Hacking The Definitive vWii Hacking Guide!

[Cyan]

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?

The loader doesn't check access from any of these URLs.
But the WiiU probably does.

I didn't know the WiiU filters could affect the vWii side.
To my opinion, this is what happens :
- You boot the WiiU and go to wiiu menu.
- it tries to access the network to check for updates, but fails.
- as it fails to connect, it marks the network as offline.
- You launch vWii, but the network is already disabled.

What you can do or try :
- do not use "stand by mode" or "quick launch mode" in wiiu settings.
- When you want to go to vWii, power the console and press B button until you see the Mii account selection screen, it will contain a message "Wii mode will be launched"
- select the Mii, and the WiiU shouldn't have mark the network as offline yet.
- vWii will not check for updates, so launch HBC and USBGX. the cover download should now work.

Let me know if it still doesn't, or what I explain is totally wrong

 

[tataniko]

After Homebrew Channel 1.1.2. only one cIOS (no needs Nand backup)
Hello, thanks for your guide - here is some additional information for kids who want to play only and enjoy the life without disturbing with many cIOS installation and Nand backups.

After Homebrew Channel 1.1.2. installed we use IOS 58 and AHBPROT - that's good for Gamecube backups (Nintendont), Emulators and Homebrews, but if we want to run Wii backups then we need install one cIOS (custom IOS) for iso loaders. We have to install one d2x cIOS in slot 249, 56 IOS d2x-v10beta52-vWii for iso loader (Wiiflow mastermod). d2x-v10beta52-vWii has higher compatibility for nand emulation and online stuff, less random crashes during game-play, it has USB1 support, not plug and play compatible, so you have to connect your controllers before you start to play but it's much better for gaming than beta53.

Here is the summary

- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - we can launch Gamecube isos, Emulators, Homebrews (no modification).
- d2x cIOS (slot 249, 56 IOS, d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - we can launch Wii isos with iso loaders. (install one d2x cIOS)

I use Wiiflow mastermod to launch games, because it has Wii, Gamecube and Emulator mode and it supports USB and SD. I hope, this helps for those who want simple mod and play games with only one cIOS installation by Wiiflow mastermod. You can check below my intact system only with one d2x cIOS installed in slot 249. Thanks.

SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 HacksDen Edition by JoostinOnline, Double_A, R2-D2199, and Nano
...runs on vIOS58 (rev 6432).
Region: PAL
System Menu 4.3E (v610)
Drive date: 06.28.2011
Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 running on IOS58
Hollywood v0x21
Console ID: xxxxxxx
Console Type: vWii
Shop Channel Country: United Kingdom (110)
Boot2 v0
Found 52 titles.
Found 32 IOS on this console. 0 of them are stubs.

vIOS9 (rev 1290): No Patches
vIOS12 (rev 782): No Patches
vIOS13 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS14 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS15 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS17 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS21 (rev 1295): No Patches
vIOS22 (rev 1550): No Patches
vIOS28 (rev 2063): No Patches
vIOS31 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS33 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS34 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS35 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS36 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS37 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS38 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS41 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS43 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS45 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS46 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS48 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS53 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS55 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS56 (rev 5918): No Patches
vIOS57 (rev 6175): No Patches
vIOS58 (rev 6432): USB 2.0
vIOS59 (rev 9249): No Patches
vIOS62 (rev 6942): No Patches
vIOS80 (rev 7200): No Patches
vIOS249[56] (rev 21010, Info: d2x-v10beta52-vWii): NAND Access, USB 2.0
vIOS512 (rev 7): No Patches
vIOS513 (rev 1): No Patches
Report generated on 07/19/2016.

 

[CJB100]

Can i install .wad games??

Yes, there is a whole section on it near the bottom.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

After Homebrew Channel 1.1.2. only one cIOS (no needs Nand backup)
Hello, thanks for your guide - here is some additional information for kids who want to play only and enjoy the life without disturbing with many cIOS installation and Nand backups.

