THIS GUIDE IS DEPRECATED
THIS IS BETTER https://github.com/natinusala/painless-linux

This guide will show you how to boot Linux on your Switch from a Windows PC. If you're on Linux, you can directly use the shofel2_linux repository.

Credits :

• @kombos for the pre-built binaries
• @rajkosto for TegraRcmSmash and Windows imx_usb binaries
• Fail0verflow for their Linux port

What you'll need :

• A Switch
• A Windows PC
• Another SD card of at least 8Gb
  • you can use the same SD card that you already have on your Switch but be careful when partitioning !
• A USB A-to-C or C-to-C cable to plug your Switch into your PC

Step 1 : installing the driver

1. Get your Switch in RCM mode and plug it into your PC
   • It should appear as "APX" in Windows
2. Download and run the Zadig Driver Installer from here : https://zadig.akeo.ie/
3. In the list, choose the device "APX"
   • If it's not showing up, check "List all devices" in the options
4. At the right end of the green arrow, choose "libusbK (v3.0.7.0)"
5. Click on the big "Install driver" button

Step 2 : creating the root filesystem

Yes, this is still necessary. Yes, this will always be.

Open my another guide and follow the "Building the rootfs" section.
On Windows you'll have to use a IMG file and burn it with Etcher, or find a way to create an ext4 partition by hand (good luck with that).
I recommend the latest LXDE image which has the correct format for Etcher - it's a zip containing a bin, flash the .bin using Etcher.

You should be left with a SD card with two partitions on it.

Step 3 : a whole bunch of downloads

1. Download and extract this : https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux/archive/master.zip
2. Download this : https://files.sshnuke.net/TegraRcmSmash1101.zip
3. Extract the executable for your architecture in the shofel2_linux-master folder
4. Download this : https://github.com/rajkosto/imx_usb_loader/releases/download/08daaa/imx_usb.zip
5. Extract the executable and DLL in the shofel2_linux-master folder
6. Download this : http://launchmycraft.fr/boot_linux.bat
7. Put it in the shofel2_linux-master folder

This is what you should have in the linux_shofel2-master folder before continuing :

Step 4 : actually booting Linux

1. Put your Switch in RCM mode and plug it in your PC
2. Go in the shofel2_linux-master folder and open boot_linux.bat
3. It wasn't that hard, wasn't it ?

 

[WiiHomebrew+Snes]

Woop!

 

[Sonicbrawler]

Radical

 

[natinusala]

Again, in this guide I don't detail the rootfs process but it can be long / painful on Windows.

 

[Sonicbrawler]

RootFS isn't too bad. gonna use this guide for a tutorial video down the road.

 

[TheGreek Boy]

can i use usb 2.0 ? my pc only have usb 2.0.

 

[natinusala]

can i use usb 2.0 ? my pc only have usb 2.0.

I guess so, TegraRcmSmash doesn't specify which ports to use

 

[yusuo]

This seems really painless. Thank you for your work

 

[mariogamer]

I always receive error 31 while trying to boot linux with tegrarcmsmash (manually or not) (but not when normally dragging and dropping). Apparently it is a driver issue but I already installed it.

 

[natinusala]

@mariogamer what is error 31 ? could you give me the full logs please ?

 

[mariogamer]

Well apparently that was temporary sorry

 

[The Frenchman]

This guide will show you how to boot Linux on your Switch from a Windows PC. If you're on Linux, you can directly use the shofel2_linux repository.

Credits :

• @kombos for the pre-built binaries
• @rajkosto for TegraRcmSmash and Windows imx_usb binaries
• Fail0verflow for their Linux port

What you'll need :

• A Switch
• A Windows PC
• Another SD card of at least 8Gb
  • you can use the same SD card that you already have on your Switch but be careful when partitioning !
• A USB A-to-C or C-to-C cable to plug your Switch into your PC

Step 1 : installing the driver

1. Get your Switch in RCM mode and plug it into your PC
   • It should appear as "APX" in Windows
2. Download and run the Zadig Driver Installer from here : https://zadig.akeo.ie/
3. In the list, choose the device "APX"
   • If it's not showing up, check "List all devices" in the options
4. At the right end of the green arrow, choose "libusbK (v3.0.7.0)"
5. Click on the big "Install driver" button

Step 2 : creating the root filesystem

Yes, this is still necessary. Yes, this will always be.

Open my another guide and follow the "Building the rootfs" section.
On Windows you'll have to use a IMG file and burn it with Etcher, or find a way to create an ext4 partition by hand (good luck with that). I recommend the KDE image which has the correct format for Etcher.

You should be left with a SD card with two partitions on it.

Step 3 : a whole bunch of downloads

1. Download and extract this : https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux/archive/master.zip
2. Download this : https://files.sshnuke.net/TegraRcmSmash1101.zip
3. Extract the executable for your architecture in the shofel2_linux-master folder
4. Download this : https://github.com/rajkosto/imx_usb_loader/releases/download/08daaa/imx_usb.zip
5. Extract the executable and DLL in the shofel2_linux-master folder
6. Download this : http://launchmycraft.fr/boot_linux.bat
7. Put it in the shofel2_linux-master folder

This is what you should have in the linux_shofel2-master folder before continuing :

Step 4 : actually booting Linux

1. Put your Switch in RCM mode and plug it in your PC
2. Go in the shofel2_linux-master folder and open boot_linux.bat
3. It wasn't that hard, wasn't it ?

How would one put the Switch in RCM mode? I thought the shorting of pin 7/10 was for that...

 

[natinusala]

How would one put the Switch in RCM mode? I thought the shorting of pin 7/10 was for that...

There are a lot of guides out there, I personally have a jig I bought from @cherryduck but I previously used a wire from the pin 10 to the heatsink.

 

[The Frenchman]

There are a lot of guides out there, I personally have a jig I bought from @cherryduck but I previously used a wire from the pin 10 to the heatsink.

So in the title the "Nothing to build" part means buy your jig... I guess that's legit.

 

[mariogamer]

So in the title the "Nothing to build" part means buy your jig... I guess that's legit.

Or just use a paperclip.

 

[natinusala]

So in the title the "Nothing to build" part means buy your jig... I guess that's legit.

Nothing to build means nothing to compile, I'll fix this apparently it's not clear

edit : can't rename my post, great

 

[ScarletDreamz]

So in the title the "Nothing to build" part means buy your jig... I guess that's legit.

Nothing to build, obviously means no need to use the "Make" command.

Common Sense.

 

[natinusala]

Common Sense.

Not for Windows users, for which this guide is made

 

[ScarletDreamz]

Not for Windows users, for which this guide is made

As a windows user common user, "make" its also used on several areas.

 

[kevandkkim]

Which KDE has the correct format for Etcher. the rootfs.tar.bz is not a supported format and neither is the extracted tar?