Hacking Manually updating romfs.bin for backups

[huma_dawii]

@huma_dawii im counting on your testing! i got all my extracted files ready and .npdm patched for octo... (going to test 3 seperate scenarios: base first, then base+update, then base+update+voice pack dlc) but couldn't transfer to test as i had to leave for work
also, can you confirm if this is how you got the base game running? (2 folders, romfs and exefs within donor title)
//atmosphere/titles/<donor id>/romfs/<extracted files>
//atmosphere/titles/<donor id>/exefs/<extracted files>

Yes that's how I got the base running!

Wait, inside romfs I have stream and two other files


EDIT 1: Transferring files (this process is very annoying it does take TOO MUCH)
EDIT 2: Tried game+update and it does load... now I want to try to actually "update" the files in "exefs" so it can reflect the update (1.5.0)

EDIT3: Nothing, as soon as you add the Voice DLC the game doesn't boot up anymore!
Perhaps a LayeredFS issue? because when I try to launch it it crashes then I try to load Pokémon Quest and I get same crash error (DevMenu)
-My other idea is that when you add the Voice DLC, the actual main screen is not updated so it's looking for the "voice" option and since it cant find it it just crashes!


EDIT4: Tried even with the original cartridge but all with no luck, im about to give up. No DLC not even the Update for VOICE can be added to LayeredFS XC2

EDIT5: Tried Game+Update+DLC (4 DLC) and it seems, other than the original 147MB, the game wont even see the voice DLC xD

(Yes I've merged everything but the game doesn't see it)

BTW, with every DLC I tried, the extraction gave me a key.bin, what do I do with it?

 

[Zumoly]

BTW, with every DLC I tried, the extraction gave me a key.bin, what do I do with it?

It's probably the licence for the DLC.
The way I see it:
- Not all updates work with the games (tried VOEZ whose update changed its offset from 430 to 440) and the game would not launch.
- DLC simply is not compatible with the way how LayeredFS works

Suggestions
- LayeredFS needs some tweaking to allow more than 1 romfs.bin loading (redirection maybe)
- We need a backup loader tailored for the community (with nsp support out of the box)

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Yes that's how I got the base running!

Wait, inside romfs I have stream and two other files


EDIT 1: Transferring files (this process is very annoying it does take TOO MUCH)
EDIT 2: Tried game+update and it does load... now I want to try to actually "update" the files in "exefs" so it can reflect the update (1.5.0)

EDIT3: Nothing, as soon as you add the Voice DLC the game doesn't boot up anymore!
Perhaps a LayeredFS issue? because when I try to launch it it crashes then I try to load Pokémon Quest and I get same crash error (DevMenu)
-My other idea is that when you add the Voice DLC, the actual main screen is not updated so it's looking for the "voice" option and since it cant find it it just crashes!


EDIT4: Tried even with the original cartridge but all with no luck, im about to give up. No DLC not even the Update for VOICE can be added to LayeredFS XC2

EDIT5: Tried Game+Update+DLC (4 DLC) and it seems, other than the original 147MB, the game wont even see the voice DLC xD

(Yes I've merged everything but the game doesn't see it)

BTW, with every DLC I tried, the extraction gave me a key.bin, what do I do with it?

Alright i got a bit of a success but not the way i was hoping for... before i go into details, note the following:
Extracted Xenoblade 2 files (romfs folder instead of .bin file) works fine
Extracted Xenoblade 2 + Update merged files works fine as well

[Voice Pack DLC]
Test 1: Failed

• Extracted all files
• Copy and overwrite to working base+update folder
• Game Crashes upon starting

Test 2: Failed

• Delete Save Data for Octopath/Xenoblade
• Crashes

Test 3: Failed

• Deleted just the key.bin file thinking the key is unique per console (?)
• Expected; Game to run and ignore the JP Voice Files
• Crashes

Test 4: Success

• Deleted the DLC
• Started again with Base+Update folder
• Renamed all Voice DLC folders from 'JP' to 'US'
• Copy and overwrite files
• Works (Played for 30 minutes and all audio was in Japanese)

So it seems, any "new files" added anywhere within /romfs/ was crashing the game
If i overwrite all the US files with the JP files,

Bottom line for LayeredFS;
Updates and DLCs are a hit and miss, as @Zumoly mentioned above and other users have reported here;

Xenoblade Update = Works
Zelda Update = Works
Kirby Update= Works
Voez Update = Crashes
Splatoon 2 Update = Crashes

