Hacking [HELP] Questions about vWii and USB Loader GX

[mja7011]

Hello everyone! First of all I would like to apologize as I am your average newb when it comes to homebrew. So please feel free to correct me as much as you can.

So, recently a buddy of mine installed Haxchi and mocha onto my Wii U (5.5.1) so I am able to play Wii U games off an external hardrive, in which the Wii U formatted it. Since then everything has been working well and dandy. Now what I would like to do is install vWii homebrew browser onto my Wii U console.

When I load up Haxchi, the Homebrew Browser appears. Is this where I do the Wuphax and Hackmii Installer OR do I need to install the Homebrew browser again (not through Haxchi)? I am thinking I need to install the homebrew browser again on my regular Wii U (when it first loads) because when I try to enter vWii via through Haxchi, I get an error saying that the files are corrupted and I cannot continue. When I open up vWii when I first turn on the Wii U (without starting Haxchi) everything works fine. The reason why I want to install the homebrew browser on my vWii is basically the same reason as everyone else, so I can emulate SNES, PlayStation, Wii and Gamecube games via vWii. The programs I believe I need to install are SNES9xGX, USB Loader GX, and Nintendont. Im not sure what the PlayStation one is? Which one would that be?

Now, in the past when I had a Wii, I actually installed the homebrew channel before and used USB Loader Gx and used the program WBFS Manager to organize all my games. All my Wii games are currently on another HDD of mine. Can I still use these Wii games of mine on my other HDD to play on USB Loader GX on vWii? Like, can I still use WBFS Manager with vWii, or is there another program now? I would like to use my HDD with my Wii games so I would not have to re-download them and lose all my game saves. AND if I can use it, can I transfer a partition onto my HDD that the Wii U has formatted with my Wii U games and Haxchi, OR would I have to use another HDD to play the Wii games via vWii?

I'm sorry if this sounds confusing or doesn't make sense, but everyone's help would be appreciated. I have look at various posts on the forms and there's so much to take in while having so many questions.

Thank you!

*edit* Upon further digging, I think the answer is that a Wii U formatted HDD and vWii formatted games cannot be on the same HDD. So if this is the case, can I just use another HDD for vWii and its applications? Does an external HDD HAVE to be plugged into an outlet, or can I simply use the Y USB cable that I use for the Wii U formatted HDD?

 

[RyanAnayaMc]

1) From the HBL, you start up WUPHax to hack vWii.
2) The PlayStation emulator is WiiSX
3) You can still use your other HDD for USB Loader GX on the vWii. You can also still use WBFS Manager. Consider using UStealth on this drive.
4) Yes, you essentially have 1 HDD for your WiiU games and 1 HDD for your vWii-related stuff (Homebrew, ROMs, ISOs, GCMs, etc.)
5) An external HDD does not have to be plugged into an outlet (but it can). It just has to be able to power itself. If you have a USB 3.0 drive, you probably will have to use a Y-cable (or outlet) to supply enough power. If the Y cable you have works for both drives, you can use it.

 

[mja7011]

Thank you for your input RyanAnayaMc!

Last night I was able to figure out how to get the HBL on my vWii so that is taken care of. My next step is to get many of those emulators on there so I'm sure that will raise questions in the near future.

I researched UStealth and I will use it, but should I install this before or after I install USB Loader GX, or does it not matter? It looks like I will have to purchase ANOTHER HDD (gosh I have so many!) for WBFS Manager and its games. Can I put the Wii Games and my Gamecube games on the same HDD? And to my understanding, Wii U cannot in any way read Gamecube discs, is this correct? It's a shame since I have so many already from way back when.

Also, is there a dreamcast emulator currently for the Wii U?

Thank you!

 

[godreborn]

afaik, there's no way to use gamecube discs. whether u install ustealth before or after installing usb loader gx doesn't matter. remember: u need ustealth support for various apps to work.

 

[mja7011]

remember: u need ustealth support for various apps to work.

What apps are you talking about in particular? Is it also needed for Nintendont?

Also, I tried using WiiSX and everything was working fine, but the games run extremely slow and glitch a lot. I read that the program is not that stable afterwards... is there a better PlayStation emulator for the vWii or no?

 

[godreborn]

like wiixplorer. there's an unofficial version that adds ustealth support though. it's possible to add it to any program afaik.

