Hacking Can't detect USB drive

[maxwolfie]

OK, I've followed the auto-generated config guide from ModMii 4.2.4, on a black 4.3e console (with no downgrade - i.e. staying at 4.3).

Finished everything (except the "forwarder channel" bit - I have NO idea what the guide is talking about here) but now my USB drive will not detect. To be honest I have never tried to use either USB ports prior to modding, but one would assume that they would almost certainly work from factory. When I go to the USB Loader in the menu, it says that I need to insert a USB device (or similar), but it is already connected. Does the same for both ports. Works fine in the PC. Does it for FAT32 and WBFS.

Any ideas? I assume this has got to do with the "forwarder channel" part, as it's directly related to the usbloader bit in the guide. Makes no sense though.

Oh, and a small semi-related issue: I can't copy *.iso files to my USB drive while it is FAT32 (no space - but there is). I assume this has to do with the allocation unit size, though changing this setting to anything at all makes no difference. Have also been fiddling with WBFS Manager. Yes, it is a "thumb drive". 8gb.

 

[xzxero]

use Wii backup manager for managing your USB drives

can you post the generated guide so i can see what it says?

you should be using the port closest to the edge by the way. [port 0]

 

[maxwolfie]

Cheers, here is the guide.

Spoiler

ModMii 4.2.4 Custom Guide
Generated on Mon 06/09/2010 - 17:17:07.29
Check for updates at tinyurl.com/ModMiiNow


This Guide was generated using the following parameters:

* Wii is currently a virgin (un-modified)
* Current firmware is 4.3E
* Desired firmware is 4.3E

* Download Photo Channel
* Download Internet Channel
* Download Weather Channel
* Download News Channel
* Download Mii Channel
* Download Shopping Channel (and IOS61)
* Download Wii Speak Channel

* Download Extra Brick Protection



This software is not for sale. If you paid for this software or a "bundle" you have been scammed.

THIS PACKAGE COMES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, NEITHER STATED NOR IMPLIED.
NO ONE BUT YOURSELF IS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THIS MAY CAUSE TO YOUR NINTENDO WII CONSOLE!
USE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!



IMPORTANT NOTES:

*This guide does NOT require a Wifi connection on your Wii.
*An SD card formatted to FAT(32) required (Best results are with non-SDHC cards, SDHC will only work on 4.0 or above).
*If you get errors during any of the steps reformat your SD card as FAT or FAT32
*Turn off WiiConnect24 and take out all gamecube memory cards/controllers when modding the Wii (unless instructed otherwise).
*If your Wii ever freezes, hold the power button on the Wii for 5 seconds to power it off then try again.
*Don’t ever accept a new Nintendo update without first googling to see if it’s safe. The last update (to 4.3) was released in late June 2010 and is NOT safe to accept. If you accept an official Nintendo update after modding the Wii, you may lose some or all of your modifications.
*Never uninstall a system menu or IOS
*Do not install untested wads/themes without Bootmii or Priiloader installed.
*This custom guide is great start, but Wii modding is always evolving. Check for updates online, and remember, google is your friend.
*If you have questions, a more detailed guide can be found here: <a href="http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk" target="_blank">http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk</a>




1) INSTALLING THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL (HBC) AND BOOTMII



Note: if this Wii was previously modified, and it has either the HBC, BootMii as Boot2, or a Forwarder Channel installed, you can use that instead of an exploit (as it does not require physically owning a specific game).

If using BootMii as Boot2 to install the HBC, copy the 'BootMii' folder from your previous BootMii install to the root of your SD Card (or download it using ModMii). Then boot your wii, BootMii will load, go To the SD menu, load bootmini.elf. This will load the Hackmii Installer allowing you to reinstall the HBC.

