Hacking USB Loader GX freezes at reinitializing devices

[Todde]

Hi all!

This is regarding vWii in a Wii-U (5.5.3). I first of all started following the guide for Wii U and vWii at hacks dot guide.

I've been reading quite some about USB Loader stuck at Initialize USB device. I have tried quite a few different settings to solve this.

My problem now is that USB Loader GX now get past Initialize USB Device but get stuck at USB reinitializing devices. I would like to solve this for me and other that might be in the same situation but I need help from the community.

I have reinstalled USB Loader GX using version 3.0 r1271. It is now configured like this:

meta.xml:
<arguments>
<arg>--ios=58</arg>
<arg>--usbport=1</arg>
<arg>--mountusb=1</arg>
</arguments>

GXGlobal.cfg:
LoaderIOS = 249
cios = 249
USBPort = 1
USBAutoMount = 1

I have tried version 2.2 and 3.1 of d2x cios installer. The 3.1 looses sync with my Wii remote plus so I can't use that.

I have tried to swap 249 and 250 and only tried d2x-v10beta52.

Spoiler: SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 dump

SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 HacksDen Edition by JoostinOnline, Double_A, R2-D2199, and Nano
...runs on vIOS58 (rev 6432).

Region: PAL
System Menu 4.3E (v610)

Drive date: 07.12.2012
Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 running on IOS58

Hollywood v0x21
Console ID: xxxxxxxxx
Console Type: vWii
Shop Channel Country: Sweden (107)
Boot2 v0
Found 62 titles.
Found 34 IOS on this console. 0 of them are stubs.

vIOS9 (rev 1290): No Patches
vIOS12 (rev 782): No Patches
vIOS13 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS14 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS15 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS17 (rev 1288): No Patches
vIOS21 (rev 1295): No Patches
vIOS22 (rev 1550): No Patches
vIOS28 (rev 2063): No Patches
vIOS31 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS33 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS34 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS35 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS36 (rev 3864): No Patches
vIOS37 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS38 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS41 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS43 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS45 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS46 (rev 3863): No Patches
vIOS48 (rev 4380): No Patches
vIOS53 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS55 (rev 5919): No Patches
vIOS56 (rev 5918): No Patches
vIOS57 (rev 6175): No Patches
vIOS58 (rev 6432): USB 2.0
vIOS59 (rev 9249): No Patches
vIOS62 (rev 6942): No Patches
vIOS80 (rev 7200): No Patches
vIOS249[56] (rev 21010, Info: d2x-v10beta52-vWii): NAND Access, USB 2.0
vIOS250[57] (rev 21010, Info: d2x-v10beta52-vWii): NAND Access, USB 2.0
vIOS251[58] (rev 21010, Info: d2x-v10beta52-vWii): NAND Access, USB 2.0
vIOS512 (rev 7): No Patches
vIOS513 (rev 1): No Patches
Report generated on 03/17/2019.

At some point I had it to work if I didn't connect the USB HDD (WD My Book Essentials 2TB MBR, FAT32) untill it waits 20 sec for USB HDD. Well I also tried a 2TB WD Green something in an external hard drive cabinet and that worked only if I connected it when the loader starts waiting for USB HDD.

Now it get past the initialize usb device, but freezes at reinitializing devices.

But if I run SysCheck first I can right after start USB Loader GX and it works without freezing. I can see all GC and WII applicaitons and start them. If I do a cold boot and start USB Loader GX without doing anything (either from HBC or from a forwarder) it freezes at reinitializing devices.

I hope with all my heart for help to get this resolved. I'm ready to do some experimenting if you have any ideas.

BR

Todde

 

[Todde]

Tried to comment the arguments part in USB Loader gx meta.xml

GXGlobal.cfg:
LoaderIOS = 249
cios = 249

With this settings it hangs at Initialize USB Device. If I have the hdd disconnected and start USB Loader GX and when it waits for hdd it freezes right after I plug it in.

Cold start, running sysCheck HDE first and right after starting USB Loader GX works without freezing and I can see and start wii-stuff.

Edit: Cold start, running SysCheck HDE and just let it check IOS58 then back to HBC and start USB Loader GX works without any problems too.

 

[Cyan]

using IOS58 is a solution to initialize the HDD.
but you should keep IOS58 for "laoder's IOS" setting too, so it doesn't reinitialize, it keeps IOS58 once into the loader.


