Hacking Error Autobooting Systemmenu - Preloader .29 beta v1

[it_might_be_true]

Hi Guys I was just on reddit and was sent here for assistance. I'm new to homebrew on the wii. I did have homebrew on a PSP-1000 back in the day. So when a friend asked if I would take a look at their wii that no longer works I said sure. I did some google-fu and didn't seem to find the correct information out there. It doesn't help that I haven't done this before nor is the system at a clean state... so I'm not sure where to go from here...

Here is where I'm at...

The Wii boots up to a menu with the options:

Systemmenu, Homebrew Channel, Installed File

Load/Install File, Systemmenu Hacks, Settings

At the bottom I have a status display with some info.

Error Autobooting systemmenu! Could not open boot file!

IOS v60, Systemmenu v449 Preloader v0.29(beta v1)

So far none of the options seem to really do much... My friend claims they attempted to update it via nintendo...

Any advice or things to watch out for (bricking the wii) would be greatly appreciated!


Some info from the reddit post:
Attempting to launch the system menu option just flashes the screen and brings me back to square one.
Attempting to launch the homebrew channel gives me an error that states Error autobooting HBC, maybe title not installed.
There are a slew of items on the SD card.

apps
fceugx
forward_v2
genpus
priiloader
snes9x
usb-loader
WAD
boot.dol
hacks.ini
hacks_hash.ini
icon.png
META.XML


No nand.bin could be found anywhere. Installing the boot.dol didn't seem to help.
If I attempt to launch "Installed file" I receive cIOSPAGHETTI(Cios Infected) IOS detected, Abort mission...

 

[Itsuki235]

It looks like the Wii is in good shape but updating it ruined the System Menu. To fix it, all you have to do is launch the HBC and reinstall the System Menu. Since the HBC is broken, that needs to be reinstalled first.

1. Download HackMii Installer v1.2 from bootmii.org.
2. The only important file is called "boot.elf" in that archive.
   
3. Turn off the Wii and remove the SD card.
4. Insert the SD card into the PC.
   
5. Extract "boot.elf" to the root of the SD card.

So file can eventually used to install the HBC again. After that, booting to HBC will work but now you need to fix the System Menu. Doing that is done by installing the SystemMenu4.3.wad file using a "wad installer". The wad installer "Yet Another Wad Manager Mod" can be used to do this. The links on the thread are dead so I attached yawmm to this post. Download it and extract the contents to the SD card. It should look like "SD:/apps/yawmm/boot.dol"

Next you will need the SystemMenu4.3.wad. This cannot be distributed but can be downloaded directly from the official source using NUSDownloader.

1. Download NUSDownloader
2. Extract it to it's own folder
3. Run "NUS Downloader.exe"
4. Click on "Database..."->System->System Menu->4.3U
5. The "U" specifies the "USA" region. Use the correct region 4.3 system menu for whatever region that Wii is.
   
6. At the bottom of the "NUS Downloader.exe" window, uncheck everything.
7. Then make sure to check "Pack Wad [...]"
8. Click on "Start NUS Download"
9. Wait a bit
10. Then a file called "RVL-WiiSystemmenu-v513.wad" will appear in the folder NUSDownloader was launched from.
11. Copy "RVL-WiiSystemmenu-v513.wad" to the SD card. Anywhere is fine but copying them to the SD:/wads folder is convenient.

Now safely eject the card from the PC. Insert it into the Wii. Go to where it says "Installed File" and select "SD:/boot.elf". Then boot from the installed file to launch the hackmii installer for bootmii and the HBC. Follow the instructions and install bootmii as IOS. If it is available as boot2, install bootmii it as boot2 as well. Then exit, and the HBC should launch automatically. Start yawmm and install the 4.3U system menu wad using the onscreen instructions. That should fix the system menu and rebooting the Wii should launch to it. If bootmii was installed as boot2 then the folder called SD:/bootmii it will need to be renamed to SD:/bootmii_off.

 

[it_might_be_true]

Hi, thanks for he reply!

So I downloaded the HackMii Installer boot.elf file. I put that in the root directory of the SD card.

I downloaded the YAWMM zip you provided. And I ran the NUSDownloader as you instructed which provided me with the RVL-WiiSystemmenu-v513.wad file. Which I placed in D:/wad

I installed the boot.elf file. But the Homebrew menu still didn't want to start until I selected 'Installed File" which then launch. I attempted to follow along to install HBC and attempted to install bootmii as ios (boot2 not available).

After doing so this brought me to the homebrew menu. I ran the YAWMM from the menu it brought me to a menu to either push A or B. But It appears to be frozen as neither button seemed to do anything.

Am I doing something wrong?

The yawmm.wii.sdcard.zip file you provided. It has

yawmm.wii.sdcard
yawmm
apps
meta.xml
icon.png
boot.elf
boot.dol

Do I extract all of it to the sd card or just the yawmm.wii.sdcard folder?


Thanks again for the help!

