Hacking USB Loader GX

hadi aulia · Apr 7, 2020

alexander1970 said:
Since I do not understand,why this Game is not starting,it takes me "busy" today and...
it works now.

A really simple Solution,@crumaga :

Very Simple - used a NTFS formatted USB Stick (I am sure it also works on an NTFS formatted HDD,but actual I do not have one).Transferred the Game over,used Hermes v4 on cIOS222 Base 38.
Set Video Mode to Force NTSC and Game Language to English and disabled the Nand Emulation Option.

View attachment 202731 View attachment 202732 View attachment 202733
View attachment 202734 View attachment 202735 View attachment 202736 View attachment 202737

Have Fun now with Dancing on Just Dance 2020 Plus.
(A biiiiiiig Thank you to @KleinesSinchen ,she learns me what it means to have Endurance on Testing.)

Thank you.

I use fat32 usb stick & Hermes v4 on cIOS222 Base 38 works too

Cyan said:
I found that one, same problem with Just Dance Unlimited Party (S5UE41) :
https://gbatemp.net/threads/about-error-001-on-vwii.552425/

someone played (unlimited party, not 2020, but hey same problem) on vWii, which means no Hermes 38 required!

d2xbase57 can be use for unlimited party before v2.5 so it also work on vwii, v2.5 according to gamr game modder requires cIOS222

BillyBlaze · Apr 7, 2020

Hello. Quick question, which hopefully won't be derailed.

Is a partitioning schema with GPT and multiple partitions (preferably FAT32 + NTFS, something that anyone has ever got working with usbloader gx?

Cyan · Apr 8, 2020

it used to be problematic, there is (were?) a bug in GPT with different partition format.
the partition seems to be registered twice :
FAT32 + NTFS looks like this in the loader : FAT32 FAT32 NTFS NTFS

When trying to access the second partition (NTFS) the loader uses FAT32 libraries, which crash the loader because your second partition is NTFS.

If you had FAT32 + FAT32, the loader would register FAT32 FAT32 FAT32 FAT32
accessing the second partition is not an issue as it's the proper format.

it would crash anyway if you try to mount partition 3 and 4 which doesn't physically exists.

I tried to look at this problem, and found a bug in the way GPT partitions where numbered in the loader's partition list.
I posted a fix in 1272, but I didn't test it ! It's entirely possible that the fix I did had no effect and was not even related to that bug, and it's still present.

Did you ask because you want, or because you did and doesn't work ?
Did you try r1272 ? if not, please try and report if it's fixed.
I don't have any GPT drive to test (I know, it could be easy to try, I just never did it. I didn't really work on the loader for the past 2-3 years, only quick fixes from sources without proper tests on the real hardware).
I hoped someone could test and report, you are the first for a year to seems interested in that setup

users often suggest to use MBR instead, so it's rarely an issue. but if you want a bigger than 2TB drive or partition, you need GPT. it's only an issue if you don't use identical partition format (ntfs+ntfs works fine).

sion_zaphod · Apr 8, 2020

Is there any way to get usblgx (Latest Version) to work with 2 connected hard drives? I have 2 x FAT32 drives with games in WBFS format on both drives. One of the drives also contains Gamecube games and that is plugged into the top usb port. UsblGX is running from SD no settings are being stored on usb. I have followed the info from this thread :- https://gbatemp.net/threads/usb-loader-gx-cant-load-from-both-usb-ports.365916/ .

I can get the loader to list games from both drives. But only the games from the drive connected to the bottom port will start the wii games. As soon as I try to load a game from the other drive I get thrown back to the Homebrew menu. I am able to load every Gamecube game fine from this drive but not Wii games. If I go into settings and change the port from both to port 1 and allow the loader to refresh I am able to boot games from that drive. The other thread says it works but it clearly does not. Rather than me continue playing around with settings and reinstalling cIOS's that were already installed. Can I get a simple answer... Does it work or not? If it works can anyone please share your setup config.

