Hacking USB Loader GX

JacobM · Mar 27, 2018

Cyan said:
I'm thinking about writing a "closed guide" (closed thread, new kind of guide where I could just add things and refer to it when users ask about anything on the forum!), not sure it's a good idea yet. But I think I'll go that way.
I think the "closed thread" idea might help, so I can post a new message like "new chapter", and don't have pages of questions between each. it's maybe selfish to have a private thread, but I don't see it like that, I see how it can help better.

I'm probably a minority, but I've become fairly fond of github based guides. I like how you can use the "readme" formats to create chapters and pages. This also allows others to propose revisions and updates if/when things change so that you can focus on more important things in life. I completely understand if you want to keep it hosted directly on the temp.

I'd be happy to peer edit and help out where I can when I have free time.

A basic example of this would be the wavebird reverse engineering guide at https://github.com/CFSworks/wavebird-reversing

Cyan · Mar 27, 2018

I'm still not familiar with github, but I see you can also include pictures in the readme, so it could be useful.
I don't understand how to pul/merge/etc.
But I like the idea to get help, and someone who can continue the work if I don't have time anymore. Maybe the wiki is good too?
I'll have to start writing my ideas anyway, so it's not ready to be posted yet, I'll have time to think about it.

RandomNameAndNumber · Mar 28, 2018

Cyan said:
The "IOS" are in fact just folders (numbered folders), and inside you have the hardware's driver.

This was EXACTLY what I wanted to know. This explains everything. Did they do it this way for stability? What reasoning for putting "drivers" in various folders? Part of this desire to know more is that we still have a virgin Wii-u....Just waiting to be modded. Knowing that the Wii runs similar would help with understanding what to do there.

JacobM · Mar 28, 2018

Cyan said:
But I like the idea to get help, and someone who can continue the work if I don't have time anymore. Maybe the wiki is good too?
I'll have to start writing my ideas anyway, so it's not ready to be posted yet, I'll have time to think about it.

Wiki works fine too! My thought was that Github would allow you to keep control of the content and individually approve changes you feel are appropriate. My one concern with Github would be others forking the guide and potentially adding incorrect or possibly harmful information.

Cyan · Mar 28, 2018

RandomNameAndNumber said:
This was EXACTLY what I wanted to know. This explains everything. Did they do it this way for stability? What reasoning for putting "drivers" in various folders? Part of this desire to know more is that we still have a virgin Wii-u....Just waiting to be modded. Knowing that the Wii runs similar would help with understanding what to do there.

yes, I think it's thought around stability.
old games use old IOS. (for example, zelda twilight princess runs on IOS9)
if they update the IOS functions (for example to add new function's argument, or change the returned value from int32 to bool etc.) that would broke old games relying on them, it would require a game update, etc. (though, C++ can work around this easily)
because back in 2006 game's update weren't a common thing, I think it made senses.

Nintendo probably thought it would be better, but I think they noticed (like us) that newer IOS worked fine with old games too (that's why most games are working fine with "base57", or else we would need a cIOS base9 for zelda, etc.)
I think this is why the WiiU has only one IOS that nintendo updated regularly when needed, instead of multiple versions. It could also be because it's easier to maintain, but game updates was easier to provide to fix issues if there were any.

GreyWolf · Mar 28, 2018

The IOS system is set up similarly to COM interfaces on Windows. Once you've defined an interface you don't change it. If you want to add features to an interface you create a new version of it to maintain compatibility with software that has already been compiled. Bug fixes to a defined interface can be applied to the existing one. That's why there are both different IOS versions and updates to them individually.

Older consoles like the original Xbox had one firmware and it couldn't be flashed programmatically so they only updated the dashboard.

AskaLangly · Mar 29, 2018

Hey Cyan, I was wondering if you could add a custom path for Wii games; useful with multiple partitioned drives.
My drive is a 1TB WD Passport.
It's partitioned 750GB Wii, NTFS / 250GB GCN, FAT32.
Partitions are NTFS 1st, FAT32 2nd.
I told GX that the GCN games are in usb2:/games; reads the games. Nintendont reads them too.
It can't find my Wii games, despite install partition set to the NTFS.

GreyWolf · Mar 29, 2018

AskaLangly said:
Hey Cyan, I was wondering if you could add a custom path for Wii games; useful with multiple partitioned drives.
My drive is a 1TB WD Passport.
It's partitioned 750GB Wii, NTFS / 250GB GCN, FAT32.
Partitions are NTFS 1st, FAT32 2nd.
I told GX that the GCN games are in usb2:/games; reads the games. Nintendont reads them too.
It can't find my Wii games, despite install partition set to the NTFS.

