Tutorial Project  Updated

How to set up ISFShax

Warning


Although this is in use by many users and has proven itself as safe and reliable, you still use this at your own risk. Messing with the isfs superblocks is dangerous and can brick your Wii U. Make sure to make a SLC backup before installing isfshax. If something goes wrong, you will need defuse to restore this backup. The superblock linked here was tested and confirmed working. Installing an broken superblock will brick your Wii U.
Also keep in mind: if you are restoring a old SLC backup, which was taken before installing ISFShax, ISFShax will be removed by restoring that backup. Newer versions of minute try to preserve ISFShax when restoring the SLC.

To protect against Nintendo pushing a boot1 update (very unlikely, but you newer know), which would brick a console with ISFShax, system updates get blocked by the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx plugin. If you need to do a system update, you can use the v1.0 of said plugin, which doesn't contain the update block. Game updates are not affected.


Update


13.07.2024 - No longer require the wiiu/root.rpx. Replace Tiramisu with Aroma as default. Add Haxchi as Entry Exploit.
04.04.2024 - Add Fastboot
13.03.2024 - System updates now get blocked by the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx plugin.
29.12.2023 - Standby Services are now supported. For that to work you need to have the latests ISFShax superblock installed and need to use the latest minute fw.img and wafel_core.ipx. Also autoboot needs to be enabled.


What is this for?


ISFShax exploits boot1 with specially crafted ISFS (the filesystem of the SLC) superblock. Once installed, ISFShax provides similar capabilities to defuse. Since it launches before IOSU, it can be used to apply early patches to IOSU and can be used to fix most bricks. But it won't protect you of bricks caused by: breaking boot1, seeprom bricks or installing a broken ISFShax superblock. ISFShax also doesn't help you if you already bricked the Wii U.
Use cases are:
  • Rebuilding / upgrading the MLC
  • Removing 64GB MLC limit and disabling SCFM
  • Brick protection (e.g. before doing region change)
  • Cold booting redNAND (useful when when the eMMC is failing)
  • It gives a minimal CFW, which can launch old homebrew using the homebrew launcher (not sure how useful since we have Aroma and Tiramisu)
  • Stop the Wii U from turning the Tablet on during boot (using a stroopwafel plugin)

Choosing the Exploit


There are multiple ways to launch the ISFShax installer:
If you already have Tiramisu or Aroma installed and can launch it follow the Instructions tagged with [Aroma]
If you already have Haxchi or CBHC installed follow Instructions tagged with [Haxchi]
If the Browser still works and you can launch the browser exploit u.wiidb.de follow the Instructions tagged with [Browser]
If you can't access the Browser, but Settings still work follow Instructions tagged with [DNSpresso]
If you your Wii U crashes in the initial setup on Mii creation follow Instructions tagged with [DNSpresso]
If your Wii U can't launch the browser anymore or can't connect to the internet follow the Instructions tagged with [UDPIH]
Steps without a prefix apply to all.

Preparing the SD card



Make sure the SD card is formatted to FAT32 (already the case if you are using it for Homebrew). You can use guiformat for that.

Get the following files and put them in the root of the SD. Choose the release tagged with "Latest" for each.
  1. ISFShax installer (ios.img) from https://github.com/isfshax/isfshax_installer/releases
  2. ISFShax superblock.img and superblock.img.sha from https://github.com/isfshax/isfshax/releases
  3. Put the stroopwafel wafel_core.ipx from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/stroopwafel/releases in wiiu/ios_plugins
  4. Put the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx stroopwafel plugin from https://github.com/isfshax/wafel_isfshax_patch/releases in wiiu/ios_plugins
  5. [Aroma | Haxchi | Browser | DNSpresso] minute fw_encrypted.img from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases and rename to fw.img
  6. [Browser | DNSpresso] fw_img_payload from https://github.com/wiiu-env/fw_img_payload/releases extract the zip and put the wiiu folder, containing the payload.elf on the SD
  7. [DNSpresso] Extract the root.rpx from https://github.com/wiiu-env/PayloadFromRPX/releases and rename it to launch.rpx and place it in the root of the SD card
  8. [UDPIH] minute fw.img and boot1.img from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases and rename boot1.img to boot1now.img
  9. [UDPIH] recovery_menu from https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/recovery_menu/releases
The structure on the SD should look like this:
Code: 
boot1.img (only for UDPIH)
fw.img
ios.img
recovery_menu   (only for UDPIH)
superblock.img
superblock.img.sha
wiiu
    ios_plugins
         wafel_core.ipx
         wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx

Launching into minute


This step heavily depends on the used Exploit.

