Hardware Couple'o'Wii issues.

[Ace Gunman]

I wanted to get some opinions on some issues I've been having with my Wii, essentially since the day I bought it a few months after launch.

Issue 1) Twice now the system has frozen up while playing a game. The image freezes, the controller does nothing at this point, and no amount of power or reset button pushing works. The console physically needs to be unplugged for this to stop. Does this sound like overheating or is it something else entirely?

Issue 2) Discs tend to get damaged by the system. The surface is fine, no scratches or anything of the like, it's the edges. They get quite torn up and "chipped", for lack of a better term. Has anyone else had this issue, and is it possible that it's caused by the upright position the console is set in (IE: using the stand)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bob Evil]

A) Never use any console, ever, in the upright position, as this often a cause of problems for many, many users.

B) That first issue could be a bad burn, or, a patching issue ... are the images patched before you burn them, and if so, what with?

 

[Ace Gunman]

A) Never use any console, ever, in the upright position, as this often a cause of problems for many, many users.

B) That first issue could be a bad burn, or, a patching issue ... are the images patched before you burn them, and if so, what with?

It's the official game discs. I don't pirate console games. Not for any moral reasons, I just find the whole process to be an insane hassle.

 

[raulpica]

My Wii is in the Upright position since the day I bought it (on the launch day!

) and I've never had any of these problems

I've used a lot my original copy of Zelda: Twilight Princess and my disc is still perfect like when I bought it

I believe you got a bit of a defective drive

If it's not modded, sent it back to Nintendo

 

[Bob Evil]

Fair enough ... sounds like the same reason I no longer pirate 360 games ...

Hmmm ... the edges of the discs, you say? ... sounds like maybe something is catching the edge of the disc as it spins ... something inside may have moved position slightly, or have become slightly damaged, and the damaged 'piece' is raised slighty, in one spot, and catches the disc edge ...

 

[Bob Evil]

My Wii is in the Upright position since the day I bought it (on the launch day!

) and I've never had any of these problems

There's always one smug cunt, isn't there?

Just has to brag about how he's never had any problems, in someone else's problem thread ... whether or not you've had problems or not isn't the issue ... helping Ace is ...

 

[raulpica]

My Wii is in the Upright position since the day I bought it (on the launch day!

) and I've never had any of these problems

There's always one smug cunt, isn't there?

Just has to brag about how he's never had any problems, in someone else's problem thread ... whether or not you've had problems or not isn't the issue ... helping Ace is ...

I was simply saying that what you said was plainly wrong. Don't read so much behind it.

And by the way, I want to help Ace, as he's one of my favourite staff members

 

[Ace Gunman]

So the consensus is that this is a legitimate internal problem? Drats. So if I send my Wii in to Nintendo do they repair it or full-on replace is Microsoft-style? Also, is that my only option?

 

[Bob Evil]

Depends on the damage ... they are not the fastest when it comes to this stuff ... you might hit lucky and get a good reconditioned one sent back out to you quickly ...

 

[raulpica]

So the consensus is that this is a legitimate internal problem? Drats. So if I send my Wii in to Nintendo do they repair it or full-on replace is Microsoft-style? Also, is that my only option?

You have two options:
1) Send your Wii to them, and you do not lose any save, channel or anything
2) Make them first send you a new Wii, and then you send them your old Wii

Yeah, if you do not want to open the drive

 

[Ace Gunman]

Also, bob, no cause for flaming. If an off-topic comment is attached to a legitimate comment it's considered good. Although for the record that wasn't off-topic, as I requested in my original post information regarding if this may or may not be caused by the upright position.

EDIT: Oop, wasn't expecting you guys to comment so soon. If I do ask for a new one, is it possible to transfer save game data?

 

[raulpica]

Also, bob, no cause for flaming. If an off-topic comment is attached to a legitimate comment it's considered good. Although for the record that wasn't off-topic, as I requested in my original post information regarding if this may or may not be caused by the upright position.

Thanks Ace

By the way, good luck on getting your Wii repaired

Also don't forget to mention the chipped discs edges. It will help them understand better the problem and maybe they can do something about them (like send you replacement discs, if these are Nintendo games).

