Hacking Best Way to Mod Any Wii: ModMii for Windows: Official Support Thread

[cu_shane]

XFlak, thank you so much for this fantastic program! I hacked my Wii over a year ago. A friend of mine recently asked me to help him hack his. When I came to gbatemp to refresh myself on all the steps and to find out what all of the latest versions were I found ModMii. ModMii made the process dead simple.

The only issue I had was that ModMii hung during the file downloading a few times (It would stay on the same file for > 1hr). The third or fourth time I tried it downloaded all of the files very quickly. Maybe you should add a timeout and retry function?

Anyhow, as I said, fantastic program. Thanks for your work on this.

 

[smashdude]

Here is my sysCheck. The Wii only seems to read Network installation as downloading WADs failed. So whenever I try to download something from anywhere else it fails.

On my friend's 4.2 Wii. I have ran the entire modmii guide that XFLAK posted but for some reason my sysCheck (see below)( still reads IOS 36 as unpatched. Do NOT tell anyone this. I need help getting 36 to patch even though I have succesfully installed it via CIOS 236 app TEN TIMES already but for some reason it still reads it as unpatched. YOU told me that SaveGame Manger is what I need and now I realize that requires a CIOS 249 functioning. I am listening to your advice 100%. Not trolling or joking. So please bear with me with this. I NEED CIOS 249 to work on my friends 4.2U Wii.

sysCheck v2.0 by Double_A
...runs on IOS58 (rev 6175).

Region: NTSC-U
System Menu 4.2 (v-2145571844)
Hollywood v0x11
Console ID: 57102502
Boot2 v4

Found 63 titles.
Found 37 IOS on this console. 13 of them are stub.

IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 778): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 256): Stub
IOS12 (rev 269): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 273): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 520): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 257): Trucha Bug ES Identify Flash Access
IOS16 (rev 512): Stub
IOS17 (rev 775): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 256): Stub
IOS21 (rev 782): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1037): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1550): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 2816): Stub
IOS31 (rev 3349): No Patches
IOS33 (rev 3091): No Patches
IOS34 (rev 3348): No Patches
IOS35 (rev 3349): No Patches
IOS36 (rev 3351): No Patches
IOS37 (rev 3869): No Patches
IOS38 (rev 3867): No Patches
IOS50 (rev 5120): Stub
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS53 (rev 5406): No Patches
IOS55 (rev 5406): No Patches
IOS56 (rev 5405): No Patches
IOS57 (rev 5661): No Patches
IOS58 (rev 6175): No Patches
IOS60 (rev 6400): Stub
IOS61 (rev 5405): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 6687): No Patches
IOS222 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS223 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS249 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS250 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii
BC v6
MIOS v10

Report generated on 2010/08/29.

 

[burritoboy9984]

I guess you missed the part above where flak asked you to post the guide you followed?

-Erik

 

[smashdude]

I FOLLOWED the guide.

 

[smashdude]

I don't know how to copy and paste modmii here but EVERY STEP of the running process worked. I just keep getting ret 2011 errors and on TBR the last step gave me an error when downgrading IOS15. I have put thw WADS on the root of my SD card and they still won't read when I select them.

 

[burritoboy9984]

I want you to copy and paste the ENTIRE ModMii guide you are using, then put it in a spoiler by using these tags (spoiler) (/spoiler) except using the proper square brackets. Then I want you to type where u had the problem and what it was in bold.

 

[smashdude]

I told you I don't know how to copy and paste a document like that. I need help. I don't even know how to forward teh document. Also XFLAK, the friggen 236 installer DELETED my 236 when I chose yes to pirate games. Now it won't even show up in MMM. please help. how do I get it back?

 

[burritoboy9984]

Open note pad, right click select all, right click copy, come here to reply, type (spoiler) right click paste (/spoiler) but change the )( to ][.

-Erik

 

[smashdude]

The modmii is not in notepad. It's in an application. You guys want me to copy the entire guide that I used here you told me.