Cyan · Apr 8, 2020

it's possible, but not recommended as it's usually more complicated to manage, and has less compatibility.
There are three things to know:
- cIOS
- settings
- compatibility

Apparently, your issue is only the cIOS, as you managed to load wii and gamecube correctly.
but, I'll detail everything (again?) for any other users who want the info.

if you use IOS58, looking at both ports works, but playing the game won't! (this is your problem)
reloading to cIOS at game launch, if you use any non dual port compatible will lose access to Port1, don't find the game, reboot/reset to menu.

cIOS
In order to see both USB Port, you need a cIOS compatible with Port0 and Port1.
there are :
hermes cIOS (any)
cIOS d2x v9 beta (unreleased apparently?)
dIOS d2x v10-alternative (r53)

So, if you are on Wii, you can try hermes cIOS. if you already have any cIOS in the 220-224 range, these are the one!
if not, you can install d2x v10 r53 in one of your slot (251 is rarely used for example).
you could install r53 base57 in slot251 ?

set your loader's setting "Game's IOS" to use one of these slot.
set your loader's settings to either "IOS58" or the same slot than the "Game's IOS".
I'd recommend to use both the same IOS, not IOS58.

Settings
cIOS was the first step only!
Now that the cIOS is compatible with both ports, you need to tell the loader to actually look at both ports!

Settings > HDD settings > Port : Both !

And if you want, you can also have the loader list games of both ports at the same time !
settings > HDD settings > multi-partition : enabled

Note that the multi-partition option is only for Wii games.

For gamecube games, it's a little more complicated.
now, having both HDD at the same time, the partition order will be different based on the IOS you are using for "loader's IOS".

if you use a cIOS in the loader's interface (loader's IOS) then ports are mounted in incremental order (Port0 -> port1)
if you use IOS58 as "loader's IOS", they are loaded decrementally (Port1 -> port0)

The "first partition" loaded by the loader as "usb1:/" will then depend which IOS you are using!

you will need to properly set both partition of the Wii and the gamecube (and everything else, like emuNAND, covers, themes, cheats, etc.) here :
Wii : Settings > HDD > Partition : select the partition where you want to "install" dumped discs. This is also the only partition you will list if you don't enable "multi partition" option.

Other : Settings > user path > Change every path to reflect the proper HDD partition.
usb1:/ is the first partition loaded by the loader
usb2:/ is the second partition loaded by the loader
usb3:/ the third, etc.

Compatibility
unfortunately, r53 is a beta version and has less compatibility with both hardware AND software.
Some HDD are not working at all with it.
if your HDD works, some games have issues with it ! either not working at all (black screen, like just dance) either freezing randomly while playing.

WARNING
when using dual HDD setup, NEVER use your HDD as the place to store any of the application files.
no boot.dol
no covers
no cheats
no settings
no themes
no audio
NOTHING OTHER THAN ISO AND WBFS!

If you ever have a file loaded by the loader located on the USB while inside the Loader's interface, you'll crash the console, and you can also lose your partition data !

It's because USB are not really loaded at the same time. they are unmounted, switched, remounted.
if you have a used file (say the settings, cover, or audio steam music for your theme) on one HDD, then trying to list game from the other USB port will force the USB port to shutdown, losing access to your opened file currently steaming (audio or text is a stream), and the App will try to access/read/write the same data from the newly opened USB connection at the same place the other file was located ! it could damage your file table and content of the partition. you can lose files!

ONLY EVER USE SDCARD FOR HOMEBREW RESOURCES !
this is very very important!
for all your homebrew, always use an SD card ! this is the basis for wii homebrew. don't be cheap, SD card are not expensive at all. buy one if you don't have homebrew on SD ! put all the /apps/ folder on SD ! never on USB when using dual port.

Conclusion
it's possible. it works. badly.
it's a feature of the loader, but it's not really encouraged to use it due to r53 requirement (and incompatibility).
For game compatibility you'll probably have better chance by trying Hermes cIOS instead of d2x v10-alt ! try slot222, 223 or 224 ?