Xenoblade DLC = Crashes
Kirby DLC = Works

----------

Well atleast I got Xenoblade audio in Japanese... so i guess all this testing didn't go to waste lol

 

[Mat37]

Alright i got a bit of a success but not the way i was hoping for... before i go into details, note the following:
Extracted Xenoblade 2 files (romfs folder instead of .bin file) works fine
Extracted Xenoblade 2 + Update merged files works fine as well

[Voice Pack DLC]
Test 1: Failed

• Extracted all files
• Copy and overwrite to working base+update folder
• Game Crashes upon starting

Test 2: Failed

• Delete Save Data for Octopath/Xenoblade
• Crashes

Test 3: Failed

• Deleted just the key.bin file thinking the key is unique per console (?)
• Expected; Game to run and ignore the JP Voice Files
• Crashes

Test 4: Success

• Deleted the DLC
• Started again with Base+Update folder
• Renamed all Voice DLC folders from 'JP' to 'US'
• Copy and overwrite files
• Works (Played for 30 minutes and all audio was in Japanese)

So it seems, any "new files" added anywhere within /romfs/ was crashing the game
If i overwrite all the US files with the JP files,

Bottom line for LayeredFS;
Updates and DLCs are a hit and miss, as @Zumoly mentioned above and other users have reported here;

Xenoblade Update = Works
Zelda Update = Works
Kirby Update= Works
Voez Update = Crashes
Splatoon 2 Update = Crashes

Xenoblade DLC = Crashes
Kirby DLC = Works

Are you going to build a database for updates and DLCs ? If you have the game and the time could test FE Warriors with the 1.5.0 Update ? It crashed for me while it works great with only the base game

 

[Zumoly]

Test 4: Success

• Deleted the DLC
• Started again with Base+Update folder
• Renamed all Voice DLC folders from 'JP' to 'US'
• Copy and overwrite files
• Works (Played for 30 minutes and all audio was in Japanese)

So by overwriting it still works? That's an interesting thing to know.
I would just use "super copiercoller" to merge files together.

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Are you going to build a database for updates and DLCs ? If you have the game and the time could test FE Warriors with the 1.5.0 Update ? It crashed for me while it works great with only the base game

If i had a faster way of transferring the files to my SD card... i would have thought about it;

I use UMS Tool by rajkosto, mount device as USB mass storage; gives me roughly 5 MB speed... takes 40 minutes for Xenoblade transfer
the new SDFiles sysFTP doesn't reach 1 MB even
USB SD Card Adapter, tried once only... wasn't fast enough 4-5 MB (something)
My laptop has SD card reader and thats the fastest way, around to 20-25 MB (but then i have to transfer files to laptop THEN copy to SD)

So by overwriting it still works? That's an interesting thing to know.
I would just use "super copiercoller" to merge files together.

yea after Test 3, I thought if "extra files" are throwing the game off, what if i overwrite files? and so it worked

This means it might be possible to RIP games by replacing other language files with small byte files or even replace movie files to small files (hypothetically speaking)

 

[Mat37]

If i had a faster way of transferring the files to my SD card... i would have thought about it;

I use UMS Tool by rajkosto, mount device as USB mass storage; gives me roughly 5 MB speed... takes 40 minutes for Xenoblade transfer
the new SDFiles sysFTP doesn't reach 1 MB even
USB SD Card Adapter, tried once only... wasn't fast enough 4-5 MB (something)
My laptop has SD card reader and thats the fastest way, around to 20-25 MB (but then i have to transfer files to laptop THEN copy to SD)

Heh you're in the same situation as me

 

[huma_dawii]

Alright i got a bit of a success but not the way i was hoping for... before i go into details, note the following:
Extracted Xenoblade 2 files (romfs folder instead of .bin file) works fine
Extracted Xenoblade 2 + Update merged files works fine as well

[Voice Pack DLC]
Test 1: Failed

• Extracted all files
• Copy and overwrite to working base+update folder
• Game Crashes upon starting

Test 2: Failed

• Delete Save Data for Octopath/Xenoblade
• Crashes

Test 3: Failed

• Deleted just the key.bin file thinking the key is unique per console (?)
• Expected; Game to run and ignore the JP Voice Files
• Crashes

Test 4: Success

• Deleted the DLC
• Started again with Base+Update folder
• Renamed all Voice DLC folders from 'JP' to 'US'
• Copy and overwrite files
• Works (Played for 30 minutes and all audio was in Japanese)

