(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 !

 

[WiiU_Funkionz]

So I modded out my 5.0.0.U Wii U last night using the Bathaxx...Went smoothly. Just a few hiccups I need to clear up mainly with loading GC games with Nintendon't...mainly memory card issues and USB loader issues

All my wii games seem to boot up fine so far. I can load GC games loading straight through nintendont but I don't see a settings option to enable memory card emulation within the app itself...Trying to get any loader working with Nintendont so far has been a nightmare.

Using USB Loader GX - The games show up fine but when I try to start them it keeps saying "This Nintendont version does not support games on USB". I believe I setup all the global settings correct but it does this no matter what I've tried thus far.
WiiFlow - I cannot get the games to show and there is no Gamecube category popping up when I change the categories. However when I check the paths, I can see that its reading the path fine on the HDD
Configurable USB - I cant seem to find settings for nintendont on the versions ive tried within the menu and some versions Im trying aren't displaying all of my games.

Any point in the right direction would be much appreciated! Sorry if this is the wrong section to post this...

 

[Cyan]

be sure to use the latest version of USBLoaderGX (currently up to r1226 available in the internal update menu), or 1227_mod1 if you update manually from the link in my signature.

Nintendont changed some strings and it affected the way USBLoaderGX is detecting if it's old or new release.
by updating the loader it will fix nintendont detection.

 

[WiiU_Funkionz]

be sure to use the latest version of USBLoaderGX (currently up to r1226 available in the internal update menu), or 1227_mod1 if you update manually from the link in my signature.

Nintendont changed some strings and it affected the way USBLoaderGX is detecting if it's old or new release.
by updating the loader it will fix nintendont detection.

Thank you Cyan. I appreciate the info. I will try this when I get home tonight. Thought I was using the latest loader, maybe not though...Ill give that a shot.

Any advice about installing WADS on vWii? Seems to be mixed opinions on this going from my reading. More-so than I had ever read about on the original Wii. Not sure if its more dangerous or something. Do I need a specific cIOS to install wads or just use MMM or something similar?

Thanks again for your advice!

 

[Cyan]

You don't need cIOS to install Wads, you need hardware access (to read/write to NAND).
Hardware access is granted by the homebrew channel. Some old wad manager still use cIOS (236 or 249 are fine).

Installing wad files is more dangerous on vWii because if it's a bad channel and it bricks your system menu, there's no way to fix it.
while on Wii, there were two possibilities to fix a system menu brick (Bootmii/NAND backup, and Priiloader to bypass system menu and boot the Homebrew channel directly).


You can use an Emulated NAND to test (and even play from it) the games you want to install.
you can use Sneek (there's a guide in the hacking section).

 

[WiiU_Funkionz]

Thanks man! Newest USBLoader GX in your signature did the trick. Good to go. Now onto transferring save games! Its like im re-living the wii all over again. Lol

 

[Leonidas87]

Configurable USB Loader Mod; download and extract in SD :\apps ; 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)

I'm confused with this step?
So do I download the configurable USB loader.dol and place it in the application folder?

Or is it supposed to go in a folder in the application folder?

Or is there another file I need to be putting in the application folder besides the configurable USB loader.dol?

Sorry I have gotten everything else right except for this step.
Configurable USB loader.dol and USB loader gx.dol being put in the application folder on my SD card does not seem to allow me to see the application on my wii u/vwii in homebrew Chanel.

Any help would be greatly appreciated on me finishing everything. Great work keep it up

 

[mafiaman1564]

Put the dols in a folder with the appropriate name ie: usb loader gx. Then rename the dols to boot.dol in case it wasn't obvious they have to be in two different folders not the same one
Also they the folders should be put in the apps folders

root
----apps
----usb loader gx
-----boot.dol (previously named USB loader gx.dol)

 

[Leonidas87]

Put the dols in a folder with the appropriate name ie: usb loader gx. Then rename the dols to boot.dol in case it wasn't obvious they have to be in two different folders not the same one
Also they the folders should be put in the apps folders

root
----apps
----usb loader gx
-----boot.dol (previously named USB loader gx.dol)

Thanks a lot that helps explain that part of things a bit. I can not do it tonight but I will be doing it for sure tomorrow and will report back.