BillyBlaze · Apr 8, 2020

Cyan said:
i

Did you ask because you want, or because you did and doesn't work ?
Did you try r1272 ? if not, please try and report if it's fixed.
I don't have any GPT drive to test (I know, it could be easy to try, I just never did it. I didn't really work on the loader for the past 2-3 years, only quick fixes from sources without proper tests on the real hardware).
I hoped someone could test and report, you are the first for a year to seems interested in that setup

users often suggest to use MBR instead, so it's rarely an issue. but if you want a bigger than 2TB drive or partition, you need GPT. it's only an issue if you don't use identical partition format (ntfs+ntfs works fine).

Cheers for the feedback! As for now it does not work (for me), however, some things that should work is not necessarily working with my drive either, so I will do some more testing before I claim it does not work. I will try to get a more basic (MBR + FAT32/NTFS) setup working first... I tried to go directly to a 5TB seagate with Y-cable and my 'perfect' partitioning scheme before even making sure I can load anything in a basic setup.

Yes I am using the latest version off Sourceforge - I also tried the mod that was posted earlier in this thread.They should both be similar I expect.

I am very interested in getting this to work - as I personally think its the most optimal solution... A 4/5TB drive isn't that expensive now, and such a setup would allow me to store pure (redump-format) isos on the NTFS drive - and have lots of them - while still using FAT32 for Gamecube..

Cyan · Apr 8, 2020

you can also put wii games on FAT32, instead of using full 4.7GB (or 9GB) ISO file.
when installing a game to FAT32 and converting it to wbfs format, only the actual game data is kept (sometime 400MB, like new super mario) sometime bigger than 4 GB, but it's not an issue as the game is split in two files to fit on FAT32.
you'll save space by putting wii games in wbfs format.

if you really want, you can use the full .iso format in USBloaders, by selecting the second partition in the settings and loads from the NTFS. It works.
it's just in case you don't want to have duplicated files (the full iso and the wbfs) you can play iso directly. but you need to put them in proper folder and filenames manually.

using wiibackupManager would convert/shrink the game, rename and put in correct folder for you on the FAT32 partition.
your HDD is big enough to have both the full 1:1 ISO with update partitions intact (for conservation purpose) and the wbfs game data only (for playing purpose).

BillyBlaze · Apr 9, 2020

Cyan said:
you can also put wii games on FAT32, instead of using full 4.7GB (or 9GB) ISO file.
when installing a game to FAT32 and converting it to wbfs format, only the actual game data is kept (sometime 400MB, like new super mario) sometime bigger than 4 GB, but it's not an issue as the game is split in two files to fit on FAT32.
you'll save space by putting wii games in wbfs format.

if you really want, you can use the full .iso format in USBloaders, by selecting the second partition in the settings and loads from the NTFS. It works.
it's just in case you don't want to have duplicated files (the full iso and the wbfs) you can play iso directly. but you need to put them in proper folder and filenames manually.

using wiibackupManager would convert/shrink the game, rename and put in correct folder for you on the FAT32 partition.
your HDD is big enough to have both the full 1:1 ISO with update partitions intact (for conservation purpose) and the wbfs game data only (for playing purpose).

Yes - I know that my way is not the preferred method, nor the simplest... WBFS is probably fine for anything - My though was that if I have a redump-iso on that drive its effectively a backup from my computer (That I do not have to do anything with to get restored back)...

Also, I believed that the WiiBackupManager-option to use ISO for NTFS actually just copied the ISO, but I see now that it shrinks it down, will have a look if I can do something about that or just script it myself.

Anyway, I tested a lot... And now it works (I have only tried launching Wii Games from both partitions)... And what I did:
- The Y-Cable might have been incorrectly plugged
- I upgraded (I believe) the cIOS according too Wii.Guide.

My Wii is a softmod from 2010 (guide from wiihacks or something) and then upgraded with BootMI in about August of last year.

For reference I have provided by syschecks (before upgrade and after, as well as my testing in the last spoiler)

SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 HacksDen Edition by JoostinOnline, Double_A, R2-D2199, and Nano
...runs on IOS58 (rev 6176).