If using a Forwarder Channel, just save the boot.elf/dol from the app you want to load (ie. SD:\apps\hackmii_installer\boot.elf or SD:\apps\MMM\boot.dol) to the location used by your SPECIFIC Forwarder Channel (ie. SD:\apps\usbloader\boot.dol). Then start the channel and the Hackmii Installer will load allowing you to reinstall the HBC. Note, if your forwarder channel only loads dol's and not elf's, launch MMM's boot.dol, then use its app launcher to load the Hackmii Installer.


INDIANA PWNS EXPLOIT

REQUIREMENT: A copy of LEGO Indiana Jones

A. Load the LEGO Indiana Jones game at least once
(otherwise you won't be able to copy over the hack).

B. Backup your personal LEGO Indiana Jones save file before copying the files to your SD Card (if applicable):

a) Put your SD card in your Wii and turn it on.
b) Go into Wii Options - Data Management - Save Data - Wii
c) Find your Indiana save, click on it, click "Copy", and click Yes. Now erase the save file from the Wii.
d) Put your SD card in your computer, and copy the "private" folder from the card to a safe place. Alternatively you can temporarily rename it.

C. Copy the files from the C:\Test to the root of your SD card (if you haven’t already) and insert it into your Wii

D. Go into Wii Options - Data Management - Save Data - Wii - SD Card
then copy over the "Indiana Pwns" save that corresponds to your region.

E. Play the Lego Indiana Jones game. Load the new save file.

You will be in the Main hall, walk towards the camera,
enter the first door on the right (Indy's left) and go into the 'Courtyard'.
Walk to the end and enter the 'Art Room', you will see a podium with 2 characters on it, talk to the left one.

Hit left twice (scrolling through his items) to choose the switch option (Black silhouette with a white arrow to another black silhouette)
Hit A to launch the boot.elf/dol file saved on the root of your SD card.


This runs the Hackmii Installer (and silently/automatically installs BootMii as IOS). Use the installer to install the Homebrew Channel (HBC) and Bootmii as Boot2 if possible. If you cannot install BootMii as Boot2, you also need to 'prepare an SD Card' for BootMii (as the 'BootMii' folder is required to launch BootMii as IOS or Boot2).

Note: If you get a 'no vulnerable IOS' error message, run ModMii again and this time select the 'Hackmii Solutions' option instead of 'Download Wizard' and follow the new instructions before continuing this guide.

After you exit the hackmii installer, you will be taken to the HBC.
Hit the home button. In the top right corner you will see the IOS used by the HBC.

If the HBC is using an IOS other than IOS58 or your homebrew channel is upside-down, make a note of it as it applies later in the guide (you will have to reinstall the HBC).

If it is using IOS58 and your HBC is not upside-down, you can skip the Reinstall The Homebrew Channel step when you get to it.




2) MAKING A NAND BACKUP

While inside the Homebrew Channel, load BootMii by pressing home and clicking Launch Bootmii.
Press the power button on the wii 3 times to get to the last option, then press the reset button. [You can also navigate with a Gamecube controller]

Press reset to choose the first option, then follow the directions on the screen to make your NAND backup. [Bad blocks are no problem.]

Backup the Bootmii folder, NAND.bin, and keys.bin elsewhere and erase from the sd card (or rename it). You'll need these in case of emergencies, so don't lose them.
Go back to The Homebrew Channel.

Note: if Bootmii was installed as boot2, then it will show up as soon as the Wii is turned on AS LONG AS it finds the bootmii folder (mentioned above) on the root of the SD card.




3) Installing a Patched IOS236

Start the Homebrew Channel and use it to load the IOS236 Installer.
Note: This app must be launched using HBC v1.0.7 or higher in order to work properly.

Read the startup messages as you are forced to wait,
Push 1 when prompted.

Choose "Load IOS from SD card",
Confirm your choice with the A button,
When prompted, push A to continue the installation.

When asked whether to perform Step 2, Press "2" to skip it.
Then push any button to exit.