  1. Hold B on the Gamepad while booting (if coldboot is enabled) or launching the H&S app
  2. A black and white menu should show up asking you to choose a payload.
  3. Select fw_img_loader
Note: if the fw_img_loader is missing get the "fw.img loader" payload from https://aroma.foryour.cafe/

  1. Hold A on the Gamepad while booting (if you have CBHC) or launching the Haxchi or DO NOT TOUCH ME app.

  1. Open the Browser and browse to u.wiidb.de
  2. Click on "HAXX"

If you can a access the settings just follow these instructions (you already have the right files on the SD): https://gbatemp.net/threads/dnspresso-a-wii-u-dns-exploit.642123/
If you are stuck on the Mii creation in the Inital setup:
  1. If you already connected your Wii U to your AP / Router, turn the AP / Router or the Wifi on it off.
  2. When the setup asks you if you already have a NNID, say yes (even if you don't have one)
  3. Now it tries to connect to the Internet, but will fail and ask you to take you back to the Wifi settings, follow back to thge settings.
  4. Turn your Router / AP on again and give it time to start.
  5. If you don't already have your Wifi configured there, connect to it now, but enter a wrong password.
  6. Edit your wifi connection and configure 85.215.57.182 as Primary DNS, if you entered a wrong password before set the right one now.
  7. Press (B) Back and select Connection Test.

  1. Load the recovery using UDPIH: https://gbatemp.net/threads/udpih-usb-host-stack-exploit-recovery-menu.613369/ (don't replace the recovery_menu)
  2. The LED should turn purple and a countdown timer for loading boot1now.img should appear, wait the 5 seconds
  3. Unplug the Pico
Note: if the LED turned purple, the UDPIH exploit worked, even if you don't see anything on the screen

Now you should see the minute main menu. If not, something went wrong. Make sure you have the correct fw.img file on the SD.
In minute you move the cursor with the power button and enter with the eject button (swapped compared to the recovery menu).

Note: minute only outputs 1080p through HDMI, no picture on the gamepad, and nothing on the analog outputs.
Some people reported that the screen output is not working for them when minute was loaded from the recovery. If you made sure nothing else is the problem (right fw.img, TV supports 1080p HDMI), you can still follow along blindly by pressing the appropriate buttons. Make sure to wait long enough between the presses, so the system has time to load. Without display output skip the first backup and go directly to Installing ISFShax.

Backup


  1. Navigate to Backup and Restore
  2. Dump SEEPROM & OTP
  3. Dump SLC.RAW
  4. Return to Main Menu

Installing ISFShax


  1. Choose Boot `ios.img` (6x Power, 1x Eject)
  2. Now the ISFShax installer should launch (this takes a few seconds)
  3. Follow the Instructions on the screen, the buttons are the same as in minute. (3x Eject, 1x Power, 3x Eject)
  4. The console should now turn off.
  5. [Aroma | Haxchi | Browser | DNSpresso] replace the (encrypted) fw.img on the SD with the fw.img (NOT the encrypted one) from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases
  6. If the install was successfull the Wii U should directly start into minute once you turn it on again.

Backup ISFShax


Dump the SLC.RAW again. This will overwrite the previous SLC.RAW file on the SD. This is required if you need to restore the SLC for unbricking, without loosing ISFShax. Keep that backup in a safe place.

Booting


If you came here from the redNAND or the MLC rebuild tutorial continue with that tutorial now.