So it seems, any "new files" added anywhere within /romfs/ was crashing the game
If i overwrite all the US files with the JP files,

Bottom line for LayeredFS;
Updates and DLCs are a hit and miss, as @Zumoly mentioned above and other users have reported here;

Xenoblade Update = Works
Zelda Update = Works
Kirby Update= Works
Voez Update = Crashes
Splatoon 2 Update = Crashes

Xenoblade DLC = Crashes
Kirby DLC = Works

----------

Well atleast I got Xenoblade audio in Japanese... so i guess all this testing didn't go to waste lol

I was pissed my on screen text for manuals was in Japanese lol

 

[Stelker]

Test 4: Success

• Deleted the DLC
• Started again with Base+Update folder
• Renamed all Voice DLC folders from 'JP' to 'US'
• Copy and overwrite files
• Works (Played for 30 minutes and all audio was in Japanese)

So it seems, any "new files" added anywhere within /romfs/ was crashing the game
If i overwrite all the US files with the JP files,

I just did the exact same thing before reading your post !
With BotW I merged the 2 nca into a romfs.bin, but with xenoblade we can't
Tried to play zelda with a romfs folder and .bin, the folder is definitely WAY slower to load
I'd really like to be able to merge multiple .nca, or an nca with a romfs.bin/folder ...

 

[Assasin1990]

I just did the exact same thing before reading your post !
With BotW I merged the 2 nca into a romfs.bin, but with xenoblade we can't
Tried to play zelda with a romfs folder and .bin, the folder is definitely WAY slower to load
I'd really like to be able to merge multiple .nca, or an nca with a romfs.bin/folder ...

all we need now is just rebuild romfs.bin
and yeah , i'll just put this here )

 

[Zumoly]

I just did the exact same thing before reading your post !
With BotW I merged the 2 nca into a romfs.bin, but with xenoblade we can't
Tried to play zelda with a romfs folder and .bin, the folder is definitely WAY slower to load
I'd really like to be able to merge multiple .nca, or an nca with a romfs.bin/folder ...

I don't know the issues you're facing but I'm getting the same speed with folder and file romfs.
Also something to note about DLC: it's region based period! If the region does not match the base game, no matter what you try it won't activate: I just got the octo expansion to run with my cart game after updating (file & folder confirmed to work!)

 

[Stelker]

Oh also, I don't know why, but If I launch a xci game (xci -> nca -> romfs) and its nsp update, it works fine, but if I try to launch a NSP game (CDNSP -> nca -> romfs) with its nsp update, the game crashes .. I tried this with Kirby, anyone got this problem ?

 

[Assasin1990]

Oh also, I don't know why, but If I launch a xci game (xci -> nca -> romfs) and its nsp update, it works fine, but if I try to launch a NSP game (CDNSP -> nca -> romfs) with its nsp update, the game crashes .. I tried this with Kirby, anyone got this problem ?

did you tried to decrypt base nca before update ?

 

[Stelker]

did you tried to decrypt base nca before update ?

Try launch just the NSP game without update you mean ? Or decrypt nca into a romfs folder then put the update in it ?

 

[Assasin1990]

Try launch just the NSP game without update you mean ? Or decrypt nca into a romfs folder then put the update in it ?

"--plaintext" it will save a copy of decrypted nca

 

[Stelker]

"--plaintext" it will save a copy of decrypted nca

Oh I see, so I type: hactool.exe -k keys.dat --titlekey=*** --plaintext="kirbygamedecrypted.nca" "kirbygame.nca" to get a decrypted nca, then merge game + update into a romfs.bin ?
Going to try this right now

 

[Assasin1990]

Oh I see, so I type: hactool.exe -k keys.dat --titlekey=*** --plaintext "kirbygame.nca" to get a decrypted nca, then merge game + update into a romfs.bin ?
Going to try this right now

use this . it will help you alot, first decrypt base and then update

 

[Stelker]

It works !!
Thanks a lot ! Will try your script

 

[Mat37]

So merging a game with an update that adds files make the game crash, right ? Or does this only appies for DLCs ?

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

So merging a game with an update that adds files make the game crash, right ? Or does this only appies for DLCs ?

Updates are fine... DLCs are a hit and miss... Zumoly posted above that Octo Expansion works fine for him... meanwhile Xenoblade DLCs didn't work