4) INSTALL WADS

Load Multi-Manager Mod (MMM) via the HomeBrew Channel.
If IOS236 is not already loaded, select 'Load another IOS', then select IOS236

Note: If this step fails with error -ret 2011 or other, you may need to retry patching IOS236. If the Wii was previously softmodded, you can try using cIOS250 (or others like 202,222,223,224,236,249)

In Multi-Manager Mod's main menu, Go down to select "WAD Manager".

Install the following WADs in the WAD folder (this list of WADs is unique to how you answered the Wizard's questions).

Be careful not to install any additional wads that may have been previously saved in this folder (they may be safe, but I cannot say for sure).

Hold + for 2 seconds to select all wads in the folder. Then Press A twice to install them all.
After the installation finishes read the install report to make sure all the files installed properly.

You're unique list of wads to install are as follows:

* IOS11v257(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS20v257(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS30v2817(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS50v5121(IOS50v4889[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS60v6401(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS70v6913(IOS70v6687[FS-ES-NP])
* IOS80v6943[FS-ES-NP]
* cIOS202[57]-v5
* cIOS223[37-38]-v4
* cIOS222[38]-v5
* cIOS224[57]-v5
* cIOS249[57]-v19
* cIOS250[37]-v19
* RVL-cmios-v4_WiiGator_GCBL_v0.2
* Mii Channel (Region Free)
* Photo 1.1 (USA/PAL/JAP)
* Shopping (USA/PAL/JAP)
* Internet (PAL)
* Weather (PAL)
* News (PAL)
* Wii Speak (PAL)
* IOS36v3351 [This is saved in the WAD Folder because you enabled the Option36, installing this is not recommended as your IOS36 is likely already patched]
* IOS58v6175
* IOS61v5661
* usbloader(s)-(emulators)-IDCL
<i><b> This is a forwarder channel that will load the first file it finds from the following list:
FAT:/apps/usbloader_cfg/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader_cfg/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usbloader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usb-loader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usb-loader/boot.dol
FAT:/apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol
FAT:/apps_emulators/usbloader_gx/boot.dol</b></i>
Note: First the SD Card is checked, then your USB Hard Drive (formatted as FAT32).
You should always have at least one forwarder channel installed on your Wii,
that way, in the event of accidental update, you will be able to rehack your Wii
without relying on the Indiana Pwns exploit.

If any failed, make a note of which ones and retry installing them one at time.
Be sure to load IOS236 prior to wad install

Note: Whenever you install a new System Menu, Priiloader is uninstalled. So be sure to reinstall it afterwards (especially if you do not have bootmii as boot2)




5) REINSTALL THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL (if applicable)

Earlier you should have checked what IOS is used by the HBC. If the IOS used by your Homebrew Channel is IOS58 and your HBC is not upside-down, you can skip this step.

If the HBC is using an IOS other than IOS58 or your homebrew channel is upside-down, you should reinstall the HBC.

In MMM's main menu, select 'App Manager' and then select the HackMii_Installer.
Use the Hackmii Installer to fix/re-install the HBC. Once you've successfully reinstalled the HBC, you can move onto the next step of the guide.

If you already exited MMM, you can load the HackMii_Installer from the Homebrew Channel.

If the HBC is failing to load any apps (just blackscreens), instead launch the Hackmii Installer using the method described in the First Step




6) INSTALL PRIILOADER

Run the Priiloader installer from the HBC. On the main menu screen, press + to install Priiloader.

Note: The installer must be launched using HBC v1.0.7 or higher in order to work properly. If you get errors or are using HBC v1.0.6 or lower, first launch MMM via the HBC, then select 'Load another IOS' and Select IOS236 (or any IOS you know is patched). Then use MMM's app launcher to start the Priiloader installer and press + to install using the loaded IOS.

After successfully installing Priiloader, access it by powering off the wii,
then powering it back and holding reset while it's booting until you see the Priiloader menu.

You should install some system menu hacks now (by going to System Menu hacks option).

RECOMMENDED HACKS: Block Disc Updates, Block Online Updates, Replace Health Screen, Auto-Press A at Health Screen, Disable Deletion of some important channels, Region-Free Everything, remove no copy save file protection, and Move Disc Channel.

