Hacking USB Loader GX

[GreyWolf]

I already have only the forwarder installed. Now getting the same issue on vWii, I did everything according to the Definitive vWii Hacking Guide.

Are you booting straight to the loader using Priiloader?

 

[SomeGamer]

Are you booting straight to the loader using Priiloader?

Nope, through the forwarder, from System Menu.

 

[GreyWolf]

Nope, through the forwarder, from System Menu.

Hmm... and the credits screen shows the same revision when you first boot it and after returning from another title? The problem you described is generally caused by having two different versions on the console. Usually it's either 3.0c (full channel) is installed or the loader dol inadvertently was installed in Priiloader instead of the forwarder dol. Both situations make it so updating online updates the /apps/ version but not the one that's initially being launched.

 

[SomeGamer]

Yep, v3.0 Rev. 1262 in both cases. Also, when launching HBC from USB Loader GX after returning from a GC game, it shows the same scam message as when first installed.

 

[GreyWolf]

USB Loader GX doesn't have a scam warning.

 

[SomeGamer]

USB Loader GX doesn't have a scam warning.

I mean, HBC shows that if launched from USB Loader GX after a GC game.

 

[Cyan]

HBC channel is not meant to be launched from within USBLoaderGX. USBLoaderGX reloads to IOS249 before launching a channel, and HBC requires IOS58!
instead choose "exit > to HBC". If you don't have that option, you can set "home menu" located in the GUI settings to "full".

your issue is really strange because it's the exact symptom than if you were using two different USBLoaderGX revision.
usually it happens with Full channel (r1180) and homebrew version (revision on SD).
but it could also happen with "revision on SD" being different than "revision on USB" (mixing path and devices is never good).

Are you using SD card only for all our homebrew ?
please, don't put homebrew and USBLoaderGX resources on USB.

I don't see any other cause for your issue right now. sorry.
Be sure that you are using the EXACT same dol for both system menu channel and homebrew channel launching. maybe you have different GXGlobal.cfg, one in sd:/config/ one in apps/usbloader_gx/ or another one in apps/usbloadergx/ (without the underscore).

 

[SomeGamer]

Are you using SD card only for all our homebrew ?

Yes, all vWii stuff is on SD.
It's strange because my Wii produces the exact same symptoms, even though I set that up ages ago, following a different guide.

 

[Cyan]

usually, the issue is caused by "returning to" an old version when exiting nintendont.
reloading an old version (the full channel) which doesn't have the new settings cause these settings to be deleted from the GXglobal.cfg
If it returned to the correct revision, your settings would still be there as they would be known and not deleted.

did you try to do it manually ?
1. run USBGX from HBC.
2. set a setting you can easily check later to see if it's preserved or lost.
3. exit USBGX (not from launching nintendont, just exit > to HBC or system menu)
4. from system menu, launch USBGX channel (forwarder)
5. check your setting, is it good or lost ?

if it works, and your setting is preserved, then it's related to nintendont only ?
run USBGX -> nintendont -> exit back to return to USBGX.
setting lost?

I could ask if the lost setting is only set during the "last session" before launching nintendont, or if even very old changed and already saved settings in multiple previous sessions were lost too?

If it's affecting only settings set in "last session" then there's a setting saving bug when launching nintendont. can be fixed easily by forcing a setting save before launching a game.
if it's affecting old changes, then to me it looks like a conflict of different version, and I don't know the cause if you really have the same version.

 

[Alex658]

HBC channel is not meant to be launched from within USBLoaderGX. USBLoaderGX reloads to IOS249 before launching a channel, and HBC requires IOS58!
instead choose "exit > to HBC". If you don't have that option, you can set "home menu" located in the GUI settings to "full".

your issue is really strange because it's the exact symptom than if you were using two different USBLoaderGX revision.
usually it happens with Full channel (r1180) and homebrew version (revision on SD).
but it could also happen with "revision on SD" being different than "revision on USB" (mixing path and devices is never good).

