Hacking The Definitive vWii Hacking Guide!

[coveiro24]

Could you tell me which 2.5 hdd you recommend to buy for wiiu, so I can use with the Y cable!
Thanks

 

[CJB100]

This Toshiba 500GB drive is what I use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N...hard+drive&dpPl=1&dpID=31FBYG+JrLL&ref=plSrch

But really, any 1TB or under HDD should work. I'd stick with a popular brand like WD or Toshiba. You can go bigger than a TB but there may be additional steps involved to get it formatted correctly if it's 2TB or more.

As far as the Y Cable, there is a link in the first requirement under setting up USB Loader GX.

 

[jericho129]

Hi CJB100,

Thank you for your guide.

Just something to add. You state in your guide that Tales of Symphonia exploit is PAL version only, but I'd seen files for NTSC available (http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Eri_HaKawai) so I did it anyways since no other exploit was available to me.

Here are my steps:
1. Ran game until I could create save (because I was unsure where I would copy exploit save to if I did not run game first)
2. Got archived file from wiibrew website, copied 'private' folder contents to SDCard.
3. Renamed RT4E folder to RT4P folder, because I had read the last letter denotes region, and 'P' denotes NTSC region. When using vWii data management tool to copy save, I received message that data 'may not have been copied'. System was recognizing a file but icon was just question marks.
4. Deleted original save I had created in game.
5. Used vWii data management tool to copy save, this time system recognized it and icon showed small drawing and region 'USA'.
6. Ran game, loaded first save, followed remaining steps.

What caused problems for me was the file folder was 'RT4E' which I understood to be PAL region. If I had to do the above again, I would ignore #3 entirely. I am also not sure if #1 is required.

Currently dumping NAND, thanks again for your guide.

 

[hirvimies]

Thank you for this guide. I've hacked the regular Wii before but it seems like vWii is a bit different from what I did back then. Will try this out as soon as possible.

 

[CJB100]

Hi CJB100,

Thank you for your guide.

Just something to add. You state in your guide that Tales of Symphonia exploit is PAL version only, but I'd seen files for NTSC available (http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Eri_HaKawai) so I did it anyways since no other exploit was available to me.

Here are my steps:
1. Ran game until I could create save (because I was unsure where I would copy exploit save to if I did not run game first)
2. Got archived file from wiibrew website, copied 'private' folder contents to SDCard.
3. Renamed RT4E folder to RT4P folder, because I had read the last letter denotes region, and 'P' denotes NTSC region. When using vWii data management tool to copy save, I received message that data 'may not have been copied'. System was recognizing a file but icon was just question marks.
4. Deleted original save I had created in game.
5. Used vWii data management tool to copy save, this time system recognized it and icon showed small drawing and region 'USA'.
6. Ran game, loaded first save, followed remaining steps.

What caused problems for me was the file folder was 'RT4E' which I understood to be PAL region. If I had to do the above again, I would ignore #3 entirely. I am also not sure if #1 is required.

Currently dumping NAND, thanks again for your guide.

Thank you! I will add a small note in the guide regarding this.

Thank you for this guide. I've hacked the regular Wii before but it seems like vWii is a bit different from what I did back then. Will try this out as soon as possible.

The only big differences are that vWii requires a game, and vWii also uses its own specific versions of IOS, cIOS, IOS236 and Channel Forwarders, and obviously there is no native GameCube controller support for most homebrew other than Nintendont. Other than that, it's mostly the same, with some minor differences here and there that can make your experience more reliable / enjoyable. If you go through this guide step by step, you should have the full hacking process complete within about 2 - 3 hours with no complications -- HBC, USB Loader GX, Nintendont, emulators, the whole nine yards.

 

[Kirtai]

Thank you! I will add a small note in the guide regarding this.

I think the hacked character in the NTSC version is called "Giantpune" instead of "Eri HaKawai".

 

[jericho129]

I think the hacked character in the NTSC version is called "Giantpune" instead of "Eri HaKawai".

That is correct, the steps I followed for that part were from http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Eri_HaKawai :
- Start the game and load the first save.
- Press the PLUS button to enter the game menu.
- Scroll to the STATUS button and press A.
- Scroll to the monster named "Eri HaKawai" (NTSC version: "Giantpune") and press A.
- The boot.elf file should be loaded from your SD card.

Great relief when hbc loaded at this point

I am slightly worried that my nand dumping is taking so long (few hours) but at least it hasn't frozen yet.

