Homebrew USB Loader GX: How do you use FAT32?

[Ichigo1000]

I'm currently using WBFS format, and that means I cannot use the drive for other purposes.
I've heard FAT32 works on USB Loader GX if you make a folder that is named "wbfs".

Do I need to change/install anything else to get FAT32 working on it? Or should it be working since I already installed the files necessary to run WBFS format?

Also, is WiiBackupManager needed to add the games if it is FAT32, or do you just drag the wbfs files to the wbfs folder? I don't really like to do that because you have to wait for the transfer, similar to Diskwriter for Sky3DS.

 

[TecXero]

Make sure USB Loader GX is up to date. WiiBackupManager isn't needed. Just make sure the ISOs/WBFSs (WBFS being the file format, not the partition format) are placed in the wbfs folder. The ISO/WBFS should include the game ID in the name, preferably in brackets. Any game over 4GB will have to be split but will still work fine. You can also just have USB Loader GX install the games from disc for you.

 

[Cyan]

if you already have a WBFS partitionned drive full of game, do not format it to FAT32 manually.
There's a program to convert the WBFS partition to FAT32 partition without losing games !

look for wbfs2fat in my signature


After the conversion, you will have a folder named /wbfs/ containing subfolders with GameID.
You need to use WiiBackupManager to automatically rename all the folders to their correct format/name so USBLoaderGX can detect them.
best folder format is :
usb:/wbfs/Game name [GameID]/GameID.wbfs
usb:/wbfs/new super mario bros Wii [SMNP01]/SMNP01.wbfs

After that, you will probably have to refresh the HDD partition information in the loader (as it will still expect WBFS instead of FAT32)
settings>hdd menu>first option to refresh the partition info.


Using WiiBackupManager is needed if you use FAT32 format, as ISO are bigger than 4GB and that program will convert and split the file correctly.
If you don't want to use that program and only want to copy the ISO using your file explorer, then use NTFS partition format instead of FAT32.
But FAT32 is needed for Gamecube and all other homebrew, so NTFS is not recommended.
just use WiiBaclupManager, instead of copying the file with your file explorer, you copy the file with a program .... same thing really. and even faster with the program as it rename and compress the file !

 

[TecXero]

Just listen to Cyan. His advice will get you through it far quicker than mine. I generally just do everything manually, I sometimes forget people find it more convenient to have software do it for them.

 

[Cyan]

you still need a program to convert the ISO to wbfs (unless you dump your disc yourself, like you should if you are not a pirate).
but as I know a lot of users want to convert ISO, I suggest that program instead
well, that's only if he is on windows. I don't know for Mac or Linux, I guess QTtool or QTGui or something like that. there's also wwt and wit programs but less newbie accessible as it needs command lines.

 

[TecXero]

you still need a program to convert the ISO to wbfs (unless you dump your disc yourself, like you should if you are not a pirate).

I don't pirate (I'm fine spending a lot of money for hardware to dump my own ROMs), and I have a large enough drive that I just use the ISOs I dumped with CleanRip.
I didn't really think about using WiiBackupManager to convert to WBFS.

well, that's only if he is on windows. I don't know for Mac or Linux, I guess QTtool or QTGui or something like that. there's also wwt and wit programs but less newbie accessible as it needs command lines.

Back when I used WiiBackupManager, it ran fine under WINE.

 

[Cyan]

I'm not judging, I help all users alike
some users pirate, some don't. as long as it's not shared or linked here, I'm fine with helping whenever I can.

 

[Ichigo1000]

I'm not judging, I help all users alike
some users pirate, some don't. as long as it's not shared or linked here, I'm fine with helping whenever I can.

Is wbfs better than iso? I'm assuming it is, because i heard wbfs does not take as much space as an iso. Do wbfs and scrubbed isos take the same amount of space? I like to compress and save as much space as possible. (Assuming wbfs are compressed versions of isos)

Also, what program is needed to convert iso to wbfs? No installing is needed to make fat32 work on usb loader is already working right?

 

[TecXero]

Is wbfs better than iso? I'm assuming it is, because i heard wbfs does not take as much space as an iso. Do wbfs and scrubbed isos take the same amount of space? I like to compress and save as much space as possible. (Assuming wbfs are compressed versions of isos)

Also, what program is needed to convert iso to wbfs? No installing is needed to make fat32 work on usb loader is already working right?

WBFS compresses or removes the garbage data (can't remember which it does) while ISO is just a straight copy. You can also remove different partitions in a WBFS file to save some space as well, but from the sounds of it it's only really safe to remove the update partition. I just use ISO because space isn't a concern to me. Though I might switch over to optimize HDD usage.

