Hacking How to hack a virgin wii 4.2U

75UR15 · Jul 5, 2010

Something I thought would be useful since most guides I have read split the steps and it can get confusing about what you need to do and exactly in what order.
I present to you how to install a "fully" hacked wii from scratch on a "virgin" 4.2 os:
1) Use the bannerbomb to install HBC (Home Brew Channel) and BootMii (as IOS or boot2)
2) Backup your nand Via HBC/BootMii
3) Use TBR (Trucha Bug Restorer, first option hit b) to downgrade IOS15, reload it with IOS15 (first option scroll to 15 then hit a) then patch IOS36 with Es_Ident, Trucha, and Nand Permission
4) Use IOS36 to install PriiLoader (unless you have bootmii as boot2, in which case this isn’t necessary)
5) Use HBC to run DopMii and remove Stub IOS249 and IOS250 (if they exist), and uninstall NOTHING ELSE!!
6) Install cIOS38 R17 into slot 249 (slot is chosen automatically, and yes there is a newer version, but it has more options which would only confuse, needs more work to use if installing wads, and this version does EVERYTHING with no problems for me so far)
7) Use TBR to unpatch (restore by unselecting options) IOS36
8 ) Restore IOS15 (also via TBR)
Next step homebrew, you now have a fully hacked wii system, I would recommend turning off updates in the priiloader menu (hold reset when you start your wii) as they can cause problems and possibly bricks if they clash with something you have installed.
********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************

Warning! I have tested everything I am writing here on only FOUR WIIs (my own two....and two others now) and everything listed below is run
at your OWN RISK! This guide comes with no warranty of any kind, please read each step carefully before doing anything. You accept the
risks associated with this guide and you are responsible if anything YOU do to YOUR Wii causes any unwanted side effects.

********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************

Disconnect any Gamecube Accesories before doing any hacking on your wii, IT MATTERS

********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************


The longer description of above
*note, it is assumed you know how to add/remove files from an sd card*
1) Get the <a href="http://bootmii.org/download/" target="_blank">HackMii</a> installer and extract it to find the boot.elf file.

2) Get the <a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Bannerbomb" target="_blank">Bannerbomb hack</a> (v2 for 4.2, the only one I've tested, this page is a description which leads to the download page and more details about it, the actual download comes from <a href="http://bannerbomb.qoid.us/abds/abd6a_v200.zip" target="_blank">here</a>)

3) If you have a private folder on your sd card you need to remove or rename it for the time being. The private folder from the zip abd6a_v200.zip goes directly into the root of your sd card, you also need to place boot.elf from the previous zip into the root (the root means NOT in a folder but directly on the card).

4) If you are running a version prior to system menu 4.2 (you can find out what system version you are using by going to the "wii" button on the bottom left and choosing wii settings) you need to use a different bannerbomb hack and it uses a slightly different way to run it. On system menu 4.2 you go to the SD card button on the bottom of the starting page, after the hack runs it will ask if you want to run the boot.elf/dol say yes. It will pause before allowing you to hit yes on the next screen but accept the information until it takes you to a black install screen, you want to install HBC and BootMii (either as Boot2 or IOS whichever it can, boot2 is better but it can't on newer wiis)

4.1) Restart Wii, (if you want now would be a good time to start the HBC (it should now appear as a channel on your home menu) and hit home button, then run the BootMii to back up your nand, this is the one time you need to insert a gamecube controller as the wiimote won't sync, don't forget to unplug it after)- Buttons on the Wii itself can also be used - thanks tjcool

