Hacking Question Switch stuck at boot logo

[ZachyCatGames]

Thank you very much for the quick response, I was able to do it through my nand backup, would that work the same ok?

I have attached a screenshot of the output using a hex editor HxD, does it look ok?

Thanks...

Hm. Your prodinfo looks fine to me.
Have you tried running Linux and/or Android on it? Running one of those could help determine if it’s a hardware or software issue.

 

[Tigermean74]

Hm. Your prodinfo looks fine to me.
Have you tried running Linux and/or Android on it? Running one of those could help determine if it’s a hardware or software issue.

No, not sure where to start with doing something like this but will be willing to try anything to see if it is a hw or sw issue.

I phoned a repair centre today and they said, the first thing they will do is swap the HAC-EMMC chip over with a spare known working one they have in the shop to rule out a hw issue. Will that work? If so, I do have another switch with CFW on it and that one works fine, can I swap that working one into this one to test?

If not, I will try the Linux or Android method if you can also provide some guidance, that will be much appreciated.

Thanks...

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Hi Tigermean74, I am in the SAME situation as you. Followed carefully every single step but my Switch is still stuck at the boot logo.

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Just be sure, do you guys think this is not a HW issue but a SW one?

Hopefully we can get it sorted, I was thinking it could be a hw issue myself. I also googled the HAC-EMMC chip and you can get them off ebay (not expensive, £25 or so. So my thoughts were to buy one and replace it, then try loading the fw on it and see if that works but I have asked the question somewhere on here but no reply so can't really verify that

 

[Charles87]

No, not sure where to start with doing something like this but will be willing to try anything to see if it is a hw or sw issue.

I phoned a repair centre today and they said, the first thing they will do is swap the HAC-EMMC chip over with a spare known working one they have in the shop to rule out a hw issue. Will that work? If so, I do have another switch with CFW on it and that one works fine, can I swap that working one into this one to test?

If not, I will try the Linux or Android method if you can also provide some guidance, that will be much appreciated.

Thanks...

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Hopefully we can get it sorted, I was thinking it could be a hw issue myself. I also googled the HAC-EMMC chip and you can get them off ebay (not expensive, £25 or so. So my thoughts were to buy one and replace it, then try loading the fw on it and see if that works but I have asked the question somewhere on here but no reply so can't really verify that

I will give a little more information just in case it is useful. It is actually my own NS that I bought on the release date. I got it hacked and updated several versions of atmosphere. Installed some NSP in the Nand and I suspect it caused some data corruption. It is OFW 9.0.1. In addition I managed to boot it a couple of times when I let the battery completely drain (keeping the NS at the boot logo overnight and charging it after). After I managed to boot it I had a system crash and had to reboot. Again.... Stuck at the boot logo.

 

[ZachyCatGames]

No, not sure where to start with doing something like this but will be willing to try anything to see if it is a hw or sw issue.

I phoned a repair centre today and they said, the first thing they will do is swap the HAC-EMMC chip over with a spare known working one they have in the shop to rule out a hw issue. Will that work? If so, I do have another switch with CFW on it and that one works fine, can I swap that working one into this one to test?

If not, I will try the Linux or Android method if you can also provide some guidance, that will be much appreciated.

Thanks...

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



Hopefully we can get it sorted, I was thinking it could be a hw issue myself. I also googled the HAC-EMMC chip and you can get them off ebay (not expensive, £25 or so. So my thoughts were to buy one and replace it, then try loading the fw on it and see if that works but I have asked the question somewhere on here but no reply so can't really verify that

It’s pretty simple, just flash the android or Linux image onto a microSD card, and load the hekate config

If you have a good copy of the emmc’s contents you can try flashing them onto a known good emmc and testing.
I’d try running Android/Linux first though. It’s free (if you have an extra sd card) and would narrow down the possible causes.

 

[Tigermean74]

It’s pretty simple, just flash the android or Linux image onto a microSD card, and load the hekate config

If you have a good copy of the emmc’s contents you can try flashing them onto a known good emmc and testing.
I’d try running Android/Linux first though. It’s free (if you have an extra sd card) and would narrow down the possible causes.

That's great thanks, I will obviously try the android or linux image on the microSD card before buying a new emmc chip.

But I am not experienced with doing this at all for the linux side of things, are you able to provide a step by step or maybe a guide somewhere I can follow please?

I really appreciate your help

Thanks...

 

[ZachyCatGames]

That's great thanks, I will obviously try the android or linux image on the microSD card before buying a new emmc chip.

But I am not experienced with doing this at all for the linux side of things, are you able to provide a step by step or maybe a guide somewhere I can follow please?

I really appreciate your help

Thanks...

Just flash the image using something like etcher (https://www.balena.io/etcher/) and load the L4T/Android config under other configs in hekate. Then just follow the initial setup instructions. If everything works fine it’s probably either an emmc or software issue.