 

[XFlak]

<b>@Ernie Pantuso,</b>
I'm glad ModMii started working for you. And sorry for assuming you were slowking. Also sorry for saying anyone who can't figure out how to use ModMii is a moron... it was a little harsh. But I stand by the fact that modding wii's does not get much easier than this. Maybe I could add titles like Step 1: ModMii Wizard... although I personally think the text in brackets saying "Mod your wii" is more than enough for people to figure out where to start. But no biggie, and I don't think u are a moron. And as we've already mentioned, I was upset with slowking when I made that statement.

FYI, I thought you'd be interested to know that I am also one of the contributors to the complete softmod guide... although I haven't actually worked on it in a few months as all my time has been consumed by modmii.

Please take the time to make a nand backup asap... it is a very important step of the softmodding process, and I would ALMOST go so far as to say that you should not continue the softmod process if you are unable to make a nand backup... but if u have bootmii @ boot2, u should be fine, but if not, ur wii is at risk until u have a nand backup.

And re all this other stuff you mention...<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->save games to hard drive, load games from hard drive<b> Covered in the ModMii USB Loader Set Up Guide, give it a shot and I think u will find it straight forward. Especially for some1 with experience like yourself when it comes to formatting or partitioning drives</b>
set up a game on the hard drive as its own channel, etc. <b>Not covered by modmii, but u want to use a PC program called "CRAP"</b><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>@Bozza,</b>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As it downloaded 47 files I think it was, after almost every download it wouldcome up with an error saying something like it has tried multiple times to download and couldnt and then it would say ok,I tried this several times and it was the same. In the end for some reason I just left the settings to default and left it to download to my desktop which it did faultlessly, (I dragged and dropped the drive letter into Modmii when trying to install to SDcard. I did the same when using the USB config part, the only difference was that it was to my USB external hdd, same thing failed on some of the downloads, download to desktop and totally fine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->If you drag and drop the drive onto the window, the drive letter comes out as "L:\", which is an incorrect input, instead it should read "L:" as the examples. This is why u are getting this error. I may take a look at this so that in the event of an extra trailing "\" modmii will either spit out a warning or just remove the trailing slashes. But this is not so much a bug as an oversight on your part, be sure not to deviate much from the examples on the drive change pages. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->My question is my hdd is half Fat32 and half NTFS, if I have a game that is over 4GB ( I dont at the moment) how will the Wii find that game if I place it on the NTFS side? Would I need to create a WBFS folder on the NTFS side or something else?
Many thanks<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Just use wiibackup manager to transfer your games to either partition. It will automatically split games that are larger than 4GBs into 4GB chucks if being transfered to a fat32 HDD. And on both FAT32 and NTFS hard drives it will automatically create the required WBFS folder. But just to be clear, games that are larger than 4GBs can be saved on FAT32 and run perfectly fine. So unless u use your drive to store files other than wii games that are larger than 4GBs, u don't even need a NTFS partiton.

<b>@smashdude,</b> u r lucky u caught me in a decent mood... but don't get used to it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

download this file (Wizard_Settings.bat file for smashdude)
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?flmrfkbxjblxokt" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/?flmrfkbxjblxokt</a>

make sure to save it in the same folder as modmii.exe
then start the download wizard, it will ask u if u want to load the Wizard_Settings.bat, say "Y", then "Y" again, then "D", then "y". Immediately a text guide will pop up, I've copied and pasted it for you in the spoiler below (so no excuses about not being able to copy and paste... lol), then wait for it to finish downloading, then copy all the files INSIDE the COPY_TO_SD folder to your SD Card, if u are asked to overwrite anything, just say yes (don't worry, u will not lost anything). Then follow the guide. Also make sure u are using the latest version of ModMii, u keep talking about Trucha Bug Restorer... well, that app is not used by ModMii... so either u are using an old version... or u are NOT following the guide that ModMii made for you.