Why not just use one FAT32 partition?

AskaLangly · Mar 29, 2018

GreyWolf said:
Why not just use one FAT32 partition?

Aren't there some games that hate the splitting of WBFSes?

Cyan · Mar 29, 2018

AskaLangly said:
Hey Cyan, I was wondering if you could add a custom path for Wii games; useful with multiple partitioned drives.
My drive is a 1TB WD Passport.
It's partitioned 750GB Wii, NTFS / 250GB GCN, FAT32.
Partitions are NTFS 1st, FAT32 2nd.
I told GX that the GCN games are in usb2:/games; reads the games. Nintendont reads them too.
It can't find my Wii games, despite install partition set to the NTFS.

It's already possible to use any partition, and even multiple partitions at the same time for Wii games.

If Wii games are not displayed, it's usually a user error :
Top menu > 4th icon > enable Wii games to be displayed

If not displayed, force a remount of the partition where you have your wii games :
settings > hdd settings > Click the first option to choose the NTFS (your first partition)

If still not displayed, your wii games are not in the correct folder or using the correct filename/folder name.
use WiiBackupManager to fix that in 2 seconds.
https://gbatemp.net/posts/7592791

If you want to list Wii games from multiple partitions (USB1:/wbfs/ and USB2:/) :
Settings > hdd settings > multiple Partition : Enabled
The "game partition" will the be one used to dump disc to USB, but all partition will be displayed at the same time.
That option also work when using multiple USB Port at the same time (it can list up to 8 partitions)

GreyWolf · Mar 29, 2018

AskaLangly said:
Aren't there some games that hate the splitting of WBFSes?

Nope. d2x cIOS doesn't even use the filesystem when the game is running. It uses a list of the blocks the game takes up and accesses it directly.

flashmanx · Mar 30, 2018

My wii memory corrupted. Before that my wii was perfect I had usb loader gx playing wdfs files I had my sd card playing wads directly from the sd card menu. gamecube games were working. I had to get a new wii. My wii is now red. I used letterbomb. had to back up my exhd to another I reloaded my games to the exhd using wii backup manager. I used wbfs to fat32 and now none of my games will load with usb gx loader. says there is nothing there. I want to go back to the way things were. please help me

the only thing that seems to work right is nintendont is loading gamecube games

ca032769 · Mar 30, 2018

flashmanx said:
My wii memory corrupted. Before that my wii was perfect I had usb loader gx playing wdfs files I had my sd card playing wads directly from the sd card menu. gamecube games were working. I had to get a new wii. My wii is now red. I used letterbomb. had to back up my exhd to another I reloaded my games to the exhd using wii backup manager. I used wbfs to fat32 and now none of my games will load with usb gx loader. says there is nothing there. I want to go back to the way things were. please help me

the only thing that seems to work right is nintendont is loading gamecube games

Sounds more like a corrupted SD Card or USB HDD, depending on where your files are saved. Do you have a backup of either so you can reformat you Card or HDD and then copy back the files?

Edit: Always keep a backup if you can. I have both my 256GB SD Card and 8TB HDD backed up to a second 256 Card & 8TB HDD. Never know when stuff will go wrong or fail.

flashmanx · Mar 30, 2018

ca032769 said:
Sounds more like a corrupted SD Card or USB HDD, depending on where your files are saved. Do you have a backup of either so you can reformat you Card or HDD and then copy back the files?

no the wii was corrupted when you formated the memory it would fail. if i have to install wads and play them as channels on the wii that is fine. I'm trying to get my usb loader gx to read the fat32 won't pick up the wbfs files. Reading around it says make sure it says boot 2222 i did that but still

Cyan · Mar 31, 2018

I don't know where you "read" your information, but just don't. These are outdated, or wrong information from someone who don't understand anything.
"Use 222" is not a good advice, it's just ONE advice for something specific, for a specific user, for a specific problem. Don't randomly follow what you read on the net if it's not directed at you.

You said "your wii is corrupted", but how do you know it's your Wii ?
when you don't plug any HDD or SD, and try to play a game, does it tell you "memory corrupted" ? (it happens, so it's possible)
if not, then it's not the wii, but like said ca032769 (pff, can't remember that name, I always copy/paste ahah) it's probably the SD or HDD which had a file system problem.
You also said "gamecube is working fine" which means the Wii is working, as you can launch homebrew.

