Hacking New to Switch, Latest steps / guide for CFW etc

[Rik80]

Hi

First and foremost, apologies. I can see there are multiple threads on this, with hundreds of similar questions, but im ultimately just after some advice/links etc to the most recent steps to take with running custom firmware on a recently acquired unpatched switch i own

im hoping some kind people can point me in the right direction of how i get my unpatched switch, running 8.1.0 to the stage where i can run various emulators ie Amiga, also, maybe how to play, erm, 'free' games

Along with my switch, i also have a 256gb micro sd card, and also a dongle, this xyz type (supposedly has SX OS, atmosphere and Reinx on it, although, not sure if these are the latest releases)

Im more familiar with the PS vita scene, but decided its time for a move to some more powerful hardware

Hoping some one can assist me

Thanks in advance

Rik

Posted here as someone said posting in tutorials is not the right place

Id like to add some items;

How should i format my SD card? Fat32 or exFAT?
My RCM Loader, having plugged it in to the pc has various folders on it, Atmos, ReinX, SX OS, XT. I suspect these payloads are old, however where to download the latest. The atmos github page download has far more files in the download than the payload on dongle.

Ive read this site, https://switch.homebrew.guide/gettingstarted/checkingrcm but it doesnt detail using a dongle.
The xyz site, is a bit light on details about updating payloads, just says replace payload.bin file, but as i say, the dongles original payload is 128kb, whereas the github atmos file size is 5mb with far more files in

 

[rmorris003]

Start here https://gbatemp.net/threads/universal-cfw-instalation-guide.517122/

 

[Lacius]

First, do you care about online play? If not, just follow the guide you already have. Instead of plugging your Switch into a computer to push an RCM payload, you will use the dongle.

 

[Rik80]

OK, so whole process of getting in to RCM and Hekate was lot simpler than i assumed
Ive followed the 'switch homebrew guide' after using the site to set up my SD card with files required

However, im confused as to what to select when launching CFW.
On selecting launch, im presented with 4 options, CFW (sysnand), CFW (emunand), and both the stock options

What does each option do? (noob question i know)

I never partitioned my SD card

emuMMC is disabled

I'd like to avoid a ban, but i dont think i will use my switch online, (unless required to download homebrew etc)

Which option should i select, or have i missed something

Rgds

 

[Lacius]

OK, so whole process of getting in to RCM and Hekate was lot simpler than i assumed
Ive followed the 'switch homebrew guide' after using the site to set up my SD card with files required

However, im confused as to what to select when launching CFW.
On selecting launch, im presented with 4 options, CFW (sysnand), CFW (emunand), and both the stock options

What does each option do? (noob question i know)

I never partitioned my SD card

emuMMC is disabled

I'd like to avoid a ban, but i dont think i will use my switch online, (unless required to download homebrew etc)

Which option should i select, or have i missed something

Rgds

Do you plan on using online play with legitimately purchased games? If not, then you don't really need to use an emuNAND. Continue with the guide you have, starting with the part where you make a NAND backup. That should be the first thing you do.

 

[Rik80]

Do you plan on using online play with legitimately purchased games? If not, then you don't really need to use an emuNAND. Continue with the guide you have, starting with the part where you make a NAND backup. That should be the first thing you do.

Yeah ive basically finished with the guide, to the point where i need to launch atmosphere.
I have created back ups of eMMC and keyfile etc

Im just wondering which option to launch;

CFW (sysnand) or CFW (emunand)

Does CFW (emunand) only work if i set up a partition and enable emuMMC?

In which case, i just select CFW (sysnand)?

 

[Lacius]

Does CFW (emunand) only work if i set up a partition and enable emuMMC?

In which case, i just select CFW (sysnand)?

Yes, you are correct.

 

[Rik80]

Yes, you are correct.

Ok, if i use CFW (sysnand) option, what effect will this have with online play, should i choose to play on OFW with purchased games
Is this a sure fire way for a hardware ban?

 

[Lacius]

Ok, if i use CFW (sysnand) option, what effect will this have with online play, should i choose to play on OFW with purchased games
Is this a sure fire way for a hardware ban?

I asked you before if you wanted to use online play. If you want to use online play, you must setup an offline emuNAND to use with hacks. The sysNAND should be clean and never used with CFW/hacks so you can use it with online play.