Spoiler: ModMii guide for SmashDude

ModMii 4.2.3 Custom Guide
Generated on Mon 08/30/2010 - 13:40:53.06
Check for updates at tinyurl.com/ModMiiNow


This Guide was generated using the following parameters:

* Wii is currently a virgin (un-modified)
* Current firmware is 4.2U
* Desired firmware is 4.2U

* Download Photo Channel
* Download Internet Channel
* Download Weather Channel
* Download News Channel
* Download Mii Channel
* Download Shopping Channel (and IOS61)
* Download Wii Speak Channel

* Download Extra Brick Protection



This software is not for sale. If you paid for this software or a "bundle" you have been scammed.

THIS PACKAGE COMES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, NEITHER STATED NOR IMPLIED.
NO ONE BUT YOURSELF IS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE TO YOUR NINTENDO WII CONSOLE!
USE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!



IMPORTANT NOTES:

*This guide does NOT require a Wifi connection on your Wii.
*An SD card formatted to FAT(32) required (Best results are with non-SDHC cards, SDHC will only work on 4.0 or above).
*If you get errors during any of the steps reformat your SD card as FAT or FAT32
*Turn off WiiConnect24 and take out all gamecube memory cards/controllers when modding the Wii (unless instructed otherwise).
*If your Wii ever freezes, hold the power button on the Wii for 5 seconds to power it off then try again.
*Don’t ever accept a new Nintendo update without first googling to see if it’s safe. The last update (to 4.3) was released in late June 2010 and is NOT safe to accept. If you accept an official Nintendo update after modding the Wii, you may lose some or all of your modifications.
*Never uninstall a system menu or IOS
*Do not install untested wads/themes without Bootmii or Priiloader installed.
*This custom guide is great start, but Wii modding is always evolving. Check for updates online, and remember, google is your friend.
*If you have questions, a more detailed guide can be found here: <a href="http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk" target="_blank">http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk</a>




1) INSTALLING THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL (HBC) AND BOOTMII




Run BannerBomb v2 by selecting the SD Card Button on the main system menu screen and choosing yes to load boot.dol/elf
Note: If it doesn't work for you, visit <a href="http://bannerbomb.qoid.us/" target="_blank">http://bannerbomb.qoid.us/</a> for more variations of either version of bannerbomb.



This runs the Hackmii Installer (and silently/automatically installs BootMii as IOS). Use the installer to install the Homebrew Channel (HBC) and Bootmii as Boot2 if possible. If you cannot install BootMii as Boot2, you also need to 'prepare an SD Card' for BootMii (as the 'BootMii' folder is required to launch BootMii as IOS or Boot2).

Note: If you get a 'no vulnerable IOS' error message, run ModMii again and this time select the 'Hackmii Solutions' option instead of 'Download Wizard' and follow the new instructions before continuing this guide.

After you exit the hackmii installer, you will be taken to the HBC.
Hit the home button. In the top right corner you will see the IOS used by the HBC.

If the HBC is using an IOS other than IOS58 or your homebrew channel is upside-down, make a note of it as it applies later in the guide (you will have to reinstall the HBC).

If it is using IOS58 and your HBC is not upside-down, you can skip the Reinstall The Homebrew Channel step when you get to it.




2) MAKING A NAND BACKUP

While inside the Homebrew Channel, load BootMii by pressing home and clicking Launch Bootmii.
Press the power button on the wii 3 times to get to the last option, then press the reset button. [You can also navigate with a Gamecube controller]

Press reset to choose the first option, then follow the directions on the screen to make your NAND backup. [Bad blocks are no problem.]

Backup the Bootmii folder, NAND.bin, and keys.bin elsewhere and erase from the sd card (or rename it). You'll need these in case of emergencies, so don't lose them.
Go back to The Homebrew Channel.

Note: if Bootmii was installed as boot2, then it will show up as soon as the Wii is turned on AS LONG AS it finds the bootmii folder (mentioned above) on the root of the SD card.




3) Installing a Patched IOS236

Start the Homebrew Channel and use it to load the IOS236 Installer.
Note: This app must be launched using HBC v1.0.7 or higher in order to work properly.

