Hacking Alternate Re-virginizing method? Engineered NAND

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

What do I want to do?

I want to revirginize my wii.

Why?

because I have to send it back to nintendo because where the video cable connects has been jiggled loose and I see fuzz all the time. (tried diff cables, tvs, and power supplies)

How do I want to do it?
of course I am familiar with how to remove everything all cios, tickets, know how to have all pure IOS.. blah blah.. etc...
But what I want to do is make a NAND from scratch (like in ShowMiiNAND) and then be able to flash this 4.2 engineered NAND to my real NAND with bootmii. and then with bannerbomb uninstall bootmii from boot2.. thus having a completely virgin wii with no traces of hacks and tickets, etc. ever being installed.

Now I am pretty sure I am going to need to have my wii's key files from a bootmii dump... and I have to use a tool called betwiin I think to inject the keys of my real nand into the engineered NAND? This is where I am getting stuck!

Anyone with experience in these areas, Your comments and links will be greatly appreciated.

Would anyone care to share their knowledge on the subject?
Is this even possible? Is this really needed?

UPDATE: Did some more research... betwiin does not handle bad blocks.. My real nand has 4 factory bad blocks... This could be a problem
I have their locations if that information would help.

Richardarkless · Sep 1, 2010

rAiN mAn 2o0o said:
What do I want to do?

I want to revirginize my wii.

Why?

because I have to send it back to nintendo because where the video cable connects has been jiggled loose and I see fuzz all the time. (tried diff cables, tvs, and power supplies)

How do I want to do it?
of course I am familiar with how to remove everything all cios, tickets, know how to have all pure IOS.. blah blah.. etc...
But what I want to do is make a NAND from scratch (like in ShowMiiNAND) and then be able to flash this 4.2 engineered NAND to my real NAND with bootmii. and then with bannerbomb uninstall bootmii from boot2.. thus having a completely virgin wii with no traces of hacks and tickets, etc. ever being installed.

Now I am pretty sure I am going to need to have my wii's key files from a bootmii dump... and I have to use a tool called betwiin I think to inject the keys of my real nand into the engineered NAND? This is where I am getting stuck!

Anyone with experience in these areas, Your comments and links will be greatly appreciated.

Would anyone care to share their knowledge on the subject?
Is this even possible? Is this really needed?

UPDATE: Did some more research... betwiin does not handle bad blocks.. My real nand has 4 factory bad blocks... This could be a problem
I have their locations if that information would help.

The best way is to install all the latest ios so they are all on official unmodded versions just in case one of them might have been modded for some reason, next is remove any custom channels, cios, bootmii and all that stuff

What I did which you could do the next time around is make a nand backup of the wii just after you installed bootmii but before you done all the modding, this way all you have to do when you send it to nintendo is restore from that nand then uninstall bootmii and hbc and then you got a clean wii without having to go through all that fuss of making sure everything is uninstalled

edit there was a subject on this a while ago on the hackmii blog where someone removed everything yet nintendo still knew that he modded his wii so it voided is warranty, TT said they will be looking at that persons wii to see what nintendo could have seen to come to that conclusion but thats all I know, I dunno what they found or if they found anything for that matter so look that up

edit heres that blog post about it: http://hackmii.com/2010/04/check-disk-for-...repair-process/

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

even if I do all the things you mentioned.. Nintendo (at least in europe) has a diagnostic discs that can still find traces of hacks that have been installed in the past. I hacked my wii the day the twilight hack and homebrew channel came out!

so this simply is not an option...
I need a CLEAN NAND. I am reading now about COMEX NAND formatter...

please anyone with experience... give me some advice on how to proceed!

XFlak · Sep 1, 2010

Quoting myself from my post HERE

XFlak said:
Actually, returning to stock in an attempt to fool nintendo that the system has never been modified, is not only dangerous but practically impossible.

AFAIK, the second u install anything on the wii, even bootmii as IOS (which is installed automatically when hackmii installer v0.7 is started), it leaves traces behind that cannot be erased/covered up. Yes we can overwrite all the custom installed content and have it appear to a normal person that the wii was never touched, and it would function like a normal wii, but the way the files are installed leaves traces of tampering nintendo is able to spot... the files themselves may be the same, but it doesn't mean ninty can't spot it.

I don't know the details on this, but I asked people far smarter than me, and that's basically what I learned (in laymans terms)... in fact, there is a hackmii article that addresses this.