Region: PAL
System Menu 4.3E (v514)
Priiloader installed
Drive date: 12.18.2008
Homebrew Channel 1.1.0 running on IOS58

Hollywood v0x21
Console ID: 130603121
Console Type: Wii
Shop Channel Country: Norway (96)
Boot2 v4
Found 119 titles.
Found 56 IOS on this console. 4 of them are stubs.

IOS3 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 1034): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS12 (rev 526): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS16 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, Flash Access, NAND Access
IOS17 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS21 (rev 1039): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1294): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1807): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS52 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS61 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS62 (rev 6430): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS80 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS90 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug
IOS202[60] (rev 65535, Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS222[38] (rev 4, Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS223[38+37] (rev 4, Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS224[57] (rev 65535, Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS236 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, Beer Ticket
IOS245[37] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS246[38] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access
IOS247[53] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS248[55] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS249[56] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS250[57] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS251[58] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii
BC v6
MIOS v10
Report generated on 04/07/2020.

After upgrade - I have this

SysCheck HDE v2.4.0 HacksDen Edition by JoostinOnline, Double_A, R2-D2199, and Nano
...runs on IOS58 (rev 6176).

Region: PAL
System Menu 4.3E (v514)
Priiloader installed
Drive date: 12.18.2008
Homebrew Channel 1.1.0 running on IOS58

Hollywood v0x21
Console ID: 130603121
Console Type: Wii
Shop Channel Country: Norway (96)
Boot2 v4
Found 122 titles.
Found 56 IOS on this console. 4 of them are stubs.

IOS3 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS4 (rev 65280): Stub
IOS9 (rev 1034): No Patches
IOS10 (rev 768): Stub
IOS11 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS12 (rev 526): No Patches
IOS13 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS14 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS15 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS16 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, Flash Access, NAND Access
IOS17 (rev 1032): No Patches
IOS20 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS21 (rev 1039): No Patches
IOS22 (rev 1294): No Patches
IOS28 (rev 1807): No Patches
IOS30 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS51 (rev 4864): Stub
IOS52 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
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 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS61 (rev 5662): No Patches
IOS62 (rev 6430): No Patches
IOS70 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS80 (rev 16174): Trucha Bug, NAND Access
IOS90 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug
IOS202[60] (rev 65535, Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS222[38] (rev 4, Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS223[38+37] (rev 4, Info: hermes-v4): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS224[57] (rev 65535, Info: hermesrodries-v6): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS236 (rev 54321): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access, Beer Ticket
IOS245[37] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS246[38] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, ES Identify, NAND Access
IOS247[53] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS248[55] (rev 21008, Info: d2x-v8final): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS249[56] (rev 65535, Info: d2x-v10beta52): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS250[57] (rev 65535, Info: d2x-v10beta52): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS251[58] (rev 65535, Info: d2x-v10beta52): Trucha Bug, NAND Access, USB 2.0
IOS254 (rev 65281): BootMii
BC v6
MIOS v10
Report generated on 04/09/2020.

How I tested:

Test games:
Blob07 [R6BP78] (First partition)
BUST A MOVE [RBMPGT] (First/Second Partition)

(Both from Redump-verified sources)

Notes
- First partition always from start (no free space)
- Second partitions always following the first (no empty space)
- NTFS - Launch from ISO-files (Stripped ISO I belive that WiiBackupManager creates)
- FAT32 - Launch from wbfs file
- All partitioning and format done with EaseUS Partition Master 13.8
- Wii powered off between any reformat/repartition
- NTFS format set to 32K clusters

MBR - 1 Partition NTFS (2000GB, Primary) - loader launch ok, Game launch ok
MBR - 2 Paritions FAT32+NTFS (500GB, Primary) - loader launch ok, Game Launch ok
GPT - 1 Partition FAT32 (500GB, Data Parition) - Loader launch ok, Game launch ok
GPT - 2 Partition FAT32 (2 x 500GB, Data Parition) - Loader launch ok, Game launch ok
GPT - 2 Partition FAT32+NTFS ( 2 x 500GB, Data Partition) - loader launch ok, Game launch ok

Cyan · Apr 9, 2020

the y-cable is usually not requires on Wii, only on vWii.
in WiibackupManager, if you don't want to shrink anything, in the setting you need to disable all "remove" option.
you can remove update partition, choose to keep everything.

