Hacking Best way to transfer games to HDD?

[ProtoTypeT1]

Hello everyone, first of all I would to thank everyone who helped along the way to discover and implement all of these mods/exploits/homebrews! I appreciate you all more than you know!

I just managed to install and setup the CBHC CWF and I got everything working. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to transfer games to my Wii U. On the original Wii I could format the USB HDD and use WBFS Manager to transfer games directly on the HDD that was connected to my PC. If I understand it correctly (and please correct me if I'm wrong), you can't hook a Wii U formatted HDD back up to your PC and transfer files directly to it? I'm currently using Wii U USB Helper along with the Wii U USB Helper Transfer Tool to transfer the files to my Wii U, and while that's working, it feels like there should be a better way. I am not complaining, I appreciate all of this very much, however I am just curious if there is an easier way and faster way?

Thank you in advance to anyone that can help!

 

[Kafluke]

Your PC can't read your Wii U HD. Installing from SD is the best way right now.

(Yes I know there are ways to use ftp and get it done but for noobs id stick with SD and WUP installer)

 

[ProtoTypeT1]

Thank you, that's what I suspected after researching most of the day. I did look into using an FTP method, but that isn't any faster than the method I'm using now. Would you happen to know if it's possible to install games from a flash drive instead of the SD card? I don't currently have an SD card large enough to install a couple games and I'm not really sure how to work around this until I can get a larger one.

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Sorry for the double reply, it's not letting me edit my last post. I just realized that it actually your guide that I followed Kafluke, so I would like you thank you personally! Your guide made it very easy to properly get everything working on my Wii U!

 

[Kafluke]

Thank you, that's what I suspected after researching most of the day. I did look into using an FTP method, but that isn't any faster than the method I'm using now. Would you happen to know if it's possible to install games from a flash drive instead of the SD card? I don't currently have an SD card large enough to install a couple games and I'm not really sure how to work around this until I can get a larger one.

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

Sorry for the double reply, it's not letting me edit my last post. I just realized that it actually your guide that I followed Kafluke, so I would like you thank you personally! Your guide made it very easy to properly get everything working on my Wii U!

Thanks for the Kudos. You can't install from USB with WUP Installer. Doesn't matter if it's external HD or flash drive. SD only

 

[xpoverzion]

Thanks for the Kudos. You can't install from USB with WUP Installer. Doesn't matter if it's external HD or flash drive. SD only

I have always wondered why WUP Installer can only install from an SD card/slot. Is it not possible to program WUP installer to read data from a USB port. If not, why?

 

[Kafluke]

I have always wondered why WUP Installer can only install from an SD card/slot. Is it not possible to program WUP installer to read data from a USB port. If not, why?

The code is available. Go ahead and program it.

 

[xpoverzion]

The code is available. Go ahead and program it.

Is it possible to program that, or is there some kind of hardware/software architectural limitations on the Wii U that requires, or forces WUP installer to use the SD slot? Otherwise, given how cumbersome it is to transfer 100's GB's worth of data on 32, 64, or 128GB SD cards is, I'm surprised the original coders of WUP installer didn't just design it to use the other USB ports on the Wii U, in which case you can use any size hard drive you want. I'm guessing it's not possible for some reason, otherwise I don't see why somebody out there who knows how to program this stuff hasn't already done it to make life easier for themselves, and everybody else out there. I'm not a programmer, so that person won't be me.

 

[Kafluke]

Is it possible to program that, or is there some kind of hardware/software architectural limitations on the Wii U that requires, or forces WUP installer to use the SD slot? Otherwise, given how cumbersome it is to transfer 100's GB's worth of data on 32, 64, or 128GB SD cards is, I'm surprised the original coders of WUP installer didn't just design it to use the other USB ports on the Wii U, in which case you can use any size hard drive you want. I'm guessing it's not possible for some reason, otherwise I don't see why somebody out there who knows how to program this stuff hasn't already done it to make life easier for themselves, and everybody else out there. I'm not a programmer, so that person won't be me.

You made my point for me. If it was that easy someone else would have done it.

If you really want a full explanation from the WUP Installer devs then the information is available. Thing is, if you're not a programmer it won't make sense to you.

So you have to ask yourself, do you really think you're the only one to make a point about USB being bigger than SD? Do you really think you're the first to suggest this?

If your intent is to gather informatiom So you can continue the development then so be it. I'm guessing though that you're simply complaining that you can't use USB to install from WUP Installer. I don't believe a request for information on the exact reasons why this isn't possible will benefit you in any way.

Sarcasm aside. It's not possible. Unless your a programmer there is no reason to explain every detail to you. The code is open sourced and enough documentation on the Wii U subsystems is available to you if you really know what to do with it. Of course if you did, then you wouldn't be asking for an explanation here.

 

[urherenow]

Your PC can't read your Wii U HD. Installing from SD is the best way right now.

(Yes I know there are ways to use ftp and get it done but for noobs id stick with SD and WUP installer)

Currently... but I seem to remember being able to mount a WBFS file system on PC. Haven't messed with Wii (or WiiU) stuff in a long while. Couldn't the same thing be done for Wii U with use of your dumped OTP?

 

[Kafluke]

Currently... but I seem to remember being able to mount a WBFS file system on PC. Haven't messed with Wii (or WiiU) stuff in a long while. Couldn't the same thing be done with use of your dumped OTP?

Wii U is not wbfs. Its completely different

 

[urherenow]

Wii U is not wbfs. Its completely different

I understand that part, but we have our OTP and SEEPROM to work with. Are there more keys needed to read it that nobody has yet? Or is it an unknown file structure making decryption useless?

Few minutes later: Ok, found my answer. https://gbatemp.net/threads/dev-wii-u-file-system.454637/#post-6956186

 

[Shadowcat]

This post gave me the answers i was looking for.
I need a bigger SD Card!
Thanks!

 

[flingrocks]

Thank you, that's what I suspected after researching most of the day. I did look into using an FTP method, but that isn't any faster than the method I'm using now. Would you happen to know if it's possible to install games from a flash drive instead of the SD card? I don't currently have an SD card large enough to install a couple games and I'm not really sure how to work around this until I can get a larger one.

You may want to check this post for installing from a USB drive: http://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-install-big-wiiu-games-using-a-fat32-usb-drive.472158/

The method mounts the FAT32-formatted USB drive to simulate the SD, which allows you to use it as the install source.
That said though, as far as speed (and stability), it's worth it to get a larger SD card.