But basically, once a Wii is softmodded, there is no such thing is un-modding it. Yes u can remove the softmods and have it function like a normal wii, but the warranty will still be voided.... and if that's the case, why even bother removing the softmods (especially when there is so much room for human error)? If the goal is to have the average person not know the wii is modified, all you have to do is delete any custom channels (including HBC) and overwrite any custom mymenuify themes. No need to install stub IOSs, or remove bootmii/priiloader (a normal person using what appears to be a normal wii will likely never be able to figure out how to access priiloader or the bootmii menu's), delete non-stubbed cIOSs, install a non-fakesigned IOS36 if applicable, etc. Why go through all the trouble, especially when its dangerous?

And that is why "virginizing" is practically impossible, and also why NUSAD does NOT support stub IOSs anymore.

PS. I removed Stub IOSs totally effective in v4.1.9, but if u want to ignore my advice, you can always use older versions of NUSAD to grab stubs (last version to support Stubs in the batch download page was v4.1.8). You may be prompted to update NUSAD, just say no... but if using older versions, I would recommend only using it to get specifically what you can't get using the latest version.

more info
XFlakusing comex's nand formatter will leave no traces (although, unless you are using the mod by Pune... which I'm not even sure if its publicly available, your internal serial number will be the same as the thousands of other people who used comex's nand formatter... which I personally think nintendo could spot easily if they were to look for it).

But you of all people should know exactly how dangerous comex's nand formatter can be if its being run off of bootmii as IOS. And if its being run off of bootmii as boot2, it may be safe, but it doesn't remove bootmii @ boot2, thus still leaving traces of softmodding behind (although an official boot2 update could fix that, I don't know for sure about that, and that would require not having bootmii installed as boot2v4 already). And I guarantee if we start telling people they can virginize their Wii using comex's nand formatter, we will get endless reports of bricks (which is why I purposely exagerated by above post to say virginizing is impossible instead of practically impossible).

another method is to use a nand programmer like an infectus to flash a nand backup (also made by using infectus BEFORE any softmods were done), but this would require opening up the wii, which would also void the warranty... and its also dangerous if you don't know what u r doing!

Anyways, the point remains, I think no one should attempt to virginize their Wii, which is why those of us that know how it can be done might be better off not sharing that info with noobs who will just use that information to either brick themselves or accomplish nothing.

Richardarkless · Sep 1, 2010

XFlak said:
Quoting myself from my post HERE

XFlak said:

Actually, returning to stock in an attempt to fool nintendo that the system has never been modified, is not only dangerous but practically impossible.

AFAIK, the second u install anything on the wii, even bootmii as IOS (which is installed automatically when hackmii installer v0.7 is started), it leaves traces behind that cannot be erased/covered up. Yes we can overwrite all the custom installed content and have it appear to a normal person that the wii was never touched, and it would function like a normal wii, but the way the files are installed leaves traces of tampering nintendo is able to spot... the files themselves may be the same, but it doesn't mean ninty can't spot it.

I don't know the details on this, but I asked people far smarter than me, and that's basically what I learned (in laymans terms)... in fact, there is a hackmii article that addresses this.

But basically, once a Wii is softmodded, there is no such thing is un-modding it. Yes u can remove the softmods and have it function like a normal wii, but the warranty will still be voided.... and if that's the case, why even bother removing the softmods (especially when there is so much room for human error)? If the goal is to have the average person not know the wii is modified, all you have to do is delete any custom channels (including HBC) and overwrite any custom mymenuify themes. No need to install stub IOSs, or remove bootmii/priiloader (a normal person using what appears to be a normal wii will likely never be able to figure out how to access priiloader or the bootmii menu's), delete non-stubbed cIOSs, install a non-fakesigned IOS36 if applicable, etc. Why go through all the trouble, especially when its dangerous?

And that is why "virginizing" is practically impossible, and also why NUSAD does NOT support stub IOSs anymore.

PS. I removed Stub IOSs totally effective in v4.1.9, but if u want to ignore my advice, you can always use older versions of NUSAD to grab stubs (last version to support Stubs in the batch download page was v4.1.8). You may be prompted to update NUSAD, just say no... but if using older versions, I would recommend only using it to get specifically what you can't get using the latest version.

more info
QUOTEusing comex's nand formatter will leave no traces (although, unless you are using the mod by Pune... which I'm not even sure if its publicly available, your internal serial number will be the same as the thousands of other people who used comex's nand formatter... which I personally think nintendo could spot easily if they were to look for it).