BillyBlaze said:
GPT - 2 Partition FAT32+NTFS ( 2 x 500GB, Data Partition) - loader launch ok, Game launch ok

Could you give more information on that particular setup?
GPT with 2 different partition format had issue prior to r1272. I made a change in the sources but I'd like confirmation that you can access the second partition (NTFS) without crash.

BillyBlaze · Apr 9, 2020

Cyan said:
the y-cable is usually not requires on Wii, only on vWii.
in WiibackupManager, if you don't want to shrink anything, in the setting you need to disable all "remove" option.
you can remove update partition, choose to keep everything.

I was under the impression that a larger drive would need I Y-cable, haven't tested without it yet, but I sure will. (This is 5TB Seagate drive, I test with smaller partitions to rule out other errors).

Cyan said:
Could you give more information on that particular setup?
GPT with 2 different partition format had issue prior to r1272. I made a change in the sources but I'd like confirmation that you can access the second partition (NTFS) without crash.

I will do further testing tonight, but looking at the disk now it does have this setup, and I am pretty sure I got both games to launch (one on FAT32 and the other on NTFS).

Screenshot from EaseUS is attached

File contents on disk:

Code:

E:\wbfs
E:\wbfs\Blob07 [R6BP78]
E:\wbfs\disc.info
E:\wbfs\Blob07 [R6BP78]\R6BP78.wbfs
F:\wbfs
F:\wbfs\BUST A MOVE [RBMPGT]
F:\wbfs\disc.info
F:\wbfs\BUST A MOVE [RBMPGT]\RBMPGT.iso

Cyan · Apr 9, 2020

usually, drives who need more power are sold with externally powered adapter, not Y-cable.
but, it might helps in case you have any freeze while playing (particularly when loading new maps, tracks, models, enemies, pictures, video, etc.) which means the drive stopped spinning and the loader can't re-launch it.

thanks for confirming the GPT with second different format partition

BillyBlaze · Apr 9, 2020

So I did some more testing.

Initial testing was done with 500GB partitions to rule out other problems... Sadly, there seems to exist other problems.

I cannot for the life of me understand Test#1 - .. However the other tests points to an error when a the total size is above 2048GB (the maximum size of an MBR-partition given that logical sectors used are 512). ... So perhaps a 32-bit pointer/data type somewhere referencing the logical sector?

Test ID	Layout	Partition 1 FS	Partition 1 Size	Partition 2 FS	Partition 2 Size	Result
1	GPT	FAT32	2048GB	NTFS	Rest of drive (~2,54TB]	Semi-Fail: Many black screens before loader splash. When loader does launch, only a semi-drawn gui is visible and system must be hard booted
2	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	N/A	N/A	PASS: Game launches
3	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	Rest of drive (~2,59TB)	FAIL: DSI exception on launch
4	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	2000GB	FAIL: DSI exception on launch
5	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	500GB	FAIL: DSI exception on launch
5	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	20GB	Pass: Game launches
6	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	47,5GB	Pass: Game launches
7	GPT	FAT32	2000GB	NTFS	48 GB	FAIL: DSI exception on launch
8	GPT	NTFS	2000GB	NTFS	48 GB	FAIL: DSI exception on launch
9	GPT	NTFS	2048GB	N/A	N/A	FAIL: DSI exception on launch

BillyBlaze · Apr 10, 2020

BillyBlaze said:
So I did some more testing.

Initial testing was done with 500GB partitions to rule out other problems... Sadly, there seems to exist other problems.