5) Now on your sd card you can remove the private folder and boot.elf you used to install those 2, and if you had one restore your previous private folder. You need to create a folder on your sd card called apps, the first 2 programs I recommend putting on there are <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Ftpii" target="_blank">FTPii</a> (if you put a _word after the name of the folder it will be the ftp password of your wii, so ftpii_mypass as the foldername for this homebrew would mean you would need to enter mypass as the password, no username) and <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Browser" target="_blank">HomebrewBrowser</a> - The first gives you network access to your wii sd and some partitions of the system (usb fat32 drive also if you have it attached), the second gives you easy access to downloading both program updates for your homebrew and provides easy download/installation of homebrew without swapping a card in/out all the time (assuming your wii has network access).....all homebrew goes in apps folder in the individual folder per program, such as:
/apps/homebrew_browser/
+boot.dol (program itself)
+icon.png (banner image)
+meta.xml (info about program-displays when loading)
(some programs may have more files than that but those are three most if not all should have)

5.1) The next stage of what you want to do to continue hacking your wii is to install a patched IOS36 (so you can use it to install a cIOS and priiloader), for this you will need either a network link to your wii, or 4 downloads from the NUS (Nintendo Update Server).
IOS15-64-v257.wad
IOS15-64-v523.wad
IOS36-64-v3351.wad
IOS38-64-v3867.wad
You can use <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/completesg/downloads/NUSDownloader.zip?attredirects=0&d=1" target="_blank">NUS Downloader</a> to get the necessary files or just use a wii attached to wifi and it can download them when it needs them automatically. If you use NUS, make sure you choose the pack->wad checkbox, it will download many files in a separate folder in the NUS folder, the one you want ends in .wad, and these files also go in the root of your sd card.

6) Use the <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NBBZD1ZS" target="_blank">TBR</a> (Trucha Bug Restorer) (run via the homebrew channel, most everything at this point is run from HBC, it also pauses before it loads, you have to wait for it to say hit 1 to load app) to first downgrade your IOS15 (if you downloaded the files via nus already and have them on your sd card root, choose Load IOS from sd card, otherwise choose Download IOS from NUS in the installer). The wii will restart, load the TBR again, and when it asks where to load, choose IOS 15 (first screen) then choose patch IOS36, put 3 patches on it (Trucha/Es_ident/Nand Permission)

7) Use <a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Preloader/Priiloader" target="_blank">priiloader</a> installer (via HBC) to install Priiloader to your System Menu, have it run using IOS36 (it asks) you also need to put <a href="http://gbatemp.net/t185323-4-1x-4-2x-hacks-ini?st=0&" target="_blank">hacks.ini</a> compatible with your system menu version on the sd card root (needed for modifying options once you load priiloader).

8 )Use <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/DOP-Mii" target="_blank">DopMii</a> (run on IOS36) to uninstall the stub IOS249 and IOS250 (if you have it, and on 4.2 you will) this runs from HBC also, choose IOS from DopMii menu, then scroll (right d-pad button) to 249 and check if it is installed (on upper right part of screen). If a stub is installed there then uninstall it, do the same with IOS250. If a file is already there and it isn't a stub, your wii was already hacked!

9) Install the cIOS 38 v17 using hbc to run the installer and chooses IOS36 to complete the install, install it to location 249 (location is automatic, it puts one into 250 also under different version number, assuming of course you erased the stub there also).

10) Restore your original IOS Versions for 15/36, to do this run the TBR again and set it to run from 15, open the IOS36 menu then de-select all of the options (patching 36) and have it install the original IOS36 (IOS 249 will do everything that you were using 36 for and more), the installer will exit, return to it (leave default run from by hitting b) and restore your IOS15 (option on the main menu). This means you have an untouched IOS15/36 (so games won't cause problems when using them and other hacking files won't have trouble with them)

11) Have fun!
What we have done, the changes to IOS15/36 are undone
HBC is installed (for me at IOS61) -> update now installs (as of 9/19/10) to IOS58
priiloader is patched into the system menu IOS70 (60 on 4.1)this gives you partial brick protection - you can still load hbc from it (hold reset when starting to load priiloader then choose hbc), and you can use it to allow extra options in the home menu (move disc channel, backup/transfer non-copyable save files, replace healthscreen with backmenu or auto hit a on health menu)
You have a cIOS which performs all the functions of any trucha bugged IOS and adds other options

