Hacking Beginner's guide: launch hacks, game backups and homebrews on WiiU & vWii

[xem]

great, thanks for the clarification

 

[FIX94]

nice simple steps, I like it Just as a small thing I have in mind, how about letting people install IOS236 as well just to have a backup IOS at all times to get to if they do something bad? I dont know how important that is in this guide, just thought I'd mention it.

 

[mary1517]

Thanks for this thread! I'm usually more on the 3DS scene, but thanks to this single post I can track what's happening on the WiiU scene as well. I had no idea the homebrew development was doing so well here all this time!

 

[TotalInsanity4]

You'll need a SD card (less or equal than 2GB) or an external USB Hard Disk (with double-USB power or external power) + one of these Wii games:

You can't use a HDD or flash drive to hack vWii, but you can use it for homebrew after hacking

 

[The Real Jdbye]

xem

- A "kernel exploit" is being developed and should allow things like that soon (between now and june).

This is largely untrue. A kernel exploit is being developed but there is no indication that it will support or enable warez loaders. In fact the opposite seems true.

 

[NWPlayer123]

xem

- A "kernel exploit" is being developed and should allow things like that soon (between now and june).

This is largely untrue. A kernel exploit is being developed but there is no indication that it will support or enable warez loaders. In fact the opposite seems true.

Not necessarily

 

[YugamiSekai]

Hello,

Sorry for this thread if it's redundant but it seemed useful to me.

I'm a beginner in WiiU hacking, I've read all the sticky topics (and many non sticky ones) here and on other sites, and I'd like to summarize all the information we have today about hacking Wiiu and vWii and playing Gamecube, Wii and WiiU games and homebrews.

With your help, this thread could become a simple guide for new people arriving on this forum and wondering (like me) what they have to do and in which order. (which is generally not very clear on the other threads)

So please correct me if I say something wrong and complete me if I forgot something


last update: 9 may 2015

- Latest safe WiiU firmware version: 5.3.2
- Latest safe vWii firmware version: the one installed with WiiU fw 5.3.2 (4.3.0?)
- Latest HackMii version: 1.2
- Latest d2x cIOS: d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii / d2x-v10-beta52-vWii
- Latest d2x cIOS installer: FIX94s d2x cIOS Installer 2.2 mod


1) Installing WiiU updates

- You can safely connect your WiiU to Internet and update your WiiU online to the latest version (5.3.2).
- The game Mario Party 10 can also be used to install this firmware "offline".
- You can check if a new update is available here. If the latest is higher than 5.3.2, do not update online.
- You can block all future online updates by blocking Nintendo's update servers by configuring your router or DNS. (warning: this will also block your access to the WiiU eShop, but not the WiiU web browser) or by completely disabling the WiiU's internet configuration, of course.

Domains to block to prevent future updates:

• nus.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
• nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
• nus.cdn.shop.wii.com
• nus.cdn.wup.shop.nintendo.net
• nus.wup.shop.nintendo.net

2) Hacking the WiiU to play WiiU game backups, WiiU eShop titles and homebrews


- This is not possible yet.

- A "kernel exploit" is being developed and should allow things like that soon (between now and june).

- "Installing" this kernel exploit will require the WiiU web browser, but not necessarily an internet connection.

- This exploit won't be permanent (you'll have to do it again everytime you go in WiiU mode).

- Optical disc emulators were announced last year (WiikeÜ and Cobra UDE), but they will surely never be released...


3) Hacking the vWii to play Wii game backups, WiiWare titles and homebrews

- This is possible!
- You'll need a SD card (less or equal than 2GB) or an external USB Hard Disk (with double-USB power or external power) + one of these Wii games:

• LEGO Batman
• Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
• LEGO Indiana Jones
• LEGO Star Wars
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's Wheelie Breakers

- Follow a guide explaining how to install Homebrew Channel on vWii (not Wii!) using HackMii, like this one or this one (in french).


- Follow a guide explaining how to backup your unique vWii "NAND" and "keys" (backing up your NAND and keys is useful to restore your configuration in case of error), like this one.

- Follow a guide explaining how to install the latest "d2x cIOS" (installing a cIOS is mandatory to install backup launchers), like this one or this one (in french).

- Follow a guide explaining how to install a backup launcher like WiiFlow or USB Loader GX, like this one or this one (in french).

- Install your Wii games ("ISOs") on your SD card / USB hard drive.

- Optional: Follow a guide to install a channel forwarder (to avoid launching the homebrew channel every time), like this one or this one (in french).

- Enjoy!


4) Playing Gamecube game backups and homebrews

- Hack the vWii and install Homebrew Channel. (cIOS is not necessary)

- Install Nintendont on your vWii

- Install your games on a SD card / USB hard drive (respect the files names and paths asked on the page above)

- Enjoy!


Warning

Please read the sticky topics, especially basic do's and do not's to avoid serious damages!

Wait a minute... Did he say kernel exploit. And if I read it right did he say that backups are possible between now and june? Holy Shiz.

 

[NWPlayer123]

I said they might be possible, I never said anybody would care enough to work on it

 

[Marionumber1]

I said they might be possible, I never said anybody would care enough to work on it

And if they are possible, it'll probably be more difficult to write than it was in the past.