 

[Cyan]

1)
you don't "need Ustealth" to use homebrew.
you need "homebrew" which understand how to detected stealth'd HDD.
Some homebrew were never updated to work on such altered HDD.

The explanation about Ustealth :
if you connect a FAT32 HDD while you are on WiiU mode, the WiiU will prompt you to format your drive to WiiU format, and you'll lose all your DATA if you answer yes.
Ustealth is a way to hide that prompt. it's just to prevent users from selecting the incorrect options (3 times!) and prevent formatting it by mistake. people should really learn to read what's written when there's a big warning and the consoles asks 3 times before even formatting a HDD.

Well, Ustealth is not something you "install", but a program on your computer which alter the partition's signature. (change the signature to something else)
it render the drive "unreadable" by conventional apps (all OS, Windows, linux, etc., and all devices like consoles, tv, internet boxes, etc.)
to still read its content, you need homebrew specifically written to still read the partition from an altered partition table, or restore the original signature.
All this signature good <-> bad swap can done on computer or using a homebrew.

note that it doesn't corrupt your data or your partition, it only replace the signature of the "partition table", which is a way to see if a partition table is present on the drive. if present, normal programs are checking for partition maps.

The WiiU will not prompt to format your drive if it can't find a valid partition table signature.
On the other side, now it's Windows which will prompt you to format your hidden drive !!! it can't read it with a wrong signature. again, (and this time it's not 3 warning you'll get!) do NOT reply yes! just launch Ustealth program to restore signature and replug your drive to read it on usual devices and programs. You will need to unhide the drive before using your game manager.


Of course, you are not even required to hide your HDD!
It will work fine with all Wii homebrew, and the only issue is that you'll have a format prompt if you go to WiiU menu with that drive plugged in. just answer "no" when asked to format it.
Remember you can load directly into vWii by keeping B button pressed when booting the console until the Mii selection screen. skipping the WiiU menu will prevent the format prompt too.




2)
You should not use WBFS manager.
not on WiiU, not on Wii.
that manager is known for corrupting games.
When you delete a game using that manager, it incorrectly mark another game's bloc (cluster) as free to use. when you add a new game, it will use that bloc marked as free and overwrite another game's data. You probably already have a lot of corrupted games without knowing it, it can be a missing data anywhere in your game (at the beginning, it won't boot, in a cut-scene, it will freeze or crash when loading that particular file, etc.)

Use Wii Backup Manager instead. It won't fix your already corrupted games, but will prevent having more.

 

[godreborn]

1)
you don't "need Ustealth" to use homebrew.
you need "homebrew" which understand how to detected stealth'd HDD.
Some homebrew were never updated to work on such altered HDD.

The explanation about Ustealth :
if you connect a FAT32 HDD while you are on WiiU mode, the WiiU will prompt you to format your drive to WiiU format, and you'll lose all your DATA if you answer yes.
Ustealth is a way to hide that prompt. it's just to prevent users from selecting the incorrect options (3 times!) and prevent formatting it by mistake. people should really learn to read what's written when there's a big warning and the consoles asks 3 times before even formatting a HDD.

Well, Ustealth is not something you "install", but a program on your computer which alter the partition's signature. (change the signature to something else)
it render the drive "unreadable" by conventional apps (all OS, Windows, linux, etc., and all devices like consoles, tv, internet boxes, etc.)
to still read its content, you need homebrew specifically written to still read the partition from an altered partition table, or restore the original signature.
All this signature good <-> bad swap can done on computer or using a homebrew.

note that it doesn't corrupt your data or your partition, it only replace the signature of the "partition table", which is a way to see if a partition table is present on the drive. if present, normal programs are checking for partition maps.

The WiiU will not prompt to format your drive if it can't find a valid partition table signature.
On the other side, now it's Windows which will prompt you to format your hidden drive !!! it can't read it with a wrong signature. again, (and this time it's not 3 warning you'll get!) do NOT reply yes! just launch Ustealth program to restore signature and replug your drive to read it on usual devices and programs. You will need to unhide the drive before using your game manager.


