Hacking DIOS MIOS - Apploader size is zero!

[Deleted User]

Whenever I try to launch a Gamecube game from USB Loader GX or Wiiflow I get the error "Fatal error apploader size is zero!" I've tried googling around and came across this page https://code.google.com/p/diosmios/wiki/FAQ#I_get_"Fatal_error_apploader_size_is_zero!" but it hasn't seemed to help me any. I've tried installing the isos again, from different locations, both RAW and Optimized, and I'm positive I'm using DM instead of DML.

I'm currently trying to use USB Loader GX 3.0 r1218 and DIOS MIOS v2.10, as far as I can tell my settings look fine. Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[Cyan]

It means that DM can't find your ISO.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/dios-mios-fatal-error-apploader-size-is-zero.360993/#post-4895804

if you have two HDD connected, only keep one.
If you have only one, it's probably on the wrong partition (though, USBGX should display an alert. If not, then the hardware check is not working fine in the loader)

 

[Deleted User]

It means that DM can't find your ISO.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/dios-mios-fatal-error-apploader-size-is-zero.360993/#post-4895804

if you have two HDD connected, only keep one.
If you have only one, it's probably on the wrong partition (though, USBGX should display an alert. If not, then the hardware check is not working fine in the loader)

In GX's options, I've set it to USB port 0 (the bottom one), gamecube path is set to USB1:/games/ which is the correct folder, Multiple Partitions yes, and I've set the game/install partition to the correct partition on my drive (which is also the first partition, primary, and active). For the gamecube directory, should I set it to GAMEID_Gamename or Gamename [GAMEID]? I used DMToolBox to install the Gamecube games, but the folders it makes only contain the GAMEID. There's only 1 hard drive connected and it's able to play Wii games fine (and I've sort of played Gamecube games in the past), could you elaborate on the hardware check part?

 

[Cyan]

your setup seems fine, except for the sector size which you didn't report.

The folder layout is not important, it can be anything :
- gamename only
- gameID only (though, it acts as if it was gamename only)
- GameID_Gamename
- Gamename [GameID] (this is the default naming convention used by the loader)
If you put both the gamename and the GameID, it will launch USBLoaderGX faster as it doesn't have to open/read/close each GC ISO to get the internal GameID, it will use the one in the path instead.


The hardware check I mentioned is used by USBLoaderGX to verify the HDD's sector size, partition table to check the partition position/primary state/format and the cluster size before launching a game. if it detects something wrong it (should) warns the user about it. If it works fine, then your drive is a 512bytes/sector, or else it would have warned you about the incorrect sector size. (or, like I said, maybe my checking function is not working, I don't have 4096B/sector drives so I programmed it without testing).


Try the same iso but on SD and install DML.
DML has less chances to break as it usually have only one partition/fat32/correct sector size/etc.
You will know if the problem is your ISO.
You should also try another USB drive if you can.

 

[Deleted User]

When I formatted the hard drive I made sure it was FAT32 and 32kb cluster, the properties of the partition is as follows:
-Sectors Per Cluster: 64 (32,768 bytes) <-- that sounds like cluster size I would guess
-Number of Fats: 2
-Reserved Sectors: 32
-Sectors per FAT: 51,226
-Root 1st Cluster NO.: 2

After launching wad_manager1.7 (Waninkoko's I believe) and selecting IOS249 to install DML the Wii freezes and has to be shutdown.. Don't recall this problem when I initially installed DM. Could this problem be relevant? Or is it just another problem altogether? This is the only USB hard drive I have, before I managed to play some Gamecube Games though some would freeze at some point or another.

 

[Cyan]

Sectors Per Cluster: 64 (32,768 bytes)

ok, your drive is correctly using 512bytes per sector.
It's a hardware size, set by the manufacturer, it's not something you can change.

Wii freezing when using wad manager is another issue. (either reinstall cIOS 2dx in slot 249, or try a different wad manager).

I don't know why you have that DM error.
Try DML+SD card to be sure it's not your ISO.

 

[Deleted User]

ok, your drive is correctly using 512bytes per sector.
It's a hardware size, set by the manufacturer, it's not something you can change.

Wii freezing when using wad manager is another issue. (either reinstall cIOS 2dx in slot 249, or try a different wad manager).

I don't know why you have that DM error.
Try DML+SD card to be sure it's not your ISO.

Installed DML and copied 3 games to SD, and they all worked. Sooo I guess good news is my ISO's are fine, bad news is I don't know what the problem could be? I may try reformatting the harddrive and limiting it to 2 partitions since right now 2 are FAT32.

EDIT: Tried with only the FAT32 (1st, primary, active) and an NTFS partition, but still the same error.

Out of the errors that link offers, we've pretty much eliminated a messed up iso, and the DML/DM problem. Maybe I'll try using an older revision of USB Loader GX.

EDIT: Tired USB Loader GX revisions 1216 and 1217, still didn't work. On the bright side I got MHTri working..

Not sure if this will help but I noticed the apploader error appears immediately if there is no disc in the drive, while I get the normal Gamecube logo shortly followed by the same error is there is a disc.

Well I tried just about everything I could think of. Guess I'm just out of luck for now.