 

[DripZ]

That's great thanks, I will obviously try the android or linux image on the microSD card before buying a new emmc chip.

But I am not experienced with doing this at all for the linux side of things, are you able to provide a step by step or maybe a guide somewhere I can follow please?

I really appreciate your help

Thanks...

Just flash the image using something like etcher (https://www.balena.io/etcher/) and load the L4T/Android config under other configs in hekate. Then just follow the initial setup instructions. If everything works fine it’s probably either an emmc or software issue.

Hi again, I've installed android on my switch and everything was great until I boot it up and my bluetooth and wifi won't work, Maybe my switch won't boot the CFW or OFW because the bluetooth/Wi-fi module is damaged (I don't even know if it's a separate module or is integrated on the motherboard but you got me). Can someone tell me if that could be possible?

Here I attach a picture of the bluetooth crashing, can't turn wifi on either.

 

[ZachyCatGames]

Hi again, I've installed android on my switch and everything was great until I boot it up and my bluetooth and wifi won't work, Maybe my switch won't boot the CFW or OFW because the bluetooth/Wi-fi module is damaged (I don't even know if it's a separate module or is integrated on the motherboard but you got me). Can someone tell me if that could be possible?

Here I attach a picture of the bluetooth crashing, can't turn wifi on either.View attachment 185168

Yea, that’s probably the issue, for whatever reason the system refuses to boot normally if the WiFi/Bluetooth chip is malfunctioning.
It’s soldered the board in some way.

 

[DripZ]

Yea, that’s probably the issue, for whatever reason the system refuses to boot normally if the WiFi/Bluetooth chip is malfunctioning.
It’s soldered the board in some way.

Damn it, if it soldered it would be impossible for me to fix it well at least I knew what caused the whole problem. I hope Tigermean74 can fix it

 

[Tigermean74]

Yea, that’s probably the issue, for whatever reason the system refuses to boot normally if the WiFi/Bluetooth chip is malfunctioning.
It’s soldered the board in some way.

Damn it, if it soldered it would be impossible for me to fix it well at least I knew what caused the whole problem. I hope Tigermean74 can fix it

Hey guys, ok so I managed to load the android on my switch as well...took me all day!! :-)

Anyway, when mine boots up, I get the "Bluetooth keeps stopping" - Close app like yours DripZ. But I don't get any WIFI errors or messages like the bluetooth one, so does that mean just my bluetooth module is fecked and needs replacing?

Hey DripZ, sorry to hear about your WIFI issues as well, so did your switch just freeze up on you at random points once you were booted into the android home screen?

I guess we now need to replace these modules huh? Well at least we know what's wrong with the Switch!! Man, was kinda hoping it was the EMMC chip as that's easy to replace!! ha ha....no soldering for that! Oh well...nothing in life is easy as they say! hope you get it sorted :-)

 

[Charles87]

Hey guys, ok so I managed to load the android on my switch as well...took me all day!! :-)

Anyway, when mine boots up, I get the "Bluetooth keeps stopping" - Close app like yours DripZ. But I don't get any WIFI errors or messages like the bluetooth one, so does that mean just my bluetooth module is fecked and needs replacing?

Hey DripZ, sorry to hear about your WIFI issues as well, so did your switch just freeze up on you at random points once you were booted into the android home screen?

I guess we now need to replace these modules huh? Well at least we know what's wrong with the Switch!! Man, was kinda hoping it was the EMMC chip as that's easy to replace!! ha ha....no soldering for that! Oh well...nothing in life is easy as they say! hope you get it sorted :-)

I will try loading android too tomorrow and will let you know if it is the same. Please guys once you get it sorted post a video showing it so we can close the loop! Thaaanks!

 

[Charles87]

Hi again,

I found a detailed step by step guide about how to replace the wifi/by antenna. There is no welding!

I cannot post the url for some reason but just type nintendo switch wifi antenna replacement in Google. The website is called sosav

 

[Charles87]

Hi again,

I found a detailed step by step guide about how to replace the wifi/by antenna. There is no welding!

I cannot post the url for some reason but just type nintendo switch wifi antenna replacement in Google. The website is called sosav

 

[Tigermean74]

Damn it, if it soldered it would be impossible for me to fix it well at least I knew what caused the whole problem. I hope Tigermean74 can fix it

Hey Dripz, good news man, the WIFI and bluetooth modules does not look like they are soldered, they are complete separate modules connected to the motherboard by cables. Here is a guide on how to get to it and remove - https://www.sosav.com/guides/game-consoles/nintendo/nintendo-home/nintendo-switch/bluetooth-antenna/

I'm going to order my parts now, it's not expensive at all!! I found a site selling both the WIFI and bluetooth for just £3.60 so hopefully an easy and inexpensive fix! :-)

Let me know how you get on and I will do the same once I get mine sorted, good luck. Glad we were able to help each other out.

