Hacking Comex's NAND Formatter

[PPSainity]

I have a few questions about Comex's NAND Formatter:

In my searches I've seen many a mention of different versions of Comex's NAND Formatter. The only official source I could find was on github; is this the latest version? Are there any continuing mods?

I've heard mention of a version pre-compiled by giantpune that is able to read the settings.txt file off the Wii and restore it after formatting the Wii's NAND. Where can this version be found?

If Comex's NAND Formatter is used and the original settings.txt file is restored, will this enable the continued use of the Wii Shop Account that is associated with the Wii? If restoring the settings.txt file is not enough what other original files are needed? As far as I understand, the the Shop Account is linked to some information that is stored in the Wii's OTP area and possibly the Wii's serial in the settings.txt file. Also I do know that the original tickets are not needed as you can still re-download purchased items after a system format which deletes all tickets. So the question is, what original information needs to be restored that gets erased by Comex's NAND Formatter in order to keep the existing Wii Shop Account?

Does a version of Comex's NAND Formatter that restores the Wii Shop Account exist already? How hard would it be to modify the source? This would be great for those who do not have a NAND backup, do not have BootMii Boot2, or want to 'virginise' their Wii to send back for repairs.

-[]D

 

[giantpune]

if you do come across that version i made that lets you keep your existing setting.txt after a format, i would not suggest using it. i made this version and never tested it out. i sent it to a person who was supposed to test it for me but i never heard anything back if it worked or not. in fact, i never heard anything else about it until now.

so, as far as i know, it has not been tested on any wii and could very well brick your wii.

 

[PPSainity]

if you do come across that version i made that lets you keep your existing setting.txt after a format, i would not suggest using it. i made this version and never tested it out. i sent it to a person who was supposed to test it for me but i never heard anything back if it worked or not. in fact, i never heard anything else about it until now.

so, as far as i know, it has not been tested on any wii and could very well brick your wii.

Thank's for the heads-up on the untested status and chance of bricking. Darn, I was all excited about a version that did not have to have the serial hard-encoded during compile-time too.

-[]D

 

[FenrirWolf]

Would this be the one you're talking about?

http://i45.tinypic.com/2zj03kx.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2m3kc34.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/zup5dh.jpg

I've never used the thing myself, but some tutorial on wiihacks uses whatever NAND formatter version that is and it works fine.

 

[giantpune]

yeah, thats the one i made. i guess if you trust these people enough with your wii, then you can go for it with that formatter. as i said, i never tested it or heard of one single person using it successfully.

 

[PPSainity]

So has anyone here have success using that version of Comex's NAND Formatter?

Also, does anyone have any insight concerning the questions on retaining or restoring access to the original Wii Shop Account after formatting the NAND?

-[]D

 

[DeadlyFoes]

I'm not supposed to be on here anymore since I got banned, but since I'm one of the few people with the answers that you need, I sent this email right to pune right after I saw his response on your thread.

Hey man. I did not realize that you were waiting for a report back from me about the nand formatter.

Well, I've tested it out over 100 times now. There are some pretty big bugs in it but I was able to figure out what is needed to get it to work properly.

There is a strict list of wad files that the formatter will work with. What I have found to work best is to have the bare minimum in the wad folder. EULA, Region select, SM, and SM IOS.

I have always tested with SM 4.x. I have been able to get it to install a 5th wad file, but after number 5 it always says "Done" and then restarts. It also seems that the formatter will ignore any IOS in the 30's range and not even attempt to install it or recognize that it exists in the wad folder.

I can do more detailed testing if you'd like to determine down some more things.

I had never tried installing SM 3.x just because I knew the formatter was ignoring IOS3x wad files.

At one point I tried every active IOS individually, but I actually forget what my results were with each file.

But when sticking with just EULA, Region Select, SM4.x, and the SM IOS then it is very reliable.

I have been able to do walk throughs with people with lu64+ wii's and others that I had remove bootmii from boot2 and then run the formatter from bootmii IOS (I've told people to do that if they were going to send their wii to Nintendo), and they have all been successful.

Let me know if you'd like me to test it out more.

One more thing, it works perfectly fine to install fakesigned IOS's. For instance when I use it I have many times had it installed a patched SM IOS wad file. I have also had it install IOS's that were slot changed and version changed. Although I have not tried changing IOS3x to a different slot to see if it will still skip that file, but I can test that out.