I cannot for the life of me understand Test#1 - .. However the other tests points to an error when a the total size is above 2048GB (the maximum size of an MBR-partition given that logical sectors used are 512). ... So perhaps a 32-bit pointer/data type somewhere referencing the logical sector?

Test ID Layout Partition 1 FS Partition 1 Size Partition 2 FS Partition 2 Size Result
1 GPT FAT32 2048GB NTFS Rest of drive (~2,54TB] Semi-Fail: Many black screens before loader splash. When loader does launch, only a semi-drawn gui is visible and system must be hard booted
2 GPT FAT32 2000GB N/A N/A PASS: Game launches
3 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS Rest of drive (~2,59TB) FAIL: DSI exception on launch
4 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS 2000GB FAIL: DSI exception on launch
5 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS 500GB FAIL: DSI exception on launch
5 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS 20GB Pass: Game launches
6 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS 47,5GB Pass: Game launches
7 GPT FAT32 2000GB NTFS 48 GB FAIL: DSI exception on launch
8 GPT NTFS 2000GB NTFS 48 GB FAIL: DSI exception on launch
9 GPT NTFS 2048GB N/A N/A FAIL: DSI exception on launch

Update:
- Also tested single NTFS 2048GB Partition (GPT) with latest WiiFlow Lite, and vanilla USB Loader GX (1272 and 1271) - DSI Exception on all

Cyan · Apr 11, 2020

thank you for all your tests and even making a nice table! I like good reports

like you said, it looks more like a partition size issue than format or number of partitions.

what's strange is your Test #9
single partition of 2048 doesn't work?
even with wiiflow? I thought it was only a bug in USBLoaderGX.

I've had report of some users with 8TB FAT32 partitions without problem.
maybe it's not a problem with FAT32, but only with NTFS?

could you test bigger than 2TB GPT FAT32 without NTFS as second?
up to now, it feels like it crashes only with NTFS past 2TB mark.

I remember someone saying the "free size" number at the bottom of the main window was wrong on 2TB+ partitions (or was it NTFS partition?). there is definitely a 32bit/64bit issue, or maybe a NTFS struct parsing error? checking the ntfs struct used by loaders is probably a good idea. I'll do that when I think about it.

edit:
while you are testing the partitions, could you tell me if the loader is finding more than 2 partitions? (try with test#6 for example)
to check, go to "user path" menu, select a path and see if it suggest usb1 and usb2, or also usb3 and usb4
it was the report I had before, that the loader mounted twice the amount of partitions, but never tested myself nor found anything responsible for that in the sources.
maybe you can also see if there's a problem in the hdd menu > install partition : click on it to switch over all found partitions. if there are duplicate you should need to click twice to find the second partitions (fat/fat/ntfs/ntfs instead of fat/ntfs?)

I'm thinking it's more what you said (size and access issue) than how the partition are listed.

tswntk · Apr 11, 2020

IIRC, its the max number of clusters the Wii can access (65536 max?? - I havn't done any math, just some random number off my head), for partition size over 2T+ , you will need to increase the cluster size to over 64k to reduce the total number of clusters
Of course, that will mean you are wasting more space for storing small files (apps, ini, covers...)

Cyan · Apr 11, 2020

for FAT32 it's not a problem as big cluster is necessary to achieve 2TB+ (64k for 16TB on 4k/sector)
for wbfs, clusters are very big too.
but for NTFS I didn't thought about it, maybe he could test different sizes to see if it helps.
thank you for giving something to look at.

@BillyBlaze, could you post one of these dsi dump screenshot?
to see if the code dump is useful and point exactly where it's crashing (sometime it's not obvious if it's a memory flaw instead of code's bug)

BillyBlaze · Apr 11, 2020

Cyan said:
thank you for all your tests and even making a nice table! I like good reports
like you said, it looks more like a partition size issue than format or number of partitions.

The least I can do is present proper test results

Will test more tonight (Europe time) when the kids are asleep).

Cyan said:
what's strange is your Test #9
single partition of 2048 doesn't work?
even with wiiflow? I thought it was only a bug in USBLoaderGX.

