Regarding Wii Softmodding, SD/USB Loader, Firmware 4.0, and BannerBomb!

bitblt · May 14, 2009, 06:37:54 PM

Regarding Wii Softmodding, SD/USB Loader, Firmware 4.0, and BannerBomb!

So I decided to dust off my Wii (official 3.4U with no modchip) this week and finally try softmodding it. I found this guide to be very helpful and easy to understand for the uninitiated . . .

Wii Softmodding for Dummies

This guide comes with a download AIO (all in one) kit with everything needed, including preparation of an SD memory card. After performing the ~~Twilight~~ (BannerBomb) hack I had Homebrew Channel with Wii/GC backup loader up and running in a very short period of time using the batch installer.

Next I downloaded . . .
~~cIOS36 rev10 Installer~~ (now part of the latest AIO kit)
~~and~~
SD/USB Loader v1.5
(renamed the .dol files to boot.dol and place each in their own subdirectory under /apps on the prepared SD card)
After using Homebrew Channel to run the above I was able to load SSBB and other Wii ISO files directly from my SDHC or USB thumb drive. Sweet!

It's important to understand that an SD/SDHC or USB drive needs to be formatted to WBFS before coping ISO files to the media. I prepared my media using this particular WBFS GUI software for windows . . .
WBFS Manager 3.01

Then I downloaded . . .
USB Loader 1.5-YABA.wad
(this file goes in the WAD directory of the SD card and is installed using Wad-Manager in the Homebrew Channel)
This step is not required but it allows SD/USB Loader v1.5 to launch from it's own channel without needing to run Homebrew Channel or have an SD memory card present.

Finally I took a spare 60GB 2.5" SATA drive (pulled from a PS3 HD upgrade) and mounted it in a cheap 2.5" USB 2.0 enclosure (white). Now I can load Wii ISO files directly from the USB hard drive.

To say the least I'm very pleased with my current Wii softmod configuration!

UPDATE:

I noticed Wii Softmodding for Dummies has already been updated! This latest version streamlines Wii softmodding even more. The AIO kit now uses BannerBomb instead of the Twilight hack so a copy of Zelda TP is no longer necessary to hack your Wii. More importantly >>ANY<< firmware version Wii can now be hacked using BannerBomb!

Zorlin · May 14, 2009, 09:00:02 PM

Nice.

Is there a good WBFS software solution for Linux?

bitblt · May 14, 2009, 09:29:38 PM

Quote from: Zorlin on May 14, 2009, 09:00:02 PM
Is there a good WBFS software solution for Linux?

Hi. My experience with this stuff is pretty much limited to what I've posted above using windows. When I was searching around I did read about "WBFS tool" for linux but I don't know if there is a more full featured solution for that OS.

fexo · May 15, 2009, 04:27:21 AM

GBA temp has a good page which tells of all the different USB loaders and WBFS programs that are available; there might be one for Linux there (I thought that WBFS was a Linux based format, though specifically for the Wii).

bitblt · May 15, 2009, 07:32:22 AM

Quote from: fexo on May 15, 2009, 04:27:21 AM
(I thought that WBFS was a Linux based format, though specifically for the Wii).

I believe Wii Backup File System was developed by Waninkoko for use with Wii homebrew.

fexo · May 18, 2009, 11:29:35 AM

If you want to run wad files off the SD card you also need to install the IOS 60. This will release lots of space from the rather limited Wii system memory (I assume that it doesn't do it automatically with the revision 10 installer).

bitblt · May 18, 2009, 02:26:51 PM

Cool, thanks for the tip. Does this mean I can run Wiiware from the SD too?

bitblt · May 18, 2009, 03:17:54 PM

I found a temporary workaround for people having compatibility issues with some USB mass storage devices getting a -1 and -6 error when running USB loader. The workaround is called the "swap" method and works for some people. This workaround is old news but is useful information for someone just getting started with Wii softmodding, like myself.

So if you have a USB flash drive or USB memory card reader that works with USB loader, and you have a USB HD storage device that is not recognized by USB loader (-1 and -6 error), here is a possible workaround . . .

1) turn off the Wii and insert the working WBFS formatted USB flash drive or USB memory card reader
2) turn on the Wii and launch USB loader
3) select USB mass storage then press A to list the contents (it can be empty)
4) press the 1 button on the Wiimote to go back to the root menu
5) remove the USB flash drive and swap it with the USB HD storage device (use the same USB port)
6) USB loader should now recognize the USB HD storage device

I believe this workaround indicates a software bug in USB loader that can be fixed in the future to allow better USB device compatibility.

fexo · May 19, 2009, 04:27:33 AM

As for the SD card, you need to install the IOS60 (Google). You can then use the wad manager in HBC to transfer the wads to the Wii. They then have to be moved from the Wii to the SD card using the Wii Channel Manager. This creates a "Private" forder on the SD card with all of the playable games (VC, WiiWare etc).