But you also said you can't format the Wii memory, why would you want to do that? it would delete everything and will get your WiiWare/VR games installed on SD non playable. you'll have to reinstall them all.
Formating will delete HBC, which is bad if you have a problem booting to system menu (see here) you can't launch Homebrew to fix it. at least, if you have Priiloader installed, there should be a way to fix, but don't play with that format memory option!
Format doesn't delete everything and fix everything, Format just delete installed channels, savegames and user settings. It does not delete IOS, cIOS, priiloader, menu or theme hacks etc., you risk ending up into a semi-working state. Format option is not fixing a hacked console!

I suggest you go back to the start.
1. post a syscheck to know what softmod you currently have.
2. reset USBLoaderGX settings (settings > reset), or delete the entire folder on your SD card : apps/usbloader_gx/
3. update the loader to latest release (look in my signature, or on sourceforge, or on first post of this thread)

"wii game not displayed" is usually a user's error.
maybe you forgot to enable the display of wii games : top menu > 4th icon > Wii
or you didn't refresh the HDD partitions : settings > hdd menu > click first option to force partition remount

fury28 · Mar 31, 2018

Great program but i'mgetting black screen as well.

I just downloaded the latest files from your sig do i just place them in the apps folder and that's it to update or do I need to do something else

Cyan · Mar 31, 2018

you didn't give enough information, but I suppose you just need to (re)place the app on SD.
if you use a channel, it could need more things.
if you use Flash instead of HDD, that's your black screen problem.
if you didn't install a patched IOS, that's also your black screen problem.
if you didn't use the correct USB port, that's also your black screen problem.

to use the loader you need 4 things :
softmod to install HBC
install the correct cIOS
use the correct USB Port
use HDD instead of flash

Amontre · Apr 1, 2018

I'm having trouble using ocarina cheat on Super Metroid VC, other games seem to be working but not super metroid.

fury28 · Apr 2, 2018

Here's my syscheck

Region: NTSC-U

System Menu 4.3U (v513)
Drive date: 02.13.2007

Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 running on IOS58

Hollywood v0x11

Console ID: 75091908
Console Type: Wii
Shop Channel Country: United States (49)
Boot2 v4

Found 94 titles.
Found 47 IOS on this console. 14 of them are stubs.

IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 1034): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 256): Stub
IOS12 (rev 526): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS16 (rev 512): Stub
IOS17 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 256): Stub
IOS21 (rev 1039): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1294): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1807): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 2816): Stub
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 3072): Stub
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 5120): Stub
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS52 (rev 5888): Stub
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 6400): Stub
IOS61 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS62 (rev 6430): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 6912): Stub
IOS80 (rev 6944): No Patches
IOS222 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS223 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS236[36] (rev 65535 Info: rev 3351): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS249[56] (rev 20 Info: rev 20): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS250[38] (rev 20 Info: rev 20): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii

BC v6
MIOS v10

## Any and all help is much appreciated... HB works fine, Wadmger work fine, SNES and FCEUX works fine.. Seems just usb gx i get artwork to download just get black screen on game load and if i click update in settings it gives black error dump screen then i reboot and its fine

GreyWolf · Apr 2, 2018

fury28 said:
Here's my syscheck

Region: NTSC-U

System Menu 4.3U (v513)
Drive date: 02.13.2007

Homebrew Channel 1.1.2 running on IOS58

Hollywood v0x11

Console ID: 75091908
Console Type: Wii
Shop Channel Country: United States (49)
Boot2 v4

Found 94 titles.
Found 47 IOS on this console. 14 of them are stubs.

IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 1034): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 256): Stub
IOS12 (rev 526): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS16 (rev 512): Stub
IOS17 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 256): Stub
IOS21 (rev 1039): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1294): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1807): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 2816): Stub
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 3072): Stub
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 5120): Stub
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS52 (rev 5888): Stub
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 6400): Stub
IOS61 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS62 (rev 6430): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 6912): Stub
IOS80 (rev 6944): No Patches
IOS222 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS223 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS236[36] (rev 65535 Info: rev 3351): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS249[56] (rev 20 Info: rev 20): Trucha Bug NAND Access USB 2.0
IOS250[38] (rev 20 Info: rev 20): Trucha Bug ES Identify NAND Access
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii

BC v6
MIOS v10

## Any and all help is much appreciated... HB works fine, Wadmger work fine, SNES and FCEUX works fine.. Seems just usb gx i get artwork to download just get black screen on game load and if i click update in settings it gives black error dump screen then i reboot and its fine

You have an old cIOS in 249/250. Use Cyan's directions in this post to update them.

Hacking USB Loader GX

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