(guide posted and translated with permission of the original author)

UPDATE:
there is a new softmod method for vWii - it works WITHOUT USING AN ORIGINAL DISC: it is called WUPHAX, from the great @FIX94 - Click Here to go to the thread/guide !
​

Requirements:
- WiiU with 2.1.0/2.1.3/3.0.1/3.1.0/4.0.0/4.0.2/4.0.3/4.1.0/5.0.0/5.1.0/5.1.1/5.1.2/5.2.0/5.3.0/5.3.1/5.3.2/5.4.0/5.5.0 System Menu (versions lower than 2.1.0 do not have vWii installed - not tested with greater versions)
- SD NON-HC (better if blank/clean to avoid potentially fatal installation of old Wii non-compatible WADs - 4Gb but better 2Gb or smaller; 4Gb can be HC and HC cards will not work; 2GB are surely not HC)
- Original Lego Batman Wii game (look for notes below for other supported games)

- You must play at least 1 time with LEGO BATMAN in vWii mode


Preliminary steps (files needed/SD card preparation)

Lego Batman savegame exploit; download and extract data.bin in folder SD :\private\wii\title\RLBX (X is a variable letter related to your Lego Batman Wii region: P = PAL, E = NTSC, J = JAP) <-- (necessary to launch vWii executable files from the root of SD card)

HackMii Installer (at least version 1.2 - alternative download link here); download and extract \hackmii_installer_v1.2 folder content in SD root <-- (to be launched when using the above exploit in order to install The Homebrew Channel, a very useful homebrew)

d2x cIOS Installer Mod v2.2 (this version patch on the fly original IOSes dumping them directly from your vWii); download and extract folder \d2x-cios-installer mod v2.2 in SD :\ apps <-- (needed to install cIOS)

d2x cIOS; download and extract folder \d2x-v10-betaXX-alt-vWii INSIDE \d2x-cios-installer mod v2.2 folder; choose version d2x-v10-beta52-vWii or d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii according to this pros/cons official chart:

(d2x cIOS is a Custom IOS necessary to execute Loaders)

Configurable USB Loader Mod; download and copy the latest .dol file in SD :\apps\USBLoader renaming it to boot.dol ; if something is not working for you it is alternatvely possible the use of Wiiflow or USBLoader GX, other 2 great loaders ! Remember to use the loaders .DOL file and NOT the WAD installation channel and/or forwarder ! Old Wii WADs may lead you to brick the vWii mode if not correctly recompiled for vWii !). <-- (Loaders are needed to launch game backups)

xyzzy; download and copy \xyzzy folder inside SD\apps\; this homebrew will save your vWii keys

Dump Mii NAND; download and copy \DmpMiNND folder inside SD\apps\; this homebrew will dump vWii NAND to SD

YetAnotherBlueDumpMod; download the 3 files you can find in the previous link and copy them inside SD\apps\HBC; this homebrew will dump clean vWii IOS

========================================
Your final SD\ folder structure should be like this:

\SD ROOT

\apps

\d2x-cios-installer mod v2.2

\d2x-v10-beta52-vWii

DIPP.app
EHCI.app
ES.app
FAT.app
FFSP.app
MLOAD.app
SDHC.app
USBS.app​

\d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii

DIPP.app
EHCI.app
ES.app
FAT.app
FFSP.app
MLOAD.app
SDHC.app
USBS.app
boot.dol
ciosmaps.xml
icon.png
meta.xml​

\DmpMiNND

ARMsource.html
boot.dol
icon.png
meta.xml
PPCsource.html​

\HBC

boot.dol
icon.png
meta.xml​

\USBLoader

boot.dol
icon.png​

\xyzzy

boot.dol
icon.png
meta.xml​

\licenses

APACHE-2.0.txt​

\private

\wii

\title

\RLBX (where X can be E or P or J depending on the game region)

data.bin​

\wiiload

\lin32

wiiload​

\osx

wiiload​

\win32

wiiload.exe​

wiiload.tar.gz​

boot.elf
bootmini.elf
========================================

So after extracting all those homebrews in the correct folders of your SD root (2 or 4 GB) that MUST NOT BE SDHC (if SDHC the bathaxx exploit cannot be run) proceed to step 1.


