Hardware Wii to PC via USB to use as external storage?

Metoroid0

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Ok i got an idea..why not...

Would it be possible to connect Wii to PC via Male/Male USB cable, where my PC act as external mass storage device. I mean i can connect PS2 via cat cable and load games from my HDD, i was thinking something similar with Wii but with USB instead of CAT cable..

Would it be possible and if so how to i do it?
 

MichiS97

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No.
You can't just plug a usb cable from your wii to your PC and expect that it would give you direct access to your PC's hard drive.
 

Metoroid0

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No.
You can't just plug a usb cable from your wii to your PC and expect that it would give you direct access to your PC's hard drive.
I did not said that nor asked that.
My question is would it be possible SOMEHOW, not literally connect two and just play games.

PS usb can output data, so why cant PC usb port act as external hdd.
 
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MichiS97

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I did not said that nor asked that.
My question is would it be possible SOMEHOW, not literally connect two and just play games.

PS usb can output data, so why cant PC usb port act as external hdd.
A PC's USB ports aren't connected straight to the hard drive. Therefore you can't just route data from your hard drive to the Wii. I'm not saying that it's impossible to somehow make this work with some serious tinkering in the sense of custom drivers and what not to somehow achieve what you're describing. What I will say, however, is that it's completely pointless and definitely not worth the hassle.
 

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the PC is a host (it displays files from the client/slave device you plug)
the Wii is a host (it displays files from the client/slave device you plug)
two host together is like connecting two hdd together, nothing happen.

HDD, phones, flashdrives are USB clients/slaves.
for example, plugging your phone to PC, your phone is the client, the PC displays files found on the phone. the phone (client) doesn't display files on PC (host).



A "slave to host" converter has been created for PSP (for the PSP to act as host and not slave when connected to the PC), but I don't know if a similar approach is possible.
it's not a real remote, the psp didn't see the files on the computer, instead it were two programs (homebrew and client on pc) communicating together, one to ask for file's data and the other to serves it over usb.

now, it would require a rewrite of cIOS to act the same way, requesting specific data and an active server on the pc to understand the request and send it.
 
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Metoroid0

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the PC is a host (it displays files from the device you plug)
the Wii is a host (it displays files from the device you plug)

two host together is like connecting two hdd together, nothing happen.



A "host to remote" converter has been created for PSP, but I don't know if a similar approach is possible.
i see... so no workaround that or no one wants to bother?

P.S. it sounds good in theory!
 

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nobody wants to bother anymore.
wii is old, everything useful has been done, and is still used, no need to reinvent the wheel.
it would require too much work to achieve what's already possible, and easier to do with an external hdd.
 
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Metoroid0

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A PC's USB ports aren't connected straight to the hard drive. Therefore you can't just route data from your hard drive to the Wii. I'm not saying that it's impossible to somehow make this work with some serious tinkering in the sense of custom drivers and what not to somehow achieve what you're describing. What I will say, however, is that it's completely pointless and definitely not worth the hassle.
I know they arent connected straight to HDD, just as cat cable isnt connected straight to HDD to PS2, but it sends data.
I dont see it as pointless. For exampe i got Desktop next to my TV and i dont have external nothing, but USB cable, female to female is cheap (cheaper and easier to get and simpler) and i just pluy one end to Wii other to PC and just install theoretical drivers as you said, and i can play Wii games! :)
 

MichiS97

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I know they arent connected straight to HDD, just as cat cable isnt connected straight to HDD to PS2, but it sends data.
I dont see it as pointless. For exampe i got Desktop next to my TV and i dont have external nothing, but USB cable, female to female is cheap (cheaper and easier to get and simpler) and i just pluy one end to Wii other to PC and just install theoretical drivers as you said, and i can play Wii games! :)
Or, you know, get a cheap external hard drive. Seriously though, nobody skilled enough is going to try and code something like that. Not for free anyway.
 
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Metoroid0

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nobody want to bother anymore.
wii is old, everything useful has been done, and is still used, no need to reinvent the wheel.
So its possible. Wii is old has nothing to do with someones interest, and i did not saw that method. if its possible why not? I dont think its reinventing the wheel, its for fun sake, and one more option... Snes is also old but people reinvent stuff and mot old and older consoles...