Are you using SD card only for all our homebrew ?
please, don't put homebrew and USBLoaderGX resources on USB.

I don't see any other cause for your issue right now. sorry.
Be sure that you are using the EXACT same dol for both system menu channel and homebrew channel launching. maybe you have different GXGlobal.cfg, one in sd:/config/ one in apps/usbloader_gx/ or another one in apps/usbloadergx/ (without the underscore).

I'm curious, why can't you put usb loader gx on usb ad homebrew? I put mine there because i did not know if it had to be "installed" on the same device the games would be. That would explain why usbloadergx takes so long to reinitialize (like a minute) other than that no slowdowns or anything.

 

[Cyan]

you can, but some users are not using "common" setup, for example multiple USB at the same time is REALLY a bad thing!
Puting the /apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol on SD or USB, AND putting the ressources on a different USB port is asking for drive or partition corruption !

You can't really have 2 USB Port at the same time, it's one or the other, so the loader unmount the drive and if it has the settings on that drive and it tried to save any changed settings or access any ressource files (themes, music, covers, etc.) while the other USB is loaded, you'll have a crash (at best), HDD corruption (at worst).


also, a lot of users are having issues with HDD detection, which could create the same issue.
is the HDD is disconnecting (not enough power!) or not detected but the SD config refer to any path on USB for the ressources (covers, themes, etc.) they will not be found or loaded or saved.

as a better and safer practice, I'd recommend users to keep the settings and resources on a device you are sure is always mounted and available (the SD, or a SINGLE (not multi-port) USB).


Ps:
I just learned The homebrew channel became open source
It has a new TitleID to fix vWii aspect ratio issue, I'll have to add the new titleID to USBGX or it can't exit to the new released HBC compiled from open sources.
it's in sys.cpp line 208/217

new titleID : OHBC
000100014F484243

Spoiler

#define HBC_HAXX	0x0001000148415858LL
#define HBC_JODI	0x000100014A4F4449LL
#define HBC_1_0_7	0x00010001AF1BF516LL
#define HBC_LULZ	0x000100014c554c5aLL
#define HBC_OHBC	0x000100014F484243LL

void Sys_LoadHBC(void)
{
	ExitApp();

	WII_Initialize();

	// Try launching all known HBC titles in reversed released order
	WII_LaunchTitle(HBC_OHBC);
	WII_LaunchTitle(HBC_LULZ);
	WII_LaunchTitle(HBC_1_0_7);
	WII_LaunchTitle(HBC_JODI);
	WII_LaunchTitle(HBC_HAXX);

	//Back to system menu if all fails
	SYS_ResetSystem(SYS_RETURNTOMENU, 0, 0);
}

 

[Alex658]

you can, but some users are not using "common" setup, for example multiple USB at the same time is REALLY a bad thing!
Puting the /apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol on SD or USB, AND putting the ressources on a different USB port is asking for drive or partition corruption !

You can't really have 2 USB Port at the same time, it's one or the other, so the loader unmount the drive and if it has the settings on that drive and it tried to save any changed settings or access any ressource files (themes, music, covers, etc.) while the other USB is loaded, you'll have a crash (at best), HDD corruption (at worst).

oh, alright. I misunderstood you then. I only have one HDD and its in port 0, i have my emulators on the sd card (what's the actual limit for an sdcard? Can it actually read sdhc? Until how much?) and nintendont and usbloadergx on the usb. I wonder its more of a nintendont doubt than usbloader but, can i use an usb-hid controller on the other port while i have my hdd on port 0? Or is it the same and it generates issues?