STEPS

1) Start Virtual Wii (vWii) from WiiU dash and ONLY AFTER IT SHOWS UP insert the prepared SD card (if you insert it earlier the savegame can be deletd)

2) Install exploited savegame
In vWii mode go to Options -> Saved Data -> SD Card -> Click on the icon related to your game version -> select COPY -> YES

3) Execute exploit/Install HBC
Go back to vWii menu ad launch the game -> load the saved game (100%) and you will found yourself in the bat-cave; take the right elevator -> enter the trophy room and get into the upper-left door to go to "Wayne Manor" -> with nunchuck bring the cursor over the enabled character in the lowest row (see minute 1:03 of the following video) to execute the exploit (boot.elf). Follow on-screen procedure to complete HBC Install.

(video found on youtube searching for "bathaxx" - thanks to the original author !)

NOTE: remember to use, as already said, a NON-HC SD card

4) Backup vWii mode keys
From HBC launch xyzzy -> select "SD Card" when requested -> press A -> wait 10-20 seconds (ignore error messages) -> when asked press A to go back to HBC; the file will be copied in SD :\keys.txt

5) Backup vWii mode NAND content
Start HBC -> launch latest version of the great Dump Mii NAND tool (by Maxternal) tool;
the automatic dump procedure will last from 20 to 60 minutes (in my experience it depends on the SD card you are using); the files (nand.bin and keys.bin) will be dumped in sd:/apps/DumpMiNND/ folder; at the end of the dumping procedure your WiiU will reboot.

Edit by Cyan:
6) Dump your IOS for eventual vWii semi-brick fix (optional step but recommended !)
Launch YetAnotherBlueDumpMod
Go to System Titles and dump each IOS individually to a wad.
When prompted to fakesign the ticket or TMD, say No to both. It's a tedious process, but it could save a lot of trouble in the future.

If you don't have CLEAN IOS, you won't be able to fix semi-bricked vWii.
You can't create wads from a NAND dump or from using ShowMiiWads. You NEED to use YetAnotherBlueDumpMod.
so please, don't skip this step (but you can do it after step 7 if you want).


7) Install d2x cIOS on different bases/slots
Start HBC and launch d2x cIOS Installer Mod v2.2 -> press a wiimote key ->
- at "Select cIOS" press right and select "d2x-v10-beta52-vWii" or "d2xv10-beta53-alt-vWii"
- at "Select cIOS base" select "56"
- at "Select cIOS slot" select "249"
press A to install -> cIOS 249 installed.

Repeat the above procedure for IOS57:
- at "Select cIOS" press right and select "d2x-v10-beta52-vWii" or "d2xv10-beta53-alt-vWii"
- at "Select cIOS base" select "57"
- at "Select cIOS slot" select "250"
press A to install -> cIOS 250 installed.

Repeat the above procedure for IOS58:
- at "Select cIOS" press right and select "d2x-v10-beta52-vWii" or "d2xv10-beta53-alt-vWii"
- at "Select cIOS base" select "58"
- at "Select cIOS slot" select "251"
press A to install -> cIOS 251 installed.

8) Now you can execute your preferred homebrew (that needs a cIOS) under HBC. Some homebrews can request IOS236 (see optional steps below on how to install it)

==========================================================================================================================

IMPORTANT NOTES

1 - Step 2 can be substituted with one of those games and their exploits:

- Super Smash Bros. Brawl
exploit name: SMASH STACK

- LEGO Star Wars - The Complete Saga
exploit name: RETURN OF THE JODI

- LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventure
exploit name: INDIANA PWNS (alternative download link here)

- Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's Wheelie Breakers
exploit name: Yu-Gi-OWNED! or Yu-Gi-Vah [but you must connect the scart and use the save 50Hertz + configure output 576I for France <-- directly from wiiubrew]

- Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
exploit name: ERI HAKAWAI


2 - DO NOT PLAY WITH IOS and cIOS both for vWii and real Wii, they are DIFFERENT and use a Wii IOS or cIOS with vWii (and vice versa) CAN BRICK YOUR vWii !!!

3 - Do not play with System Menu, channels or vWii titles to avoid unwanted vWii bricks !