Thanks

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Hi again,

I found a detailed step by step guide about how to replace the wifi/by antenna. There is no welding!

I cannot post the url for some reason but just type nintendo switch wifi antenna replacement in Google. The website is called sosav

Yep, that's the one Charles87!!! Let me know if you get yours fixed! :-)

 

[DripZ]

Hey Dripz, good news man, the WIFI and bluetooth modules does not look like they are soldered, they are complete separate modules connected to the motherboard by cables. Here is a guide on how to get to it and remove - https://www.sosav.com/guides/game-consoles/nintendo/nintendo-home/nintendo-switch/bluetooth-antenna/

I'm going to order my parts now, it's not expensive at all!! I found a site selling both the WIFI and bluetooth for just £3.60 so hopefully an easy and inexpensive fix! :-)

Let me know how you get on and I will do the same once I get mine sorted, good luck. Glad we were able to help each other out.

Thanks

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Yep, that's the one Charles87!!! Let me know if you get yours fixed! :-)

That's nice! Unfortunately in my country isn't that easy to buy online stuff but I'll try any way. If you get it first please update in this tread I'll be checking it every day. About the WiFi issue that I have, it's not like the Bluetooth message, it just won't turn on, it gives no message at all, I just assume that is broken. Can you turn it on? Because I can't

 

[ZachyCatGames]

Hi again,

I found a detailed step by step guide about how to replace the wifi/by antenna. There is no welding!

I cannot post the url for some reason but just type nintendo switch wifi antenna replacement in Google. The website is called sosav

Hey Dripz, good news man, the WIFI and bluetooth modules does not look like they are soldered, they are complete separate modules connected to the motherboard by cables. Here is a guide on how to get to it and remove - https://www.sosav.com/guides/game-consoles/nintendo/nintendo-home/nintendo-switch/bluetooth-antenna/

I'm going to order my parts now, it's not expensive at all!! I found a site selling both the WIFI and bluetooth for just £3.60 so hopefully an easy and inexpensive fix! :-)

Let me know how you get on and I will do the same once I get mine sorted, good luck. Glad we were able to help each other out.

Thanks

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Yep, that's the one Charles87!!! Let me know if you get yours fixed! :-)

That’s for the antenna, the system can function fine without that to my knowledge (albeit with poor reception). Replacing that (likely) won’t fix the issue. The actual WiFi/Bluetooth chip is (BGA?) soldered to the board, I believe it’s the big chip underneath the emmc.

 

[Tigermean74]

Ok, so I opened up my switch and unplugged the bluetooth antenna cable from the board, put it all back together and booted back into the Android fw. Well.....No more ""Bluetooth keeps stopping" - Close app messages show up, I actually had a bluetooth symbol show up in the system tray (next to the battery symbol), I was then able to turn the bluetooth off and on, no issues or crashes or freezing up and the switch has been working fine now for about 2 hours. However, I left the WIFI cable still plugged in, I get no error messages about this but I am not able to turn the WIFI on.

So does that mean the bluetooth antenna is faulty then and causing the issue? I think I will try and unplug the WIFI cable next and see what happens with that. Maybe the WIFI antenna is also faulty hence the reason for not turning on?

Will update as soon as I can....

 

[ZachyCatGames]

Ok, so I opened up my switch and unplugged the bluetooth antenna cable from the board, put it all back together and booted back into the Android fw. Well.....No more ""Bluetooth keeps stopping" - Close app messages show up, I actually had a bluetooth symbol show up in the system tray (next to the battery symbol), I was then able to turn the bluetooth off and on, no issues or crashes or freezing up and the switch has been working fine now for about 2 hours. However, I left the WIFI cable still plugged in, I get no error messages about this but I am not able to turn the WIFI on.

So does that mean the bluetooth antenna is faulty then and causing the issue? I think I will try and unplug the WIFI cable next and see what happens with that. Maybe the WIFI antenna is also faulty hence the reason for not turning on?

Will update as soon as I can....

Huh... well if it worked for Bluetooth, give it a try with the WiFi one.

 

[Tigermean74]

Huh... well if it worked for Bluetooth, give it a try with the WiFi one.

Hmm...Ok so opened it up again and unplugged the WIFI antenna cable, put it all back together but still the same, every time I swipe to turn the WIFI on, it just doesn't do it but the bluetooth still works ok and the switch does not crash or freeze.

 

[pjhcast]

Can you give me a link to buy the antenna

 

[Tigermean74]

Hi, I live in the UK so not sure if this is of any use to you?

But I bought it from here....

https://www.replacebase.co.uk/for-n...MI3q-R2r_W5QIVCbDtCh0fQAhwEAQYASABEgKO-_D_BwE