The Priiloader menu is white by default, you can change it to black in the Priiloader settings if you prefer.

One of the special functions of Priiloader is that it can autoboot any app/file instead of the system menu. Some apps (like crazyIntro) can't be used without it.
For details on how to do so, visit <a href="http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/system-hacks/priiloader" target="_blank">http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/system-hacks/priiloader</a>




7) AFTER MODDING

Now at this point your practically done.
Now you should be downloading the latest homebrew applications and setting them up on
your SD Card (or FAT32 USB Hard Drive) so they can be launched via the HBC.

For playing your backups off a USB hard drive, run the USB-Loader Setup feature from ModMii's Main Menu

For downloading applications, you should:
* Check out ModMii's batch download pages as it has many popular apps available for download.
* Download Homebrew Browser via ModMii to get many popular apps, but this is an online only Wii application (http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/how-to-use/hbb)
* For those without internet on their Wii, check out this list of Homebrew applications (wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_homebrew).
Another great resource is webrewwii.blogspot.com

After getting whatever apps you want, you should get a boot.dol file and possibly a icon.png and meta.xml.
For HBC to read your SD/USB correctly, your card must be structured SD:/apps/application name/boot.dol
If you have a *.dol not named boot.dol, rename it boot.dol, otherwise it will not be recognized by the HBC.
(optional: the icon.png and meta.xml should be saved in the same place as the boot.dol)



8) SUPPORT XFLAK

IF ModMii WORKED FOR YOU, PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE PROGRAM HERE (tinyurl.com/ModMiiNow)

DONATIONS CAN OPTIONALLY BE MADE VIA PAYPAL TO [email protected]

CHECK OUT MY TOP CHANNELS HERE (tinyurl.com/topchannels)

CHECK OUT MY CRAZY INTRO VIDEOS HERE (tinyurl.com/crazyintro)

Note the bold/italic text. That's the part that I don't understand.

I believe that either port is not working.

EDIT: Also, if I load USB Loader, it will load into a black screen and display some sort of intro splash screen for about 0.2 second, and then restart the Wii and load the normal system menu.

 

[maxwolfie]

Bump - Anyone got any ideas?

Have tried two flash drives, none of which seem to "detect" with USB loader. I imagine that it is an issue with the software though, as I mentioned before - If I try and load USB Loader without anything connected, it will just restart the Wii. This seems strange to me.

 

[Raiser]

The text that you've bolded are not instructions for you, but is rather just a note to you.
It's saying that it will load the USB loader through whichever path it finds first (you may notice on your USB that you have a folder called "apps" and inside is "usbloader_cfg". This is where the USB Loader is stored and is loaded from.

If you have "fake" USB flash drives, that may be the problem.
If not, try to borrow a friend's working HDD / USB and see if it works. If it doesn't, there may be some sort of hardware problem with the Wii.

 

[maxwolfie]

...you may notice on your USB that you have a folder called "apps" and inside is "usbloader_cfg". This is where the USB Loader is stored and is loaded from.

Neither of the flash drives are fakes - They are both 100% working and have been for quite some time.

Do you mean, on my SD Card? There is nothing on the USB drive... But I would have thought it would at least "found" it (i.e. detected that it was physically inserted)

EDIT: I just plugged in a USB laser mouse (both ports). The red LED works, so power is at least going to the USB ports. Less chance of a hardware issue?

 

[CannonFoddr]

Hang on ----

When you used modMii - did you run it again but select the 'U - USB Setup + guide' on the main screen ???

