Homebrew Question Simple steps for homebrew on brand new in the box switch?

[Juan9999]

I've just bought a switch with a safe to buy serial.

Is there a simple guide to installing a CFW and avoid getting banned if possible?

e.g.
- Connect (or don't connect to wi-fi)
- Block DNS
- Upgrade to FW x (or Don't upgrade firmware)
- Use this method of CFW install FW

etc?

Thanks!

 

[ZachyCatGames]

1. If your just using homebrew you can probably connect to the internet and be fine if you wanted to, but if your pirating games don't connect to the internet

2. You can just use airplane mode, it does pretty much the same thing DNSs do

3. The RCM exploit works on all firmwares, but 4.1.0 and below will eventually get a software exploit

4. The only method of "installing" a CFW at the moment is the RCM exploit, although as I mentioned above 4.1.0 and below will eventually get a Software method of "installing" CFW


1.0.0 is the best to have, 2.0.0-3.0.0 are the second best to have, 3.0.1-4.1.0 are the third best to have, and 5.0.0-6.0.0 are the worst to have

 

[BionicGecko]

3. The RCM exploit works on all firmwares, but 4.1.0 and below will eventually get a software exploit

This is actually incorrect, there are some patched units in the wild for which the RCM exploit doesn't work. Especially if your Switch is brand new in the box I would first check that fusee gelee works.

 

[Juan9999]

1. If your just using homebrew you can probably connect to the internet and be fine if you wanted to, but if your pirating games don't connect to the internet

2. You can just use airplane mode, it does pretty much the same thing DNSs do

3. The RCM exploit works on all firmwares, but 4.1.0 and below will eventually get a software exploit

4. The only method of "installing" a CFW at the moment is the RCM exploit, although as I mentioned above 4.1.0 and below will eventually get a Software method of "installing" CFW


1.0.0 is the best to have, 2.0.0-3.0.0 are the second best to have, 3.0.1-4.1.0 are the third best to have, and 5.0.0-6.0.0 are the worst to have

Thanks for the info. I have 4.1.0 and just ordered a jig off ebay.

Based on research today, I'm also planning on using ChoiDujourNX to backup FW to be able to restore later.

In terms of CFW, would you recommend SX OS or ReiNX? Need to decide if I should buy the SX OS pro kit or a cheap chinese payload installer off alibaba

 

[BionicGecko]

In terms of CFW, would you recommend SX OS or ReiNX? Need to decide if I should buy the SX OS pro kit or a cheap chinese payload installer off alibaba

Now you're opening a real Pandora's box

I'll let you do your own research, but it boils down to this:

• SX OS costs money, has one unique feature which is XCI loading (aka game cart emulation), and basically integrates in one package most useful tools (FTP server, homebrew launching, NSP installation, etc.) developed by the community. They also don't credit the original devs for the code they borrow, so if that's important to you, be aware of this.

• ReiNX is free, and supports loading custom system modules (which allows things like game cheats and custom background music). The functionality integrated into SX OS is handled by various homebrew applications. It’s less integrated than the SX OS solution, but it’s more versatile.

 

[crissal]

I've just bought a switch with a safe to buy serial.

Is there a simple guide to installing a CFW and avoid getting banned if possible?

e.g.
- Connect (or don't connect to wi-fi)
- Block DNS
- Upgrade to FW x (or Don't upgrade firmware)
- Use this method of CFW install FW

etc?

Thanks!

If you want features like downloading homebrews from the app store or FTP, you should use custom DNS (such as 90DNS); otherwise you can go with airplane mode for your console.
Upgrade always with ChoiDujorNX for preventing your fuses to be burnt (e.g. cannot downgrade).
With the CFW, it's a matter of taste. I prefer the @tomGER SDFiles with the injection of Hekate Payload, but you can use other (free) solution.
If you want to get xci working, then you have to stick with SX OS, but there are xci to nsp converters.

 

[Juan9999]

Now you're opening a real Pandora's box

I'll let you do your own research, but it boils down to this:

• SX OS costs money, has one unique feature which is XCI loading (aka game cart emulation), and basically integrates in one package most useful tools developed by the community. They also don't credit the original devs for the code they borrow, so if that's important to you, be aware of this.
• ReiNX is free, and supports loading custom system modules (which allows things like game cheats and custom background music). The functionality integrated into SX OS is handled by various homebrew applications. It’s less integrated than the SX OS solution, but it’s more versatile.

Yeah, basically that's where my research has lead me to except I couldn't find info on XCI - do you need XCI loading" or can you just install .nsp's - what's the difference (other than about $20 and the morality)

 

[BionicGecko]

Yeah, basically that's where my research has lead me to except I couldn't find info on XCI - do you need XCI loading" or can you just install .nsp's - what's the difference (other than about $20 and the morality)

XCIs are dumps of physical cartridges. NSPs are copies of the games as distributed on the eShop. Pretty much all games exist in NSP format, but for XCIs you're limited to games with a physical distribution.

XCIs are a bit safer, as Nintendo cannot confirm that you don't own the physical cart you're playing with; however Nintendo can easily tell if you have NSPs installed which you don't own. But to be honest you're never really safe either way. Playing online will get you banned regardless.

 

[Juan9999]

XCIs are dumps of physical cartridges. NSPs are copies of the games as distributed on the eShop. Pretty much all games exist in NSP format, but for XCIs you're limited to games with a physical distribution.

XCIs are a bit safer, as Nintendo cannot confirm that you don't own the physical cart you're playing with; however Nintendo can easily tell if you have NSPs installed which you don't own. But to be honest you're never really safe either way. Playing online will get you banned regardless.

Got it! Thanks for the clear explanation. So the only option right now is to either pay or just convert the XCI's to NSPs.

 

[BionicGecko]

Got it! Thanks for the clear explanation. So the only option right now is to either pay or just convert the XCI's to NSPs.

Well you should be able to find NSPs online, either in some dark areas of the web, or directly from Ninty's servers (although I'm not sure this still works - search for CDNSP-GUI-bob).

 

[Juan9999]

With the CFW, it's a matter of taste. I prefer the @tomGER SDFiles with the injection of Hekate Payload, but you can use other (free) solution.
If you want to get xci working, then you have to stick with SX OS, but there are xci to nsp converters.

Is it better/more complete than this? https://gbatemp.net/download/darth-meteos-super-special-sd-stash.35166/

 

[crissal]

Is it better/more complete than this? https://gbatemp.net/download/darth-meteos-super-special-sd-stash.35166/

I really prefer Hekate, cause it's a bootloader (so you can see the state of your fuses, backup/restore NAND, enable AutoRCM...), but it can also boot other payloads (like ReiNX.bin or RajNX.bin) and its own CFW (Atmosphere beta); btw, every other CFW is based on atmosphere, so basically they are equals right now (maybe what change are the patches applied).
BTW both TomGER's and Darth Meteos' SDFiles are really user-friendly. Just drag and boot.