I hope that helps. Sorry I can not help more. I'm sure me even speaking is going to get me banned again, but I just wanted to give you some correct info from someone who has had the chance to test this out like crazy and find it's flaws. If you need further help then feel free to email me at [email protected]

Mod please dont delete this. I'm just trying to help someone that can't find their answers from normal means. Forgive me. And Thank you.

I'm out now.

 

[dn_angel000]

Well usually when ur banned u no longer have access 2 this site by any means!! lol U probly were banned 4 a few months max!! lol

On Topic: This Formatter is awesome!! lol Now is this the v1.0 that can only b used by PAL Wiis or is this the v1.1 that's RegionFree that ur all talking about here?? lol

 

[DeadlyFoes]

The version that I am referring to is Punes compiled 1.1 version.

It is buggy and should ONLY be used by people who have a way to unbrick their wii. Even the normal version is VERY buggy. But at least this version does not require a hard coded serial number like earlier version. Try at your own risk. I give no promises.

 

[dn_angel000]

So then this (v1.1) is the 'Universal' one then that will work on all Region Wiis?? lol

 

[FenrirWolf]

Apparently there's a PAL version and an NTSC one.

 

[wes11ph]

if you do come across that version i made that lets you keep your existing setting.txt after a format, i would not suggest using it. i made this version and never tested it out. i sent it to a person who was supposed to test it for me but i never heard anything back if it worked or not. in fact, i never heard anything else about it until now.

so, as far as i know, it has not been tested on any wii and could very well brick your wii.

hey pune, can i use your compiled formater?

 

[PPSainity]

I'm not supposed to be on here anymore since I got banned, but since I'm one of the few people with the answers that you need, I sent this email right to pune right after I saw his response on your thread.

Hey man. I did not realize that you were waiting for a report back from me about the nand formatter.

Well, I've tested it out over 100 times now. There are some pretty big bugs in it but I was able to figure out what is needed to get it to work properly.

There is a strict list of wad files that the formatter will work with. What I have found to work best is to have the bare minimum in the wad folder. EULA, Region select, SM, and SM IOS.

I have always tested with SM 4.x. I have been able to get it to install a 5th wad file, but after number 5 it always says "Done" and then restarts. It also seems that the formatter will ignore any IOS in the 30's range and not even attempt to install it or recognize that it exists in the wad folder.

I can do more detailed testing if you'd like to determine down some more things.

I had never tried installing SM 3.x just because I knew the formatter was ignoring IOS3x wad files.

At one point I tried every active IOS individually, but I actually forget what my results were with each file.

But when sticking with just EULA, Region Select, SM4.x, and the SM IOS then it is very reliable.

I have been able to do walk throughs with people with lu64+ wii's and others that I had remove bootmii from boot2 and then run the formatter from bootmii IOS (I've told people to do that if they were going to send their wii to Nintendo), and they have all been successful.

Let me know if you'd like me to test it out more.

One more thing, it works perfectly fine to install fakesigned IOS's. For instance when I use it I have many times had it installed a patched SM IOS wad file. I have also had it install IOS's that were slot changed and version changed. Although I have not tried changing IOS3x to a different slot to see if it will still skip that file, but I can test that out.

I hope that helps. Sorry I can not help more. I'm sure me even speaking is going to get me banned again, but I just wanted to give you some correct info from someone who has had the chance to test this out like crazy and find it's flaws. If you need further help then feel free to email me at [email protected]

Mod please dont delete this. I'm just trying to help someone that can't find their answers from normal means. Forgive me. And Thank you.

I'm out now.

Great info DeadlyFoes, thanks for the in depth testing results. Good to see you back on the site, I hope to see more of ya here, keeps things interesting

Still shouting out to anyone that knows what info ties down the Wii Shop Account so we can save it past a NAND format, specifically for those who do not have a NAND backup, do not have BootMii Boot2, or want to 'virginise' their Wii to send back for repairs.

-[]D

 

[giantpune]

@wes11ph
sure you can use it. i dont have a copy of it, so youll have to find whatever one is floating around. and i take no responsibility if it kills your wii.

 

[dn_angel000]

I'm sure u can find 1 on FileTrip!! lol

 

[wes11ph]

@wes11ph
sure you can use it. i dont have a copy of it, so youll have to find whatever one is floating around. and i take no responsibility if it kills your wii.

don't worry i already killin my wii since the start of homebrew.
if you want to i'm willing to be your beta tester... i like to test system apps.

 

[Gabber]

well i've just used pune's formatter to get a nand that SNEEK can run instantly scince the creating of folders and shit doesnt work for me. hadnt had a single problem, also added homebrew channel wad wich also works instantly