Until you so this you can't 'see' a USB HDD

The first guide (what you've shown) is only for softmodding the Wii, adding Priiloader & HB Channel - it doesn't include the USB modding. When you run modMii again you should end up with a 'usb-loader' folder on the root of the SD card

Oh & as for the 'USB Forwarder channel' - here's a quote from the man who made ModMii - XFlak

The 'usb-loader forwarder channel' requires you have a hard drive or sd card properly set up to launch the usb-loader. You've installed it as part of "extra brick protection" because it is a way to resoftmod wii's that have been updated to 4.3 without requiring a disc

To have the channel actually function properly, u need to do what cannonfoddr suggested {I gave the same answer to some1 else on another thread}, which is run ModMii again, and this time choose the usb-loader set up feature. Once u've set this up, the forwarder channel will work fine for you.

And the channel always says 'please connect a drive', whether one is connected or not. It's just a reminder, not a warning that one is or is not connected.

 

[VashTS]

hes got some cios's in there, so he should be good. what loader are you using? if its usb loader gx, that is possibly your problem.

use wii backup manager for pc, format your drive to be fat32 (32k clusters if you can do that), and copy some games to it. it should work fine.

then get cfg usb loader for the wii.

 

[maxwolfie]

OK, I've just loaded USB Loader GX - with the easy, preconfigured type windows installation onto my SD Card. After a bit of fiddling around I have it working! I only have it working on WBFS file system though.. My last efforts with FAT32 proved fruitless, and I ended up having to cmd -> diskpart -> clean the damn partition off the USB drive just to get it working properly again!

Seems strange, now when I load "USB Loader" from the Wii system menu (next to Homebrew Channel) it will load the USB Loader GX GUI...Even though the actual icon says "Please insert a USB drive" before I load it/click it? Anyways it works.... Maybe that's what it needed (GX installed) all along?

EDIT: Side question - How do I go about making my Wii "brick proof", and how do I go about ensuring that I won't have to borrow the Indiana Jones game from the DVD store again?

Cheers for your assistance in advance

 

[CannonFoddr]

...Even though the actual icon says "Please insert a USB drive" before I load it/click it? Anyways it works.... Maybe that's what it needed (GX installed) all along?Ermmm - I take it you didn't read the quote I posted above then ????
from earlier postAnd the channel always says 'please connect a drive', whether one is connected or not. It's just a reminder, not a warning that one is or is not connected.

As for your 'Brick-proof' question
- If you have done a NAND backup & have BootMii installed correctly (as said in the guide) -
If you do happen to brick the Wii then on powerup you should still be able to run Bootmii and reload the NAND backup.
(Bootmii will be those 4 icons you'll see on powerup before you see the usual 'Health Warning - Press [A]' screen)

You would then have restored the system back to when you made the NAND backup (you WILL lose all your saves stored in Wii memory though - so remember to back them up regularly)

Think of the NAND backup as a 'Disk Drive Image/Copy' and BootMii being a 'Boot disk'

 

[maxwolfie]

...Even though the actual icon says "Please insert a USB drive" before I load it/click it? Anyways it works.... Maybe that's what it needed (GX installed) all along?Ermmm - I take it you didn't read the quote I posted above then ????

And the channel always says 'please connect a drive', whether one is connected or not. It's just a reminder, not a warning that one is or is not connected.


OK mate, to be honest I did miss your quote (though not intentially). Thanks for that. So I assume that all is good now - Well, it's working, so it must be? What I DO find strange is that the preconfigured hack that I used, ModWii 4.2.4, did not seem to include everything I needed to get started - I.e. I had to load USB Loader GX (manually) as well afterwards. Before I installed this, as I mentioned before, if I clicked on USB Loader, then clicked Start/Run, it would load for about 2 secs and then restart the Wii, regardless of whether a USB drive was actually in or not. Therefore, I am now thinking that the USB Loader is exactly that.. Just a loader.... And you need additional software in order for it to "load". I'm probably completely wrong though (as it seems very weird).

