Hacking USB Loader GX doesn't see any games, Wiiflow (and lite) freeze or reboot on load

[urg]

Hello,

I just found a wii in a closet at a relative's and decided to soft mod it. It runs .wad just fine and I have gone through a bunch of different guides with no issues. (including completesg, MODMII, a recent YouTube video(I know, but I was desperate)).

I am running v8 ios56, 57 and 58

But I can't get Wii games to load.

I have tried transferring them with two different rom managers

Two different USB drives (One HDD in an enclosure and another stick)

Both are formatted fat32



Wiiflow sees them but the normal version goes to a black screen on loading the game.

Wiiflow lite will get stuck with a progress bar on screen.

USB Loader GX has been trash the whole time. At best I got it to freeze every time on "Initializing USB". Usually it completely ignores my USB devices, except for a 5 second freeze if I plug in while it says "Waiting for HDD"



What else can I try? I have been playing with this all day. Is there any information I can include to help you help me?

See my syscheck below

Spoiler

IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 1034): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS12 (rev 526): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS16 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug ES Identify Flash Access NAND Access
IOS17 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS21 (rev 1039): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1294): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1807): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS31 (rev 3608): No Patches
IOS33 (rev 3608): No Patches
IOS34 (rev 3608): No Patches
IOS35 (rev 3608): No Patches
IOS36 (rev 3608): No Patches
IOS37 (rev 5663): No Patches
IOS38 (rev 4124): No Patches
IOS40 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS41 (rev 3607): No Patches
IOS43 (rev 3607): No Patches
IOS45 (rev 3607): No Patches
IOS46 (rev 3607): No Patches
IOS48 (rev 4124): No Patches
IOS50 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS52 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS53 (rev 5663): No Patches
IOS55 (rev 5663): No Patches
IOS56 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS57 (rev 5919): No Patches
IOS58 (rev 6176): USB 2.0
IOS60 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS61 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS62 (rev 6430): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS80 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug NAND Access
IOS90 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug
IOS202[60] (rev 65535 Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS222[38] (rev 4 Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS223[38+37] (rev 4 Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS224[57] (rev 65535 Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS236[36] (rev 65535 Info: rev 3351): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS245[37] (rev 21008 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS246[38] (rev 21008 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS247[53] (rev 21008 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS248[55] (rev 21008 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS249[56] (rev 65535 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS250[57] (rev 65535 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS251[58] (rev 65535 Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii
BC v6
MIOS v10
Report generated on 12/30/2018.

 

[jeannotte]

Post a syscheck raport here ==>https://gbatemp.net/threads/posting-a-system-check.300279/

Prefer an external hard drive, it will work much better than USB keys.

USB keys often give a black screen.

Do you plug the usb support into port 0 of your wii?

 

[Cyan]

in USBLoaderGX, to fix the HDD init issue with newer drives, you need to use IOS58 :

boot without the HDD plugged.
go to settings > loader's settings > Loader's IOS : replace 249 with 58
exit the loader, plug the drive, try to launch it now.

another solution :
init the drive by launching CFG or wiiflow first (they use IOS58 by default), then exit and launch USBLoaderGX.

 

[urg]

Post a syscheck raport here ==>(Link removed because I am a new member)

Prefer an external hard drive, it will work much better than USB keys.

USB keys often give a black screen.

Do you plug the usb support into port 0 of your wii?

I plugged it into the correct port. Wiiflow (and lite) see it on either port. It doesn't really work in either port on USB Loader GX.

I have updated my original post with my Syscheck (hidden by spoilers). These seem to be common issues (from googling around). If solved, I will gladly create a guide based on my steps in my initial post.

in USBLoaderGX, to fix the HDD init issue with newer drives, you need to use IOS58 :

boot without the HDD plugged.
go to settings > loader's settings > Loader's IOS : replace 249 with 58
exit the loader, plug the drive, try to launch it now.

another solution :
init the drive by launching CFG or wiiflow first (they use IOS58 by default), then exit and launch USBLoaderGX.

Wiiflow detects the drive and mounts just fine. USBLoaderGX does not.

Changing the USBLoaderGX IOS to 58 DOES get the drive mounted and I can launch the WBFS backup I have, it goes to a black screen after launching it. This is true for game IOS249 and 250. (For those reading this in the future, enter "058" for IOS58 as less than two digits becomes 200)

Changing USBLoaderGX IOS back to default results in the same issues as before.

Changing USBLoaderGX to my v8 patched 58 (in 251) does not mount the USB device.

Launching Wiiflow and switchting to USBLoaderGX doesn't cause any different behavior than the USBLoaderGX had when launched by itself.