After Homebrew Channel 1.1.2. installed we use IOS 58 and AHBPROT - that's good for Gamecube backups (Nintendont), Emulators and Homebrews, but if we want to run Wii backups then we need install one cIOS (custom IOS) for iso loaders. We have to install one d2x cIOS in slot 249, 56 IOS d2x-v10beta52-vWii for iso loader (Wiiflow mastermod). d2x-v10beta52-vWii has higher compatibility for nand emulation and online stuff, less random crashes during game-play, it has USB1 support, not plug and play compatible, so you have to connect your controllers before you start to play but it's much better for gaming than beta53.

Here is the summary

- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - we can launch Gamecube isos, Emulators, Homebrews (no modification).
- d2x cIOS (slot 249, 56 IOS, d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - we can launch Wii isos with iso loaders. (install one d2x cIOS)

I use Wiiflow mastermod to launch games, because it has Wii, Gamecube and Emulator mode and it supports USB and SD. I hope, this helps for those who want simple mod and play games with only one cIOS installation by Wiiflow mastermod. You can check below my intact system only with one dx2 cIOS installed in slot 249. Thanks.

SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 HacksDen Edition by JoostinOnline, Double_A, R2-D2199, and Nano
...runs on vIOS58 (rev 6432).
Region: PAL
System Menu 4.3E (v610)
Drive date: 06.28.2011
Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 running on IOS58
Hollywood v0x21
Console ID: xxxxxxx
Console Type: vWii
Shop Channel Country: United Kingdom (110)
Boot2 v0
Found 52 titles.
Found 32 IOS on this console. 0 of them are stubs.

vIOS9 (rev 1290): No Patches
vIOS12 (rev 782): No Patches
vIOS13 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS14 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS15 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS17 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS21 (rev 1295): No Patches
vIOS22 (rev 1550): No Patches
vIOS28 (rev 2063): No Patches
vIOS31 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS33 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS34 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS35 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS36 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS37 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS38 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS41 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS43 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS45 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS46 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS48 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS53 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS55 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS56 (rev 5918): No Patches
vIOS57 (rev 6175): No Patches
vIOS58 (rev 6432): USB 2.0
vIOS59 (rev 9249): No Patches
vIOS62 (rev 6942): No Patches
vIOS80 (rev 7200): No Patches
vIOS249[56] (rev 21010, Info: d2x-v10beta52-vWii): NAND Access, USB 2.0
vIOS512 (rev 7): No Patches
vIOS513 (rev 1): No Patches
Report generated on 07/19/2016.

I'm pretty sure there are none more aware of this than those who have helped me put this together. There are distinct benefits to installing at least IOS236, and the benefit of dumping your vWii info is obvious. I appreciate you trying to help, but I'd much rather someone go through the whole process, "wasting" an hour or two, so they don't get effed in the rear if they do something wrong. Suggesting not installing IOS236 and not backing up the vWii / nand is dangerous waters my friend.

Also, Cyan has made me aware of the differences between the cIOS 249 versions. And they are listed in my guide. I have not once experienced crashes during gameplay using the version that allows plug and play. Although there are some small parts of this guide where I do make a conscious decision on "what is best" for the average person, I think it's generally better to let the users decide what works for them. In the case of cIOS249, the differences are easy enough to understand.

 

[tataniko]

Simplest vWii mod guide (one cIOS) for gamers (don't need many cIOS installations, Nand backups)

We need only
- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - for Gamecube (Nintendont), Emulators, Homebrews
- cIOS249[56] (d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - for Wii (Wiiflow mastermod)

We don't need
- Nand backups
- cIOS236 (Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access)
- cIOS250[57] (d2x-v10beta53-alt-vWii)
- cIOS251[58] (d2x-v10beta53-alt-vWii)
- etc.

 

[tataniko]

Yes, you are right, but for normal users (gamers) it's quite enough only one cIOS installation for Wii backup gameplay - regarding Nand backup, WiiU can fix via IOS 36 the bricked vWii by system update, check this thread

http://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-update-problem-syscheck.431613/

 

[John2568]

does this part take this long
Dumping vWii NAND with Dump Mii NAND

its been 15min and its at like 470/4096 so far

 

[BothyBhoy]

Please lemme know if it works. I don't see why it shouldn't, but aside from one person claiming to have gotten a 256GB to work, I've never seen anyone use higher than a 64GB.

