Hacking What hard drive are you using?

Jaxtaylor · Jun 11, 2017

Hey all, I'm currently using a 32GB flash drive for my Wii backups to run on USB Loader GX through the WiiU, and that works fine. I purchased a 500GB hard drive, and a 64GB flash drive, neither of which would work - it hangs at the 'Initializing USB' part. I've seen there is a table on here with compatible devices on, but I would rather ask you guys what model drive you're using that I might be able to get hold of in the UK easily. The minimum I would really need is 64GB.

Thank you

CallmeBerto · Jun 11, 2017

Format to fat32 you can do this via the fat32 converter. drives bigger then 32 will auto be NTFS.

dojafoja · Jun 11, 2017

Jaxtaylor said:
Hey all, I'm currently using a 32GB flash drive for my Wii backups to run on USB Loader GX through the WiiU, and that works fine. I purchased a 500GB hard drive, and a 64GB flash drive, neither of which would work - it hangs at the 'Initializing USB' part. I've seen there is a table on here with compatible devices on, but I would rather ask you guys what model drive you're using that I might be able to get hold of in the UK easily. The minimum I would really need is 64GB.

Thank you

Keep in mind that you either need an externally powered drive or a Y cable. The WiiU does not provide enough power to its USB ports.

Jaxtaylor · Jun 11, 2017

I made sure they were formatted to fat32, and the harddrive came with a Y cable but still didn't help. Do you think it might be something I'm doing wrong as opposed to having the wrong hardware?

CallmeBerto · Jun 11, 2017

Jaxtaylor said:
I made sure they were formatted to fat32, and the harddrive came with a Y cable but still didn't help. Do you think it might be something I'm doing wrong as opposed to having the wrong hardware?

I would think you have your files setup right...post an image anyways.

Jaxtaylor · Jun 11, 2017

Yeah, I'm sure they're all good - The 16GB stick works perfectly, and I'm using WiiBackupManager. It's a strange one!

CallmeBerto · Jun 11, 2017

What brands are these devices and where did you get them from? if they are formatted correctly and have the right files everything should work.

At this point I'm thinking it's a hardware issue.

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Try mini partition wizard to completely format and rebuild the partition tables. Fat32 and 64 cluster

dojafoja · Jun 11, 2017

Did you try switching the Y cable around? Data is only passed through one of the USB connections and it's picky about which port you're plugged into.

Jaxtaylor · Jun 11, 2017

Ahh, I've managed to get the thumb drive working, it wasn't formatted to FAT32, it was ExFAT - so that now seems to be working, Thank you sooooo much!

Still no luck with the hard drive though. It's a Toshiba 500GB 3.0. I tried switching the cables around, but that still didn't work. It says it's waiting for the USB device to initialize. Very odd!

I'm glad I've got the thumb drive working, but if anyone does have a spark of inspiration that might get this bugger going, i'd be really grateful

dojafoja · Jun 12, 2017

One last thing I can think of is to use the fist partition of the drive and make sure it is a primary partition and that it has been set as an active partition as well.

Jaxtaylor · Jun 12, 2017

OK, this is getting odd. My first test with the 64GB was with one ISO and it worked great, so loaded the rest on and now it doesn't! Going to try loading them on one by one and testing. What size would you suggest I make the partition?

Sonic Angel Knight · Jun 12, 2017

WD Netbook... or whatever is called... 1TB powered by Y cable. I was gonna get a second HDD for Vwii so i can use wii games and nintendon't gamecube games, but maybe I'll stick with dolphin for now.

InsaneNutter · Jun 12, 2017

I'm using an Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA adapter with an old 128gb SSD connected to it. As to why, the Wii U can power the SSD from one USB port which is important for me.

In the Wii U's back USB ports i have a USB Ethernet adapter and SSD connected, the in the front USB ports I have the Wii U GameCube controller adapter.

End result is i'm making use of all 4x USB ports without having to purchase a powered USB hub, keeping things simple.

sp3off · Jun 12, 2017

vWii = Western Digital 500 Gb drive at FAT32
Wii U = Maxtor/Samsung M3 1 Tb drive at WiiU format.

Both of these drives's got a Y cable, after two searches for the WD one xD, the Maxtor one was actually proposed by Amazon themselves.

Jaxtaylor · Jun 26, 2017

sp3off said:
vWii = Western Digital 500 Gb drive at FAT32
Wii U = Maxtor/Samsung M3 1 Tb drive at WiiU format.

Both of these drives's got a Y cable, after two searches for the WD one xD, the Maxtor one was actually proposed by Amazon themselves.

What do you mean when you say WiiU format?

godreborn · Jun 26, 2017

the wii u formats the drive to its own partition which isn't readable in windows.

TheDarkGreninja · Jun 26, 2017

I have 2TB drive stuck to mine for some reason, games only take up like 200GB of space so I might just partition my drive for use with other devices.

godreborn · Jun 26, 2017

I have a 2TB drive as well. all games, which is around 250 of them, take up about 1.3TBs. I have no intention of installing anything more except for maybe the zelda dlc and updates (still lacking one of them). I mostly play the same few games, but I thought I should fill up the drive as much as possible. it's a WD elements drive using a y cable. it's one of the newer elements drives with what I believe to be a laptop drive in it. I took all of the phat elements drives out of their enclosures, but these drives I've left intact.

Olmectron · Jun 26, 2017

TheDarkGreninja said:
I have 2TB drive stuck to mine for some reason, games only take up like 200GB of space so I might just partition my drive for use with other devices.

You cannot partition the disc for this purpose.

Many people have tried it so far, but no luck.

The Wii U deletes the full disc partition table and sets its own.

This needs RE, but I don't think many people is still interested, because, you know, the Switch is already out.

TheDarkGreninja · Jun 27, 2017

Olmectron said:
You cannot partition the disc for this purpose.

Many people have tried it so far, but no luck.

The Wii U deletes the full disc partition table and sets its own.

This needs RE, but I don't think many people is still interested, because, you know, the Switch is already out.

God damnit.

Hacking What hard drive are you using?

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