EDIT: About the save data question: Yes, usually. But some games got their save locked (you can't transfer them to SD). The better thing you can do is to try if all your saves get copied without problems

 

[Bob Evil]

EDIT: Oop, wasn't expecting you guys to comment so soon. If I do ask for a new one, is it possible to transfer save game data?

Yes, but make sure you tell them you want the data saved, or they wont do it ...

 

[Ace Gunman]

Thanks fellas, you've been a big help. So, to summarize: Ask them to keep my data (and back it up on SD, just to be safe), specifically mention the chipped disc issue, request a replacement disc (I've wanted to replace Twilight Princess anyway, as the version I have is a now-heavily chipped launch disc that still contains the game ruining save glitch), annnnnnnnnd expect slow repair time. Heck, while I'm at it perhaps I'll get them to do that SSBB fix to nip that problem in the bud before I have it. Got it.

I probably won't do this right away, as I'm kneedeep in Okami Wii at the moment (the game that most recently froze, the previous one to freeze was Wii Sports). Perhaps after I finish it.

 

[ceelo]

Is it possible to take a picture of your disc? Im curious to see what the 'chips' look like.

 

[shtonkalot]

My first Wii died within a couple of months of owning it, it was flat/horizontal whatever you want to call it full time. When I got the replacement I'd changed the TV setup and I put it upright/vertical whatever to fit in better. Vertical one has had more surgery than most (internal GC memcard / wavebird, switch for wavebird, 3 different chips and then an extension port to the back 'serial' connector, blocked "airflow" hole in drive board, changed one front LED and light pushbutton installed) and has had no problems.. ever. In fact it is really reliable, will read every disc I throw in it and doesn't get DREs or other issues.
Now can a Wii get damaged whilst in the vertical position? Sure. Can it happen in other positions? Yep.
Does this help Ace? Not much except that he is not going down the wrong path and blaming the angle of his Wii's dangle.

If you have an unmodded console that has stopped working or has caused problems in either position whilst within warranty period then you should get Nintendo to fix it.

Now to be more specific:-
1. It could be overheating but it will be hard to tell for sure, especially if it has only happened twice. You could try block the air holes to make it overheat and see if it does the same thing.. but I wouldn't. No need to poke the poor sick thing.

2. I have never seen this in a Wii (or other game console) but I have seen it in a PC drive, an older one with slide out catches so it could be used vertically and hold the disc. It wasn't used vertically though, one of the catches was just dodgy and would reposition itself as the drive vibrated 'till it would make contact with the edge of the spinning disc and crunchicracksnap! the edge of the disc was a bit mangled.
Now leaving the console horizontal may make that stop occurring or may not. It shouldn't happen in the first place though. Faulty unit by the sounds of it.

 

[Ace Gunman]

Is it possible to take a picture of your disc? Im curious to see what the 'chips' look like.

Afraid not, I don't have a digital camera. The chips aren't detrimental to the games, it's purely a superficial issue. For a mental picture though, imagine if a dog had nibbled on the disc purely around the edges.

 

[shtonkalot]

Is it possible to take a picture of your disc? Im curious to see what the 'chips' look like.

Afraid not, I don't have a digital camera. The chips aren't detrimental to the games, it's purely a superficial issue. For a mental picture though, imagine if a dog had nibbled on the disc purely around the edges.

Must be a small dog if the games are still playable.
I too would be interested in a picture if you may be able to use someone else's camera. Doesn't have to be right now maybe later on through the week. No pressure

Its just interesting.

 

[Ace Gunman]

Is it possible to take a picture of your disc? Im curious to see what the 'chips' look like.

Afraid not, I don't have a digital camera. The chips aren't detrimental to the games, it's purely a superficial issue. For a mental picture though, imagine if a dog had nibbled on the disc purely around the edges.

Must be a small dog if the games are still playable.
I too would be interested in a picture if you may be able to use someone else's camera. Doesn't have to be right now maybe later on through the week. No pressure

Its just interesting.

Well, I used dog as an example as they commonly chew on things. More importantly, that's what it looks like. Itsy-bitsy teeth marks. That should be an image easily imaginable for anyone who's ever seen a teething ring, etc.

As for the image, it's highly highly unlikely. I'm not in contact with anyone who has a camera, that I know of.

 

[Ace Gunman]

Sorry for the bump, but it has frozen again.

EDIT: My question has been answered. Nevermind.