Read the startup messages as you are forced to wait,
Push 1 when prompted.

Choose "Load IOS from SD card",
Confirm your choice with the A button,
When prompted, push A to continue the installation.

When asked whether to perform Step 2, Press B to skip it.
Then push any button to exit.



4) INSTALL WADS

Load Multi-Manager Mod (MMM) via the HomeBrew Channel.
If IOS236 is not already loaded, select 'Load another IOS', then select IOS236

Note: If this step fails with error -ret 2011 or other, you may need to retry patching IOS236. If the Wii was previously softmodded, you can try using cIOS250 (or others like 202,222,223,224,236,249)

In Multi-Manager Mod's main menu, Go down to select "WAD Manager".

Install the following WADs in the WAD folder (this list of WADs is unique to how you answered the Wizard's questions).

Be careful not to install any additional wads that may have been previously saved in this folder (they may be safe, but I cannot say for sure).

Hold + for 2 seconds to select all wads in the folder. Then Press A twice to install them all.
After the installation finishes read the install report to make sure all the files installed properly.

You're unique list of wads to install are as follows:

* IOS11v257(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS20v257(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS30v2817(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS50v5121(IOS50v4889[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS60v6401(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS70v6913(IOS70v6687[FS-ES-NP])
* cIOS202[57]-v5
* cIOS223[37-38]-v4
* cIOS222[38]-v5
* cIOS224[57]-v5
* cIOS249[57]-v19
* cIOS250[37]-v19
* RVL-cmios-v4_WiiGator_GCBL_v0.2
* Mii Channel (Region Free)
* Photo 1.1 (USA/PAL/JAP)
* Shopping (USA/PAL/JAP)
* Internet (USA)
* Weather (USA)
* News (USA)
* Wii Speak (USA)
* IOS9v1034
* IOS12v525
* IOS13v1031
* IOS14v1031
* IOS17v1031
* IOS21v1038
* IOS22v1293
* IOS28v1806
* IOS31v3607
* IOS33v3607
* IOS34v3607
* IOS35v3607
* IOS53v5662
* IOS55v5662
* IOS56v5661
* IOS58v6175
* IOS61v5661
* usbloader(s)-(emulators)-IDCL
This is a forwarder channel that will load the first file it finds from the following list:
FAT:/apps/usbloader_cfg/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader_cfg/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usbloader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usb-loader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usb-loader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader_gx/boot.dol
Note: First the SD Card is checked, then your USB Hard Drive (formatted as FAT32).
You should always have at least one forwarder channel installed on your Wii,
that way, in the event of accidental update, you will be able to rehack your Wii
without relying on the Smashstack or Indiana Pwns exploits.

If any failed, make a note of which ones and retry installing them one at time.

Note: Whenever you install a new System Menu, Priiloader is uninstalled. So be sure to reinstall it afterwards (especially if you do not have bootmii as boot2)




5) REINSTALL THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL (if applicable)

Earlier you should have checked what IOS is used by the HBC. If the IOS used by your Homebrew Channel is IOS58 and your HBC is not upside-down, you can skip this step.

If the HBC is using an IOS other than IOS58 or your homebrew channel is upside-down, you should reinstall the HBC.

In MMM's main menu, select 'App Manager' and then select the HackMii_Installer.
Use the Hackmii Installer to fix/re-install the HBC. Once you've successfully reinstalled the HBC, you can move onto the next step of the guide.

If you already exited MMM, you can load the HackMii_Installer from the Homebrew Channel.

If the HBC is failing to load any apps (just blackscreens), instead launch the Hackmii Installer using the method described in the First Step




6) INSTALL PRIILOADER

Run the Priiloader installer from the HBC. On the main menu screen, hold B and press + to install Priiloader using IOS249.
Priiloader may ask for confirmation, say Yes (the installation should go smoothly despite the warning).