For now your Wii U needs the SD card to boot. From there it loads minute (fw.img), which then applies the required patches from SD card. (IOSU needs to be patched, so it doesn't fall over the ISFShax superblock).
To boot into the Wii U OS select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc).

If your console just bootloops through minute over and over again, you are probably coldbooting Aroma and replaced the wiiu/payload.elf with the fw_img loader. Just replace the wiiu/payload.elf again with the Aroma one (applies to Tiramisu too).

Aroma / Tiramisu


  1. If you are already coldbooting Aroma / Tiramisu, undo the Autobooting: https://wiiu.hacks.guide/#/uninstall-payloadloader?id=undo-autobooting-into-payloadloader
  2. To install Aroma or Tiramisu put the corresponding files on the SD.
    Tiramisu: https://tiramisu.foryour.cafe/
    Aroma: https://aroma.foryour.cafe/ (You don't need to have install Tiramisu to have Aroma, also the FTPiiU plugin will become handy later)
  3. Put the wafel_payloader.ipx in the ios_plugins folder https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/wafel_payloader/releases
If the Wii U bootloops through minute endlessly: You replaced the wiiu/payload.elf with the fw_img loader. Just replace the wiiu/payload.elf again with the one from the environmentloader.zip

Booting without SD


This step is optional but highly recommended. Now the Wii U doesn't show anything on the screen without the SD. That could lead to confusion if the SD ever gets lost or corrupted.
To make it from the internal memory we need to install the minute fw.img and the ios_plugins to the SLC. This can be accomplished using FTPiiU Everywhere, which can be launched from Tiramisu and is already part of the Aroma Package (enable Everywhere in the settings) or you can use the haxcopy homebrew https://github.com/mackieks/haxcopy/releases
Using haxcopy is recommended for most users, but if you copy a wrong plugin to the slc or need to delete one for whatever reason you still have to use FTP for that.
  1. create a folder hax on the SD card (this will be copied to the slc)
  2. copy the fw.img to the hax folder
  3. create a subfolder ios_plugins in the hax folder
  4. rename the wafel_core.ipx to 0core.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
  5. rename the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx to 6isfshax.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
  6. if you want to coldboot aroma or tiramisu, rename the wafel_payloader.ipx to 9payldr.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
  7. If you need any other plugins like the wafel_unlimit.ipx, you have to rename and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
  8. Copy the haxcopy app to the wiiu/apps folder (like you usually install homebrew)
  9. Put the SD in the Wii U and run haxcopy to copy the hax folder to the slc.
On Aroma you have to make sure access to system files is enabled:
  1. Open the Aroma Plugin Configuration Menu using L + Down + SELECT (-) on the GamePad or Pro Controller (or B + Down + Minus (-) for WiiMotes)
  2. Open the FTPiiU option, then settings and set ‘Allow access to system files’ to ‘true’ by pressing A

Uploading the files:
  1. (Tiramisu only) Make sure FTPiiU Everywhere is running on the Wii U
  2. Using a FTP client on the PC browse to /storage_slc/
  3. If you see a scfm.img file and sys folder go into the sys folder. If you see a bunch of folders (config import logs proc rights security title tmp) just go to the next step.
  4. create a subfolder hax and enter it
  5. Make sure your FTP client is in binary mode (not ASCII mode)
  6. upload the minute fw.img to the /storage_slc/sys/hax folder
  7. create another subfolder ios_plugins in /storage_slc/sys/hax
  8. enter that /storage_slc/sys/hax/ios_plugins folder
  9. rename the wafel_core.ipx to 0core.ipx and upload it
  10. rename the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx to 6isfshax.ipx and upload it
  11. if you want to coldboot aroma or tiramisu, rename the wafel_payloader.ipx to 9payldr.ipx and upload it
  12. If you need other plugins like the wafel_unlimit.ipx, you have to rename and upload them too
Now the Wii U should autoboot if no SD card is inserted.
If a SD card is inserted the minute menu should show up (even if the SD doesn't contain a fw.img). In that menu you can select the Patch (slc) and boot IOS (slc) to load the plugins from the slc and boot (no need to have them on the SD anymore).