(Guess) I am thinking that with a 2048GB drive + GPT Partitioning the LBA will be above 2^32.. Just a guess.

Cyan said:
I've had report of some users with 8TB FAT32 partitions without problem.
maybe it's not a problem with FAT32, but only with NTFS?

But did these users have 512 byte logical sectors or 4K? If they have 4K sectors the LBA should not pass 2^32 at least... And they would have to use 64K clusters for FAT32 (if I am understanding correctly), another 32-bit that would not overflow)

Cyan said:
could you test bigger than 2TB GPT FAT32 without NTFS as second?
up to now, it feels like it crashes only with NTFS past 2TB mark.

Will do!

Cyan said:
I remember someone saying the "free size" number at the bottom of the main window was wrong on 2TB+ partitions (or was it NTFS partition?). there is definitely a 32bit/64bit issue, or maybe a NTFS struct parsing error? checking the ntfs struct used by loaders is probably a good idea. I'll do that when I think about it.

I believe the version (mod) I used addressed this - there was a patch by you there... Anyway, I have defiantly seen size available/free be all wrong during my testing, but I belive that was before I got it working at all.

Cyan said:
edit:
while you are testing the partitions, could you tell me if the loader is finding more than 2 partitions? (try with test#6 for example)
to check, go to "user path" menu, select a path and see if it suggest usb1 and usb2, or also usb3 and usb4
it was the report I had before, that the loader mounted twice the amount of partitions, but never tested myself nor found anything responsible for that in the sources.
maybe you can also see if there's a problem in the hdd menu > install partition : click on it to switch over all found partitions. if there are duplicate you should need to click twice to find the second partitions (fat/fat/ntfs/ntfs instead of fat/ntfs?)

I'm thinking it's more what you said (size and access issue) than how the partition are listed.

[/QUOTE]

Will do!

tswntk said:
IIRC, its the max number of clusters the Wii can access (65536 max?? - I havn't done any math, just some random number off my head), for partition size over 2T+ , you will need to increase the cluster size to over 64k to reduce the total number of clusters
Of course, that will mean you are wasting more space for storing small files (apps, ini, covers...)

That is also worthy of a test, a 2048GB FAT32 with 64K clusters (I have no idea what EasueUS uses for default partitioning), but If I have understood correctly 2048GB is the maximum one can get with 32KB clusters.

If I understand this at all (I have next to zero-belov-filesystem-coding-experience):
- The filesystem driver receive some pointer for a file
- It will use the cluster index to find the logical sector for that file ?
- The disk will return everything in that logical sector to the Filesystem-driver
- The filesystemdriver must parse out what it needs of that logical sectors

If that is more or less correctly, there are two addressing schemes,, both which can overflow 2^32.. So I will test a bit using logical sectors as well.

EDIT: Did a quick test with 2048GB FAT32 64KB clusters.... WiiFlow still DSI exception on boot, Usbloader GX starts but looks kinda like Test#1... First a white gui with only a hand... the gui launches but miss all text.. When I add the checkbox for Wii Games (if I recall correctly), it crashes with DSI Exception.

Also noted that a 2048GB FAT32 partition has the last physical sector at 4294967295 - aka (2^32 -1)

SkyStruck · Apr 11, 2020

I have a few problems with some games, for example magician lord (PAL, patched region free) and Metal Slug X (NTSC U, patched region free). Magician Lord gets half a screen, Metal Slug X only shows a screen on the home-menu. Steps used:

Wii 4.3e, re-hack via latest ModMii 6.5.1 workings
d2x used for cIOS, manually updated.
- 249 (base 56, v10-beta52 v65535)
- 250 (base 57, v10-beta52 v65535)
- 251 (base 58, v10-beta52 v65535)
USB Loader GX (3.0-r1272, 2GB SD formatted FAT32 (32K cluster size), USB 240GB SSD formatted FAT32 (32K cluster size)
BootMii NAND backup used (incl. keys.bin) for ShowMiiWads 1.5 by Leathl (Orwel mod) to extract NAND
NAND extracted to USB1:\\nands\
ShowMiiWads used to extract WADS to emulated NAND.