Conclusions based on these suggestions: This game works just fine in Wiiflow off my SD card.

We can 100% get the drive to mount (in USBLoader GX now, too).

But the games either get stuck at black screen, get stuck at loading or reboot the wii depending on CIOS and loader used.

There is seemingly no difference between NTFS and Fat32. Both either mount or do not with the same loader and CIOS

 

[Cyan]

which version of USBLoaderGX do you have ?
it should allow you to enter "58" without the 0 in front. if it put 200 you might be using an older version where 58 wasn't allowed yet.
if you use 1271 and it require a 0, then it's a bug. But 58 or 058 should work the same.

 

[Yan3]

I plugged it into the correct port. Wiiflow (and lite) see it on either port. It doesn't really work in either port on USB Loader GX.

I have updated my original post with my Syscheck (hidden by spoilers). These seem to be common issues (from googling around). If solved, I will gladly create a guide based on my steps in my initial post.



Wiiflow detects the drive and mounts just fine. USBLoaderGX does not.

Changing the USBLoaderGX IOS to 58 DOES get the drive mounted and I can launch the WBFS backup I have, it goes to a black screen after launching it. This is true for game IOS249 and 250. (For those reading this in the future, enter "058" for IOS58 as less than two digits becomes 200)

Changing USBLoaderGX IOS back to default results in the same issues as before.

Changing USBLoaderGX to my v8 patched 58 (in 251) does not mount the USB device.

Launching Wiiflow and switchting to USBLoaderGX doesn't cause any different behavior than the USBLoaderGX had when launched by itself.

Conclusions based on these suggestions: This game works just fine in Wiiflow off my SD card.

We can 100% get the drive to mount (in USBLoader GX now, too).

But the games either get stuck at black screen, get stuck at loading or reboot the wii depending on CIOS and loader used.

There is seemingly no difference between NTFS and Fat32. Both either mount or do not with the same loader and CIOS

Try your backed games in dolphin to see if they are not corrupted.

If you have games from a region different than your wii region, play with the video mode setting.

Do you have last version ? As often, under YouTube tutorials, they don’t tend to have the last version.
The last version of USB loader gx can be found in cyan signature (USBGX r1271)

 

[urg]

which version of USBLoaderGX do you have ?
it should allow you to enter "58" without the 0 in front. if it put 200 you might be using an older version where 58 wasn't allowed yet.
if you use 1271 and it require a 0, then it's a bug. But 58 or 058 should work the same.

Maybe I just messed something up. But that is the version I have.

Try your backed games in dolphin to see if they are not corrupted.

If you have games from a region different than your wii region, play with the video mode setting.

Do you have last version ? As often, under YouTube tutorials, they don’t tend to have the last version.
The last version of USB loader gx can be found in cyan signature (USBGX r1271)

I have the most current version of USBLoaderGX. All my ROMs are the correct region for me. I have been testing with a rom that runs just fine off the SD card.


TBH, if I can just get these games to work reliably through any USB loader, I'll be happy.

 

[jeannotte]

You say ==> I have the most current version of USBLoaderGX. All my ROMs are the correct region for me. I have been testing with a rom that runs just fine off the SD card.


Where are your games placed? On SD ?? OR External Hard Drive ??

USB loader gx does not play wii games on SD.

 

[urg]

You say ==> I have the most current version of USBLoaderGX. All my ROMs are the correct region for me. I have been testing with a rom that runs just fine off the SD card.


Where are your games placed? On SD ?? OR External Hard Drive ??

USB loader gx does not play wii games on SD.

I only tried the SD card to see if the rom worked.

The games DO NOT work with any loader from my USD-HDD (Or flash drive, for that matter)

 

[Yan3]

I only tried the SD card to see if the rom worked.

The games DO NOT work with any loader from my USD-HDD (Or flash drive, for that matter)

So you can’t use usbgx because it only supports USB for games

 

[Cyan]

flash drives are not working (or barely, don't try to use them and waste your time)
HDD with enclosure should work, but it depends the type of enclosure.

the problem is not the HDD itself, but the enclosure's USB to S/ATA interface. it might be using the same interface than the one used by flash drives. Maybe not really the same, but I make the comparison as "new, incompatible interface".

and on top of that, if your enclosure is more like an external dock where you can unplug/plug the drive into, it actually works like a HUB.
HUB are not working with cIOS, they work only with IOS58. that might be why you can list the games, but can't launch them. At least, launching gamecube games should work because nintendont works using IOS58 too.

you need a real enclosure (not a plug&play type), or better an actual USB external HDD. Western Digital element is one of the most commonly used drive.

most of the time, the best solution is the simplest. a real external HDD instead of mixing technologies (internal hdd + enclosure). same for users trying to fix a problem they have by using only USB and no SD card, when they could just fix all their problem with a simple cheap SD card.