 

[xem]

xemThis is largely untrue. A kernel exploit is being developed but there is no indication that it will support or enable warez loaders. In fact the opposite seems true.

Hehe, I don't know, I invented nothing, I've just written what I've read on other topics, or in the comments of this topic. And what I've read includes "maybe warez".

backups are possible between now and june?

I didn't mean that. the only thing I know is that the expoit will be released soon, and that it'll potentially allow piracy. or not. I don't know.

Just as a small thing I have in mind, how about letting people install IOS236 as well just to have a backup IOS at all times to get to if they do something bad? I dont know how important that is in this guide, just thought I'd mention it.

everything is important in this thread, I think I mentioned the importance of backing up the ios and keys of the vwii, didn't I? And I never heard of this IOS 236, and I don't understand what it's for exactly and if it's risky to use it. Any clues?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Hehe, I don't know, I invented nothing, I've just written what I've read on other topics, or in the comments of this topic. And what I've read includes "maybe warez".




I didn't mean that. the only thing I know is that the expoit will be released soon, and that it'll potentially allow piracy. or not. I don't know.



everything is important in this thread, I think I mentioned the importance of backing up the ios and keys of the vwii, didn't I? And I never heard of this IOS 236, and I don't understand what it's for exactly and if it's risky to use it. Any clues?

It might happen but the thing is we need an IOSU exploit and as far as I know one has not been found. A kernel exploit alone won't be enough. That and the team working on Wii U hacking seems opposed to piracy.
Then again NWPlayer123 seems to think otherwise so maybe he's right. He's more into the Wii U scene than most people, so he might have some inside info.

 

[FIX94]

everything is important in this thread, I think I mentioned the importance of backing up the ios and keys of the vwii, didn't I? And I never heard of this IOS 236, and I don't understand what it's for exactly and if it's risky to use it. Any clues?

IOS236 is a custom IOS which is fully patched, meaning if you for whatever reason loose AHBPROT or dont have access to any other way of patching the IOS anymore you can recover using 236, it also cant harm the wii in any way because as the name suggest it gets installed way above slot 200.

 

[Cyan]

it's a patched IOS36 installed in slot 236. It has the trucha bug patched and AHB access enabled.
It's not used by USBLoaders as it doesn't have Disc access redirection to external device, but it can be used by homebrew who need AHB access (wad manager for example).

IOS236 was installed to be able to use Wad Managers. but now, a lot of homebrew are updated to work with AHB access instead of relying on patched IOS.

Most guides don't bother installing it now, limiting the custom IOS to the minimum (just d2x for USBLoaders, as most homebrew are using HBC+IOS58 to get AHB access).
But that's right, some users mess their IOS (mainly their IOS 58) which prevent HBC from booting and having a cIOS (236 or d2x) is required to fix this issue and reinstall a proper IOS58.

 

[csgolawliet]

tbh i don't know if i installed anything else than the cIOS to get the USB Loader with the smash exploit, the tutorial was for noobs and didn't mention anything of that, is it necessary?

 

[Cyan]

it's not necessary, as long as you don't try stupid things like installing Wii IOS to vWii and semi-brick your vWii.

d2x is enough, don't install/re hack/modify your softmod and you'll be fine.

 

[duffmmann]

You say you'll have to do the kernel exploit every time you go to Wii U mode, does this mean we'll never be able to install some sort of Wii U homebrew channel, or are you just saying initially you won't be able to do that as time and resources haven't yet been put into doing that, but eventually could happen? Kinda like when the Twilight Hack was first released how since there was no homebrew channel yet so you'd have to initially do the twilight hack anytime you wanted to do any homebrew.

 

[NWPlayer123]

You say you'll have to do the kernel exploit every time you go to Wii U mode, does this mean we'll never be able to install some sort of Wii U homebrew channel, or are you just saying initially you won't be able to do that as time and resources haven't yet been put into doing that, but eventually could happen? Kinda like when the Twilight Hack was first released how since there was no homebrew channel yet so you'd have to initially do the twilight hack anytime you wanted to do any homebrew.

Very unlikely that anybody will want to find a loader exploit, considering installing stuff is super messy and disgusting. It's just one or two more clicks, are you really that desperate?

 

[duffmmann]

Very unlikely that anybody will want to find a loader exploit, considering installing stuff is super messy and disgusting. It's just one or two more clicks, are you really that desperate?

No no, using the browser is a great and easy way to execute an exploit, I'm just curious if that will always be the method or just temporarily. It's not a big deal at all, simply curious.

 

[Zedd91]

''2) Hacking the WiiU to play WiiU game backups, WiiU eShop titles and homebrews''

I personally think that backups of Wii U will be loaded as late as 2018 or 2019, is Just a simple opinion.

 

[duffmmann]

''2) Hacking the WiiU to play WiiU game backups, WiiU eShop titles and homebrews''

I personally think that backups of Wii U will be loaded as late as 2018 or 2019, is Just a simple opinion.

Nah, I suspect after the exploit is released, we'll see backup loading within a half year to a year, it definitely wouldn't take 3 years, let alone 4.