Simple guide to install d2x cIOS on vWii + backup NAND and keys
Last update: April 29th 2016
Still a valid hacking procedure as of September 2016.
(see Changelog at the bottom of the post)​

What does it do?:
This guide shows you how to install cIOS into vWii (aka the Wii-mode of Wii U) and backup vWiis keys and NAND.
cIOS is needed to use backuplaunchers like Wiiflow and USB-Loader GX.
This does not enable any hacks in Wii U-mode!

Note: You already need to have Homebrew Channel installed on vWii to use this guide (use one of these exploits)!
​

Lets go:
Download the following package:
www.mediafire.com/?n2zl8v5kn288j9d
(Mirror at the bottom of the post)
All files are up-to-date (as of april 29th 2016)!
Note: To avoid errors, only use the files provided in this archive!
Don´t mix with other d2x-installer versions, meta.xml files etc.
Don´t worry, everything is up-to-date and the latest and greatest version.

It contains:
- Dump Mii NAND v1.2
- d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii
- d2x-v10-beta52-vWii
- FIX94s d2x cIOS Installer 2.2 mod

First we make a backup of your vWii NAND and keys:

1.) Extract the contents of vWii_cIOS_apps_20131218.zip to the root folder of your SD card.
Note: Make sure that you don´t have any original Wii system files (like wads) on your SD Card!
d2x installer could accidentally use them for installation and brick your vWii!
Also make sure that you have at least 528MB of free space on the SD Card for the NAND dump.

3.) Launch Dump Mii NAND from the Homebrew Channel.

4.) The NAND and keys dumping will start automatically (the NAND dump will be stored in sd:/nand.bin, the keys in sd:/keys.bin).
Note: DON´t use this dump on an original Wii!

5.) When finished (depends on the speed of your SD Card), the Wii U will reboot.

5a.) (Optional, but recommended step.)
Dump your IOS one-by-one to wad files for possible semi-brick fix (for more info read this thread):
I.) Download YetAnotherBlueDumpMod from here.
II.) Copy the files to your SD card sd:/apps/YetAnotherBlueDumpMod and launch the app from the Homebrew Channel.
II.) Go to System Titles and dump each IOS individually to a wad.
When prompted to fakesign the ticket or TMD, say No to both.

It's a tedious process, but it could save you a lot of trouble in the future.

If you don't have CLEAN (non fakesigned) IOS, you won't be able to fix semi-bricked vWii.
You can't create non fakesigned wads from a NAND dump or from using ShowMiiWads. You NEED to use YetAnotherBlueDumpMod.


Now we install d2x cIOS:

6.) Launch d2x cIOS installer from the Homebrew Channel.

7.) Choose which d2x cIOS version you want to install, beta52 or beta53-alt.
If you don´t plan to use EmuNAND, i recommend beta53-alt.
Note: For info about the differences between beta52 & beta53-alt click here.

8.) Select cIOS : <d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii> (Alternative: beta52)
Select cIOS base : <56>
Select cIOS slot : <249>

9.) Press A to install and wait for installation to finish.

10.) Press A to continue.

11.) Select cIOS : <d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii> (Alternative: beta52)
Select cIOS base : <57>
Select cIOS slot : <250>

12.) Press A to install and wait for installation to finish.

13.) Press A to continue.

14.) Select cIOS : <d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii> (Alternative: beta52)
Select cIOS base : <58>
Select cIOS slot : <251>

15.) Press A to install and wait for installation to finish.

16.) Press B to Exit.

17.) Launch newest Wiiflow or USB-Loader GX or CFG USB Loader MOD from the Homebrew Channel.
Note: To copy game images from PC to your external HDD with the correct folder structure, use Wii Backup Manager.
To fix the 4:3 aspect ratio bug of the Homebrew Channel, see FAQ & Troubleshooting section.

18.) Read the FAQ & Troubleshooting section carefully!

19.) Happy gaming!