 

[Patrick472]

I was having the same problem and managed to fix it. I even wrote a tutorial here, read it and test it.. Please leave feedback gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-solve-dios-mios-errors-apploader-size-is-zero-ans-others.360692/

 

[Deleted User]

I was having the same problem and managed to fix it. I even wrote a tutorial here, read it and test it.. Please leave feedback gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-solve-dios-mios-errors-apploader-size-is-zero-ans-others.360692/

Thanks for responding! In the beginning of your post I noticed you said it was intended only for flash drives. I'm currently using a 1TB external hard drive (roughly 100GB partition for Wii/GC games) and I'm curious whether or not your guide would be helpful.

 

[Patrick472]

Well everything is worth a try, but backup everything first. I would advise you to backup every file you have, follow my guide to reformat the drive as Fat32 correctly, create a folder called 'wbfs' in your HDD root, then use Wii Backup Manager to transfer your Wii games. For gc games, create a folder called 'games' in your HDD root and use the latest DMToolbox to transfer your games. I use a 16gb flash drive this way, but it should work for hard disk drives even though I didn't test it myself with any device larger than 16gb. The only thing I ask of you is a quick feedback about my guide so I may improve it if possible

 

[Deleted User]

Well everything is worth a try, but backup everything first. I would advise you to backup every file you have, follow my guide to reformat the drive as Fat32 correctly, create a folder called 'wbfs' in your HDD root, then use Wii Backup Manager to transfer your Wii games. For gc games, create a folder called 'games' in your HDD root and use the latest DMToolbox to transfer your games. I use a 16gb flash drive this way, but it should work for hard disk drives even though I didn't test it myself with any device larger than 16gb. The only thing I ask of you is a quick feedback about my guide so I may improve it if possible

Well I'm going to test it now, I don't know about a quick feed back, I don't want to think about how long it'll take to clean a whole TB.. Buuuuut I do promise some feedback in the near future!

 

[Cyan]

So, I saw you fixed your issue in the Guide thread posted above.
Do you know what was your problem then?
because from what you detailed on this thread, I couldn't find what was wrong.

 

[Patrick472]

Thanks ^^ I think I wasn't clear about the feedback.. With ''quick'' I meant brief, simple, not too long but feel free to tell me as much as you can! I hope it works for you as well as it did for me

 

[Deleted User]

So, I saw you fixed your issue in the Guide thread posted above.
Do you know what was your problem then?
because from what you detailed on this thread, I couldn't find what was wrong.

I don't know much about hard drives but the problem lied somewhere within it. Using the clean/clean all functions on the hard drive solved whatever the problem was. Bad sectors or something? It may have had to do with the sheer numbers of times I had to create/delete and format partitions trying to get it set up perfectly. I really appreciate the assistance from both of you!

However, I seem to be right back where I was a few months ago. Some games seem to crash/freeze and I think it's do to my memory card not being Nintendo (I have some no name brand and a Nyko) I was hoping that newer versions of GX and DM would have fixed it but oh well! At least some games do work.

 

[Patrick472]

check this thread: http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/DIOS_MIOS_Compatibility_List
if your game is listed as working, try playing it without the memory card to see if it helps. You could also try loading the save file. Then, once loaded, take the memory card off, and put it back on when you need to save again (after the freezing point). it may work if the problem is really your MC. Also, try different versions of GX and DM. There's been reports of freezing problems being solved by simply switching from the latest Dios Mios (2.10) to an older one (best results with 2.0), and using ULGX rev 1218

 

[Deleted User]

check this thread: http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/DIOS_MIOS_Compatibility_List
if your game is listed as working, try playing it without the memory card to see if it helps. You could also try loading the save file. Then, once loaded, take the memory card off, and put it back on when you need to save again (after the freezing point). it may work if the problem is really your MC. Also, try different versions of GX and DM. There's been reports of freezing problems being solved by simply switching from the latest Dios Mios (2.10) to an older one (best results with 2.0), and using ULGX rev 1218

I tried that which is what makes me think it's the memory card. The problem is that when I put the memory card back in, the games usually crash. Super Mario Sunshine for example I made it all the way into the first world and I put the memory card in, ran around for a few seconds then crashed. I've had this problem since DM 2.6, I guess I could try using 2.0 but I'm not sure it'll make a difference.

However Sonic Adventure 2: Battle and Bloodrayne work flawlessly with either memory card. I own some original Gamecube memory cards, the challenge is finding them.

 

[Sage Soren]

I tried that which is what makes me think it's the memory card. The problem is that when I put the memory card back in, the games usually crash. Super Mario Sunshine for example I made it all the way into the first world and I put the memory card in, ran around for a few seconds then crashed. I've had this problem since DM 2.6, I guess I could try using 2.0 but I'm not sure it'll make a difference.

However Sonic Adventure 2: Battle and Bloodrayne work flawlessly with either memory card. I own some original Gamecube memory cards, the challenge is finding them.

I had the same problem as you do. I fixed it by using dmbooter and lemme tell you i'played many games and not error so far. I use an sd card coneccted to an card adapter wich is useful since you can use 64kb that gives you better access writing speed.