LoaderIOS = 58

usually, you don't edit the meta.xml or config file manually, but change the loader's IOS from the internal loader's interface. it will automatically edit the meta.xml to reflect the IOS you chose so both the meta.xml (use to boot the loader) and the loader's IOS (used inside the loader) are identical to prevent the need to switch the IOS and re-initialize the USB.
the IOS switch will be done only if needed = at wii game launch using the "game's IOS" setting usually set to 249. it might fail here if you use a flash drive, because flash drives are not working with cIOS, but should work with WD HDDs.
if you launch a gamecube game, it'll keep IOS58 and no re-init is needed.


I think the problem is the drives might require more time to initialize properly, and using or switching back to cIOS too soon might be problematic.

 

[Todde]

I have started the loader without the hdd connected to change the setting for LoaderCIOS to IOS 58, Game's IOS is 249. I exited, did a full shutdown, connected the WD hdd and turned power on. After that started HBC and USB Loader. It loads up without freezing, but when I select titles sources and enable Wii games it says: "Error: USB Device not initialized. Switching to channel list mode."

Tried a cold restart, firing up SysCheck and then when it was done starting USB Loader which starts up fine, but enabling Wii games gave the same error about USB Device not initialized.

I manually (sorry about that) edited meta.xml and changed the Usb Port from 1 to 0 to match the setting in the loader, ios is 58 and automount is 1. With this the loader starts fine it (a delay of say 5 sec at initializing usb device), when started up it says USB Device not initialized, switching to channel list mode and I can't enable Wii games.

I exited to the hbc, ran SysCheck and started USB Loader again, it is much faster at the Initialize USB Device, and now I can enable Wii games.

Not sure what I can do, if it is the hdds fault and I need to buy a new, though I might get another one that doesn't work. A quick peek at the function USBSpinUp() it looks like the loop gives plenty of time for the usb device. What does SysCheck do that makes my setup to work? Quick peek at SysChecks code and it looks like it makes a usbstorage.startup() followed by a mount by calling fatMountSimple. The Usb Loader seems to after USBSpinUp() do a MountAllUSB(false) which looks like it doesn't mount, could this be the difference? I have not followed the code around so I might make non sense here sorry about that! Just whish I knew more about this to find a solution and hopefully also contribute in some way.

 

[Cyan]

thank you for looking at the sources of other homebrew.
syscheck, and other homebrew (like wiiflow, or even HBC if you mount usb instead of SD) just init the drive with IOS58.
maybe they are doing something I never understood. I'd like to fix this issue, and I'm not sure what I should really do.
I tried to always force IOS58 like wiiflow, but it seems it didn't help. I think wiiflow shutdown USB at start, while USBGX doesn't. maybe that's the problem.

what you can try is to put the homebrew on USB:/apps/usbloader_gx/ (homebrew and all the files in the folder)
then either use the forwarder v5.1 or HBC with "list USB" mode to boot the loader so the HDD is initialized before launching the loader.


If you used USBPort1, I suppose you have d2x v10 rr53 installed?
if you don't, then that's the reason why HDD is not detected on port1 with cIOS. IOS58 mounts both ports, but d2x except r53 mount only port0.
if you do, then that may also be the reason your HDD is not detected, d2x r53 is beta and has detection issues with some HDDs.
you should always use USB Port 0 and d2x v8 final, or d2x v10 r52 (not alt)

 

[Todde]

I have the wii u next to my computer on a desk so it's comfortable, quick and easy to expermient with this . If I understand correct I should move the usbloader_gx with all it content from my sdxc-card to the external hdd /apps/? But not sure how to set HBC with list USB, got to search around for that. I have USB Loader GX-UNEO_Forwarder_5_1_AHBPROT_vWii (Fix).wad installed in the vWii home screen. I can do some expermiment when I'm back home from work.

Thank you for beeing helpful, not only to me but all others around!

 

[Todde]

If you used USBPort1, I suppose you have d2x v10 rr53 installed?
if you don't, then that's the reason why HDD is not detected on port1 with cIOS. IOS58 mounts both ports, but d2x except r53 mount only port0.
if you do, then that may also be the reason your HDD is not detected, d2x r53 is beta and has detection issues with some HDDs.
you should always use USB Port 0 and d2x v8 final, or d2x v10 r52 (not alt)

I have d2x v10 r52 installed. The hdd I have tried in the upper back port. USB Loader GX settings says USB Port 0 and it works like this if I do the "trick" by starting SysCheck first.

