WARNING! If you get banned somehow, I'm not responsible

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UPDATE 7/23:

Tutorial is now outdated because you can now "Install" NSP via DevMenu
Follow either one of these threads
Hekate LayeredFS Full Sig Patches
CTCaer Hekate patch

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UPDATE 7/22:
The following script is a All-In-One tool, thanks to @Assasin1990 and @Ericjwg and replaces STEP 3 below (along with titlekey step)
Simply download the script NCA-NSP-XCI To LayeredFS v1.6
Note: You will need to have keys.ini file
Run the .bat file and follow the commands

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OVERVIEW:
This guide will explain how to play eShop games (aka NSP files) without SX OS and without Dev Menu
Note: if this guide is too advanced for you, wait for automated tools

REQUIREMENTS (TESTED WITH):
Nintendo Switch Firmware 5.1.0
Hekate - CTCaer mod v3.1
TomGer's SDFiles v5 - Rocket Man
Hactool 1.1.0

Note: if you test on older SDFiles/CTCaer/Switch FW and it doesn't work, you are on your own

DO NOT NEED:
Dev Menu
SX OS

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Note: Following steps were tested successfully with Hollow Knight, Enter the Gungeon, Poly Bridge & Fast RMX (NSPs)

STEP 1: READ
Meet the requirements mentioned above

STEP 2: PREP FILES
Acquire the NSP file by whatever means
Extract hactool files in the same folder as NSP file
Make sure your keys file also exists in same folder
(if you dont have keys file ready, google Maxconsole Underground Skull & Crossbones)
Note: this guide uses "keys" as .txt file

STEP 3: EXTRACT
Extract the NSP file via hactool by going into command prompt and execute in your working directory;

hactool -t pfs0 -k keys.txt game.nsp --pfs0dir=extract

(keys.txt or keys.ini or keys.dat whatever you want to use, make sure to rename in command and as long as it contains all the keys needed)

All the files will now be located in your currentFolder/extract

Find the biggest NCA in filesize located in the 'extract' folder (Tip: rename the file into game.nca)

Then execute one of the following;

If you prefer 1 RomFS.bin file, execute the following:

hactool -k keys.txt --titlekey=CopyPasteKeyHere --exefsdir=exefs --romfs=romfs.bin game.nca

Otherwise if you prefer all game file extracted into a folder, execute the following:

hactool -k keys.txt --titlekey=CopyPasteKeyHere --exefsdir=exefs --romfsdir=romfs game.nca

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FOLLOWING STEPS ARE FOR FINDING TITLE KEY
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Note: Following steps were tested with Hollow Knight

PICK 1 METHOD: Web-based or Stand Alone Application

WEB-BASED
Go to https://hexed.it/ (or use any Hex Editor)

OR Stand Alone Application
Download HxD - Freeware Hex Editor
Change view by going to 'VIEW > Byte group size > set it to 16
(Able to select the entire key and copy / paste easily)

(Key above modified to mask actual values)

Open the .tik file located in your currentFolder/extract (you can even drag and drop)
Go to address 0x180 and you will see a long string of values (16 columns, 32 characters)
This is the unique title key for your nsp file (note it down without spaces)
Example: 18420AE8##############E3FEAC (values masked due to legal reason)

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STEP 4: PATCH
Patch the main.npdm file with donor title by going to
http://carlus.altervista.org/nx/title_id_patcher.html

Enter the TitleID of the donor title
Drag and Drop your main.npdm file
Download and overwrite

STEP 5: TRANSFER
Using the donor TitleID from previous step, create a folder on your Switch SD Card
//atmosphere/titles/<donorTitleID>/
Copy the romfs and exefs files in this Donor TitleID folder

STEP 6: PLAY
Begin by launching firmware "Older LayeredFS" option (some games 'might' work in newer LayeredFS option)
Run the Donor Title
If any error occurs, simply patch the main.npdm with another donor title ID and rename the folder with new donor title ID

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Sample Donor Titles to use:
Pinball FX3 - 0100DB7003828000
Happy Birthdays Demo - 010083600AE9E000
Octopath Demo - 010096000B3EA000
Pokemon Quest - 01005D100807A000
Fallout Shelter - 010043500A17A000

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TOOL:
Once you understand how all of this works "manually", I highly recommend following this other guide by @huma_dawii and tool created by @Assasin1990
https://gbatemp.net/threads/extract-nsp-nca-xci-update-all-in-one-tool-for-layeredfs.511156/

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TROUBLESHOOTING:

Error: Invalid NCA header! Are keys correct?