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

stupid mobile phone, hopefully it will automerge.

what's the right folder for covers? Tried putting them in usb1/apps/usbloadergx/gx usb1/apps/gx and usb1/root the covers were downloaded with wii backup manager, i don't have internet at home so i couldn't tell usbloader to download them on its own. Thanks Cyan

 

[Cyan]

don't worry, it was my fault not explaining properly and telling to not use USB at all

WiiU can read SDXC up to 512GB (more expansive than the console, not sure anybody tried that size hehe)
Wii ... I don't remember, maybe it was SDHC 32GB? I didn't try SDXC 64+

You can connect a HID without issue.
The USB Loader is (should) detect the USB interface (descriptors) using the IOS low level function and loads only the HDDs.
nintendont use another IOS low level function to mount only HID from USB. so they should not conflict.


The default covers are :
apps/usbloader_gx/images/
in the image folders, you have the "2D", "full", "disc" folders corresponding to the cover type you downloaded.
"2D" folder contains both the 2D and 3D folders, depends which one you are using (flat or perspective), I don't like the name "2D and 3D" in the cover download menu, and users don't really understand the differences, not that they shouldn't download both version, only pick one. if both are selected, 3D has priority so most users never saw the 2D version in their loader.
Full is the full recto-verso cover for the 3D rotatable box
disc is the disc cover (when using disc mode in game window type)

Additionally, there is usbloader_gx/cache_bnr/ for the animated banner caching folder.

 

[mcmn]

When setting up a new Wii, should I use d2x cIOS v8 or v10-beta52? Main use case is running games from USB Launcher GX.

 

[Clydefrosch]

its a little out there, but would anyone know if there's some kind of usb hub with a phyiscal switch to change which stick is actually connected to the wii?
similar to those cable switches they had back in the day for genesis/snes

no matter how i look at it, I'm not dumping enough games to warrant using an actual external hd, so usb sticks it is. by my estimate, I'll be fine with one stick for a few wii games and one for my gamecube games (most of them are at my brothers place so no we can both play them separately) but I don't want to exchange the sticks all the time. i'm also kinda afraid one of them might end up missing while its not plugged in, so a hub sounds like the best idea.

all i can find is like the opposite, a hub where you put in one stick and get a switch to decide with which device you want to connect it...

 

[Zonta85]

When setting up a new Wii, should I use d2x cIOS v8 or v10-beta52? Main use case is running games from USB Launcher GX.

Beta 52 base 56 in slot 249 and bets 52 too (but with 57 base)in slot 250.

 

[Gamefreakblog]

Hey guys, wondering if you can help me.

Been getting some awesome help with some stuff from a member on here. He has taken me through to installing the USB loader GX and Nintendont and helped me with some options. I;m trying to get GC games to load. I have an 8GB USB that I am essentially just testing with a game or two before I shell out for a larger USB HD. I have placed a folder in it called games, then another folder in that with the game name (Wind waker), extracted the iso to it and renamed it game.iso. I pop the USB card in the outer USB slot on the back and it essentially freezes when trying to utilize the USB. I pop it in the other one and it works fine, goes straight to the USB loader main menu, where I can see games on the Wii internal memory, but I cannot find wind waker there. I have ticked the NES box at the top and Gamecube is ticked within there.

I am a real, real novice and a noob with all this. I literally need a step by step spelling out, so if you have any advice, or something like a setting that I may have wrong any advice will be appreciated.

 

[Zonta85]

@Cyan usb loader gx supports .ciso files? I would try the Nintendont fork that uses this file extension.
If not, do you think that is possible to rename in .iso changing the game xestension and use them witj any issues?

EDIT

Never mind, you gave the answer a long time ago

https://gbatemp.net/threads/usb-loa...ck-to-hbc-for-some-games.386627/#post-5455832

 

[Cyan]

I also gave the answer recently, in nintendont thread I think.
ciso was a format used by Wii games, and is compatible only with Hermes cIOS. (not d2x)

Now that nintendont is also using that file extension for gamecube games (not necessarily the same format than the wii games, but using the same extension), I can add ciso extension to the gamecube games, it will require a little rework on the code as it's currently expecting only two extension (iso and gcm) and using a ternary operation (if not iso, then it's gcm)

for(int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "disc2.%s", (i % 2) == 0 ? "gcm" : "iso");
}

it's a loop of 2, and there's a check on "odd/even" on that loop counter.
if it's even, it's using gcm, if it's odd it's using iso.

it will require a rewriting of that loop (which does other things too, not just set the extension.
that's not difficult, just want to show it's not a simple "3 letters to add" in a compatible extension list.