 

[Cyan]

on WiiU, port0 is on back-top.
on Wii, port0 is on bottom.

Yes, just move (don't copy) sd:/apps/usbloader_gx/ folder to USB fat32 or NTFS partition.
the forwarder looks for SD first (so don't keep the folder on SD, or rename it), then it checks each partition (up to 8) on USB and uses the first partition where it finds the boot.dol.

To list USB from HBC, press 1 or 2 on the wiimote to access the settings and choose the device to list.
launching from the forwarder should be enough too, and prevent the need to change the HBC's source every time.

don't use multiple USB devices if you have homebrew on USB, it'll corrupt the partitions because USB are not mounted at the same time. if it needs to access file from another device, it unmounts the current port and you lose active file access if not closed properly.
SD is always preferred for resources (settings, covers, etc.), unless you have that init issue.

 

[Todde]

I've moved usbloader_gx to the hdd. Starting HBC enabling usb didn't find the usbloader so I couldn't start it that way. Starting the usbloader forwarder gave a different result. First time it took quite some time at initializing usb devices and it threw me back to the vwii menu, starting the forwarder again much faster loaded up fine and wii/gc can be seen and started. A little tricky especially for the fam but it's a work around as long as I don't need multiple usb devices. In time I plan to also have a wbfs-hd for wii u though preferable connected at the same time.

When I start the Wii u up and before entering vwii the led on the hdd-case lights firmly. Entering vWii it starts to blink slowly like it has gone to sleep. Then I guess it needs requires more time or another way to be woken up then the USB Loader does?

 

[Todde]

Cyan, would you mind if I try an expermient by fiddeling around a bit in the initializing usb device section? If not I must get a dev environment up have no clue about this yet but if I follow the thread "Quick Guide to starting Homebrew Development" would that be the best direction for me to go? The only experience I have from doing something on a console is from the old ps1, and that wasn't much

Edited: Removed the link to the thread about homebrew development to not break any rules about me posting links.

 

[Todde]

It's not going that well. I run windows 10 and have installed devkitpro.

Edit:
Googled around a bit and got a bit futher
I try to build USB Loader GX v1271 but I get: C:/Users/xxxxx/Wii/usbloadergx-code-r1271-trunk/source/GUI/gui_imagedata.h:30:10: fatal error: gd.h: No such file or directory
gd.h I find where devkitpro is installed: devkitPro\portlibs\ppc\include

StartUpProcess.cpp
make[1]: powerpc-eabi-g++: Kommandot hittades inte (command not found)

It seems that it doesn't find the devkitPPC/bin dir where powerpc-eabi-g++ is.

System environment variables:
DEVKITARM C:\Tools\devkitPro\devkitARM
DEVKITPPC C:\Tools\devkitPro\devkitPPC
DEVKITPRO C:\Tools\devkitPro\devkitpro
path c:\tools\devkitPro\msys2\usr\bin;...;C:\Tools\devkitPro\devkitPPC\bin

Something is missing or some path is wrong. Greatful for help/tips.

 

[Todde]

I have dropped the idea of getting the devkit-stuff up for a while and have continued experimenting a bit.

I have some issues and hope for help to solve it. What I done the following:

1. Installed Wiiflow and with that I can start up and it finds the hdd but not GC-stuff.

2. Starting USB Loader GX and first when it's loaded I get a message about USB Device not initialized. Exit to HBC and starting USB Loader GX again and now it works perfect.

3. I bought another WD My book 4Tb (the old WD My Book Essentials is 2Tb from 2012). Since it's a 4k sector size I could format the whole 4Tb as Fat32. It works perfectly with Usb Loader GX without that I have to restart it. The 4Tb one is hidded with UStealth.

4. Since step 3 I let the Wii U format the 2Tb one. It works with Wii u with no problems.

5. With the old 2Tb in the lower back Usb port (port 1) and the 4Tb in the upper back (port 0) everything in Wii U apps works fine but when entering vWii and starting Usb Loader which loads up but then it says USB Device not initialized. Tried restart USB Loader but the same, I can't see wii/gc stuff from the 4Tb hdd when the 2Tb is also connected. Tried the 2Tb in the left front usb port instead, the same. Disconnecting the 2Tb hdd USB Loader works fine and it now sees the 4Tb one and it's contents.