WiiBackupManage (make surei t's up to date) should work fine like Cyan posted.

 

[Ichigo1000]

WBFS compresses or removes the garbage data (can't remember which it does) while ISO is just a straight copy. You can also remove different partitions in a WBFS file to save some space as well, but from the sounds of it it's only really safe to remove the update partition. I just use ISO because space isn't a concern to me. Though I might switch over to optimize HDD usage.

WiiBackupManage (make surei t's up to date) should work fine like Cyan posted.

I've just got a 3.0 2TB External HD (WD My Passport Ultra). When attempting to format, I only see NTFS and exFAT.. Why can't I choose FAT32?

 

[TecXero]

I've just got a 3.0 2TB External HD (WD My Passport Ultra). When attempting to format, I only see NTFS and exFAT.. Why can't I choose FAT32?

WiiBackupManager should have an option somewhere for formatting a partition as FAT32. Newer versions of Windows' built in utility won't format a drive over 32GB as FAT32.

 

[Ichigo1000]

WiiBackupManager should have an option somewhere for formatting a partition as FAT32. Newer versions of Windows' built in utility won't format a drive over 32GB as FAT32.

After using WBFS2FAT, USB loader shows up as 0 games.. Do you know why? And also, trying to update USB Loader GX gives me an Exception DSI error..

 

[TecXero]

After using WBFS2FAT, USB loader shows up as 0 games.. Do you know why? And also, trying to update USB Loader GX gives me a DSI error..

Go to the USB Loader GX thread and make sure the layout of your HDD is the same as described there. Also make sure USB Loader GX's HDD settings correspond to your HDD's setup.

 

[Ichigo1000]

Go to the USB Loader GX thread and make sure the layout of your HDD is the same as described there. Also make sure USB Loader GX's HDD settings correspond to your HDD's setup.

I checked "Game Load" and the partition says "FAT1". I'm still using my 16GB USB 2.0 Stick. Is there any way to check the version of the usb loader?

 

[TecXero]

I checked "Game Load" and the partition says "FAT1". I'm still using my 16GB USB 2.0 Stick. Is there any way to check the version of the usb loader?

That's under the Credits option. Also, make sure you have Wii games enabled at the top on the main menu.

 

[Ichigo1000]

That's under the Credits option. Also, make sure you have Wii games enabled at the top on the main menu.

The top says Rev 874 IOS249 (Rev 20).

 

[TecXero]

The top says Rev 874 IOS249 (Rev 20).

I'd recommend grabbing the latest from the USB Loader GX thread.

 

[Ichigo1000]

I'd recommend grabbing the latest from the USB Loader GX thread.

This isn't the latest? Also, how do you update? Do you just replace the usb loader file?

EDIT: Comment glitched on me.. Theres no delete option? LOL

 

[TecXero]

This isn't the latest? Also, how do you update? Do you just replace the usb loader file?

EDIT: Comment glitched on me.. Theres no delete option? LOL

Read opening post on the USB Loader GX thread. It will have all the information you need.

 

[Ichigo1000]

Read opening post on the USB Loader GX thread. It will have all the information you need.

This one right? https://gbatemp.net/threads/usb-loader-gx.149922/

I installed USB Loader GX I have now following a youtube video. Do I need to reinstall the cIOS, WAD, and whatever I did to update?

"USB Loader GX Version 3.0 introduces a new auto-update mechanism which is not compatible with old versions. (The old host is offline)" Maybe this is the reason of the DSi error.

Assuming I need those, I downloaded only the .dol and wad right now.

 

[TecXero]

This one right? https://gbatemp.net/threads/usb-loader-gx.149922/

I installed USB Loader GX I have now following a youtube video. Do I need to reinstall the cIOS, WAD, and whatever I did to update?

"USB Loader GX Version 3.0 introduces a new auto-update mechanism which is not compatible with old versions. (The old host is offline)" Maybe this is the reason of the DSi error.

Assuming I need those, I downloaded only the .dol and wad right now.

That's the right thread. I'm not sure about those videos, I think they might be a bit older and it seems like it would be easier to just read through the post. I don't know your setup, that's up to you to determine. Just read through the post.

 

[Ichigo1000]

That's the right thread. I'm not sure about those videos, I think they might be a bit older and it seems like it would be easier to just read through the post. I don't know your setup, that's up to you to determine. Just read through the post.

If USB Loader is already working, I assume you don't have to install those files again. So I downloaded the WAD and dol files. But I don't know what to go from there xD

If this info is needed, this is the video. Starting at 4:31 - 9:03