But you of all people should know exactly how dangerous comex's nand formatter can be if its being run off of bootmii as IOS. And if its being run off of bootmii as boot2, it may be safe, but it doesn't remove bootmii @ boot2, thus still leaving traces of softmodding behind (although an official boot2 update could fix that, I don't know for sure about that, and that would require not having bootmii installed as boot2v4 already). And I guarantee if we start telling people they can virginize their Wii using comex's nand formatter, we will get endless reports of bricks (which is why I purposely exagerated by above post to say virginizing is impossible instead of practically impossible).

another method is to use a nand programmer like an infectus to flash a nand backup (also made by using infectus BEFORE any softmods were done), but this would require opening up the wii, which would also void the warranty... and its also dangerous if you don't know what u r doing!

Anyways, the point remains, I think no one should attempt to virginize their Wii, which is why those of us that know how it can be done might be better off not sharing that info with noobs who will just use that information to either brick themselves or accomplish nothing.

Click to expand...

Im glad my warranty ran out ages out, I would hate to go through this just to send it back to nintendo, now im just praying everyday that some hardware issue doesnt crop, well not for a while, my friend has had his wii since release and supposedly he has had no hardware problems

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

so I need to buy a tri-wing screw driver and get out my solder gun then? lol

go buy another wii? or just hope nintendo hires either idiots and/or apathetic techies?

any tips on how to proceed?

Like I said... I am pretty sure the piece that connects the video cable to the motherboard is partially broken loose?

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

I do NOT have the PUNE mod of comex nand formatter... cany anyone link me?

Has anyone used it successfully... and I do have bootmii at boot2v3? I think.. checking now

Richardarkless · Sep 1, 2010

rAiN mAn 2o0o said:
so I need to buy a tri-wing screw driver and get out my solder gun then? lol

go buy another wii? or just hope nintendo hires either idiots and/or apathetic techies?

any tips on how to proceed?

Like I said... I am pretty sure the piece that connects the video cable to the motherboard is partially broken loose?

You may as well send it to nintendo as you got nothing to lose as you will need to fix it or replace it anyway just something to gain if your revirginizing is a success and they cant tell whether its modded

giantpune · Sep 1, 2010

using whatever version of the nand formatter i made that got leaked does, in fact remove all traces of hamebrew except bootmii@boot2. but it also removes the stuff that is only put there at the factory. the nand formatter only erases the filesystem and starts installing titles. it doesnt not take into account these things that were put there at the factory.

such things also need to be installed in the correct order as well, as there is a list in your nand of every title ever run on it and it is in order. it would be pretty easy for them to detect not only the presence of certain files, but also the absence of these things that should be there. there isn't any evidence yet that they do check for this stuff, but it isn't rocket science so it may be coming.

so, without a nand dump youve taken before there was ever homebrew on your nand or tools not publicly available, there is no such thing as re-virginizing a wii. you have popped its cherry. it cant be unpopped.

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

update.. found my answer... anyone interested can check it out...

http://www.wiihacks.com/bricked-wii-issues...l-your-wii.html

this guide includes punes version of nand formatter that allows you to keep your existing key.

UPDATE: Work continued to advance formatter to 2.0
http://www.wiihacks.com/bricked-wii-issues...html#post380023

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

thanks pune for the detailed reply. I am curious about factory bad blocks on my nand. How does your version of the formatter handle this? ALso can you please elaborate on what you mean by installing things in the correct order? How do I make my wii look slightly used?

after formatting nand? wont updating to 4.3 after uninstalling bootmii upgrade my boot2 version to a clean one?

or would it be better to use bannerbomb to run loadmii to run mmm or other homebrew to update boot2 version?

giantpune · Sep 1, 2010

factory bad blocks SHOULD not be an issue with the nand formatter as it works on the file level. i didnt touch any of that part of the code from comex, so it is handled exactly in the same way. the bad block stuff needs to be taken into account when dealing with the nand on the block level like backupmii does, ignoring the actual files in the filesystem. bad blocks are an issue if you try to write the system menu or something important to a bad block.

the "installing stuff in the right order" mumbo-jumbo is referring to the uid.sys. there is evidence of all the factory setup discs used to install your ioses and stuff originally. when you install stuff with the nand formatter, you dont get these entries in the uid. there is also test log file(s) that are not taken into account.

XFlak · Sep 1, 2010

rAiN mAn 2o0o said:
UPDATE: Work continued to advance formatter to 2.0
http://www.wiihacks.com/bricked-wii-issues...html#post380023

@ Pune, is this the comex's nand formatter mod that you recommend using? Or is there a better mod somewhere? Obviously using the nand formatter generally isn't recommended (or only as a last resort), but if some1 has already decided to use the nand formatter, I'm just wondering which release you recommend people use.