4 - Some 2.5" external hard drivers can need additional power supply (even if they were perfectly working in a real Wii); try to use an Y cable to power them up:

there are different Y cables depending on your 2.5" Hard Disk USB interface:

WHILE CHOOSING THE CORRECT Y CABLE BE ALSO VERY CAREFUL AT IDENTIFYING MICRO USB 3.0 A or B MALE CONNECTOR BECAUSE Micro A Male DOES NOT FIT IN Micro B female (for what I know Micro A female-only does not exist, only Micro B-female or Micro AB-female exist):

5 - USB port to use is the UPPER one (considering the WiiU laying on a table as a standard DVD player):

(you can use the lower one for additional optional Y-Cable power supply)

6a - If you receive an error (dump error) using Configurable USB Loader (both with alt or normal cIOS version):

Try to use Wiiflow or USBLoader GX


6b - If you have black screen (always with CFG USB Loader) starting a game that was perfectly working BEFORE 4.x update (es. Wii Fit/Wii Fit Plus) try to set the "Video" option to "Game Default" (and not "System Def.") as showed in the following picture:

7 - If you connect your external USB games-backup-hard-drive before turning WiiU on you will receive the annoyng "Format USB Disk" screen:
- Here is UStealth solution by brilliant jayjay123 !
- Alternatively you can press B button at power on bypassing WiiU System Menu and entering directly in vWii mode.

8 - After updating to firmware 4.0.0 you may see HBC forced to 4:3:
Here is a WORKAROUND by the great JoostinOnline !

OPTIONAL STEPS

=================
cIOS236 INSTALLATION
=================
This cIOS can be necessary to launch some homebrews (which doesn't use ahbprot).

1) Download IOS36-64-v3864.wad (look for "sendspace kl6o78" and download the .rar file from sendspace - thanks to someone of that forum for that hint), extract the .WAD and place it in your SD root

2) From HBC launch IOS236 Installer MOD v7 Special vWii Edition and follow on-screen steps to install cIOS236.


=================================
WIIFLOW CHANNEL FORWARDER INSTALLATION
=================================

1) Download Wiiflow Channel Forwarder WAD

2) Copy it in your SD card, preferibly in SD :\wad folder

3) Install it from Multi Mod Manager homebrew -> Wad Manager option

OTHER CHANNEL FORWARDERS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS THREAD !

 

[Muyfa666]

I kind of bought the Wii U for Wind Waker first and foremost, but also for the few real gems that got released on the old Wii (The Zeldas, the Marios, the Metroids and some others). Of course there also seem to be some Nintendo exclusive titles down the Wii U line...

Great stuff. Hoping to pick up New SMB U and SMB 3D World soon to really break this bad boy in. ;-)

 

[drdreh]

Thank you asper !!!
I did today on my Wii U Zelda bundle 4.02 with the game Lego Star Wars and worked fine!!!

Spoiler

Obrigado!
Eu fiz hoje no meu Wii U Zelda 4.02 com o jogo Lego Star Wars e funcionou muito bem!

 

[Klaud]

WiiU with 2.1.0-2.1.3 System Menu (versions lower than 2.1.0 do not have vWii installed - not tested with greater versions)

Anyone can explain that part? I have Wii U with 1.0.2(E) and it has Wii Mode. Wii Mode = vWii, right ?

 

[raphzthename]

So does this only work with a 2 or 4GB SD card? It won't work at all with SDHC?

 

[GorTesK]

I dont know about the other exploits, I just assume, it is the same, since everybody says it is...
But Super Smash Brothers Brawl was released before the sdhc compatibility update was released for the wii and never got an update itself for it, so no matter, if your wii or wiiu can read sdhc cards, SSBB should not be able to read sdhc cards. You will need a non-hc sd card

 

[juliamoron]

I can install this on system menu 4.0.2? I have update why a test transfer the homebrew channel on wii to wiiU tool unsucess and my savedata on my wii erase all

 

[Klaud]

how to dump full NAND image? (not separate files)

 

[drdreh]

I can install this on system menu 4.0.2? I have update why a test transfer the homebrew channel on wii to wiiU tool unsucess and my savedata on my wii erase all

yes, you can! I made it!

 

[Harakiri23]

I just got a new wiiu, updated everything first and did everything according to this description.

However, once i use any loaders even the ones linked here (wiiflow, usb loader etc) and patched für wiiu - once i start them from the HBC - the screen just goes black and i have to power off the wiiu.

Any idea ?

 

[flo]

I have softmodded a 4.0.2 Wii-U using this guide and i have a few questions :

1 . In FS Toolbox the nand dump was only 133 MB . Correct size or not ?
2. What are the apps that use CIOS 236 ? Is it really necessary to install it ?
3. Can i install Uloader in vWii ? ( since it needs cIOS 222 or 223 )
4. Can i install Wii Virtual Console games directly into vWii using a WAD Manager ? If not , how can i install them into an emulated nand ?
5. Is there any way to use the WiiU gamepad with Wii titles ? ( i'm thinking Donkey Kong Country would be great to play on that )

 

[Muyfa666]

1. Same here. No idea if it's right.
2. Sorry, don't know.
3. See #2
4. Yes, but you should probably use eg. USB Loader GX and install them to emulated nand through the loader.
5. No.

