were enabled from start. Time to read what was happening, the reason: AMS changed to use some config files in folders, better structured, but enabled cheats at start.

Now, cheats were disabled, everything was working time to update firmware to 9.1.0... done through ChoiDujourNX and downloading firmware folder (search for switch firmware), rebooted and then Hekate worked (v 5.1.1), atmosphere working, woohoo!!.

Why not to update to 10.1.0 to get latest firmware? Again, I updated firmware through ChoiDujourNX (checked +), updated hekate (cheked +) and atmoshpere (cheked +), reboot and I got a new screen for Hekate, mmm ok, not bad, launching firmware, and NO, It didn't woked, what was missing this time? a lot of things, I get a message that said: no sighchk, after searching I finally get to here and discover that patches were missing for /bootloader/patches.ini (they are in your packs), THANKS A LOT, seriously, THANKS!

Hekate starts, AMS starts, CFW starts?, YEESSSS, long trip, uh? Not yet, there were some games not working: crazy racing kart and swordman elf, others games were fine. What was it now? I deleted crazy racing kart game and it's save and reinstall it, and nothing changed then I was going to delete swordman elf and then I thought to compare your sig patches with the one provided here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/sigpatches-for-atmosphere-fusee-primary-only.567542/ and it resulted that some patches (added files and newer version of others) were missing AND .... that's all: patches (again)

Again this tutorial, ChoiDujourNX updating app and few missing patch files (AMS 0.14.1) and now I get a fully updated switch, thanks, thanks, thanks!!!

A BIG HINT: Like @ShadowOne333 said: First update your patches to latest version, this is going to save you a lot of time.

 

Kind of, unintencionally I was updating part by part.

 

I updated from 9.0.1 to 9.1.0, first hekate and AMS, then update firmware with choidujournx, then from 9.1.0 to 10.1.0 direct but it wasn't booting for lacking /bootloader/patches.ini for newer firmwares.
Then CFW worked in 10.1.0 but a few games were not booting: some files were missing from your sig versions compared with the ones here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/sigpatches-for-atmosphere-fusee-primary-only.567542/
Here's a screenshot:

After that every game has been working

 

From hekate, this files was missing on mines:

CFW was not booting because the lack of this entries:

I was in 9.1.0 and working because previous entries were there, but not newers.

— Posts automatically merged - Please don't double post! —

All remain files were equal:

 

29CA1C792CF3AB63: Yes, it was missing in your zip file, after add it to my files, plus with [9857521753F] newer file, after that, games started to boot
patches.ini: it was missing in my files, I toke that file from your [fss0 Signature patches (FW10.1.0) ATM 0.14.1.zip] and CFW started to boot

 

@ShadowOne333 I just found an alternative homebrew app for resetting required version on firmware 10+ you may want to update guide with:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/alternative-to-devmenu-for-9-1-0.557436/page-2#post-9079254

 

Just download _kefir.7z...It's in the base/switch folder.

 

It's got everything...Title/update/dlc installation/deletion/reset...Basically another installer app just like awoo/goldleaf.

 

@ShadowOne333 Lifesaver,was having issues after updating to 10.0.1 to play crysis, but then my SPTFBW and AC black flag stopped working, searched for months for a solution and it turned out your method of converting to deepsea and those sigpatches did the trick.

Much appreciated
One more query - Rebel galaxy outlaw releasing today (still waiting) - would these sigpatches work above 10.0.01 if need be?

Thanks in advance