It seems like your mod got leaked against your will in the first place, so if you don't want to share, I'll understand...

Thanks!

ClockWorK · Sep 1, 2010

If considering opening the Wii, why not try to address the actual problem (the video port)? Maybe a little bit of solder will fix everything.

And if soldering it doesn't fix it, it'll probably brick it.

giantpune · Sep 1, 2010

well, i wrote it by request deadlyfoez and sent it to him. i didnt feel bad giving it to him since he has nand backups and a flash programmer and can undo any damage it may cause should it not work. but i never tested it personally. i never even put it on my SD card. i cant say that it works or not. it apparently works at least part of the time, since they used it in this guide. i havent heard of anybody actually going behind it and verifying that it did what it is supposed to do.

as far as recommendations, i suppose that if this one works like it should, then i would say to use it. but i dont recommend anybody try to use it for the purpose of reflowering anything or trying to make it look like their wii is in "stock" shape. that is not its purpose.

interdpth · Sep 1, 2010

I sent my homebrewed wii into Nintendo. Just did removed my custom channels, sent it in, got it back working fine. They didn't say anything about.

XFlak · Sep 1, 2010

giantpune said:
well, i wrote it by request deadlyfoez and sent it to him. i didnt feel bad giving it to him since he has nand backups and a flash programmer and can undo any damage it may cause should it not work. but i never tested it personally. i never even put it on my SD card. i cant say that it works or not. it apparently works at least part of the time, since they used it in this guide. i havent heard of anybody actually going behind it and verifying that it did what it is supposed to do.

as far as recommendations, i suppose that if this one works like it should, then i would say to use it. but i dont recommend anybody try to use it for the purpose of reflowering anything or trying to make it look like their wii is in "stock" shape. that is not its purpose.

thanks man, I'll keep this version of the formatter for my records. I doubt I'll ever need to use it, but it could come in handy for certain situations. But rest assured, I will NEVER recommend someone use comex's nand formatter to "re-virginize" their wii. Hell, I'll never recommend anyone ever attempt to revirginize their wii in the first place, like you said, one u pop the wii's cherry, it can't be unpopped!

rAiN mAn 2o0o · Sep 1, 2010

For anyone who cares I fixed my wii!

well not exactly! the solution to the problem is still baffling me a lil bit...
Before I had tested the wii with two diff power cables and three diff video cables on two tvs..

It wasn't until I just tried it on a third tv that I realized what the problem was...

The common factor between the first two test locations was that both tv's had bose 2.1 sound systems, and the wii was sitting on the right side of the sub woofer about a foot away...

It doesn't matter if the woofer hsa power to it or not.. if my wii gets within 2 feet of the right side.. snow everywhere (it only recently started doing this)

When I sit the wii on the left side of woofer.. (not to the right, above, or below.. on the left side) my wii works perfectly...

so in conclusion my wii is more sensitive to electromagnetic fields generated by either electronics and/or permanent magnets...

As long as my wii is far away or in a shielded location.. it works fine!

I have never heard of anyone else every having this problem. nor do I understand why my wii just recently started doing this.. It's also interesting to note that the wii works fine on the third test location... even sitting right on top of a 18 inch subwoofer!! so is it just the bose woofers (both of them, purchased diff locations)? I am really confused now!

EDIT: if my wii video cable (any of the three) gets anywhere near my bose subwoofer (both of them) my wii looks like shit!)

EDIT2: just tried another wii in same locations that affect mine... works perfect.. So only my wii is affected by ONLY bose subwoofers (just recently). Tested with two other subwoofers now of equal or bigger size (*magnets inside should be bigger), but only the two bose systems affect ONLY my wii...

WEIRD! anyone got a scientific explanation?

pretender13 · Sep 1, 2010

giantpune said:
well, i wrote it by request deadlyfoez and sent it to him. i didnt feel bad giving it to him since he has nand backups and a flash programmer and can undo any damage it may cause should it not work. but i never tested it personally. i never even put it on my SD card. i cant say that it works or not. it apparently works at least part of the time, since they used it in this guide. i havent heard of anybody actually going behind it and verifying that it did what it is supposed to do.

as far as recommendations, i suppose that if this one works like it should, then i would say to use it. but i dont recommend anybody try to use it for the purpose of reflowering anything or trying to make it look like their wii is in "stock" shape. that is not its purpose.

i can confirm this works quite well.
have used it several times to redo wii's.

excellent tool to have

Hacking Alternate Re-virginizing method? Engineered NAND

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