The wii was easy to get going but with the wii u it seems like you have to be a lot more cautious and it's a longer process. Waiting for my nand dump/backup whatever its called on my 2gb SD card. Been about 45 minutes and I'm only half way lol.

 

[Leonidas87]

OK so I finished the process late last night.
You were correct about putting each loader in its own folder in the application folder.
Such a simple fix but ended up teaching me a lot.

Wow so glad to be done and have everything up and running. 4 hours for my nand backup last night lol wow took long.

 

[Cyan]

It's recommended to correctly name the folders where you put the boot.dol files.
These folders are (can be) used by other homebrew, such as Forwarders.

For example, if you install a Forwarder channel on your System menu for USBLoaderGX, it will search if you have /apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol on your SD and on your USB.
If it finds the file, it reload it (you launch a channel and it's forwarded to another application located on your SD card which is launched instead).
If you didn't name the folder "usbloader_gx" but "usb loader gx", then the forwarder will not work.

 

[Leonidas87]

It's recommended to correctly name the folders where you put the boot.dol files.
These folders are (can be) used by other homebrew, such as Forwarders.

For example, if you install a Forwarder channel on your System menu for USBLoaderGX, it will search if you have /apps/usbloader_gx/boot.dol on your SD and on your USB.
If it finds the file, it reload it (you launch a channel and it's forwarded to another application located on your SD card which is launched instead).
If you didn't name the folder "usbloader_gx" but "usb loader gx", then the forwarder will not work.

What's the best way to know the correct name for these folders tho. Should I just google it.

Obviously it would only matter in a situation you described so it would be good to know now.

 

[mafiaman1564]

Usually when you find a forwarder they list the directory's everything should be in. ie \apps\usbloader_gx\boot.dol. As cyan explained

 

[Cyan]

usually, the homebrew which require a specific path are provided with that path architecture directly in the package.
in the USBLoaderGX v3.0 release package, you have apps/usbloader_gx/
I don't use this path when I release new build (in my signature), so I understand that it's not very clear that you need to use this path.

Like he said, you can check the forwarder thread, it provides the checked path.

 

[navega]

Can someone tell if this guide works for 5.1.0?smash attack exploit too?I will get my wiiU in a few days and im having a hard time to find other games,thx

 

[Cyan]

yes, it still work.
Nintendo has not updated the vwii system menu version, so it will not delete current HBC channel.

 

[Fellow]

I installed cIOS, base 56(249), base 57(250), and base 58(251) using d2x v10beta53-alt-vWii mload v1.0

I tried using a Y cable, with the A port in the outer most port on the back of the Wii U, and the B port on the inner most, with 2 different HHDs.

One was NFTS, and one was WBFS, neither is being detected.

EDIT: I had to switch the cables between USB ports, they work now

 

[dick_doge]

Hi, I'm a total newbie here. I just read through all the preceding 15 pages in this thread, and will attempt to softmod my vWii later following the guide. But before that, I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer:

1. Will the steps in this guide work for Wii U with the latest firmware 5.1.1. ?
2. Can I store the backup games to be run by the USB loader inside a USB flash drive / an SD card connected to an SD card reader, instead of an external HDD ?
3. If Nintendo release a further update in the future, could that actually brick the softmodded vWii ?
4. What are these WADs and why are installing them so dangerous ? Are they necessary if all I want is to play backup games ?

That's all for now. Thanks, folks !

 

[HylianLink]

Despite the looooong time dumping the nand(about 14 hours, probably due to a faulty micro sd), everything worked fine on my wiiU 5.1.2, including cIOS 236 and homebrew channel fix. Thank you!!

 

[binhu]

hi guys, im new here, and for use Wii U too, i tried to softmod my Wii U but im stucking in Multi Mod Manager, all time when i click in that, my wii remote turn off and i cant do anything continue. what can i do now?

 

[Doario]

Got help from another thread, thanks though.