Hardware SD Card Reader STILL not properly seated?

[Flowkami]

Hello!

So, some proper background information on my situation before I get down to my query.

I have been having an issue with my Switch not being able to properly launch its CFW. I have my SD card files compiled through the sdsetup website which I assume was created the team behind TeamAtlasNX.

A couple of days ago, I had my SD Card Reader replaced entirely. I initially thought that the cause of my problematic launching of the CFW was due to the improperly seated SD Card Reader. My rationale for this reasoning is because I have dropped my Switch on a hard floor once, and since then these problems of being unable to reliably launch my CFW happened.

I would always be able to, if the Switch was not able to launch the CFW, come back to my Switch after a night's sleep and launch it without problems.

The error message that would always appear whenever I try to inject a payload into my Switch would be (roughly) as follows:

Failed to init SD Card!
Ensure that the SD Card Reader is properly seated!
... (and another line that I can't remember right now.)

I have heard of a potential situation of why I cannot launch the CFW after loading a payload to my Switch is that the Ribbon Socket (?) has missing/loose pins which is completely plausible as I have dropped my Switch once and it is not totally out of the question that a few pins could have been knocked loose or completely out of the socket from the impact the console received.

My query is, besides further elaboration on the above potential situation, are there other potential problems that could be causing my issue right now? And if so, could I DIY fix it or have someone repair the console for me for the issues that you guys would be mentioning?

I really really appreciate the help in advance that this post might get!

Also, if I may provide any pictures or any details that might be of any help, please do not hesitate to ask!

 

[linuxares]

Can you take a close up picture of the socket on the motherboard for the SD Card reader? It in the worst case is the issue.

 

[Slim45]

Can you take a close up picture of the socket on the motherboard for the SD Card reader? It in the worst case is the issue.

guess this one of those situations where "send nudes" wold be inappropriate

 

[gamesquest1]

if the pins on the SD connector have been lifted it is possible to replace the connector on the board, but it can be quite tricky if your not familiar with replacing surface mounted ZIF connectors etc, the easiest method would be following the instructions here for soldering jumper wires from the motherboard to the SD slot
https://gbatemp.net/threads/sd-card-port-issue.521485/

still not a noob friendly solution, but much easier than replacing the connector itself......or if your fine with bodging the fix you can put something on top of the connector to put a bit of extra pressure on top of the connector to press the pins back down firmly when the back is screwed on....but this is only if the pins are loose and not ripped off completely and gone

 

[Flowkami]

Can you take a close up picture of the socket on the motherboard for the SD Card reader? It in the worst case is the issue.

I can't really take pictures, I wasn't the one to take apart and replace the SD Card Reader. Also, what did you mean by your last sentence, "It in the worst case is the issue."?

 

[linuxares]

I can't really take pictures, I wasn't the one to take apart and replace the SD Card Reader. Also, what did you mean by your last sentence, "It in the worst case is the issue."?

If the port on the motherboard is broken, it's hell to fix if you don't know what you're doing. It's the absolute worst part if this is the case of the sd card read errors.

 

[Flowkami]

if the pins on the SD connector have been lifted it is possible to replace the connector on the board, but it can be quite tricky if your not familiar with replacing surface mounted ZIF connectors etc, the easiest method would be following the instructions here for soldering jumper wires from the motherboard to the SD slot

still not a noob friendly solution, but much easier than replacing the connector itself......or if your fine with bodging the fix you can put something on top of the connector to put a bit of extra pressure on top of the connector to press the pins back down firmly when the back is screwed on....but this is only if the pins are loose and not ripped off completely and gone

My acquaintance who replaced the SD Card Reader said there was not any problem with my original SD Card Reader in the first place, but proceeded to replace the reader anyway upon my request to completely eliminate the possibility of it being the Reader itself. I suppose the Reader and its potential for error is now out of question.

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

If the port on the motherboard is broken, it's hell to fix if you don't know what you're doing. It's the absolute worst part if this is the case of the sd card read errors.

I see, can it not be soldered in the way that the connectors of the SD card reader would be? Or is that the issue in and of itself, that not enough parts are exposed to properly solder a connection appropriate enough to hardwire a solution that way?

 

[gamesquest1]

My acquaintance who replaced the SD Card Reader said there was not any problem with my original SD Card Reader in the first place, but proceeded to replace the reader anyway upon my request to completely eliminate the possibility of it being the Reader itself. I suppose the Reader and its potential for error is now out of question.