 

[Ryccardo]

There's no magic involved in finding the HBC and that option simply runs an hardcoded channel, you have a very old version of Preloader (in fact its fork Priiloader has taken the lead almost 10 years ago) and at that time the HBC's titleid was probably HAXX or maybe JODI, nowadays LULZ (1.1.2) or OHBC (1.1.3) are used

I also hope you didn't install Wii Menu 4.3 without also having (or installing immediately before/after) a functional IOS80!

 

[Itsuki235]

After doing so this brought me to the homebrew menu. I ran the YAWMM from the menu it brought me to a menu to either push A or B. But It appears to be frozen as neither button seemed to do anything.

Am I doing something wrong?

I am very impressed you made it so far.

To install .wad files using YAWMM, the wad needs to be selected and then the "A" button pressed to initiate the install. While the .wad is highlighted, selected it pressing (+) on the Wii remote. Pressing A after that will install it. Then exit back to the HBC, press the "Home" button and try to launch the system menu. What happens then?

 

[it_might_be_true]

Hi Ryccardo, that is what I have gathered my friend must have had this worked on a long time ago and never updated anything. I'm simply trying to pick up the pieces of his mistake of updating via nintendo.

I'll be honest, I'm not even sure what your last statement means. I'm gathering the system menu is simply just the menu. Is the IOS the actual OS the wii runs?

 

[Ryccardo]

I'll be honest, I'm not even sure what your last statement means. I'm gathering the system menu is simply just the menu. Is the IOS the actual OS the wii runs?

IOS is effectively the Wii's kernel, there are multiple ones identified by their number or "slot" (only one of which is running at any time), and every executable title declares their required IOS (for example Wii Sports and Twilight Princess use IOS9, Animal Crossing - 38, Wii Menu 4.0 and 4.1 - 60, Wii Menu 4.3 - 80, modern versions of the HBC - typically 58)
More info at https://wiki.mariocube.xyz/index.php/IOS

Wii Menu 449 is better known as 4.1U and requires a working IOS60; 4.3 requires a working IOS80 which is not present on a console manually updated from 4.1 unless also explicitly installed

(to clarify, what's commonly called the "wii version" actually applies only to the Wii Menu, IOS and other system titles can be updated independently of the Wii Menu, and in fact multiple official updates did exactly this - there were three updates all containing 4.3)

 

[it_might_be_true]

Thank you for explaining that. That makes perfect sense.

Okay so I changed the system menu options in NUSDownloader to 4.1U and got a new .wad file. I guess the good part is I haven't been able to install a wad yet so no incorrect wad has been ink stalled.
My current problem is I'm still getting to the homebrew channel, selecting yawmm, then getting to a screen asking me if I agree. If I do, Press A. But Pressing A does nothing.

If I'm running the boot.elf, running bootmii installer and he homebrew channel installer. It doesn't appear to fix anything on the priiloader menu. (As far as the menu options to select homebrew channel that is) Do you think this is do to using a preloader that is so old? Is there a way to install a newer version of the preloader at the current state the wii is in?

Did I mention that I am using a gamecube controller? Could that be the problem on the yawmm menu?

 

[Itsuki235]

Use a Wii Remote. I am not sure if YAWMM can select titles on a GCN controller since the (+) button does not exist on that controller.

Priiloader actually places itself just before the system menu during boot. Installing a new system menu will have the effect of uninstalling priiloader and the system will always boot to the system menu instead. Priiloader will need to be reinstalled after that, but first you need to install the system menu.wad file.

Stick to installing the 4.3U system menu. If you want to install IOS80, that can be installed at the same time. Download IOS80 using NUS Downloader again. Database->IOS->IOS80->Latest version->PackWad->Start NUS Download.

It can be installed at the same time as the systemMenu4.3U.wad by selecting both using the (+) button on a Wii Remote.

edit: typos

 

[PalindromicBreadLoaf]

Okay, so I'm not sure if you have fixed it or not, but if not, then here is what I recommend you do. Even if you have finished. I recommend you still do steps 9-12, and make a NEW NAND backup.
1. Download the zip file in the bottom of this post
2. Copy everything off the SD card to a place on your computer or someplace else.
Extract the zip and copy everything to your SD card.
3. Make a WAD folder on your SD card and place your ios80 wad file and your system menu 4.3 wad file in the WAD folder (Can't link them here because they are copyrighted content).
4. Put the SD card in the Wii and boot it up while holding reset.
5. When you are in Preloader, go to load/install file, and choose the boot.elf file that is one the root of the SD card.
6. Choose load installed file, this should bring you to the Bootmii installer.
Click 1 when prompted, and install Bootmii as IOS, (and if possible as Boot2), along with the Homebrew Channel.
7. Go back to the main menu and click exit, you should then be in the Homebrew Channel with three apps showing.
8. Press the home menu button and choose Bootmii.
9. When in Bootmii, you have to navigate with the buttons on the Wii, specifically the Power and Reset buttons. Power moves the cursor one to the left, and Reset chooses the option. Press the Power button until you are on the last option, and click Reset. Click Reset again on the option with the Green arrow pointing away from the Wii (Should be the first one).
10. Once that has completed, click the return arrow, and choose the Homebrew Channel option.
11. Once back in the Homebrew Channel, choose the Priiloader option. Follow the onscreen prompts, and install Priiloader. Take note that this can brick your Wii, that is why we made the backup just now.
12. Go to Dop-Mii and choose the Ios option, and make sure all of them are up to date, except for IOS80. Never update anything critical using this application, it has a high chance of bricking when updating new System Menus.
13. Go back to the Homebrew Channel and choose YAWMM and install your IOS80 and System Menu 4.3 files.
14. Congrats, the Wii should work just fine again. Make sure to make a backup of the entire Wii again, after copying the old NAND backup to a safe place somewhere else than the root of the SD Card.