 

[flo]

So at number 4 i could just install them as WAD ? Do i need to resign them for vWii ?

 

[Muyfa666]

No, not in my experience. I did nothing special with the original game wads. Channels are probably different thou...

The thing with both original Wii and vWii is that the nand can get ruined if you write to it alot.

I don't really think it's a bigger problem with vWii, but we have no real safety utils for vWii yet, so if you can avoid it you should.

Installing some games will probably don't break anything, but then again - it could if you are real unlucky. It is never 100% safe.

 

[Cyan]

how to dump full NAND image? (not separate files)

It's not possible.

I have softmodded a 4.0.2 Wii-U using this guide and i have a few questions :

1 . In FS Toolbox the nand dump was only 133 MB . Correct size or not ? Yes
2. What are the apps that use CIOS 236 ? Is it really necessary to install it ? Old apps (on WiiU release) still used IOS236 to install wads, access NAND, etc., But now most vWii homebrew has been updated to use AHB access and real time patching instead of using installed patched IOS. IOS236 shouldn't be needed, but having it helped few users to recover a bricked vWii (they installed Wii IOS on vWii. Never do that!).
3. Can i install Uloader in vWii ? ( since it needs cIOS 222 or 223 ) No, you can't install these IOS so uLoader won't work. use a more recent loader.
4. Can i install Wii Virtual Console games directly into vWii using a WAD Manager ? If not , how can i install them into an emulated nand ? Yes, install the wads directly. You don't need to sign them for vWii, but if they are from a different region you'll have to patch IOS80 (which I wouldn't recommend). Instead of patching your system menu's IOS, you should launch the channels from a loader. I would also recommend to not install Wads to NAND, but use EmuNAND instead. The less you touch the NAND manually, safer it will be.
5. Is there any way to use the WiiU gamepad with Wii titles ? ( i'm thinking Donkey Kong Country would be great to play on that ) No, If it's possible then Nintendo need to release a new WiiU/vWii firmware.

 

[Ray Lewis]

Something I noticed and love is the way Wii games look on the gamepad. Use Joostin's forwarder for homebrew to use the ENTIRE game screen. Useful to let my 5 year old play some Mario on vWii while I watch football. The gamepad REALLY makes Wii games look great. Yeah, so check out that forwarder.

 

[Ray Lewis]

I've never really checked BUT a few people said you can still use infectus on vWii nand. Probably a "story" but nobody seems to refute it. Again, I need to check the Wii U PCB. Infectus was TOO MANY wires for me years ago. If you can then you can make a full vWii nane backup. Is this true Cyan?

 

[Gladius]

So I understand from previous post's that I can do a softmod on a vWii with Version 4.0.2.
I hope there is no risk to brick the console.

 

[Muyfa666]

Gladius: I think it's ok. I don't really think a brick will happen if you follow the instructions, more likely that you just don't get it to work at all.

Go with Bathaxx if you can. Seems to work very good. I used Indiana Pwns, but that was on v3.x...

EDIT: As always, SOFTMODDING IS ON YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. If you're not sure about the risk, don't do it. Foolproof it is not, even thou the risk should be very small. Don't come whine if you mess up, that's all I'm saying.

EDIT2: No offense, just don't want any blame here if things go south.

 

[gregory2590]

Everything worked just fine up until the USB loaders. When I try to start up Configurable USB Loader,(this happened on GX as well) it wouldn't detect my external hard drive. Could the fact that I used the same hard drive that has my backups on it from my last gen Wii be a reason why it won't be detected?

 

[Gladius]

Gladius: I think it's ok. I don't really think a brick will happen if you follow the instructions, more likely that you just don't get it to work at all.

Go with Bathaxx if you can. Seems to work very good. I used Indiana Pwns, but that was on v3.x...

EDIT: As always, SOFTMODDING IS ON YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. If you're not sure about the risk, don't do it. Foolproof it is not, even thou the risk should be very small. Don't come whine if you mess up, that's all I'm saying.

EDIT2: No offense, just don't want any blame here if things go south.

I've read everything that I've found on this great site about vWii softmod. I am not offensed, I just wanna tell you that I softmoded a lot of normal Wii's. I had just this minor thought about latest WiiU firmware, that's all. Thank's a lot for your helpful response.