Of course, you are not even required to hide your HDD!
It will work fine with all Wii homebrew, and the only issue is that you'll have a format prompt if you go to WiiU menu with that drive plugged in. just answer "no" when asked to format it.
Remember you can load directly into vWii by keeping B button pressed when booting the console until the Mii selection screen. skipping the WiiU menu will prevent the format prompt too.




2)
You should not use WBFS manager.
not on WiiU, not on Wii.
that manager is known for corrupting games.
When you delete a game using that manager, it incorrectly mark another game's bloc (cluster) as free to use. when you add a new game, it will use that bloc marked as free and overwrite another game's data. You probably already have a lot of corrupted games without knowing it, it can be a missing data anywhere in your game (at the beginning, it won't boot, in a cut-scene, it will freeze or crash when loading that particular file, etc.)

Use Wii Backup Manager instead. It won't fix your already corrupted games, but will prevent having more.

very informative. I wasn't aware that the wii u would only ask to format the drive 3 times nor was I aware that u could boot directly into the vWii by holding B while booting up the console. thanks for this.

 

[Cyan]

maybe I didn't word it correctly, or you misunderstood. (or I am)
It doesn't "only asks 3 times"
the user has to confirm 3 times before the consoles starts formatting, so if you ever hit "yes" inadvertently it won't format it right away and you can still cancel your choice. unless you panic and hit yes 2 more times lol

I never tried to format it or answered yes myself, but another user once posted the screenshot of that prompt up until format is starting. I think it had 3 confirmations. maybe 2? but it's not formatting right away so you can always cancel if you selected yes by mistake.
Formatting the WiiU system, it asks 3 times, so I suppose it's also 3 times to format the HDD.


about the B button, it detects it right before displaying the Mii account selection screen.
if you have CBHC, I think it has an auto vWii launching if B is pressed, to match the original B button detection on non-cbhc consoles.

 

[godreborn]

alright, that makes sense. thanks!

 

[mja7011]

1)

2)
You should not use WBFS manager.
not on WiiU, not on Wii.
that manager is known for corrupting games.
When you delete a game using that manager, it incorrectly mark another game's bloc (cluster) as free to use. when you add a new game, it will use that bloc marked as free and overwrite another game's data. You probably already have a lot of corrupted games without knowing it, it can be a missing data anywhere in your game (at the beginning, it won't boot, in a cut-scene, it will freeze or crash when loading that particular file, etc.)

Use Wii Backup Manager instead. It won't fix your already corrupted games, but will prevent having more.

So, the games themselves I used with WBFS manager in the past are corrupted? The files are still ISO files, not WBFS files. Does that mean they are still corrupted when I transfer them to the vWii's USB Loader GX?

Would It be worth keeping them, or re-ripping the games again?

 

[Cyan]

not necessarily, and not all of them at once.
wbfs partitions works using "blocs", one game could use 50 blocs for example.
when deleting a game only (not when adding games) WBFS manager mark one of an existing game bloc as free to overwrite.
if you have a lot of free space, when you add a new game it's possible that this area on the drive wrongly marked as free is not overwritten, because the manager write your new game to other free blocs.

What I suggest are :
1. Fix all blocs incorrectly marked as free, so another added game doesn't overwrite important data
2. check your games

Your HDD is now using NTFS/FAT32 ?
I thought you still used WBFS manager (it works only with WBFS partitions, as long as I remember)

If you already use FAT32 or NTFS, you can skip step1, just check your game's integrity.


1)
Get Wii Backup Manager
In the "drive" tab, select the partition you use for wii games
in the option menu of the drive tab, there is an option to fix incorrect blocs.
select that option and it will mark used blocs as "non free".

2)
As a result of overwriting a bloc, two games are now using the same bloc.
you need to know which game is "complete" and which one is partial.

in Wii Backup Manager, Drive1 tab, select the game you want to test (don't select too many at once, it can takes some times)
then select the options > Sha1
it will verify all the files inside the ISO, and will report if the game is complete (green) or corrupted (red).


that way, you won't need to re-rip all your games, only the corrupted ones.

 

[mja7011]

not necessarily, and not all of them at once.
wbfs partitions works using "blocs", one game could use 50 blocs for example.
when deleting a game only (not when adding games) WBFS manager mark one of an existing game bloc as free to overwrite.
if you have a lot of free space, when you add a new game it's possible that this area on the drive wrongly marked as free is not overwritten, because the manager write your new game to other free blocs.