EDIT: It should be though.. this is the last bit of the install guide for ModMii 4.2.4:

QUOTE7) AFTER MODDING

Now at this point your practically done.
Now you should be downloading the latest homebrew applications and setting them up on
your SD Card (or FAT32 USB Hard Drive) so they can be launched via the HBC. (which I did)

For playing your backups off a USB hard drive, run the USB-Loader Setup feature from ModMii's Main Menu (which I did)

For downloading applications, you should:
* Check out ModMii's batch download pages as it has many popular apps available for download.
* Download Homebrew Browser via ModMii to get many popular apps, but this is an online only Wii application (http://www.completesoftmodguide.tk/how-to-use/hbb)
* For those without internet on their Wii, check out this list of Homebrew applications (wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_homebrew).
Another great resource is webrewwii.blogspot.com

After getting whatever apps you want, you should get a boot.dol file and possibly a icon.png and meta.xml.
For HBC to read your SD/USB correctly, your card must be structured SD:/apps/application name/boot.dol
If you have a *.dol not named boot.dol, rename it boot.dol, otherwise it will not be recognized by the HBC.
(optional: the icon.png and meta.xml should be saved in the same place as the boot.dol) (I didn't do this stuff!)

QUOTE( @ Sep 7 2010, 11:36 PM)

As for your 'Brick-proof' question
- If you have done a NAND backup & have BootMii installed correctly (as said in the guide) -
If you do happen to brick the Wii then on powerup you should still be able to run Bootmii and reload the NAND backup.
(Bootmii will be those 4 icons you'll see on powerup before you see the usual 'Health Warning - Press [A]' screen)

You would then have restored the system back to when you made the NAND backup (you WILL lose all your saves stored in Wii memory though - so remember to back them up regularly)

Think of the NAND backup as a 'Disk Drive Image/Copy' and BootMii being a 'Boot disk'

I did a NAND backup (as recommended) which is now saved on my PC at home

So once in BootMii (I.e. the little program that is run by holding down Reset and powering on), I assume there's a "Load NAND to Wii" option in there.. I remember an icon that had an SD Card with an arrow to/from a chip.. I assume that this is the Load/backup NAND option.. In the case of bricking, I can load into BootMii and do this, yes? And once the original NAND is loaded, I assume that I will have a completely fresh, virgin Wii again. How do I then go about re-modding it WITHOUT the Indiana Jones game?

Thanks for your patience.

 

[CannonFoddr]

maxwolfie

Think of the NAND backup as a 'Disk Drive Image/Copy' and BootMii being a 'Boot disk'I did a NAND backup (as recommended) which is now saved on my PC at home

So once in BootMii (I.e. the little program that is run by holding down Reset and powering on), I assume there's a "Load NAND to Wii" option in there.. I remember an icon that had an SD Card with an arrow to/from a chip.. I assume that this is the Load/backup NAND option.. Yes that's right the first one was used to 'save' the NAND, the one next to it is the 'Load NAND'

In the case of bricking, I can load into BootMii and do this, yes? And once the original NAND is loaded, I assume that I will have a completely fresh, virgin Wii again.No...If you recall - the NAND backup was done AFTER you had softmodded the Wii to have the Homebrew channel etc (maybe not the USB support though)
This means that the NAND Image (which is an exact copy of the Wii memory) already has all the necessary modified ios,cios & modifications for softmodding in it.

This really means you can't go back to a totally 'Virgin' Wii - although I believe there is a way which involves rewriting the modified cIOS etc with genuine copies from a 'virgin' (I'm sure someone will confirm/deny this) but since I've never done this I have no real idea if it's true or not

QUOTE

How do I then go about re-modding it WITHOUT the Indiana Jones game?

See above - once you restored the NAND your Wii is Softmodded

One last thing - now that you have your Wii 'softmodded' with all the USB support etc (& working) - I recommend you do another NAND backup (just use the guide again to create another NAND - just place it on your PC in another folder/directory) - this way IF you do brick it you can use this NAND backup & restore the Wii back with all the USB support, whereas the original NAND has only the Softmodding files included

 

[maxwolfie]

Thanks mate, I appreciate your help. I will do another NAND backup.

Still confuses me a little bit that the USB Loader did not work in the first instance (as it's part of the package), but whatever - It works now!