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


I see, can it not be soldered in the way that the connectors of the SD card reader would be? Or is that the issue in and of itself, that not enough parts are exposed to properly solder a connection appropriate enough to hardwire a solution that way?

if you read the thread, the issue isn't with the SD reader part, but the connector on the motherboard where it connects, so replacing the SD slot wouldn't help

 

[Clydefrosch]

At this point, it's all but guaranteed that the issue is with pins on the motherboard side. They're tiny and fragile.

While you could rewire those as shown in the thread linked earlier (I think you have to cut out a bit of the metal shielding to bring the wires around), you're better off trying to sell this for parts and getting a new one...

 

[Flowkami]

if you read the thread, the issue isn't with the SD reader part, but the connector on the motherboard where it connects, so replacing the SD slot wouldn't help

I see, thank you so much for the help.

At this point, it's all but guaranteed that the issue is with pins on the motherboard side. They're tiny and fragile.

While you could rewire those as shown in the thread linked earlier (I think you have to cut out a bit of the metal shielding to bring the wires around), you're better off trying to sell this for parts and getting a new one...

Understandably enough I would suppose that would be the next logical step.

I just have a question for everyone, will it still be possible to boot up my Switch to OFW so I could still continue to play games?

Thanks for all the valuable input so far, I truly appreciate them.

 

[gamesquest1]

I see, thank you so much for the help.


Understandably enough I would suppose that would be the next logical step.

I just have a question for everyone, will it still be possible to boot up my Switch to OFW so I could still continue to play games?

Thanks for all the valuable input so far, I truly appreciate them.

yeah you can still use it, but won't have any CFW and limited storage of the 32GB built in storage, so would have to use mainly cart games

I would say if you know anyone with soldering experience the SD slot mod isn't that hard to install, but make sure the person does have experience in small soldering work as if they don't it would be quite easy to wreck the motherboard I have seen a few people attempt the mod themselves without any previous soldering experience and rip pads and knock components off the board, but for someone with fairly reasonable soldering experience its not a very difficult task

might be worth checking with local mobile phone repair shops, I would say it wouldn't really cost much more than around $30, and as long as you're not planning to open up the console in future the mod would be more reliable than the original clip

 

[Flowkami]

yeah you can still use it, but won't have any CFW and limited storage of the 32GB built in storage, so would have to use mainly cart games

I would say if you know anyone with soldering experience the SD slot mod isn't that hard to install, but make sure the person does have experience in small soldering work as if they don't it would be quite easy to wreck the motherboard I have seen a few people attempt the mod themselves without any previous soldering experience and rip pads and knock components off the board, but for someone with fairly reasonable soldering experience its not a very difficult task

might be worth checking with local mobile phone repair shops, I would say it wouldn't really cost much more than around $30, and as long as you're not planning to open up the console in future the mod would be more reliable than the original clip

I'm sorry, how do I launch it without CFW? Also, what do you mean by cart games, do you mean gamecards?

Also, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by an SD slot mod and what it does.

 

[gamesquest1]

I'm sorry, how do I launch it without CFW? Also, what do you mean by cart games, do you mean gamecards?

Also, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by an SD slot mod and what it does.

without CFW = stock FW, no hacks

cart games = games you buy on retail gamecards rather than eshop games that would be stored on the SD or internal storage (without the SD slot working you would run out of space that way fast)

and the SD mod, is the thread I linked to before that would restore your SD card functionality by bypassing the broken connector and soldering the slot directly to the testpads in the console, that would negate the previous 2 points.

 

[Flowkami]

without CFW = stock FW, no hacks

cart games = games you buy on retail gamecards rather than eshop games that would be stored on the SD or internal storage (without the SD slot working you would run out of space that way fast)

and the SD mod, is the thread I linked to before that would restore your SD card functionality by bypassing the broken connector and soldering the slot directly to the testpads in the console, that would negate the previous 2 points.

I see, but how would I be able to boot into Stock FW? I'm not entirely sure I know how to.

 

[gamesquest1]

I see, but how would I be able to boot into Stock FW? I'm not entirely sure I know how to.

stock firmware is just the normal official Nintendo firmware, just turn on your switch and thats stock FW, if you have enabled Auto RCM you will just have to turn that off from the hekate menu

 

[Flowkami]

stock firmware is just the normal official Nintendo firmware, just turn on your switch and thats stock FW, if you have enabled Auto RCM you will just have to turn that off from the hekate menu

Hey, sorry to be of bother again. So, I went back to Stock FW, but I can't play BoTW for some odd reason, it keeps telling me to update the Software and I have already done so but it tells me the same thing after having updated the software.