Hardware Buying used Wii U

[Lostbhoy]

Sorry to jump in here.... Maybe useful info (or not) regarding the use of an external hdd.... I have all my titles placed into folders on the menu, ie eShop folder, Wii game folder, Gamecube folder ect.... However when the hdd is unplugged or removed from the wii u, the games end up all over the menu and not as I had previously painstakingly organised when plugged back in. Fucking nightmare!!

So my point is I leave my hdd plugged in at all times when the system is on (red) standby. Is this a risk and is there any way to make the wii u remember my organisation at all?

 

[godreborn]

afaik, the wii u is fine with the wii u hdd. however, lots of people have issues with the virtual wii. that's when I heard about it (the vwii) corrupting hdds if left plugged in while the system is off. that may only be for powered drives. I'm using a powered drive with mine, and this did in fact happen to me. it's also corrupted the neek emunand once, so now I leave it off when not in use. it hasn't messed anything up since then.

my wii u is using a y cable drive and a couple extension cables. I've never had a problem with that one. I don't unplug it either. I don't know if the above relates to powered and unpowered drives or just powered drives.

 

[jeannotte]

Sorry to jump in here.... Maybe useful info (or not) regarding the use of an external hdd.... I have all my titles placed into folders on the menu, ie eShop folder, Wii game folder, Gamecube folder ect.... However when the hdd is unplugged or removed from the wii u, the games end up all over the menu and not as I had previously painstakingly organised when plugged back in. Fucking nightmare!!

So my point is I leave my hdd plugged in at all times when the system is on (red) standby. Is this a risk and is there any way to make the wii u remember my organisation at all?

Hello,

I just tested it on my Wii U external hard drive.

I moved two games from the first page to the last page (with external hard drive connected) ==> then I turn off the wii U ==> I turn on my Wii U again without my external hard drive connected (so the two games are no longer there ==> ok) ==> I reconnect the external hard drive ==> the two games that I had moved can be found on the last page of the menu.

You can move your games on the Wii U menu by holding B on a game and you move it where you want.

@Youser :
external hard drive connect with a Y cable to wii U, when I turn off the console (red) ==> then I cut off the mains supply to my electrical socket unit ==> on / off.
it works great, no problem.

 

[Youser]

unfortunately, no. you have to install games via the sd card to a wii u formatted drive

ah, completely forgot that I install from a separate SD Card. I’ll wait for the Y cable and then have the Wii U format the HDD. Thanks

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If a HDD doesn’t have a physical power button, how do you turn it off?

When the console is on Standby (Red), is it safe to just switch of the mains? Or should I just unplug the Y cable from the HDD?

 

[godreborn]

I'm not sure if it's just for powered drives or not. you just disconnect the power cable if you want.

 

[Lostbhoy]

Hello,

I just tested it on my Wii U external hard drive.

I moved two games from the first page to the last page (with external hard drive connected) ==> then I turn off the wii U ==> I turn on my Wii U again without my external hard drive connected (so the two games are no longer there ==> ok) ==> I reconnect the external hard drive ==> the two games that I had moved can be found on the last page of the menu.

You can move your games on the Wii U menu by holding B on a game and you move it where you want.

@Youser :
external hard drive connect with a Y cable to wii U, when I turn off the console (red) ==> then I cut off the mains supply to my electrical socket unit ==> on / off.
it works great, no problem.

Hi @jeannotte

If you put the games into folders, they will not be there when you reinsert the usb. They will be randomly placed in the main menu outside of the folder.


I have nearly 300 titles I had to then go back and place them individually back into the folders, very time-consuming! Some sort of config file would help in this situation to remind the console where you want the games to be placed.... No point in having a create folder option in that case..

It's not a problem anymore as I don't have to remove the usb hdd ever again, just throwing it out there if anyone else has a reason to move their console, keep the usb connected at all times if you use folders!

Should mention I use a powered hdd, not a Y cable.

 

[godreborn]

Hi @jeannotte

If you put the games into folders, they will not be there when you reinsert the usb. They will be randomly placed in the main menu outside of the folder.
View attachment 233555

I have nearly 300 titles I had to then go back and place them individually back into the folders, very time-consuming! Some sort of config file would help in this situation to remind the console where you want the games to be placed.... No point in having a create folder option in that case..

It's not a problem anymore as I don't have to remove the usb hdd ever again, just throwing it out there if anyone else has a reason to move their console, keep the usb connected at all times if you use folders!

Should mention I use a powered hdd, not a Y cable.

there's an app (think it's called wii u sort) that will sort content alphabetically even if in a folder. I don't know about a custom sorting mechanic. I'm assuming that the sorting is done by the barista file.

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https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-menu-sort.455132/

never tried it though.

 

[Lostbhoy]

Did forget about that but..... Yeah, alphabetically sucks lol, I'm just being pernickety as I prefer to have them sorted by favourites!

Again, just another ninty fail in this dept.!!

 

[godreborn]

alphabetical is my preferred sorting method. however, sony failed to have the most common sorting method on the ps3, vita, ps4, and who knows about the ps5. time created? pssh...who would remember which order they installed everything? that's just crap.

 

[Zense]

alphabetical is my preferred sorting method. however, sony failed to have the most common sorting method on the ps3, vita, ps4, and who knows about the ps5. time created? pssh...who would remember which order they installed everything? that's just crap.

Maybe there just arent enough teraflops to sort alphabethically

And to stay on topic, yeah the resetting of folder organization is a pain in the butt with the Wii U. Just keep it connected. Nintendo intended it this way. I've never had any problems when having a y-cable and a Wii U formated SSD.

 

[godreborn]

common- @Zense is not so common when it comes to game companies.

 

[Youser]

I may have asked this already. Am I able to switch between storage devices?

Just thinking if my new HDD has the same issues as my current set up (micro SD with adapter) and doesn’t load the games which aren’t loading at the moment, will I be able to go back to using the micro SD with adapter to play the games that do work?

 

[Zense]

I may have asked this already. Am I able to switch between storage devices?

Just thinking if my new HDD has the same issues as my current set up (micro SD with adapter) and doesn’t load the games which aren’t loading at the moment, will I be able to go back to using the micro SD with adapter to play the games that do work?

Yes, you will.

 

[godreborn]

you can upgrade, yes, but that's the only thing plugging two hdds that aren't ustealth will do. you have to copy over the content manually. there may be an app that can do it without needing to do it through the wii u, but I dunno.

 

[Zense]

I may have asked this already. Am I able to switch between storage devices?

Just thinking if my new HDD has the same issues as my current set up (micro SD with adapter) and doesn’t load the games which aren’t loading at the moment, will I be able to go back to using the micro SD with adapter to play the games that do work?

All games should work, however so I'm not sure what your issue in this case is. What games don't work?

 

[godreborn]

if that's what he's asking, I wouldn't recommend an sd adapter. those have been known to not work on occasion or at least certain ones. I have a full 256GB card.

 

[Youser]

What games don't work?

Off the top of my head, Minecraft doesn’t work. There are others but would have to check again.

 

[Youser]

So I’ve set up the new HDD with the Y cable and it kooks like it’s solved my problems. I guess the microSD in a USB adapter required more power or something.

All games tested ran fine. Got one error message when loading Skylander, seemed more of an in game message than a message from the console. Said the power to my HDD was unplugged??? Will have to test that again and may be reinstall.

can confirm that the HDD shuts down when the console is in standby (Red).

 

[Youser]

Deleted

 

[elk1007]

Internal Storage, you would want to get a HDD to install games on after setting up CFW, don't install any games on the internal storage (NAND)

What's your basis for giving this advice?
Why not install them on both?