FAQ & Troubleshooting:
- there is currently no Bootmii for vWii, so we use Dump Mii NAND.
- there is no Hermes cIOS 222/223 for vWii (don´t install the Wii version!).
- connect your HDD to the upper back USB-Port.
- you need a Y-USB-Cable for some 2.5" HDDs to properly work (even when they worked on the original Wii), because the Wii U USB-ports have a lower power supply.
- if HDD gets detected but no games load or HDD "clicks" you need a Y-USB-Cable
- to prevent the HDD format message on bootup, use U-Stealth.
- some HDDs don´t work with cIOS 249(base 56), so change the cIOS to 250(base 57) or 251(base 58) in your USB-Loader.
- to fix the 4:3 aspect ratio bug of the Homebrew Channel use JoostinOnlines HBC Forwarder or tueidjs aspect ratio fixer (tueidjs fixer doesn't require installing a wad to the console, it's a homebrew to launch from Homebrew Channel before launching other homebrew).
- to (un)install wads i recommend YAWMM_EN 0.5e (english Version) or YAWMM DE 0.5e (german version).
- if you want to start installed wads like VC/Wiiware from SD card, you need to patch IOS80 (system menu), use this thread for guidance.
Note: This is dangerous! If you f*** up IOS80, you will get a brick!
Only use the patch if you know what you are doing!

- don´t install Priiloader, it will brick your vWii!
- don´t install original Wii Channel Forwarder, they will freeze on startup! Use the ones from this thread. (For WiiFlow you can use the official Channel Installer)

Many tools/installers/wads etc. that worked on the original Wii will brick vWii!
So be very cautious on what you install!

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Changelog:

Spoiler

29. April 2016: Added download mirror as attachment.
22. December 2015: Some minor formating tweaks.
08. November 2015: Additional note under the downloadlink.
01. May 2015: Added note to the downloadlink.
19. February 2015: Added optional step 5a.) (thanks Cyan and JoostinOnline).
18. July 2014: Updated USB-Loader GX, Wiiflow and CFG-USB-Loader MOD links.
27. April 2014: Updated USB-Loader GX link to r1219 (thx Cyan)
21. January 2014: Updated Wiiflow link to 4.2.1.
18. December 2013: Merged d2x beta52 & beta53-alt into one installer (thx Cyan) and updated guide accordingly.
17. December 2013: Replaced xyzzy and FS-Toolbox with Dump Mii NAND v1.2 (thx Maxternal). Replaced d2x beta52 with beta53-alt. Added tools to fix 4:3 aspect ratio bug (thx Cyan).
02. October 2013: Updated USB-Loader GX link to r1218.
20. September 2013: Updated Wiiflow link to v4.2.
30. August 2013: Added link to IOS80 (system menu) patch thread.
23. August 2013: Updated USB-Loader GX link to r1217 and CFG USB-Loader MOD link to r65.
13. August 2013: Added link to HDD format message workaround (thx jayjay123)
04. August 2013: Updated USB-Loader links, added Wii Backup Manager link.
24. June 2013: Added CFG USB Loader MOD v70r61t2 link (thx Warlord698).
10. June 2013: Updated Wiiflow link to 4.1.3.
01. June 2013: Added YAWMM_EN (english version) to FAQ & Troubleshooting (thx JoostinOnline and Fix94).
28. April 2013: Updated Wiiflow link to 4.1.2 and USB-Loader GX link to r1213.
08. January 2013: Updated USB-Loader GX link to r1208.
04. January 2013: Fixed a typo, that could prevent the installer from detecting beta52 (thx yafaiz). Added link to WiiFlow Channel Installer v1.1.
02. January 2013: Added new version of FS-Toolbox (0.4d) and a link to YAWMM DE 0.5e (thx to Excelsiior for both).
01. January 2013: Wiiflow 4.1 link added.
31. December 2012: Removed d2x beta53-alt from the package, because ciosmaps.xml mixup causes errors. Added link to forwarder thread.
29. December 2012: Added new version of xyzzy (1.2.2 (unofficial), thx DarkMatterCore) and d2x beta53-alt to the package.
19. December 2012: Initial version.

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[Phrixotrichus]

you can reinstall IOS many time, it overwrite the previous one.

If GX detects the HDD then you don't need to change the IOS in the meta.xml
but if it doesn't find the games once loaded, I don't know what's wrong. You correctly have the "Wii Game" selected as Source in the 4th icon of the toolbar?

I reinstalled with d2x 52 and now everything works fine.

 

[Frost3r]

@Frost3r: Might be a power problem with your hdd. Do you have a externally powered (3.5") HDD? Then try that.

Yes the one that need to be plugged is an old WD 500 GB externally powered. But im waiting for my y cable that i ordered from ebay. You really think it looks like a power problem ? Anyway ill try the y cable with my USB 2.0 WD HD and ill reply here with the result when ill get it.
Thanks for helping me.

 

[[Truth]]

Yes the one that need to be plugged is an old WD 500 GB externally powered. But im waiting for my y cable that i ordered from ebay. You really think it looks like a power problem ? Anyway ill try the y cable with my USB 2.0 WD HD and ill reply here with the result when ill get it.
Thanks for helping me.