1 have 2x128gb cards from samsung. both work great.....

 

[CJB100]

does this part take this long
Dumping vWii NAND with Dump Mii NAND

its been 15min and its at like 470/4096 so far

Yes it can take up to 3 hours, although for most people it's more like 1.

Yes, you are right, but for normal users (gamers) it's quite enough only one cIOS installation for Wii backup gameplay - regarding Nand backup, WiiU can fix via IOS 36 the bricked vWii by system update, check this thread

http://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-update-problem-syscheck.431613/

First off, no, if you have to install vIOS onto the system, you need a cIOS or IOS236, and sometimes that is not even enough. That person had the ability to install vIOS36 and get his console updated. If he didn't have a cIOS or IOS236, he wouldn't have been able to install vIOS36 in the first place.

Second, someone had to dump the vIOS36 for him since it wasn't his Wii U and he had no original vIOS36 dumped from the console.

Simplest vWii mod guide (one cIOS) for gamers (don't need many cIOS installations, Nand backups)

We need only
- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - for Gamecube (Nintendont), Emulators, Homebrews
- cIOS249[56] (d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - for Wii (Wiiflow mastermod)

We don't need
- Nand backups
- cIOS236 (Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access)
- cIOS250[57] (d2x-v10beta53-alt-vWii)
- cIOS251[58] (d2x-v10beta53-alt-vWii)
- etc.

Thirdly, while this is true, you aren't getting what I am saying. This is a guide on the total vWii hacking process. As such, it would be irresponsible to not show people how to back up their nand and install extra cIOS / IOS236, when these items can be used to recover from semi bricks. There isn't a distinction between who should and should not do that. Everyone should take care of their console in every way they can.

If you want to make your own guide, go ahead. Stop misinforming in mine.

 

[John2568]

maybe because i'm using the 2gb sd and not the faster sd ha. oh well i guess i wait then.

thanks again for tutorial so far so good

 

[Cyan]

I read users saying it took many hours (all night, etc.)
The SD card write speed seems very important for this step. the write speed is determined with the class number (it's not the read speed, only the write speed indice)

We need only
- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - for Gamecube (Nintendont), Emulators, Homebrews
- cIOS249[56] (d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - for Wii (Wiiflow mastermod)

At least, if you want to install or recommend only one cIOS for gamers, choose a base 57 instead of 56.

edit : and it's probably a typo, but you said r52 supports USB Port 1, but it doesn't. only r53 can init USB Port 1.
But that's not a reason to prefer r53. users who don't need dual port shouldn't install r53. like you said, emuNAND with r52 is more interesting for a "gamer" than using a second USB Port.
Also, you can note that r53 doesn't have less compatibility with games using emuNAND. The HDD either works or not with emuNAND, it's not a game by game compatibility issue, it's a HDD issue. if r53 works with emuNAND, you don't need r52 at all. Some HDD can have issues using emuNAND, not all HDD have issues.

At least, his guide is one of the rarest which let the user choose and explain the differences instead of providing full package without information.

 

[tataniko]

This guide is based outdated and unnecessary steps from the past, like IOS236, 3 slots d2x installation, Nand backup. 2 steps are absolutely enough for safe Wii/GameCube/Emu gaming without Nand backup. I hope, this information helps others. Story is end.
- Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 (IOS58, AHB) - for Homebrews, Emulators, Gamecube (Nintendont),
- cIOS249[56] (d2x-v10beta52-vWii) - for Wii (Wiiflow mastermod)

 

[tonydean]

Gee, that is soo complicated! Hacking the wii u to play wii u games through loadiine is heaps easier. Why so complicated? Why can't you just load the Wii games through loadiine?