What I would like is to be able to have both connected at the same time without having to disconnect/reconnect the 2Tb one to get the vWii and USB Loader GX to find and use the 4Tb one.

USB Loader seems to find/trying to access the 2Tb one (that is Wii U-formated) on the lower back usb port 1, but it's configured to use port 0. Maybe I have some settings in the wrong way?

 

[Cyan]

reset the settings to use slot249, instead of 58 at boot.

using cIOS, it'll see and mount only port0. (increasing order)
using IOS58, it tries to mount port1 before port0. (decrementing order)

only issue you might have is that your WD has the init issue and init properly only with IOS58, in which case the first drive (in higher slot) will be seen. but it's not a problem at all, HDD without valid partition are skipped.

 

[Todde]

Cyan, I feel hope now thank you! Will try this out.

 

[Todde]

Setting the loader to cios 249 for boot did the trick. I can now have both external hdds connected. The only thing is when starting a gamecube-app it seems to do something on the Wii U hdd (the old 2Tb wd hdd on port 1), not sure if it causes any delay. Before when I only ran the 2Tb it also took some time if I remember correct.

Edit: Since the newbie restrictions are gone I'm allowed to post a link so if anyone need to know how I managed to format the 4Tb as one partition and with Fat32 this is the thread and post I learned from: How to format a 4TB drive as Fat32 I believe it's important that the physical sector size of the hdd is bigger then 512b, the WD hdd I have has 4096 bytes.

Thank you very much Cyan!

 

[Cyan]

when booting nintendont, it's using IOS58, which (if you followed what I said) is initializing USB port in decrementing order, so USB Port1 before USB Port0.
it skips the unknown partition from the wiiU HDD, even if the port is initialized, then mount port0 and finds FAT32.

it causes a little delay, but shouldn't be too big. it's only init USB/mounting HDD/checking if there's a partition table -> skip to next USB Port and do the same. should takes 2 seconds.

 

[Todde]

I think I followed what you said. Cios 249 as loader. I found one thing that doesn't work but it's not related to USB Loader GX. With wup installer gx2 I must disconnect the 4tb fat32 hdd in port 0 (upper) and only have the 2tb hdd in port 1 (wii u formatted) for it to work, but since I don't use the wup installer often it's not a big problem

 

[Bpergher]

I also have this problem of freezing in the "initializing usb device" with my HDD.
I couldn't take this anymore from having to restart the Wii every time I wanted to switch games.
It was solved for me when I installed the Wiiflow v.4.2.3 loader. It was the only loader that worked for me.
I hope this can help more people.
NOTE: Here for the games to run on this Wiiflow v4.2.3 I had to change the configuration of each one to run with IOS 251.
Sorry for my English (Google Translate).

 

[Zihark35]

Sorry I know nobody likes it when older topics get brought back up, but I'm trying to piece together what you guys did to get the two drives working.

I too have in usb port 0 of my wi u a 2TB formatted to fat32. On the front of my wiiu I have both ports being occupied by a Y-cable connecting to a 3TB external currently formatted to the wiiu.

On my fat32 formatted sd card I have the meta.xml and GXglobal.cfg with the following:

<arguments>
<arg>--ios=250</arg>
<arg>--usbport=0</arg>
<arg>--mountusb=1</arg>

LoaderIOS = 249
cios = 249
USBPort = 0
USBAutoMount = 1

I'm also trying to get both drives to stay connect but only the one in port 0 to connect with USB Loader GX. I get as far as the reinitializing devices text on screen.

 

[Icewiz]

Sorry I know nobody likes it when older topics get brought back up, but I'm trying to piece together what you guys did to get the two drives working.

I too have in usb port 0 of my wi u a 2TB formatted to fat32. On the front of my wiiu I have both ports being occupied by a Y-cable connecting to a 3TB external currently formatted to the wiiu.

On my fat32 formatted sd card I have the meta.xml and GXglobal.cfg with the following:

<arguments>
<arg>--ios=250</arg>
<arg>--usbport=0</arg>
<arg>--mountusb=1</arg>

LoaderIOS = 249
cios = 249
USBPort = 0
USBAutoMount = 1

I'm also trying to get both drives to stay connect but only the one in port 0 to connect with USB Loader GX. I get as far as the reinitializing devices text on screen.

I also am having a similar problem.