When setting up a new Wii, should I use d2x cIOS v8 or v10-beta52? Main use case is running games from USB Launcher GX.

If you have a Wii, I'd recommend v8 (because that way, you don't have to care about normal or alt version, just a single one is easier to choose from!)
if you have a WiiU, you need v10 (in that case I recommend r52 instead of r53)

But if you want r52 for wii, it's fine too.
it has been updated to use the same version number when the WiiU was released because both were updated to WiiU vWii at the same time, v10 works like v8, while v10 alternative works like v9.
v8 or v10 are the same thing. There is only a very small fix in v10 which is not in v8.


@Clydefrosch
If all you want is to have 2 USB (one wii, one gamecube) you don't need a hub, nor even a hardware switch to bother with, just plug both drives!

1. Install d2x v10-alt (this is exactly in that case that r53 is needed!)
2. Just plug them both, put the Wii drive in USB Slot 0, and gamecube games in USB slot 1 (not the other way around!)
3. Go into USBLoaderGX > settings > HDD settings > USB Port : Both
4. reboot the loader to initialize both USB drives
5. Go to USBLoaderGX > settings > User path > Gamecube main folder : Set "usb2:/games" !
be sure it's usb2 (device connected on port1) and not usb1 (device connected on port0).
6. On the main window, Select the gamecube and wii games (at the same time if you want) from the 4th icon on the top menu.
7. ATTENTION !!! Be sure to use an SD card for all your homebrew data. when you enable Dual port, you should NOT use any config or cover or music located on a USB drive because when the loader will look at both drive's content, only one is kept mounted at the same time, and you'll lose data if the loader tries to load/save on the unmounted drive.

Now, when you launch a gamecube, it will tell nintendont to boot "/games/Game title/game.iso", like you see, there's no "usb2:" in front, so no mention to any partition or drive.
Nintendont use IOS58 which mounts Port1 first and it will find the gamecube games there


Cons of using cIOS v10-alt :
- less compatible emuNAND (but it's drive related, not game related. If EmuNAND works for 1 game with v10-alt, it will work fine with all other compatible games)
- USBLoaders can't boot games from SD (but neither can USBLoaderGX)
- some games might have issues (just dance, sing it)
What you can do is install d2x v8 or v10 (non alt) in slot 251 or 248 with a base 57, and for these specific games or emuNAND, set the game's IOS individual setting to that slot. it will shutdown both USB, reboot to cIOS compatible with USB Port0 only (fine! you have Wii games in that port) and load your game or EmuNAND correctly.

My recommended setup for you :
249 : d2x v10-alt base57 (for dual port, default setting)
250 : d2x v10 base57 (for problematic Wii games with d2x alternative)

 

[Zonta85]

I also gave the answer recently, in nintendont thread I think.
ciso was a format used by Wii games, and is compatible only with Hermes cIOS. (not d2x)

Now that nintendont is also using that file extension for gamecube games (not necessarily the same format than the wii games, but using the same extension), I can add ciso extension to the gamecube games, it will require a little rework on the code as it's currently expecting only two extension (iso and gcm) and using a ternary operation (if not iso, then it's gcm)

for(int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "disc2.%s", (i % 2) == 0 ? "gcm" : "iso");
}

it's a loop of 2, and there's a check on "odd/even" on that loop counter.
if it's even, it's using gcm, if it's odd it's using iso.

it will require a rewriting of that loop (which does other things too, not just set the extension.
that's not difficult, just want to show it's not a simple "3 letters to add" in a compatible extension list.

Thank you, so kind as ever. That code remembered me my studies at the secondary school