Priiloader may give the following two 'yellow' errors. These are expected and are not an issue.
loader.ini couldn't delete error -106
password.txt couldn't delete error -106

Note: If you get repeated errors, first launch MMM via the HBC, then select 'Load another IOS' and Select IOS236 (or any IOS you know is patched). Then use MMM's app launcher to start the Priiloader installer and just press + to install using the loaded IOS.

After successfully installing Priiloader, access it by powering off the wii,
then powering it back and holding reset while it's booting until you see the Priiloader menu.

You should install some system menu hacks now (by going to System Menu hacks option).

RECOMMENDED HACKS: Block Disc Updates, Block Online Updates, Replace Health Screen, Auto-Press A at Health Screen, Disable Deletion of some important channels, Region-Free Everything, remove no copy save file protection, and Move Disc Channel.

The priiloader menu is white by default, you can change it to black in the Priiloader settings if you prefer.

One of the special functions of Priiloader is that it can autoboot any app/file instead of the system menu. Some apps (like crazyIntro) can't be used without it.
For details on how to do so, visit <a href="http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/system-hacks/priiloader" target="_blank">http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/system-hacks/priiloader</a>




7) AFTER MODDING

After you are done modding your Wii, in order to avoid having your Wii freeze when accessing the SD Card Menu, you should either delete the 'aktn' folder where bannerbomb is saved (SD:\private\wii\title\aktn), or rename the entire 'private' folder.

Now at this point your practically done.
Now you should be downloading the latest homebrew applications and setting them up on
your SD Card (or FAT32 USB Hard Drive) so they can be launched via the HBC.

For playing your backups off a USB hard drive, run the USB-Loader Setup feature from ModMii's Main Menu

For downloading applications, you should:
* Check out ModMii's batch download pages as it has many popular apps available for download.
* Download Homebrew Browser via ModMii to get many popular apps, but this is an online only Wii application (http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/how-to-use/hbb)
* For those without internet on their Wii, check out this list of Homebrew applications (wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_homebrew).
Another great resource is webrewwii.blogspot.com

After getting whatever apps you want, you should get a boot.dol file and possibly a icon.png and meta.xml.
For HBC to read your SD/USB correctly, your card must be structured SD:/apps/application name/boot.dol
If you have a *.dol not named boot.dol, rename it boot.dol, otherwise it will not be recognized by the HBC.
(optional: the icon.png and meta.xml should be saved in the same place as the boot.dol)



8) SUPPORT XFLAK

IF ModMii WORKED FOR YOU, PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE PROGRAM HERE (tinyurl.com/ModMiiNow)

DONATIONS CAN OPTIONALLY BE MADE VIA PAYPAL TO [email protected]

CHECK OUT MY TOP CHANNELS HERE (tinyurl.com/topchannels)

CHECK OUT MY CRAZY INTRO VIDEOS HERE (tinyurl.com/crazyintro)

If (or when, lol) you have problems, I expect you to copy and past the guide in the spoiler above, and in bold, type where and what your problems were. Without giving us this information, there is absolutely no chance for anyone being able to help u.

 

[smashdude]

errr ok.

 

[smashdude]

Alright it seems like now using 236 on the CIOSX installer installed 249 BUT when I open up Brawlstats it reads 'error I can't load savegame from your NAND". What does that mean? Don't I need IOS 36? That's what the MMM said in order to launch brawl and mario kart codes.

 

[Ernie Pantuso]

@Ernie Pantuso,Please take the time to make a nand backup asap... it is a very important step of the softmodding process, and I would ALMOST go so far as to say that you should not continue the softmod process if you are unable to make a nand backup... but if u have bootmii @ boot2, u should be fine, but if not, ur wii is at risk until u have a nand backup.I do have bootmii @ boot2 (though I don't yet fully understand what that means/does/how to use it!) I found some 4GB SDHC microSD cards. If I can get those to work with an SD adapter, I'll make the nand backup right away.
QUOTE Covered in the ModMii USB Loader Set Up Guide, give it a shot and I think u will find it straight forward. Especially for some1 with experience like yourself when it comes to formatting or partitioning drives set up a game on the hard drive as its own channel, etc. Not covered by modmii, but u want to use a PC program called "CRAP"

Cool! Thanks for that!