The Wii U will first try to load the fw.img from the SLC and if that fails it falls back to the SD.
If you installed a broken fw.img which doesn't load, you can force isfshax to load the fw.img from sd by repeatedly pressing the power button till the menu shows up.

Warning: A factory reset will delete the hax folder. Without the fw.img on the SD the Wii U will then just have a black screen with a orange LED with the latest ISFShax it will apply minimal patches to boot and it will still block updates, but some things like leaving the settings might me slower. It's recommended to setup minute and stroopwafel again.


Optional Autobooting with SD


To make the Wii U autoboot with an SD card inserted you need to create the file sd:/minute/minute.ini with the following content:
Code: 
[boot]
autoboot=1
autoboot_timeout=3
You can adjust the timeout (in seconds) to your liking. The autoboot option specifies which entry from the minute menu will be loaded. 1 corresponds to Patch (slc) and boot IOS (slc), which loads the ios_plugins from the SLC. If you haven't installed them to the SLC or want to load them from the sd for another reason you can change that value to 3 which corresponds to Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)

As an Alternative check out the Fastboot option below.

Optional: Fastbooting (Advanced)


To make the Wii U boot as fast as possible, without showing minute, you can now use the fw_fastboot.img. This won't work with redNAND
It is hardcoded to go straight to the first option (booting the slc, with patches from SLC). It won't display anything and ignore any autoboot configuration in the minute.ini.
  1. First make sure the system can boot using the first option in minute. (see booting without SD)
  2. Replace the the fw.img in the hax folder on the SLC with the fw_fastboot.img (renamed to fw.img)
In case you ever get stuck and need to load the full minute from SD you can do this:
  1. Place the minute fw.img on the SD card
  2. repeatedly press the power button until the minute menu shows up on the screen.


Uninstalling ISFShax


DON'T just restore an older SLC backup, as that would break SCFM!
  • Make sure your Wii U doesn't depend on any patches (linke wafel_unlimit_mlc.ipx or redNAND). You can check that by booting with only the wafel_core.ipx and the wafel_isfshax_ipx plugins in the ios_plugins directory on the SD and using the Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) option
  • Delete the /storage_slc/sys/hax folder if you set up the slc booting
  • run the ISFShax installer again from minute and follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall.

Plugins


Here is a list of currently available stroopwafel plugins, you can use with ISFShax:
If you have more plugins, tell me and I can add them to the list

Credits


  • @rw-r-r_0644 for finding and implementing isfshax
  • @GaryOderNichts and ashquarky for their direct contributions and help
  • @vgmoose for all the support and for the Wii U that replaced the one Idestroyed during early isfshax testing
  • @Maschell for his help and all other contributions to the Wii U scene
  • hexkyz for the warmboot boot1 exploit which made all of this possible
  • @shinyquagsire23 for de_Fuse, minute and stroopwafel
  • Salt Team for the original minute CFW
  • dimok789, FIX94 and others for the iosuhax CFW
  • fail0verflow for mini
  • and all other contributors to the Wii U scene!
 
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johw said:
A question arose.
Can I format the WiiU without removing the unlock?
ISFShax
Will it remain active?
Click to expand...
The factory reset will remove the files from the slc, but the ISFShax itself will stay installed in the superblock and load minute from SD.

Geometomas said:
every time I enter a Wii game in my HOME Menu the screen goes black and the console boots into minute, is there an answer?? I have the latest stroopwafel and the auto boot minute, not sure if that affects anything
Click to expand...
Hm it should be fixed in the latest minute. What plugins do you use? To where are the Wii games installed too? Can you try internal memory?
 
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Geometomas

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SDIO said:
The factory reset will remove the files from the slc, but the ISFShax itself will stay installed in the superblock and load minute from SD.


Hm it should be fixed in the latest minute. What plugins do you use? To where are the Wii games installed too? Can you try internal memory?
Click to expand...
I have the USB Partition plugin. My Wii games are installed in the HDD. I moved them to the internal memory and it worked, but I don’t want them to be there bc I don’t know if the games will corrupt it
 
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They won't corrupt the internal memory. But they should also work with the USB partition plugin. Did you make sure to use the latest version of the plugin?
 
