Hacking Question New to Switch hacking and got a few questions

[NEO117]

Hello guys. I got a delicious hackable Switch yesterday (I checked the serial number and it's A-ok) and I was wondering about a few things. I have read several guides but I still haven't processed all the information well enough.

1. Do I run the risk of bricking from using a USB-C to USB-A cable? I only intend to use it for hacking and then leave my Switch in sleep mode most of the time. This is the cable I have. It's certified, so I'm ASSUMING it has the 56k ohm resistor in there, but I'd like reassurance. lol

https://www.amazon.com/Adaptive-Cha...971+oem+cable&qid=1563078115&s=gateway&sr=8-1

2. Can I use Emunand without having to downgrade from 8.1.0? The person who sold it to me had updated it. I read yes several times, but I'd rather ask a dumb question than make a dumb mistake.

3. What's the point of having a NAND backup when efuses burn and then it's pretty much useless? Or is that just when there's a major update?

4. Can I keep playing my legit games online on sysnand? I don't intend to go online on emunand at all.

5. Best method to block updates?

6. Any homebrew incompatibilities on 8.1.0?

7. Which jig method would you guys recommend? I bought a jig online from switchjigs, but if I can do it right now without having to wait for a few days, that'd be awesome. (legally blind so I'm scared of using a paper clip).

8. This doesn't have to do with hacking the Switch, but how would you guys go about cleaning the Joycons and the rails? This thing works perfectly, but it seems a bit dusty here and there. I thought about canned air, but I don't know if it may damage anything, considering the pins are so sensitive. Pic below.

Spoiler: Oink

 

[Username4321]

Come on, there's a stickied thread literally titled "SWITCH NOOB PARADISE - Ask questions here."

 

[JBMario]

1. No
2. Emunand is supported on every firmware.
3. To use it if you make a mistake (example: console not booting) or want to return to the original state (example: you want to sell your Switch)
4. That’s the point of having an Emunand: play legit and online games on sysnand, everything about hacking on Emunand
5. Use 90DNS. Or better: don’t connect to the Internet on Emunand
6. Don’t think so
7. Wait for your jig. The paperclip method is not recommended, you can damage your Switch with that.

 

[Draxzelex]

4. That’s the point of having an Emunand: play legit and online games on sysnand, everything about hacking on Emunand

Users of patched units disagree

 

[Lacius]

1. Do I run the risk of bricking from using a USB-C to USB-A cable? I only intend to use it for hacking and then leave my Switch in sleep mode most of the time. This is the cable I have. It's certified, so I'm ASSUMING it has the 56k ohm resistor in there, but I'd like reassurance. lol

There's virtually no brick risk.

2. Can I use Emunand without having to downgrade from 8.1.0? The person who sold it to me had updated it. I read yes several times, but I'd rather ask a dumb question than make a dumb mistake.

You can use emuNAND regardless of the sysNAND version, so no, you don't have to downgrade anything. When Nintendo releases new updates for the Switch, you should always wait for Atmosphere to be updated before updating your emuNAND.

3. What's the point of having a NAND backup when efuses burn and then it's pretty much useless? Or is that just when there's a major update?

There are ways your system can be irreparably bricked without a NAND backup to restore. A NAND backup is required, and it's recommended you keep it somewhere online (e.g. Google Drive).

4. Can I keep playing my legit games online on sysnand? I don't intend to go online on emunand at all.

As long as you do all of your hackery on your offline emuNAND, yes, you can play your legitimate games online with your sysNAND. If you're paranoid, you can also use 90DNS and/or Incognito with your emuNAND so it doesn't accidentally connect to the internet and get your whole system banned.

5. Best method to block updates?

1. Incognito on your dirty emuNAND
2. 90DNS on your dirty emuNAND
3. Keep your dirty emuNAND offline

Paranoid users should do all three, but only one choice is needed.

Your clean sysNAND must be kept up to date in order to be able to play online.

6. Any homebrew incompatibilities on 8.1.0?

Nothing comes to mind.

7. Which jig method would you guys recommend? I bought a jig online from switchjigs, but if I can do it right now without having to wait for a few days, that'd be awesome. (legally blind so I'm scared of using a paper clip).

I use paperclips. You only need a jig one time if you install AutoRCM, which causes the Switch to automatically coldboot into RCM after being fully powered off.

 

[NEO117]

-snippety snip-

Thank you for your highly informative reply.

 

[Masamune3210]

I would still be careful with using non switch chargers since the issue that causes the bricks isn't the cable being bad, it's the fact that the switch and the dock both routinely break the USB PD spec and do stupid things like ask for too much power which will eventually burn out the control chip for the port