Hacking About "Format Wii System Memory" feature

[TheShadowRunner]

Hey all,
I've a couple questions regarding the Nintendo official "Format Wii System Memory" feature.
Yes, I found other threads talking about this feature on gbatemp, but no clear answers regarding the following:

1. Does it affect (remove/overwrite) any IOS / cIOS / patched IOS the system currently has installed?

2. If I backup saves to SD card, format the system, then reinstall games and copy the saves back to Nand, will they still work?

3. I read it changes the Wii Friend Code, is that correct?

4. Provided I don't have preloader installed, is it SAFE to use the format feature?
(I pretty much only patched IOS36, IOS60, installed "bootmii as IOS" (as LU64) and have Wanin's Cios rev14 installed)

5. Formatting will remove everything (TMDs, tickets, channels, saves) including the Homebrew Channel, right?

Please only answer if you know FOR SURE ^^;
Thanks a lot,

TSR

 

[techboy]

1. No. Doesn't touch IOSes
2. Yes, assuming they aren't copy protected (you'll need a no-copy patch to back those saves up and to restore them)
3. Correct
4. Should be, but why do you want to format it anyway?
5. Correct. All user installed data (saves, channels, etc.) are deleted. This includes settings as well.

EDIT: Saves for disc-based games might not copy back until you've played the game at least once after the format.

 

[TheShadowRunner]

techboy, thanks very much for your clear, precise and fast answer.

I would like to format because I didn't know we were supposed to use Wad Installer to properly uninstall games. (properly = completely).
Up to now, i've deleted games using the Wii menu, so there are many leftovers on the Nand. I would just like to start fresh and clean and will, from now on, keep wads so I can remove them "proper".

See you,

TSR

 

[odja]

Sorry, but i somewhere read that "Format Wii System memory" on modyfing IOS may bricked console. It's true?

 

[DjoeN]

I just formatted my Wii console

First generation, Wii PAL 4.1E (Modchip in it)

First:
- Made a NAND Backup of my Wii with BootMii and copied that onto my PC
- Took a 2Gb SD and formatted it to FAT32
- Placed Bannerbomb and Hackmii installer on it
- Made some extra dirs on it i would need (apps, wad, etc...)

Second:
- Formatting the Wii was no problem (after the countless warnings)
- After format, reinstalled the Wii stuff you need to do (Time/Date, Name)
- Opened the shop channel and downloaded, Opera webbrowser and photo channel 1.1
- Checked my WiiWare/VC games i bought, i could all download agian without problem
- Rebooted the wii with the SD i made (with only Bannerbomb and hackmii installer (bootmii and hbc))
- Installed HBC (Bootmii already was installed in nand)
- Checked that everything till now worked fine

Third:
- Made a new NAND Dump with Bootmii
- Made a new NAND dump with Simple FS Dumper
- Took the SD out and placed it safe away as recovery SD
- But first i made a copy of it on my other 4Gb SDHC

Fourth:
- Made a new Mii
- Wrote down my new Wii Friends Code

I do now have a Wii that has everything from channels and saves cleaned up, Ready for a new start in the Wii Scene

(There was to much messed stuff on the wii's memory, to much to erase by hand (would take to long to))

 

[Arm the Homeless]

EDIT: Fuck it.

 

[TheShadowRunner]

1st, calling him a liar is totally uncalled for.
2nd, I guess Wiibrew is lying too.. http://wiibrew.org/wiki/System_Memory_Format

edit: DjoeN, thanks for your detailed report. Gonna do it now.

 

[DjoeN]

Checked Wii with "Any Title Deleter"

Only titles i see are:

System Titles
- 3 pages of lotsa IOS's

Disc Game Titles (and saves)
- Photo Channel v1.1

Installed Channel Titles
- Opera / Internet Channel
- Homebrew Channels

System Channel Titles
- Weather Channel (HAFA)
- News Channel (HAGA)
- News Channel (HAGP)
- Weather Channel (HAFP)
- Photo Channel 1.1
- Shopping Channel
- Photo Channel
- Mii Channels

Games that use channels (Channels +Save)
- No titles to display

Downloadable Game Content:
- No titles to display

Hidden Channels:
- Region Select Hidden Channel
- EULA Hidden Channel

 

[Swizler]

how do you dump and backup nand via bootmii?

 

[TheShadowRunner]

DjoeN, thanks for this detailed confirmation. Which shows that indeed Tickets are deleted except the default ones.

Swizler, this is completely off topic!

 

[sl33p]

If you're going to use the "Format" option in the Wii System menu a NAND backup isn't really useful. Formatting the system this way will give the Wii a different "key". This "key" will not match the one in Bootmii NAND back up and Bootmii will refuse to restore it. See here and here for more info.

How do I know this? Well, let's leave it at that one should never come home from the bar with the purpose of testing how robust the Bootmii backup can be. The drunken mind is to be feared.

 

[DjoeN]

If you're going to use the "Format" option in the Wii System menu a NAND backup isn't really useful. Formatting the system this way will give the Wii a different "key". This "key" will not match the one in Bootmii NAND back up and Bootmii will refuse to restore it. See here and here for more info.

How do I know this? Well, let's leave it at that one should never come home from the bar with the purpose of testing how robust the Bootmii backup can be. The drunken mind is to be feared.

Yeah figured that one out to

Tried what you said and i have to say, making a nand backup if you're going to format your wii is pointless

Anyway, got a new NAND backup in case something goes wrong (and i know it will be a relative clean nand backup now

)

So, if you are going to format, a NAND is useless cause you get a new Key on your Wii

But making a NAND Backup is always usefull if you brick your wii are something else goes wrong, where a format isn't needed

 

[TheShadowRunner]

A few words to report that all went fine.

Startpatch also worked wonder to backup & restore saves.
All is good, Wii is squeaky-clean! techboy & DjoeN thanks again for your answers.

 

[DjoeN]

Nice

to see it worked fine for you to

Didn't use starpatch or anything else for saves, cause i didn't care much about my saves.

I just forgot to backup my mii figures, but on the other hand, my kids ddon't care cause the can now make a new mii for there own

(héhé)

 

[techboy]

Glad to hear. Kinda thought you'd need startpatch for the no-copy saves

I really never saw the point in the protection anyway...two people can't be online with the same FC at once, and who would want their friend's FC on their save anyway? You can't play online together with it like that...