 

[urg]

So you can’t use usbgx because it only supports USB for games

So you can’t use usbgx because it only supports USB for games

Yes. I had been trying to get USB games to load. The SD game was only for testing.

flash drives are not working (or barely, don't try to use them and waste your time)
HDD with enclosure should work, but it depends the type of enclosure.

the problem is not the HDD itself, but the enclosure's USB to S/ATA interface. it might be using the same interface than the one used by flash drives. Maybe not really the same, but I make the comparison as "new, incompatible interface".

If your enclosure is more like an external dock where you can unplug/plug the drive into, it actually works like a HUB.
HUB are not working with cIOS, they work only with IOS58. that might be why you can list the games, but can't launch them. At least, launching gamecube games should work because nintendont works using IOS58 too.

you need a real enclosure (not a plug&play type), or better an actual USB external HDD. Western Digital element is one of the most commonly used drive.

I am using primarily a cheapie 2.5" drive enclosure with a 500gb HDD (+8gb sdd) inside. Its a USB 2.0 interface (I tried with both normal and Y cables).

I do have another 320gb maxtor portable, but it has some files on it that I am kind of loathe to put elsewhere(but if I can slap a game on there as is, then cool)

 

[Yan3]

Yes. I had been trying to get USB games to load. The SD game was only for testing.



I am using primarily a cheapie 2.5" drive enclosure with a 500gb HDD (+8gb sdd) inside. Its a USB 2.0 interface (I tried with both normal and Y cables).

I do have another 320gb maxtor portable, but it has some files on it that I am kind of loathe to put elsewhere(but if I can slap a game on there as is, then cool)

Then try it, just backup the important files on a pc or the other hard drive


( and it is SSD, not SDD)

 

[Cyan]

you can try that drive, as long as it's read only there's no file or partition loss problem. but just to be sure, always keep backup of important files.
only put games on usb (ISO, wbfs, roms, etc.), so all write access are done on SD card (settings, game covers, cheat code).
you can use your drive just one time, to try. just to verify the problem is really the enclosure.

edit:
don't set your wbfs file properties as read-only; the game will not boot.

 

[urg]

you can try that drive, as long as it's read only there's no file or partition loss problem. but just to be sure, always keep backup of important files.
only put games on usb (ISO, wbfs, roms, etc.), so all write access are done on SD card (settings, game covers, cheat code).
you can use your drive just one time, to try. just to verify the problem is really the enclosure.

edit:
don't set your wbfs file properties as read-only; the game will not boot.

That drive didn't work either. With the drive plugged in and two roms on it homebrew channel wouldn't load. If I plugged it while homebrew channel was up then th loader wouldn't mount it (including Wiiflow).

I even ended up on a Discord trying to work through these issues. Nothing worked.

I am just admitting defeat and getting a larger SD card for my Wii games since that works very well.

Thank you for all of your help, everyone.

 

[Cyan]

okay, sorry to hear it didn't work.
well, if you are fine playing from SD card with wiiflow, but some games might not work well (one of the kirby game I think).

 

[urg]

A final update and discovery to (hopefully) add to the community knowledge:

My girlfriend saw what I was doing to my Wii and wanted the same thing. I followed the same instructions to hack her Wii as I did mine. However, the same USB-HDD that I was having all sorts of problems with works perfectly on her Wii.

We have the same firmware version. We both have early revision hardware with full GameCube ports. The only noticeable difference is that hers did not allow for a boot2 install of Hackmii and mine did.

I think perhaps my hardware revision just hates USB drives?

Both list model number "RVL-001(USA)".

In the lower left of the same label mine says "C/RVL-USA" and hers (which has no issues with USB devices) says "C/RVL-USA-1". They also have slightly different FCC labels on the same side. I have attached pictures of the "good" and "bad" labels with appropriate filenames.

TLDR: On the label with model number and serial number lower left corner "C/RVL-USA"(bad FCC label) hates USB devices, "C/RVL-USA-1" (good FCC label) loves them.

 

[stomp_442]

I'm sure the only Wii that cannot be soft modded is the Wii mini.

 

[urg]

I'm sure the only Wii that cannot be soft modded is the Wii mini.

Mine got softmodded alright. However it can only run iso files (Wii or Gamecube) from an SD card and NOT a USB device (even though the devices mount and the files can be seen).

 

[stomp_442]

Mine got softmodded alright. However it can only run iso files (Wii or Gamecube) from an SD card and NOT a USB device (even though the devices mount and the files can be seen).

You must have done something wrong then with the first Wii if you cannot use the USB.