 

[XFlak]

Alright it seems like now using 236 on the CIOSX installer installed 249 BUT when I open up Brawlstats it reads 'error I can't load savegame from your NAND". What does that mean? Don't I need IOS 36? That's what the MMM said in order to launch brawl and mario kart codes.

@smashdude, brawlstats has nothing to do with ModMii. I don't use that app, so please post your question in an appropriate thread, not this one.

@ernie, here's a quick summary about bootmii (this summary is intended to only make sense to the average to above-average user, so for u it should be a perfect explanation

). Bootmii is like the system restore feature on windows, and the nand backup is like the restore point, u need both in order to perform a system restore (ie. restore a nand backup). So if u brick (break) your wii, a nand restore should be able to fix it. Now the difference between bootmii @ boot2 vs @ IOS, is that bootmii @ boot2 can be loaded BEFORE the system menu... whereas bootmii as IOS requires you to launch the system menu 1st (or priiloader) in order to launch bootmii. So if u only have bootmii as IOS, and u do something stupid to remove priiloader or screw with your system menu (ie. uninstall the system menu), then u will not be able to recover from this brick (at least not without an infectus modchip + nand backup). Whereas if u were to stupidly uninstall the system menu on a bootmii @ boot2 wii, u will still be able to launch bootmii, and from their either restore a nand backup or launch the HBC and reinstall the system menu. I hope this clarified a few things and saved u having to spend hours researching it.

 

[smashdude]

Deal.

 

[bunnybreaker]

Hey,
XFlak it looks like you have done a wonderful thing for the community with your software.

I'm a newb (not a n00b) when it comes to Wii modding. I just bought my Wii 2 days agao and have been reading like a motherfucker ever since to try and get my head around all this stuff.

Unfortunately, I updated my Wii to 4.3E thinking that bannerbomb would work (the guide I was reading at the time was slightly out of date), no problem, I can probably rent Lego Indy from Blockbuster to get this going.

I have a couple of questions though. How easy, if even possible, would it be to return my Wii to "factory/unmodded" condition if I wanted to later?

I think I finally understand the IOS/cIOS basics; Nintendo does an update, via a disc or online, and sometimes they copy new IOSes or update existing ones to fix bugs and compatibility or support new hardware. Each program (game/menu/channel/etc.) needs an IOS assigned to it and that's why you need certain IOSes. Homebrew works the same way in that each program needs a certain IOS to function.

So... Assuming that I never let Nintendo update my Wii, is my Wii safe? And then one day when NEWGAMEX comes out and it doesn't work, I can use dop-IOS MOD to download the necessary IOS for NEWGAMEX without updating my system menu or anything else and NEWGAMEX will work, right?
Sub question to that one, can adding a single official Nintendo IOS affect another or brick a Wii on it's own?

Why is 4.1 recommended?

Finally, I'm not particularly interested in homebrew (I still have a modded xbox1), I would just like to be able to run games from any region and backups (before you all cry "pirate!", the main reason I want to do this is to play Project Zero 4 in english) and maybe set up a USB loader. Is there maybe an alternative route I should be taking?

 

[AetherMaster]

Hey,
XFlak it looks like you have done a wonderful thing for the community with your software.

I'm a newb (not a n00b) when it comes to Wii modding. I just bought my Wii 2 days agao and have been reading like a motherfucker ever since to try and get my head around all this stuff.

Unfortunately, I updated my Wii to 4.3E thinking that bannerbomb would work (the guide I was reading at the time was slightly out of date), no problem, I can probably rent Lego Indy from Blockbuster to get this going.

I have a couple of questions though. How easy, if even possible, would it be to return my Wii to "factory/unmodded" condition if I wanted to later?
Theoretically, it's not possible to completely remove all traces of softmods, and really, you shouldn't need to.