 

[tataniko]

I read users saying it took many hours (all night, etc.)
The SD card write speed seems very important for this step. the write speed is determined with the class number (it's not the read speed, only the write speed indice)


At least, if you want to install or recommend only one cIOS for gamers, choose a base 57 instead of 56.

edit : and it's probably a typo, but you said r52 supports USB Port 1, but it doesn't. only r53 can init USB Port 1.
But that's not a reason to prefer r53. users who don't need dual port shouldn't install r53. like you said, emuNAND with r52 is more interesting for a "gamer" than using a second USB Port.
Also, you can note that r53 doesn't have less compatibility with games using emuNAND. The HDD either works or not with emuNAND, it's not a game by game compatibility issue, it's a HDD issue. if r53 works with emuNAND, you don't need r52 at all. Some HDD can have issues using emuNAND, not all HDD have issues.

At least, his guide is one of the rarest which let the user choose and explain the differences instead of providing full package without information.

I had bad experience with r53, it does not support SD well, so I switched back to r52 and I have no issue on USB1 and SD anymore.

 

[Cyan]

I can't tell about SD compatibility, I never tried it.
but you are still posting the same thing again and again, even after being told you you were wrong.
That's your choice, don't force users to do things the way you did without explaining why, give them choices too.
When you'll notice that some games will not work with base56, you'll see why guides are telling users to install other bases.
It's not because you never had issues, that no issue will ever happen to other users.

if you don't mess your console, good for you, you won't need a NAND backup nor IOS236.
But look at all the "I semi bricked my vWii please help" threads !
IOS236 has System file installation already patched, while cIOS d2x will be able to fix a broken IOS58. (no AHB if no 58!)
Please, enlighten me how you would fix a broken IOS58 without HBC installed. Because, yes, people ARE deleting their HBC in hope to fix their issue by reinstalling it.
There are few ways to do it based on what users installed. all more easier if they followed the recommendations in these so called "outdated guides". yes, there is a way to fix a deleted IOS58 without HBC and without IOS236, but having it is easier. that's all.
Don't give too much credit to others, don't expect them to never mess anything. Lot of users mess things even if they are told not to.

I'm also for minimal installation when hacking, but I know how people act and what they do.
I helped too many users with bricked vWii already. That's not YOU who help them, it's me. if I can get a small help in me fixing their issues by installing IOS236, I would take it.
The full NAND dump is probably useless for the moment without a way to restore it (even if it's possible, just unreleased). But a dump of all the IOSes is useful, for the reason mentioned above : never trust users will follow what you tell them not to do.

 

[7Robins]

Gee, that is soo complicated! Hacking the wii u to play wii u games through loadiine is heaps easier. Why so complicated? Why can't you just load the Wii games through loadiine?

That's like complaining that you can't jailbreak Android because rooting is so much harder.

 

[CJB100]

I had bad experience with r53, it does not support SD well, so I switched back to r52 and I have no issue on USB1 and SD anymore.

It has nothing to do with SD Cards as far as I am aware. Stop posting your shit in this thread, your opinion is not law, and not wise to boot. I'll be reporting you next time because you are going to lead people into confusion. In your words: "story is end."

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Gee, that is soo complicated! Hacking the wii u to play wii u games through loadiine is heaps easier. Why so complicated? Why can't you just load the Wii games through loadiine?

Because Wii U doesn't support Wii games, only the vWii does. Which also means by association, only vWii can support GameCube games. Not to mention at the time of this post, there is frankly a lot more to do on vWii if you are new to hacking. Most of the Wii U side of things is game editing, which is quite daunting for people who haven't done it before. There aren't a ton of games or emulators on the Wii U side yet.

 

[7Robins]

LOL! Get a load of this.

 

[John2568]

Thanks for the tutorial!!! amazing job. Where can i find wads or forwarders games for the wii u.
thanks again

 

[7Robins]

Thanks for the tutorial!!! amazing job. Where can i find wads or forwarders games for the wii u.
thanks again

You can't ask for warez.

 

[Cyan]

Forwarders for WiiU can be found here : https://gbatemp.net/threads/forwarders-are-back.340226/
They usually are Wii forwarders converted to WiiU using a repacking tool (or done manually).
It's usually best to install forwarders instead of the Full channel of the corresponding homebrew. you need an SD or USB anyway for most homebrew, so why not use forwarders?

That's the only "wad" you'll get here.
Don't ask for copyrighted game files.