What I suggest are :
1. Fix all blocs incorrectly marked as free, so another added game doesn't overwrite important data
2. check your games

Your HDD is now using NTFS/FAT32 ?
I thought you still used WBFS manager (it works only with WBFS partitions, as long as I remember)

If you already use FAT32 or NTFS, you can skip step1, just check your game's integrity.


1)
Get Wii Backup Manager
In the "drive" tab, select the partition you use for wii games
in the option menu of the drive tab, there is an option to fix incorrect blocs.
select that option and it will mark used blocs as "non free".

2)
As a result of overwriting a bloc, two games are now using the same bloc.
you need to know which game is "complete" and which one is partial.

in Wii Backup Manager, Drive1 tab, select the game you want to test (don't select too many at once, it can takes some times)
then select the options > Sha1
it will verify all the files inside the ISO, and will report if the game is complete (green) or corrupted (red).


that way, you won't need to re-rip all your games, only the corrupted ones.

I see, I will try this out tonight when I get home.

On another question, what is the best way to rip a gamecube game into an ISO file on my HDD? USB Loader GX or CleanRip? Or is their a better way? I have 24 gamecube games I'd like to rip while I still have my Wii.

 

[Cyan]

both apps are dumping 1:1 clean ISO of gamecube games.
you can use the one you prefer.

Personally, I'd recommend USBLoaderGX is you plan playing with Nintendont, as it dumps in the correct folder, with the correct filename. it detects if it's a dual disc game, and put both in the same folder automatically, etc.

 

[mja7011]

both apps are dumping 1:1 clean ISO of gamecube games.
you can use the one you prefer.

Personally, I'd recommend USBLoaderGX is you plan playing with Nintendont, as it dumps in the correct folder, with the correct filename. it detects if it's a dual disc game, and put both in the same folder automatically, etc.

Ok, I do plan on using Nintendont. However, Nintendont is only for the WiiU not Wii correct?

 

[Cyan]

it's for both

 

[mja7011]

it's for both

So I also need Nintendont also to rip gamecube games on Wii or just USB Loader GX? (sorry I know I'm a newb)

 

[Cyan]

The ripped (dumped) games are just ISO on your HDD (or SD), it's a dull copy of the disc in ISO format.
you don't need to make a new ISO to use on another console, it will be identical and you already have it.

The ISO are the same, the programs are the same.
Most homebrew for Wii are just compatible on vWii, they are nearly identical.
Nintendont detects the console type, and do its magic in the background to patch the IOS differently. it's all done transparently to the end user.
you can use the same devices (SD and/or USB) on both consoles and change whenever you want.

 

[mja7011]

Alrighty so last night I was able to check all my Wii ISO's using the Sha-1 option and they all turned out green so they are all not corrupted. I also was able to turn my WBFS formatted drive into at FAT32 easily without deleting the games using another program... I forget the name. I also figured out how to take my Gamecube games and convert them into ISO using USB Loader GX, however that'll take me a couple of days because I have 24 games.... is there a way I can direct it to the HDD, or can it only go on my SD card and then I have to manually move it to the HDD?

Also when all is said and done, can my Wii games and Gamecube games be read from the same FAT32 partition on my HDD through USB Loader GX? Or do the games need to be separated on two different FAT32 partitions?

 

[lwiz]

Alrighty so last night I was able to check all my Wii ISO's using the Sha-1 option and they all turned out green so they are all not corrupted. I also was able to turn my WBFS formatted drive into at FAT32 easily without deleting the games using another program... I forget the name. I also figured out how to take my Gamecube games and convert them into ISO using USB Loader GX, however that'll take me a couple of days because I have 24 games.... is there a way I can direct it to the HDD, or can it only go on my SD card and then I have to manually move it to the HDD?

I did my conversions ages ago using PC and transferred direct from there to the USB disk. Just can't remember the exact programs or procedure, but it should be here in gbatemp.

Also when all is said and done, can my Wii games and Gamecube games be read from the same FAT32 partition on my HDD through USB Loader GX? Or do the games need to be separated on two different FAT32 partitions?

Wii and Gamecube games can live happily in same Ustealthed partition and IMO that's betst thing to do. (Partitioning haven't really been needed since the days of old MS-DOS )