I think I finally understand the IOS/cIOS basics; Nintendo does an update, via a disc or online, and sometimes they copy new IOSes or update existing ones to fix bugs and compatibility or support new hardware. Each program (game/menu/channel/etc.) needs an IOS assigned to it and that's why you need certain IOSes. Homebrew works the same way in that each program needs a certain IOS to function.

So... Assuming that I never let Nintendo update my Wii, is my Wii safe? Yes, it's safe. It won't break from lack of new IOS. And then one day when NEWGAMEX comes out and it doesn't work, I can use dop-IOS MOD to download the necessary IOS for NEWGAMEX without updating my system menu or anything else and NEWGAMEX will work, right? Yes, but I personally just rerun ModMii because it updates your IOSs when you rerun the wizard.
Sub question to that one, can adding a single official Nintendo IOS affect another or brick a Wii on it's own?
I'll let XFlak answer that one...

Why is 4.1 recommended?
4.2 and 4.3 are strictly anti-homebrew releases. 4.1 hacked has all the benefits of 4.2 and 4.3 without all the anti-homebrew shit from nintendo.

Finally, I'm not particularly interested in homebrew (I still have a modded xbox1), I would just like to be able to run games from any region and backups (before you all cry "pirate!", the main reason I want to do this is to play Project Zero 4 in english) and maybe set up a USB loader. Is there maybe an alternative route I should be taking?

 

[burritoboy9984]

Hey,
XFlak it looks like you have done a wonderful thing for the community with your software.

I'm a newb (not a n00b) when it comes to Wii modding. I just bought my Wii 2 days agao and have been reading like a motherfucker ever since to try and get my head around all this stuff.

Unfortunately, I updated my Wii to 4.3E thinking that bannerbomb would work (the guide I was reading at the time was slightly out of date), no problem, I can probably rent Lego Indy from Blockbuster to get this going.

1. I have a couple of questions though. How easy, if even possible, would it be to return my Wii to "factory/unmodded" condition if I wanted to later?

2. I think I finally understand the IOS/cIOS basics; Nintendo does an update, via a disc or online, and sometimes they copy new IOSes or update existing ones to fix bugs and compatibility or support new hardware. Each program (game/menu/channel/etc.) needs an IOS assigned to it and that's why you need certain IOSes. Homebrew works the same way in that each program needs a certain IOS to function.

3a. So... Assuming that I never let Nintendo update my Wii, is my Wii safe?
3b. And then one day when NEWGAMEX comes out and it doesn't work, I can use dop-IOS MOD to download the necessary IOS for NEWGAMEX without updating my system menu or anything else and NEWGAMEX will work, right?
3b. Sub question to that one, can adding a single official Nintendo IOS affect another or brick a Wii on it's own?

4. Why is 4.1 recommended?

5. Finally, I'm not particularly interested in homebrew (I still have a modded xbox1), I would just like to be able to run games from any region and backups (before you all cry "pirate!", the main reason I want to do this is to play Project Zero 4 in english) and maybe set up a USB loader. Is there maybe an alternative route I should be taking?

1. Google "revirginize wii" and read up.

2. More or less, that is correct.

3a. Yes it will be safe, but you can disable online/disc updates in priiloader.
3b. If a new game comes out needing a certain ios, you will be able to grab it from NUSAD (Edit: forgot it is now ModMii), NUS, or dop-mii.
3c. Well, some "official" ninty ios are stubs, so if in theory you installed a stub where you shouldn't have one (IOS60 on 4.1, IOS70 on 4.2 or IOS80 on 4.3), you would have a nice paper weight

But if you stick with the guides that are stickied, you won't have this problem

Good rule of thumb, unless you are following a known guide (or FULLY understand what you are doing, don't mess with ios's

 

[bunnybreaker]

Thanks guys!!

Off to rent Lego Indy

edit: DAMNIT!! My local BB only has Lego Indy 2 to rent. This hack job will have to wait for another day. I wish I hadn't updated this bloody machine.

Thanks again.

 

[burritoboy9984]

Do you have a gamestop or equivalent over there? The game was only like $15 when I bought it.

-Erik