Hacking Haxchi-coldboot - autobooting Haxchi installer

[::Phoenix::]

THE INSTALLER IS COMPLETELY SAFE AND IT IS VERY UNLIKELY IT WILL BRICK YOUR WII U.

IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, IT CAN PROBABLY BE SOLVED, JUST READ THE FAQs!

This is a branch of Haxchi which includes an optional installation of coldboothax and a recovery mode if you mess things up.
This means that after you select your game in which to install Haxchi, you can choose to let this game autoboot when turning on your Wii U.

In order to trigger the installation, sd:/haxchi/coldboothax.install should be present in your sd.

I already placed this file in the attached zip.

Features:

• Safe coldboothax installation.
• If pushing L + R + dpad_down + A during boot the elf sd:/recovery.elf will be executed. This allows for recovering in case config.txt or something else was wrong.
• Coldboothax can be reinstalled over a previous installation safely.

You should autoboot something which works with coldboothax:

• COLDBOOT-ENABLED sysNAND fw.img, i.e. made with make cfw-coldboot (dimok's fork)
• redNAND fw.img
• coldboot-enabled sign_patcher (not recommended until dimok officially releases it).
• the homebrew launcher (this is just to have an additional fallback plan if something goes wrong, but it is highly recommended to configure a button press for HBL)

The provided config.txt is as follows:
a=wiiu/apps/homebrew_launcher/homebrew_launcher.elf
default=fw.img

HOW TO UNINSTALL COLDBOOTHAX
Use this https://github.com/marco-calautti/coldboothax-uninstaller/releases

This is my branch on github: https://github.com/marco-calautti/haxchi/tree/haxchi-coldboot

Grab the zip here: https://github.com/marco-calautti/haxchi/releases

enjoy

FAQs
Q. My Wii U does not boot at all!
A. Apart from very unlikely events, your Wii U is still booting Haxchi. Before doing anything stupid, remember that you can download the coldboothax-uninstaller. Rename coldboothax-uninstaller.elf to recovery.elf and put it in SD root. Then, when Haxchi boots push the combination L + R + dpad_down + A. The uninstaller should run, letting you to uninstall coldboothax.

Q. I am getting a bootloop!
A. You are likely using a sysnand fw.img not compiled for coldboothax or the non-coldboot signpatcher. Be sure your fw.img has been compiled from dimok's github with make cfw-coldboot or that you are using the coldboot signpatcher.

Q. I get -5 when loading any homebrew with a button.
A. You are using an older version of my Haxchi. Download the new installer, rename haxchi.elf to recovery.elf and put it in SD root. Then when Haxchi boots, push the combination L + R + dpad_down + A. You should be able to reinstall haxchi again and fix the issue.

 

[KiiWii]

Very cool, let's hope it's been tested thoroughly!

 

[::Phoenix::]

Very cool, let's hope it's been tested thoroughly!

I tested it multiple times, the only thing that can go wrong, is the user not following the instructions.

 

[Kafluke]

I tested it multiple times, the only thing that can go wrong, is the user not following the instructions.

We're doomed. Users following instructions? you ask too much!

 

[::Phoenix::]

We're doomed. Users following instructions? you ask too much!

, Even if they don't follow instructions, if they leave the files as they are, they are safe!

 

[Kafluke]

, Even if they don't follow instructions, if they leave the files as they are, they are safe!

Is there an easy path to uninstall?

 

[::Phoenix::]

As for now, you should just replace system.xml manually. I am working on an uninstaller.

 

[Kafluke]

As for now, you should just replace system.xml manually. I am working on an uninstaller.

Gotcha. so when you do coldboothax manually you make a backup of the system.XML and save it on your PC using ftp anywhere. Does your installer make a backup and where is it saved?

I'm just asking because I think this is where most of your questions from users are going to come from. They're gonna want to know how to uninstall if they don't like cold booting to haxchi

 

[::Phoenix::]

Gotcha. so when you do coldboothax manually you make a backup of the system.XML and save it on your PC using ftp anywhere. Does your installer make a backup and where is it saved?

I'm just asking because I think this is where most of your questions from users are going to come from. They're gonna want to know how to uninstall if they don't like cold booting to haxchi

The backup is called syshax.xml and it is placed in /vol/system/config. So you just delete system.xml and rename syshax.xml to system.xml

 

[Kafluke]

The backup is called syshax.xml and it is placed in /vol/system/config. So you just delete system.xml and rename syshax.xml to system.xml

Using ftpanywhere correct?

 

[::Phoenix::]

Using ftpanywhere correct?

Correct, but it seems that renaming on ftpiiu does not work. It is better to download syshax.xml to PC, rename it there and then upload it again.

 

[J-Machine]

Ok I dusted off my wii u from this march. before I attempt this hachi stuff I got 2 questions:
1. I need access to the wiiu shop to buy a ds game yes?
2. Is the latest firmware exploitable? cause I hadn't bought a ds game yet.

 

[pwsincd]

will pass this one by.. .tyvm

 

[xtheman]

Ok I dusted off my wii u from this march. before I attempt this hachi stuff I got 2 questions:
1. I need access to the wiiu shop to buy a ds game yes?
2. Is the latest firmware exploitable? cause I hadn't bought a ds game yet.

The latest firmware is the best and hackable and this app will only work on the latest firmware and so will most new stuff coming out

You need to buy the ds game from the eshop.

 

[Garblant]

Does Coldboothax Have any negative side effects on vWii?

I was thinking about using this with the signature patcher app to play Wii virtual console titles...

 

[::Phoenix::]

Does Coldboothax Have any negative side effects on vWii?

I was thinking about using this with the signature patcher app to play Wii virtual console titles...

Coldboothax on its own should not have any side effects. It is what it boots that might have them. vWii does not work in redNAND for example.

 

[Garblant]

Coldboothax on its own should not have any side effects. It is what it boots that might have them. vWii does not work in redNAND for example.

Okay! Thanks for clearing up some confusion I had.

 

[J-Machine]

sorry was cleaning keyboard and it posted on me

 

[Zamkad]

Installed this and get kinda of brick. Wii U loads, but it got looped with: black screen, Wii U logo in corner and "Wii U menu" loading screen(It might called different in English, hope you understood what i mean).
EUR 5.5.1 console, haxchi in NAND, config file contains this:

a=fw.img
default=wiiu/apps/sigpatcher2sysmenu/sign_patcher.elf
b=wiiu/apps/homebrew_launcher/homebrew_launcher.elf
y=wiiu/apps/wupinstaller/wupinstaller.elf

As you can see, I managed B button as Homebrew loader and it's perfectly loading, so I don't bothered too much about that brick, because I can fix it. But, what I'm doing wrong, to get this brick? I want coldboot, instead of this little occasion.

 

[thisisallowed]

Installed this and get kinda of brick. Wii U loads, but it got looped with: black screen, Wii U logo in corner and "Wii U menu" loading screen(It might called different in English, hope you understood what i mean).
EUR 5.5.1 console, haxchi in NAND, config file contains this:

As you can see, I managed B button as Homebrew loader and it's perfectly loading, so I don't bothered too much about that brick, because I can fix it. But, what I'm doing wrong, to get this brick? I want coldboot, instead of this little occasion.

sigpatcher2sysmenu isn't compatible with coldboothax
Use either cfw-coldboot branch of iosuhax or rednand