This was only a guess, since you already tried everything else.

 

[Frost3r]

But ive seen somebody in the forum that even with his powered HD needed the y cable to work properly. So maybe this is the problem. I HOPE So...

 

[djricekcn]

i finally got around getting usb loader gx...it's still not picking up the hdd nor it's contents.... am i not suppose to have it in wbfs format?

it says USB device not found but it is on there. to prove it, wiiu asks me if i want to format when i boot up

 

[driverdis]

i finally got around getting usb loader gx...it's still not picking up the hdd nor it's contents.... am i not suppose to have it in wbfs format?

it says USB device not found but it is on there. to prove it, wiiu asks me if i want to format when i boot up

try the other back USB Port.

 

[tony2002]

getting black borders around the edges of games on my tv, is there any way to get rid of this?

 

[osaka35]

Tried installing the d2x-v10-beta52-vWii that's in the package, but gave me an error message and wouldn't install. Reset and tried again, but still no go. I downloaded d2x-v10-beta52-vWii from a different source and it worked fine. Not sure if it was something messed up on my end or not, but thought I'd mention it.

 

[memk]

out of curisoity, what error message did wiiflow throw at you?

Wouldn't load game. Black screen with white loading bar.

 

[twinkies]

So quick question - getting my a new hard drive cage tomorrow so I was getting all set up to do some brewing. Am I right in thinking that I am out of luck for now because I only have a 4 gig SDHC card and letter bomb isn't working, or will that not matter when I go to load homebrew and everything

 

[[Truth]]

The problems with beta52 installation should now be fixed, the problem was mixing up the ciosmaps.xml, which causes errors.

 

[TinyRick]

The update of the original post says "January 1st 2012"... This should be corrected to 2013.

 

[samhush]

So I followed the above tutorial to the letter and it worked great, thank you!

But, like an idiot I accidentally deleted the contents of the SD card which I had dumped my vWii nand to. I went ahead and dumped it again (but it now has cIOS 249/250/251). My question is, is this a big deal?

 

[[Truth]]

So I followed the above tutorial to the letter and it worked great, thank you!

But, like an idiot I accidentally deleted the contents of the SD card which I had dumped my vWii nand to. I went ahead and dumped it again (but it now has cIOS 249/250/251). My question is, is this a big deal?

Hmm, you lost the purpose of the backup, the original files.

But this is not such a big problem, you can always use original IOS wads from other vWii NAND dumps.

More important are the keys, as they are unique to your system.

Regarding the guide:

02. Januaray 2013: Added new version of FS-Toolbox (0.4d) and a link to YAWMM DE 0.5e (thx to Excelsiior for both).

 

[yafaiz]

Hey there Truth, just stopping by to say that this guide worked well enough.

1 thing to mention why it wasn't showing the v10 beta 52 option at first was because the folder given here is not called "d2x-cios-installer" but is instead called "d2x-cios-installer v2.2 mod" when you run it in HBC it's looking for "d2x-cios-installer/d2x-v10-beta52-vWii" so if the folder is named as it is in the download you have, it won't find v10.

Easy enough for me to figure out but could be the cause for others having issues.

 

[[Truth]]

Hey there Truth, just stopping by to say that this guide worked well enough.

1 thing to mention why it wasn't showing the v10 beta 52 option at first was because the folder given here is not called "d2x-cios-installer" but is instead called "d2x-cios-installer v2.2 mod" when you run it in HBC it's looking for "d2x-cios-installer/d2x-v10-beta52-vWii" so if the folder is named as it is in the download you have, it won't find v10.

Easy enough for me to figure out but could be the cause for others having issues.

Thanks, i thought it was because i had beta52 mixed with ciosmaps from beta53.
I will change this.

Edit: fixed

 

[yafaiz]

Glad I could help.

 

[d.d.d.]

I haven't found it (probably doesn't exist on a stock Wii U) but, there isn't a way to boot directly into Wii-mode, is there? Because with the Wii U's current OS speed, that would be great for playing Wii games (if when you powered on the system, you knew that's what you wanted to play).

 

[[Truth]]

I haven't found it (probably doesn't exist on a stock Wii U) but, there isn't a way to boot directly into Wii-mode, is there? Because with the Wii U's current OS speed, that would be great for playing Wii games (if when you powered on the system, you knew that's what you wanted to play).

No, this is not possible.

Update:
- Updated USB-Loader GX link to r1208.

 

[rolandpibb]

Worked wonderfully. Thank you