Hacking Discussion [PSA] Do not use PegaScape's "HBL" Icon

PRAGMA

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tl-dr; its super unsafe, there's no point to it, just use Caffeine instead for whatever purpose you have.

Bought a new Switch, and it arrived today. This is my 3rd god dang switch, I keep fucking up like a moron.
Basically, Ive been up far past my bedtime and ran Chou through HBL Icon of PegaScape instead of Caffeine.
I downgraded from 4.1.0 5 fuses, to 4.0.1 5 fuses.
It worked and all was verified and good, and I even used this exact fw files on this exact switch TODAY other times.

For some reason now, my switch doesn't boot.
Please just remove the HBL Launcher option, it's far too unsafe.
 

PRAGMA

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There's no accounting for user error ^^;
Correct my fault, but you need to agree others can end up doing the same.
It would be safer for the entire userbase if we just remove that launch option.
We can still use HBL via Caffiene, so theres literally no point.
I get the feeling it only exists for a fast way for FakeNewsInjector, and if thats the case, just make it launch that directly
 

PRAGMA

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The PSA should instead be: Don't downgrade to 4.0.1, then 4.0.0, then cartridge update to 4.1.0, then downgrade back to 4.0.1, all for no reason (except to erroneously complain about PegaScape). We tried to warn you.
Downgrading to v4.0.0 is safe, fully safe, what isnt safe is changing your firmware via HBL Icon.
I previously downgraded to v4.0.1, then v4.0.0, then realized PegaScape doesnt work on v4.0.0, so I upgraded back to 4.1.0 via cart, then wanted to go to v4.0.1 to be on lowest firmware version, but after being awake for so long, I did Chou through HBL icon over Caffeine icon.

End of story, is the HBL icon is pointless and shouldnt be an option. It clearly has some kind of limitation compared to Caffeine which caused Chou to do something unexpected.
 

Fuzzy-v

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Well, you played with fire and you got burnt. I don't see how this is HBL's fault. As far as I am concerned, flashing on a patched unit should be avoided in all but the most necessary of cases - too many variables and uncertainties that can result in a very expensive paperweight.
 
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Lacius

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Downgrading to v4.0.0 is safe, fully safe
Downgrading is relatively safe, but it's pointless, and you have no way to recover if you make a mistake. It's not worth the risk in this situation. There's also always a risk when you're messing with your NAND, especially when you don't have the option of restoring from a backup. This is Safety Basics 101, and you were warned.

but after being awake for so long, I did Chou through HBL icon over Caffeine icon.
Don't blame Caffeine for your mistake.

End of story, is the HBL icon is pointless and shouldnt be an option.
The point is to run basic homebrew.

It clearly has some kind of limitation compared to Caffeine which caused Chou to do something unexpected.
You weren't running CFW.
 
Last edited by Lacius,
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PRAGMA

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Downgrading is relatively safe, but it's pointless, and you have no way to recover if you make a mistake. It's not worth the risk in this situation. There's also always a risk when you're messing with your NAND, especially when you don't have the option of restoring from a backup. This is Safety Basics 101, and you were warned.


Don't blame Caffeine for your mistake.


The point is to run basic homebrew.


You weren't running CFW.
"but it's pointless"
Sure theres no direct reason to, I just wish to incase there is in the future.
"you have no way to recover if you make a mistake", "There's also always a risk when you're messing with your NAND"
Correct, so dont make a mistake like I did, hence the PSA on the matter
"Don't blame Caffeine for your mistake."
I never was, Im blaming PegaScape for having the HBL icon as an option, remove that, and just use Caffeine.
If I opened Caffeine Icon instead of HBL Icon to do what I last did, id be in flying colors.
"The point is to run basic homebrew."
Which no one will understand is my point, that most people running HBL icon does not know that.
 

Lacius

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"but it's pointless"
Sure theres no direct reason to, I just wish to incase there is in the future.
"you have no way to recover if you make a mistake", "There's also always a risk when you're messing with your NAND"
Correct, so dont make a mistake like I did, hence the PSA on the matter
"Don't blame Caffeine for your mistake."
I never was, Im blaming PegaScape for having the HBL icon as an option, remove that, and just use Caffeine.
If I opened Caffeine Icon instead of HBL Icon to do what I last did, id be in flying colors.
"The point is to run basic homebrew."
Which no one will understand is my point, that most people running HBL icon does not know that.
To be clear, you made two mistakes, not one: attempting to downgrade on a patched system in the first place, and downgrading without running CFW.

I meant to say PegaScape, not Caffeine. It's not their fault either.
 

OperationNT

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can anyone explain how accessing the Pegaswitchs's HBL broke his switch instead of yelling at the dude/dudette ?

It's not accessing PegaSwitch HBL which broke the Switch, it's launching an homebrew which "edits" system MMC. Most homebrews (like emulators or games) will be perfectly fine and safe with PegaSwitch HBL.
However, if you start to use tools which modifie MMC (like ChoiduJourNX, GagOrder or save injectors), it's risky specially due to the fact that PegaSwitch HBL only have partial access to kernel features (which include MMC read/write).
On the other hand, if you restart your Switch with CFW on your system MMC (using Caffeine), homebrews will have full kernel access (and therefore, tools which modifie MMC will perfectly work).
 
Last edited by OperationNT,

The Real Jdbye

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tl-dr; its super unsafe, there's no point to it, just use Caffeine instead for whatever purpose you have.

Bought a new Switch, and it arrived today. This is my 3rd god dang switch, I keep fucking up like a moron.
Basically, Ive been up far past my bedtime and ran Chou through HBL Icon of PegaScape instead of Caffeine.
I downgraded from 4.1.0 5 fuses, to 4.0.1 5 fuses.
It worked and all was verified and good, and I even used this exact fw files on this exact switch TODAY other times.

For some reason now, my switch doesn't boot.
Please just remove the HBL Launcher option, it's far too unsafe.
Downgrading with ChoiDujourNX is not safe. It might work or it might not, that's the risk you're taking when doing it. If you want to downgrade safely you should always use ChoiDujour on a PC. There are too many things that can go wrong with downgrading a system in-place.
 

Ghassen-ga

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It's not accessing PegaSwitch HBL which broke the Switch, it's launching an homebrew which "edits" system MMC. Most homebrews (like emulators or games) will be perfectly fine and safe with PegaSwitch HBL.
However, if you start to use tools which modifie MMC (like ChoiduJourNX, GagOrder or save injectors), it's risky specially due to the fact that PegaSwitch HBL only have partial access to kernel features (which include MMC read/write).
On the other hand, if you restart your Switch with CFW on your system MMC (using Caffeine), homebrews will have full kernel access (and therefore, tools which modifie MMC will perfectly work).


thank you for your reasonable answer!

wish if more people here did the same.
 

KazoWAR

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tl-dr; its super unsafe, there's no point to it, just use Caffeine instead for whatever purpose you have.

Bought a new Switch, and it arrived today. This is my 3rd god dang switch, I keep fucking up like a moron.
Basically, Ive been up far past my bedtime and ran Chou through HBL Icon of PegaScape instead of Caffeine.
I downgraded from 4.1.0 5 fuses, to 4.0.1 5 fuses.
It worked and all was verified and good, and I even used this exact fw files on this exact switch TODAY other times.

For some reason now, my switch doesn't boot.
Please just remove the HBL Launcher option, it's far too unsafe.
just return it
 

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