The games are then opened from the homescreen which shows the SD Icon on the V4 upgrade (hopefully not official).

bitblt · May 20, 2009, 05:55:34 PM

I noticed Wii Softmodding for Dummies has already been updated! This latest version streamlines Wii softmodding even more. The included AIO kit now uses BannerBomb instead of the Twilight hack so a copy of Zelda TP is no longer necessary to hack your Wii. More importantly >>ANY<< firmware version Wii can now be hacked using BannerBomb!

Here is a complete list software included in the latest AIO kit . . .

· BannerBomb *new
· WAD Batch Installer
· Homebrew Channel v1.0.1
· Homebrew Browser v0.3 *updated
· WAD Manager 1.4 *updated
· Autoboot Gamma BackupLauncher channel Wii-ish style V.2 002 FIX by NeoRame
· Gamecube Backup Launcher 0.2 channel - Donkhe style
· dvd dump v1.2
· cIOS36 rev10 Installer *updated
· cMIOS rev3 Installer *new
· IOS16-64-v257-prod.wad
· cIOS249.wad (rev 7)
· IOS36-64-v1042.wad
· RVL-mios-v8.wad *new
· Guide for Dummies *updated

bitblt · May 20, 2009, 05:59:00 PM

Quote from: fexo on May 19, 2009, 04:27:33 AM
As for the SD card, you need to install the IOS60 (Google). You can then use the wad manager in HBC to transfer the wads to the Wii. They then have to be moved from the Wii to the SD card using the Wii Channel Manager. This creates a "Private" forder on the SD card with all of the playable games (VC, WiiWare etc).

The games are then opened from the homescreen which shows the SD Icon on the V4 upgrade (hopefully not official).

Yep, I got it all working last night thanks!

My Wii is now running patched firmware 4.0U and I can use the official Nintendo Wii Channel Manager to launch VC+Wiiware directly from my SDHC memory card. Pretty slick.

Anyone interested in a detailed step-by-step may refer to this tutorial/software package . . .
~~How To Install System Menu v4.0!~~
ULTIMATE Tutorial for everything you need for System Menu 4.0

onekelly · May 20, 2009, 07:31:04 PM

what does the custom ios60.wad do for you? I have everything except that installed on my chipped wii?

How are you playing the vc/wiiware from the sd card? what program

bitblt · May 20, 2009, 09:49:08 PM

Quote from: onekelly on May 20, 2009, 07:31:04 PM
what does the custom ios60.wad do for you? I have everything except that installed on my chipped wii?

Hi. Custom IOS 60 is required to allow trucha patched WADs (VC-Wiiware channels) to run with Nintendo System Menu v4.0 (i think). ~~Basically it allows Homebrew Channels and Wii firmware 4.0 to coexist.~~

Quote from: onekelly on May 20, 2009, 07:31:04 PM
How are you playing the vc/wiiware from the sd card? what program

To run VC/Wiiware directly from SD/SDHC I use the official Nintendo Wii System Menu v4.0 features added by Nintendo in the latest Wii 4.0 firmware update. I still need to load VC/Wiiware WADs into Wii system memory using Wad manager the first time. Then I can use the official Nintendo Data Management tool to MOVE them from Wii system memory back into SD/SDHC memory. The Nintendo Data Management tool stores them in a special encrypted directory called private. After that I can freely launch VC/Wiiware directly from SD/SDHC by selecting the little SD icon in the Wii System Menu . . .

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/channelsSD.jsp

Quote from: onekelly on May 20, 2009, 07:31:04 PM
what does the custom ios60.wad do for you? I have everything except that installed on my chipped wii?

CORRECTION:
Custom IOS 60 is required to allow trucha signed WADs (VC-Wiiware channels) to run with Nintendo System Menu v4.0 (i think). It allows VC-Wiiware channels to be run from the Nintendo SD Card Menu (SD icon) in Wii System Menu. (or something like that)

The only thing I'm sure of is that it works.

onekelly · May 21, 2009, 12:31:24 AM

Where did you/ or which did you use for IOS 60.wad?

· BannerBomb *new
· WAD Batch Installer
· Homebrew Channel v1.0.1
· Homebrew Browser v0.3 *updated
· WAD Manager 1.4 *updated
· Autoboot Gamma BackupLauncher channel Wii-ish style V.2 002 FIX by NeoRame
· Gamecube Backup Launcher 0.2 channel - Donkhe style
· dvd dump v1.2
· cIOS36 rev10 Installer *updated
· cMIOS rev3 Installer *new
· IOS16-64-v257-prod.wad
· cIOS249.wad (rev 7)
· IOS36-64-v1042.wad
· RVL-mios-v8.wad *new
· Guide for Dummies *updated

bitblt · May 21, 2009, 12:56:52 AM

Quote from: onekelly on May 21, 2009, 12:31:24 AM
Where did you/ or which did you use for IOS 60.wad?

I'm not sure what you are asking me. I installed "IOS 60.wad" with "WAD Manager".

I downloaded it here . . .
~~How To Install System Menu v4.0!~~
ULTIMATE Tutorial for everything you need for System Menu 4.0

I don't know if this stuff works (or is safe) with your chipped Wii. It should be fine if you follow the tutorials I posted.

What version of Wii firmware are you running, 4.0U, 3.4U, 3.2U or other?