Cloning modded Wii U

[pankos]

I need to clone all data from my current modded Wii U to a new one. This includes accounts, save data, and games installed on external hard drives. I know I need to use SaveMii for save data and manually reinstall every game. However, how do I transfer the accounts? I have four accounts, none linked to Nintendo, but one is linked to Pretendo. Do I need to use Wii U System Transfer for this? Would it work if my accounts are not linked to NNID?

 

[pankos]

I've received an interesting response from ChatGPT. Could someone please verify if this would actually work and if it wouldn't brick my console:

Transferring local user accounts between modded Wii U consoles is not directly supported by Nintendo, but it can be done manually using homebrew tools. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this.

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Prerequisites​

1. Both Wii U consoles modded with custom firmware (Tiramisu or Aroma recommended).
2. Homebrew Launcher installed on both consoles.
3. SD Card (32GB or larger) for file transfers.
4. Backup all important data in case something goes wrong.

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Steps to Transfer Local User Accounts​

1. Backup User Data on the Source Console​

• Launch the Homebrew Launcher on the source Wii U.
• Install and open ftpiiu_everywhere or use SaveMii Mod.
• Navigate to the following directory on the Wii U system using FTP or a file manager:storage_mlc/usr/save/system/profiles
  
  
• Copy the entire profiles folder to your SD card or computer.

2. Backup Account-Linked Save Data​

• Copy the save data for each game using Saviine or SaveMii Mod:storage_mlc/usr/save/title/[game folders]
  
  
• Copy these files to your SD card.

3. Prepare the Target Console​

• Install the same custom firmware (if not already done).
• Insert the SD card into the target Wii U and launch the Homebrew Launcher.
• Use ftpiiu_everywhere to access the file system.

4. Restore User Profiles​

• Navigate to the same directory:storage_mlc/usr/save/system/profiles
  
  
• Copy the backed-up profiles folder from the SD card to this directory, overwriting existing files if necessary.

5. Restore Save Data​

• Navigate to the game save directories:storage_mlc/usr/save/title/[game folders]
  
  
• Copy the corresponding save data from your backup.

6. Verify User Accounts​

• Reboot the target Wii U.
• Verify that all local user accounts and save data have transferred correctly.

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Important Notes​

• This process does not transfer eShop purchases or NNID-linked content, as those are tied to Nintendo's servers.
• Be careful when modifying system files; incorrect changes can brick your console.
• Ensure that both consoles have identical firmware versions to avoid compatibility issues.