Please feel free to ask me any Wii related questions you have. I have a lot of experience with the console.

Credits:
Some YAWMM mod - Fix94 and others
DOP-MII Wiibrew Edition - Arikado, Lunatik, lukegb
Priiloader- DacoTaco
Homebrew Channel and Bootmii - Team Twiizers

 

[it_might_be_true]

Okay so here is where I'm at. I have reinstalled the 4.1U system menu. Which has gotten me back to a working state, I have a new backup of the nand on the SD card.

What would be the benefits of upgrading to ios80 and system menu 4.3U? I'm inclined to just leave it at 4.1 because it works. But if there are benefits to 4.3 then I'll try it.

 

[Itsuki235]

Not sure if there are any technical benefits besides themes which, while I would have to double check, are coded for a specific menu version and that menu version is 4.3. I would update it since then you can say to your friend that it has already been updated and to not update it again.

After going to 4.3, updates can be disabled using an updated Priiloader (install it again). Be sure to put the hacks_hash.ini file in the same folder as priiloader's .dol file. It should look like SD:/apps/priiloader/hacks_hash.ini

Then start priiloader and go to "system menu hacks" or similar and block system updates and disc updates.

 

[PalindromicBreadLoaf]

There isn't any benefits. After 4.0, nothing new was added that affected user experience, only attempts to remove the Homebrew Channel. Just make sure all of your IOSes are updated all the way (DON'T update 60 or 70. Doing so will brick your Wii again and you will have to restore a NAND backup), and all homebrew should work just fine.

 

[it_might_be_true]

There isn't any benefits. After 4.0, nothing new was added that affected user experience, only attempts to remove the Homebrew Channel. Just make sure all of your IOSes are updated all the way (DON'T update 60 or 70. Doing so will brick your Wii again and you will have to restore a NAND backup), and all homebrew should work just fine.

Thank you all for the help. How do I go about making sure the IOSes are updated?

Not sure if there are any technical benefits besides themes which, while I would have to double check, are coded for a specific menu version and that menu version is 4.3. I would update it since then you can say to your friend that it has already been updated and to not update it again.

After going to 4.3, updates can be disabled using an updated Priiloader (install it again). Be sure to put the hacks_hash.ini file in the same folder as priiloader's .dol file. It should look like SD:/apps/priiloader/hacks_hash.ini

Then start priiloader and go to "system menu hacks" or similar and block system updates and disc updates.

Do I use the hack_hash that came with the priiloader download or should i use the one on the sd card?

 

[Itsuki235]

Do I use the hack_hash that came with the priiloader download or should i use the one on the sd card?

use the hack_hash that came with the priiloader download

 

[PalindromicBreadLoaf]

You could either use NUS downloader https://wiibrew.org/wiki/NUS_Downloader
DOP-Mii Wiibrew Edition (Read the warnings if you are using this app),http://wiibrew.org/wiki/DOP-Mii:_WiiBrew_Edition
Modmii https://sourceforge.net/projects/modmii/
or update officially using Nintendo's Updater.

 

[XFlak]

Modmii

 

[N7Kopper]

There isn't any benefits. After 4.0, nothing new was added that affected user experience, only attempts to remove the Homebrew Channel. Just make sure all of your IOSes are updated all the way (DON'T update 60 or 70. Doing so will brick your Wii again and you will have to restore a NAND backup), and all homebrew should work just fine.

Riiconnect24 is only supported on 4.3 though, and there's no reason not to update to it.

 

[PalindromicBreadLoaf]

Oh yeah, kinda forgot about Riiconnect24.

 

[Itsuki235]

Please feel free to ask me any Wii related questions you have. I have a lot of experience with the console.

Had a very obscure question about Wii updating. Let's suppose a Wii is on 2.4 or some other archaic offiical version, but was HBC enabled. How could one go about updating using a .wad manager all the way to 4.3U such that it had the same effect as updating officially over WiFi? (Minus the removal of HBC I am assuming).

The required files are for sure 4.3U.wad, IOS80.wad, but what else? Would any additional IOS-xx.wad files be needed or apps need updating to get full 4.3 level compatibility with existing games/homebrew software? Updated cIOS would be needed for USB support, but that is a separate issue from updating the base OS.