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

Or, you know, get a cheap external hard drive. Seriously though, nobody skilled enough is going to try and code something like that. Not for free anyway.
Yeah, i will eventually, i do have USB 32GB, playing games is no problem, i just like to experiment and have fun...
Yeah, they are mostly about money these days i guess, not much fun...its really bothersome. You came up with idea and they have no motivation besides money, no curiosity in stupid things...its a shame really :ninja:

Anyway, if i know how to code i would, it sounds interesting! But i dont ...:sleep:

Anyway! Its an idea, i thought there is thing like that i mean..why not..but i guess not. But there, if someone wants to play with it it would be interesting, one more option
 
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MichiS97

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So its possible. Wii is old has nothing to do with someones interest, and i did not saw that method. if its possible why not? I dont think its reinventing the wheel, its for fun sake, and one more option... Snes is also old but people reinvent stuff and mot old and older consoles...
See, on the PS2 people went through the hassle of sharing games via SMB and an ethernet cable (something VERY different than USB and making the PC act as a mass storage device) because the PS2 only had very slow USB 1.0 (or 1.1?) ports which weren't fast enough to load games from them. The Wii doesn't have that disadvantage so there is barely any reason to go through the trouble
 

Metoroid0

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See, on the PS2 people went through the hassle of sharing games via SMB and an ethernet cable (something VERY different than USB and making the PC act as a mass storage device) because the PS2 only had very slow USB 1.0 (or 1.1?) ports which weren't fast enough to load games from them. The Wii doesn't have that disadvantage so there is barely any reason to go through the trouble
Come one man, where is your adventurous spirit?! :lol:
OFC there is a reason, its simple as "buy a usb cable" or "make one from two cables" and just connect. Idk, it sounds interesting to me, i dont think it should be tossed away if its possible.

man..coders and hackers just got boring... pft :glare:

So bottom line, there is no such thing. Ok thanks!
Also there is an idea so if someone wants to make something it would be interesting imo.

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

Thanks for replies.
 
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MichiS97

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If you really think there is so much fun behind making this possible then go ahead, learn how to code. I dare you.
I'm a developer myself and I love writing software but this doesn't sound appealing to me in the slightest
 

Metoroid0

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I'm a developer myself....
Well if you know how to code i dare YOU to make this work haha! xD
this doesn't sound appealing to me in the slightest
Well everyone has different tastes i guess.

It's just an idea after all. Maybe someone will find it interesting, who knows...
Also, i was interested if such thing existed because...why not... :yaywii:
 
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Come one man, where is your adventurous spirit?! :lol:
OFC there is a reason, its simple as "buy a usb cable" or "make one from two cables" and just connect. Idk, it sounds interesting to me, i dont think it should be tossed away if its possible.
USB protocol does not support this.

Certain types of devices, e.g. phones, support "USB On The Go", which allows use as either a USB device (when connected to PC) or a USB host (when connecting e.g. a flash drive with suitable adapter cable). Wii does not.

There *are* some USB to USB cables from companies like LapLink, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Laplink-High-Speed-Transfer-Cable-PCmover/dp/B0093H83DW - however, these cables have hardware in the middle that acts like a USB device on both sides, and uses a proprietary protocol to transfer data. These won't work on Wii as-is, and it's unlikely that anyone will add support for them in any cIOS.
 

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USB protocol does not support this.

Certain types of devices, e.g. phones, support "USB On The Go", which allows use as either a USB device (when connected to PC) or a USB host (when connecting e.g. a flash drive with suitable adapter cable). Wii does not.

There *are* some USB to USB cables from companies like LapLink, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Laplink-High-Speed-Transfer-Cable-PCmover/dp/B0093H83DW - however, these cables have hardware in the middle that acts like a USB device on both sides, and uses a proprietary protocol to transfer data. These won't work on Wii as-is, and it's unlikely that anyone will add support for them in any cIOS.
The confusion probably comes from some low cost no-brand external hdd kits, which indeed come with an Y-cable that uses USB A on all three plugs (unsurprisingly, neither the cable nor the sata-to-usb converter are USB Forum certified)

If the desired goal is to "only" stream isos to the console, try to find an optical drive emulator like the FlatMii

You can also remove the optical drive (or build a custom case), put in an internal HDD, and use the USB port it's soldered to to "connect the console to a PC and add games" (with the console powered off!)
 

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I have been thinking of the same thing actually...but as this is not a feature of the USB specification...some hardware in the middle is needed. I have one of those cables GerbilSoft talked about and I tried figuring out how they work...

On windows these cables are detected as "Windows Easy Transfer Cable" or something like that and require special software, but on Linux the exact cable is detected as a USB Ethernet Adapter. There is a chip inside that acts as a bridge between the hosts and it has some RAM to use as a buffer in each direction. The operation of the chip looked simple enough to write a driver for but I also found that after a few Gigabytes of transfer the chips lockup, so for my specific use case I opted to just use two real USB Ethernet adapters instead.

If I did not had so much unfinished projects already I might have actually picked this up as a kind of debugging cable for my own homebrew, but I think I'll add it to my list as a possible future project.

No promises though ;)

Edit: I found the cable again....so tempting!
 
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