Fix 1:
Make sure your keys file is valid, format is
master_key_00 = C2...
master_key_01 = 54...
and so on

Fix 2:
if your keys file is .ini, make sure your hactool command mentions keys.ini (replace .txt)

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Error: section 0 is corrupted!
Error: section 1 is corrupted!

Fix 1:
Wrong title key, hex edit again and grab the 0x180 address values again
Sample entry for Sonic Mania : --titlekey=4BFF1#####DAC57#####B322 (Full value masked due to legal reasons)

 

[Beware]

DLC, couple of us tried to merge onto the base games but no luck.
My findings were that the DLCs have only one section 'Section 0 with Partition type of RomFS'
Meanwhile, the base games/updates have Partition type of RomFS in Section 1
So when you try to use hactool to merge, the Section 0 cant merge with Section 1

Anyways... i cant fully confirm Wolfenstein as i just finished chapter 1 only but i am currently playing the updated RomFS using 'XCI' merge with Update NSP



yea you are right, might as well splash out and buy the games /s

The problem I'm running into is to do with my FAT32 filesystem. How are you merging the .XCI with the .NSP? If it spits out a romfs.bin instead of a romfs directory then it won't work with FAT32. Also, I thought most of these tools only support cart1 while Wolfenstein is cart2?

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

The problem I'm running into is to do with my FAT32 filesystem. How are you merging the .XCI with the .NSP? If it spits out a romfs.bin instead of a romfs directory then it won't work with FAT32. Also, I thought most of these tools only support cart1 while Wolfenstein is cart2?

since im on exFAT, i cant help with your FAT32 problem.

As for merging, the hactool method i use is:
Base .NCA with Update .NCA

Base .NCA = you can extract from XCI (or NSP)
Update .NCA = you can extract from NSP

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As for romfs.bin / romfs dir question

To update a game, hactool gives you the following options:
--baseromfs Set Base RomFS to use with update partitions.
--basenca Set Base NCA to use with update partitions.

i've been using --basenca=baseGame.nca
you can use romfs, but u'd have to test if it requires .bin or dir, so instead of basenca, try
--baseromfs=romfsFolder
or
--bsaeromfs=romfs.bin

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For CART 2 games
I use XCI Explorer 1.2.4 to extract the biggest .nca file size in the secure folder

 

[Beware]

since im on exFAT, i cant help with your FAT32 problem.

I got everything to work, but the gameresources.texdb is 4.28GB, and thus won't copy to the FAT32 card. I'm crushed. I wonder how the digital version of Wolfenstein installs to a fat32 card...?

 

[Lava1000]

Figured Out My Problem!!!!!!! My switch keys were all wrong! NOW IT WORKS!!!!!!

 

[ressit]

Is there anyone who bugs me?
Before the update game v0 very well
But after the game update error hang after loading
game: justdance 2018
donor fortina
I have tried with old layeredfs and new layeredfs are both

 

[Assasin1990]

Many thanks to @Ericjwg
-implemented he's tf.exe
Now NSP-XCI to LayeredFS is easier than ever , just drag and drop your NSP and NSP update... , done. Profit )

 

[ressit]

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

tf.exe stopped working help me

 

[Assasin1990]

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

View attachment 136648
tf.exe stopped working help me

you don't need to start tf.exe , the batch will auto use it when needed.

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Is there anyone who bugs me?
Before the update game v0 very well
But after the game update error hang after loading
game: justdance 2018
donor fortina
I have tried with old layeredfs and new layeredfs are both

I have same issue with Splatoon 2

Base v0 = Works
Base + Update = Crashes

so i guess not all updates work after merging

Many thanks to @Ericjwg
-implemented he's tf.exe
Now NSP-XCI to LayeredFS is easier than ever , just drag and drop your NSP and NSP update... , done. Profit )

This is awesome, ill update my original post

 

[ressit]

I have same issue with Splatoon 2

Base v0 = Works
Base + Update = Crashes

so i guess not all updates work after merging



This is awesome, ill update my original post

try with new update NSP-NCA to layeredFS all works

 

[Beware]

I tried Hollow Knight base.nsp+update.nsp to no avail; error and crash upon loading even though it works without the update. I'll try the 1.6 script when I get home.

 

[BlastedGuy9905]

I made a .bat file to simplify this whole process. Will come back here with it later if it works.

 

[Soso76]

thanks