(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 !

 

[c3pu]

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 !

1. no idea sry mine was hacked back in december. but if the tutorial as been updated recently id say yes?
2. usb flash drive should work but i never tried on vwii did on wii though.
3. it might but it as not happened yet and the common belief is that it will remove the hack at most.
4. dont remember the specifics but from what i do remember wads changes things in the wii itself and they dont work the same on wii and vwii (nintendo changed some protocols to stop hacking i think) so by installing a wii wad on vwii your like 99.9% of bricking your vwii and about being nessessary i cant remember but im pretty sure the software that you need and who require wads have vwii specific version of said wads but im pretty sure you dont need wads. but its been a long time.

 

[Dodo764]

Hi guys...

So my Wii U has the newest update. I thought that I can't softmod my vWii because of this, but now I know I was wrong.

I hope that IndianaPWNS will work on 5.1.2E

1) An SD card is necessary, right? I can't use a pendrive?
2) I have a microSD 2GB card. Do you think it will work with an adapter normally?

 

[LightyKD]

I cant seem to get my HBC to load or read apps from a USB stick. Any solutions?

 

[Dodo764]

Everything works fine. Newest update, Indiana pwns and a micro sd card Success!

 

[Deleted User]

Lego Batman save file download isn't working ...

Where else can I download it ?

Never mind wiiubrew.org is back online.

 

[mikula]

Everything works fine. Newest update, Indiana pwns and a micro sd card Success!

Hi Dodo764 and all users!
I have the "same problem"...Firmware on the Wii-U is 5.2.0 E and I would like to make a softmod, but I was afraid not to spoil the console
By the way I have all the necessary lego batman (org wii) and sd card 2GB. Now, what should I do... softmod, be or not to be....

Do you have any negative experiences?

tnx!

 

[Rhog45]

I need help, i did the bthaxx exploit and when i get to the bottom row this is what it says.

Cleaning up enviroment...ok
SD card dectected
opeing boot.elf:
boot.elf not found (-1)
USBGecko not found
No Code found to load, hanging.


Can anyone help?

 

[GorTesK]

geez, this again, it even tells you what your problem is
boot.elf not found (-1)
you don't have a boot.elf on your SD card root
I guess, you are trying to install HBC with the exploit, so get the hackmii-installer boot.elf at http://bootmii.org/download/

 

[flo]

Still working in 5.2.0 ?

 

[CJLopez]

Man, how I wish I had read this thread before

Now, i'm dealing with a bricked vWii and I left my old Wii with my brother as I moved out of my hometown

I can't play nor finish my Wii backlog.

I used MMM to install the cIOS, and looks like there was a Wii cIOS in the pack that I didn't noticed

Looks like i'll be browsing for a cheap Wii, until WiiU is hackable and a way to restore vWii is found

 

[lotech]

Still working in 5.2.0 ?

I just installed it on a second hand console just updated to 5.2 from something else, works!

 

[Zolthorg]

How do I check system menu on recently bought Wii U from ebay? Or is it safe to do Nintendo Update? (will this work on 5.3.0)

 

[goodbytes]

I'm trying to extract d2x-v10-final-alt-vWii i've downloaded the zip and when i extract it on OS X it just generates another file ending in .zip.cpgz

I've tried it on Windows and it doesn't even extract just throws an error about it being an invalid zip file, any ideas?

 

[goodbytes]

I'm trying to extract d2x-v10-final-alt-vWii i've downloaded the zip and when i extract it on OS X it just generates another file ending in .zip.cpgz

I've tried it on Windows and it doesn't even extract just throws an error about it being an invalid zip file, any ideas?

I have fixed this i realised it needed to be renamed to .7z

However i now have another problem.. I have played Batman Lego up until a point where it let me save the game after the 1st scenario (which was painful in itself) i saved the game exited and went into the save data settings, i backed up the save to my SD card and then deleted it, i tried to copy the Bathaxx save over but it says "You need to play your game on this Wii console before you can copy save data" I've tried various scenario's of copying the original save back, re playing, loading it, etc but each time it says i haven't played the game. Any ideas?

 

[chr0m]

Softmodded my vWii, it's all good. I found a new homebrew channel forwarder that does widescreen.
Everything is perfect apart from one minor annoyance and that is the fact that the Wii U detects the HDD and asks to format it. I guess we can't do anything about that.
I can see kids formatting HDDs in no time if you leave it plugged in

 

[AdmissionBanned]

I just Bought a Super Mario 3d world Wii u bundle will the fireware be to high?

 

[Christopho]

Anyone know if this works on 5.3?

 

[MRDOCA]

Hi just finished this on my wii u. It all went well except using cfg loader. It finds my games fine on my hdd but it cannot retrieve game covers, in fact it says it cannot find a internet connection even though the internet is on. Why would this be? Can post a pic of the error if needed

 

[mufc290]

hi i am total newbie here i want to put homebrew on my wii u the version is 4.1e can i do this or do i have to do a software update ?
i have watched a few youtube video on how to do it but the Smashstack pal version doesnt work any idea where i get this ?
or any help how to do this , as i have never done anything like this.
thanks

 

[Sir Royco]

Everytime I try using any USB loader, it always ends up not working. WiiFlow can't detect my usb flash drive, and USB Loader GX freezes at "Initialize usb device". I've already installed on cIOS 249, 250, and 251, so I don't know what is missing. Any clues to what I should try next?