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Aroma / Tiramisu​


  1. If you are already coldbooting Aroma / Tiramisu, undo the Autobooting: -
  2. To install Aroma or Tiramisu put the corresponding files on the SD.
    Tiramisu: -
    Aroma:- (You don't need to have install Tiramisu to have Aroma, also the FTPiiU plugin will become handy later)
  3. Put the wafel_payloader.ipx in the ios_plugins folder
If the Wii U bootloops through minute endlessly: You replaced the wiiu/payload.elf with the fw_img loader. Just replace the wiiu/payload.elf again with the one from the environmentloader.zip


I have a quick question about this part. I already have Aroma installed on my console, but from what I understand, I’ll need to reinstall Aroma after installing ISFShax. Am I correct, or am I misunderstanding it?
 
OnyxFjord

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Hey, so I'm heavily confused on something. I'm running aroma on my console and I'm trying to go through the process of install ISFSHAX(as I assume that isn't something auto installed with Aroma).I've gone and downloaded all the files listed from step 1-4 in preparing the SD card. Step 5 where it mentions aroma is where I get lost. so I download the fw_encrypted.img file and rename it to fw.img from there am I supposed to add the file into the SD card?
I also looked at the SD card structure example so I'm also assuming the files besides the wafel's are meant to go onto the SD Root?
I've also tried the launching into minute and I get the black and white menu, if I choose the fw_img_loader it just hangs on the WII U MENU (loading screen). Are those steps meant for a console that is being modded fresh? Or am I unable to boot into the actual "minute".
Apologies if the way I typed this out is confusing.
 

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I am trying to upgrade my sd card (64g -> 512g) . On the previous one, I had ISFhax installed rednanded and rebuilt the MLC. I understand in order to upgrade or swap the sd I have to somewhat re-do all the work that I have done before. In this case Do I have to re-install ISFShax again? or do i just need to do the rednand and rebuiliding mLC part again?



Oh nvm, I figured it out. I didn't have to re-do the ISFShax part again. Just redone the rednand and rebuilding MLC worked as charm. Now I have great space of about 400g internal memory(sd card) I am happy.
 
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Hi, i don't get how to autoboot with aroma, i have to open the health app after autobooting with the minute.ini
Edit: I figured it out, shouldn't have followed a youtube guide
 
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GreyGun said:
Hi, i don't get how to autoboot with aroma, i have to open the health app after autobooting with the minute.ini
Edit: I figured it out, shouldn't have followed a youtube guide
Click to expand...
Which guide did you follow?
I followed the procedure of Brazilian YouTuber Lima112 and it was a success.
 
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Hi! Thx again for creating ISFSHax;
everything seems to be working well on my console.
Even though it might not be necessary anymore, I’d still like to backup my MLC.
However, the Nand Dumper homebrew won’t work because ISFS starts when I attempt a backup. Is there a way to dump the MLC without using FTP?
 
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You would need to use the format redNAND option. It writes the MLC to an extra partition on the SD, that you can then copy to the PC using dd
 
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Hi. Booting without SD is not working for me. So far I've tried redownloading all plugins and loading plugins using ftp and hax app.
 

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SDIO said:
So booting works, but Aroma doesn't load on boot?
Click to expand...
Yes. Aroma boots only when SD card inserted.

SDIO said:
Does it work when you launch the H&S app after boot?
Click to expand...
No, launching H&S app gives me same error: "Failed to load sd:/wiiu/payload.elf Starting the console without any modifcations." And WiiU loads without modification
Post automatically merged:

Not sure if it is relevant to the issue but I've noticed two strings in the log where it says it had failed to open some plugin:
...
ancast: failed to open plugin 'slc:/sys/hax/ios_plugins/wafel_core.ipx for pre-parsing!
...
 
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So you are trying to use the version with USB emulation? Make sure to have the right variant of the plugin and that the HDD is partitioned correctly. The FAT32 partition needs to be the first one
 

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