The above, in red doesn't work at all.
Used USB Loader GX (3.0-r1272) to dump NAND to USB1:\nands\01\

Disc-backups run fine, default settings. EmuNAND settings used, Metal Slug 1, Magical Drop II & III, run fine under the following conditions:

Frankly, I'm at a loss - could it be that it's simply due to not using Neek2o (I've tried several tutorials, all resulting in starting nSwitch from HBC and locking up at this:

The last part, I hope isn't part of the problem - none of the tutorials "work" so far. But to get back to my original question, can I "fix" the aforementioned problems with the games in the settings of USB Loader GX? If so, or not so - what to use (if you would like to tell me the steps) or tutorial (with hopefully actually downloadable legal GPL files for once) should I follow?

Alexander1970 · Apr 11, 2020

SkyStruck said:
I have a few problems with some games, for example magician lord (PAL, patched region free) and Metal Slug X (NTSC U, patched region free). Magician Lord gets half a screen, Metal Slug X only shows a screen on the home-menu. Steps used:

Wii 4.3e, re-hack via latest ModMii 6.5.1 workings

d2x used for cIOS, manually updated.
- 249 (base 56, v10-beta52 v65535)
- 250 (base 57, v10-beta52 v65535)
- 251 (base 58, v10-beta52 v65535)

USB Loader GX (3.0-r1272, 2GB SD formatted FAT32 (32K cluster size), USB 240GB SSD formatted FAT32 (32K cluster size)
BootMii NAND backup used (incl. keys.bin) for ShowMiiWads 1.5 by Leathl (Orwel mod) to extract NAND
NAND extracted to USB1:\\nands\
ShowMiiWads used to extract WADS to emulated NAND.

The above, in red doesn't work at all.

Used USB Loader GX (3.0-r1272) to dump NAND to USB1:\nands\01\

Disc-backups run fine, default settings. EmuNAND settings used, Metal Slug 1, Magical Drop II & III, run fine under the following conditions:

View attachment 203968 View attachment 203969 View attachment 203970

Frankly, I'm at a loss - could it be that it's simply due to not using Neek2o (I've tried several tutorials, all resulting in starting nSwitch from HBC and locking up at this:

View attachment 203971

The last part, I hope isn't part of the problem - none of the tutorials "work" so far. But to get back to my original question, can I "fix" the aforementioned problems with the games in the settings of USB Loader GX? If so, or not so - what to use (if you would like to tell me the steps) or tutorial (with hopefully actually downloadable legal GPL files for once) should I follow?

Hello.

To understand it correct,you use the emuNAND only for the Game Save Option from USBLoader GX ?
If yes you can set

- Nand Saves Emulation -> to Partial
- Nand Chan. Emulation -> to Partial

The Video Setting Options

- Video Mode - Disc Default
- Dol Video Patch - OFF
- 480p pixel Fix Patch (should be OFF by default)
- Sneek Video Patch - OFF (if you do not use sneek)
- VIDTV Patch - ON
- Aspect Ratio - System Default
- Game Languaege - Console Default
- Patch Country Strings - OFF

may different from Game to Game.With this Settings you should be able to run 99 Percent of the Wii Games.

For the other Settings maybe

- Block IOS Reload -> to Auto
- Return To -> USB Loader GX - if you like to Return back to the Loader when you leave a Game.

And your cIOS Setting is ok too.

Thank you.

SkyStruck · Apr 11, 2020

Hello Alexander - I'm using it for the saved games AND channel emulation, or else I won't see the installed virtualconsole and other type of games I install through WAD-files

I'll check it tomorrow-morning

VIDTV patch is for Japanese games, due the kanji-characters iirc. I do not fully understand why that should be on? I won't be running NTSC-J games

Note: LG OLED E7 with HDMI-dongle is used.

- Return To -> USB Loader GX - That one doesn't show, I tried to no avail. :cry:

Hacking USB Loader GX

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