 

[CJB100]

That is correct, the steps I followed for that part were from http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Eri_HaKawai :
- Start the game and load the first save.
- Press the PLUS button to enter the game menu.
- Scroll to the STATUS button and press A.
- Scroll to the monster named "Eri HaKawai" (NTSC version: "Giantpune") and press A.
- The boot.elf file should be loaded from your SD card.

Great relief when hbc loaded at this point

I am slightly worried that my nand dumping is taking so long (few hours) but at least it hasn't frozen yet.

It took me about an hour. Depending on your SD Card I've heard it can't take up to 3.

 

[jericho129]

Currently in YetAnotherBlueDumpMOD, how do I 'dump each ios' to wad?

I've navigated into System Titles directory, and inside there is a list of >30 more directories, starting with "00000002 - System Menu v.4.3U...".

I tried option 1, "Dump options" but when I continue with it I receive "The title you chose has no savedata! Use the WAS function for this."

Any suggestions?

 

[CJB100]

Currently in YetAnotherBlueDumpMOD, how do I 'dump each ios' to wad?

I've navigated into System Titles directory, and inside there is a list of >30 more directories, starting with "00000002 - System Menu v.4.3U...".

I tried option 1, "Dump options" but when I continue with it I receive "The title you chose has no savedata! Use the WAS function for this."

Any suggestions?

Are there directories labeled IOS?

 

[jericho129]

This is what I'm seeing:

http://imgur.com/RnZZaDy


Edit: Fixed it.

When I selected the 'Dump options' I didn't realize I could press right or left to change options.

Pressing 1 shows this:
"Backup Savedata"

Subsequently pressing right shows:
"Restore Savedata"

Once more shows:
"Backup to Wad"

Sorry, did not realize there were those other options - it works now!

 

[CJB100]

No, you're perfectly fine! Glad to help.

 

[cmdwedge]

Awesome stuff. Followed your guide to the letter and it's working great! Only thing is that I cannot download ANYTHING from within USB Loader GX. I can't update, I can't download covers. If I try to update the app or download covers, it says 'initializing network' and then moves on to the downloading screen, and just stalls there. Doesn't really lock up, because I can still use the Wiimote, but it won't let me cancel and I need to power cycle the console to get back out. It'll just sit there on 0% downloaded and never move.

When launch HBL, if I check the status it shows my correct IP address (192.168.1.115) so I know that it has a connection. Just doesn't want to work.

 

[CJB100]

Awesome stuff. Followed your guide to the letter and it's working great! Only thing is that I cannot download ANYTHING from within USB Loader GX. I can't update, I can't download covers. If I try to update the app or download covers, it says 'initializing network' and then moves on to the downloading screen, and just stalls there. Doesn't really lock up, because I can still use the Wiimote, but it won't let me cancel and I need to power cycle the console to get back out. It'll just sit there on 0% downloaded and never move.

When launch HBL, if I check the status it shows my correct IP address (192.168.1.115) so I know that it has a connection. Just doesn't want to work.

Make sure don't have a lock on by checking the rightmost icon up at the top of USB Loader GX. Be certain the console is connecting to the correct WiFi in Wii U mode and using the correct password. If that doesn't work, try only downloading one set of the box art and see if that works.

 

[cmdwedge]

Make sure don't have a lock on by checking the rightmost icon up at the top of USB Loader GX. Be certain the console is connecting to the correct WiFi in Wii U mode and using the correct password. If that doesn't work, try only downloading one set of the box art and see if that works.

Tried all of those things. Still no go unfortunately.

Even managed to browse to gametdb.com in the Wii U browser, just to confirm that the console had nothing stopping it. I'm using a 128GB SD card, so I might try it with a smaller card in case USB Loader GX simply doesn't like the format of the card.

 

[cmdwedge]

Tried an 8GB card and a 2GB card. Still no dice. This is driving me mental.

 

[CJB100]

It would drive me mental as well. I see in your first post you talk about updating the app. I know the app has been updated recently, perhaps you should grab the newest version from the OP linked in the appropriate section of the guide and try updating it that way. See if it fixes your other downloading issues. Hm, @Cyan got any clues?

 

[cmdwedge]

Found the issue. I was using my router to block the known Nintendo URLs:

nus.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
nus.cdn.shop.wii.com
nus.cdn.wup.shop.nintendo.net
nus.wup.shop.nintendo.net
c.shop.nintendowifi.net
cbvc.cdn.nintendo.net
cbvc.nintendo.net

Switched off the filter (making sure that the DNS was pointing to a safe one) and started the Wii U up again. Now everything downloads. The question is - why? Which of those URLs would matter to USB Loader GX?

 

[CJB100]

Not sure. If I had to guess, one of the nus ones.

 

[Angelcraft]

Can i install .wad games??