 

[Rik80]

I asked you before if you wanted to use online play. If you want to use online play, you must setup an offline emuNAND to use with hacks. The sysNAND should be clean and never used with CFW/hacks so you can use it with online play.

My bad, sorry

So, should i start the whole process again?
ie. format my sd card to FAT32 and set up a partition. I have a 256gb SD, what size partitions?
I assume if what i mention is correct, and i have to reformat etc, will i again need to create new NAND back ups, or are the previous backups ok?

 

[Lacius]

My bad, sorry

So, should i start the whole process again?
ie. format my sd card to FAT32 and set up a partition. I have a 256gb SD, what size partitions?
I assume if what i mention is correct, and i have to reformat etc, will i again need to create new NAND back ups, or are the previous backups ok?

You need to follow a guide like this to partition your SD card appropriately for emuNAND. Just follow the guide.

If you used homebrew on your sysNAND, then you should restore the old NAND backup so it's clean.

You do not need to make a new NAND backup.

 

[Rik80]

You need to follow a guide like this to partition your SD card appropriately for emuNAND. Just follow the guide.

If you used homebrew on your sysNAND, then you should restore the old NAND backup so it's clean.

You do not need to make a new NAND backup.

Ok thanks

As of yet, i have not launch any CFW, i have simply followed this guide on here https://switch.homebrew.guide/hacking/fuseegelee/aftersetup

As mentioned, i never launched CFW as wasnt sure which option to select out of the 4 available on Hekate screen.

I can see from the guide you have provided the link for, that my SD card will be formatted. Question regarding the current contents of SD card, can i just copy the lot to my desktop, then once SD card is formated to FAT32, drag it all back to the 30GB partition?
I need to read the guide fully, but thought id ask upfront

 

[Lacius]

Ok thanks

As of yet, i have not launch any CFW, i have simply followed this guide on here https://switch.homebrew.guide/hacking/fuseegelee/aftersetup

As mentioned, i never launched CFW as wasnt sure which option to select out of the 4 available on Hekate screen.

I can see from the guide you have provided the link for, that my SD card will be formatted. Question regarding the current contents of SD card, can i just copy the lot to my desktop, then once SD card is formated to FAT32, drag it all back to the 30GB partition?
I need to read the guide fully, but thought id ask upfront

Yes, you should backup your files, partition the SD card properly, and then copy the files back to SD card.

 

[Rik80]

Yes, you should backup your files, partition the SD card properly, and then copy the files back to SD card.

Thank you
I'll see how i get on

 

[Rik80]

Yes, you should backup your files, partition the SD card properly, and then copy the files back to SD card.

Ok, im struggling with that minitool partition tool,

are the instructions correct about sizes before and after, and partition size 16?

I cant set one without the other changing

 

[Lacius]

Ok, im struggling with that minitool partition tool,
View attachment 175058
are the instructions correct about sizes before and after, and partition size 16?

I cant set one without the other changing

Follow the instructions, and you will be fine. You haven't named the partition SD, for example.

Your partition size isn't going to be 92240.0MB, since your SD is a different size. Everything else should be the same.

 

[Rik80]

Follow the instructions, and you will be fine. You haven't named the partition SD, for example.

Your partition size isn't going to be 92240.0MB, since your SD is a different size. Everything else should be the same.

Sorry, i meant the instructions are unclear, it mentions to set partition size to 16MB, yet in the guides picture, shows 16MB in 'Unallocated space before'

 

[Lacius]

Sorry, i meant the instructions are unclear, it mentions to set partition size to 16MB, yet in the guides picture, shows 16MB in 'Unallocated space before'

The guide is correct. The order of how you do things is important. The partition size won't end up being 16MB.

When you're done, it should look like the picture (except your partition size will be different).

 

[Rik80]

The guide is correct. The order of how you do things is important. The partition size won't end up being 16MB.

When you're done, it should look like the picture (except your partition size will be different).

OK, this is the best i can get it

i assume the 29900 instead of 29872 is ok?

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

OK, this is the best i can get it

i assume the 29900 instead of 29872 is ok?

Sorry , im answering my own thread here. Ive gone ahead and followed the guide and set up the SD, looks the same as the guide apart from the slightly larger unformatted partition (29.2GB)

In which partition do i place my orignal sd card files (atmosphere/Hekate)?

 

[Lacius]

In which partition do i place my orignal sd card files (atmosphere/Hekate)?

The big one in the middle. It's called SD.