Recommended files for use now:
<a href="http://usbloadergx.koureio.net/downloads" target="_blank">USB LOADER GX</a> (to run backups from a hard drive formatted WBFS (Wii Backup File System)
I've tested r937, r935, r929, and r921 -- -- r937, r935 and r921 worked, r929 didn't work)

<a href="http://wbfsmanager.codeplex.com/releases/view/26808" target="_blank">WBFS Manager 3.0</a> - Creates and maintains wii backup file system, can be used to format, add, or recover iso files from a wii backup file system

<a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D0MBCKAA" target="_blank">Wii Game Manager 1.5.0.2</a> - Same as above, some different features and compatibility, recommended to use this instead after you get drive formatted

and ANY emulator your heart desires, available on that Homebrew browser, or <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_homebrew_emulators" target="_blank">here</a> with other homebrew

other useful things
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?i2mvjhxmzhl" target="_blank">Wad Manager v1.5</a> - installs or uninstalls wad files

<a href="http://winscp.net/eng/index.php" target="_blank">WinSCP</a> - for use on windows pc, allows ftp access when running ftpii

<a href="http://www.wiidewii.com/data/CrapV3.3b.rar" target="_blank">Crap v3.3b</a> – create/install custom channels from disc

Trustworthy sites

<a href="http://usbloadergx.koureio.net/" target="_blank">USB Loader GX</a>
<a href="http://hbc.hackmii.com/" target="_blank">Homebrew Channel</a>
<a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_homebrew" target="_blank">Homebrew downloads</a>
<a href="http://sites.google.com/site/completesg/hacking-guide/" target="_blank">Wii Softmod, tells you what to do and what NOT to do</a>
<a href="http://blog.scurker.com/2009/08/creating-wii-channels-usb-loader" target="_blank">How to create/install custom channels from games on usb</a>
and of course gbatemp.net <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

kimikal27 · Jul 5, 2010

good try
but sorry, it's useless and outdated

75UR15 · Jul 5, 2010

useless? May I ask how, I know there is a new update, but this worked for me quite well.

ocdetective · Jul 5, 2010

Presumably because of the pre-existing and well established sticky http://gbatemp.net/t171901-modify-any-wii-4-2-below

75UR15 · Jul 5, 2010

ocdetective said:
Presumably because of the pre-existing and well established sticky http://gbatemp.net/t171901-modify-any-wii-4-2-below

I read that after I had already written (but hadn't posted) this guide. I prefer a full text no video version, and I believe it is as easy or easier to use. If it is worth anything to anyone that is enough for me. (it also includes links for everything that I can, and nothing banned here). The method used is different as well to offer alternatives in the choices (dop-mii vs mmm). Calling it outdated may be true, but I think useless is a little bit much.
edit
To answer below without a bump, I was one, the guides I used before were split, but I found it easier to use them that way without needing to go into a video to see it. A linear path is easier for me to follow. Everything sounds very confusing when you don't know what any of it means, (IOS38, cIOS38, cIOS249, usbloader, trucha, homebrew channel). I was hoping this method of explaining what was done in what order would be easier, to help prevent problems (I'm new to the scene myself, only about 4 months on my record). I helped another person with there hacked wii and it was a mess, extra things not needed (for anything) and mixed versions of different installers (both things already installed to the wii and cIOS/channel installers) that could seriously have screwed up his (my cousin) wii.

ocdetective · Jul 5, 2010

75UR15 said:
ocdetective said:

Presumably because of the pre-existing and well established sticky http://gbatemp.net/t171901-modify-any-wii-4-2-below

Click to expand...

I read that after I had already written (but hadn't posted) this guide. I prefer a full text no video version, and I believe it is as easy or easier to use. If it is worth anything to anyone that is enough for me. (it also includes links for everything that I can, and nothing banned here). The method used is different as well to offer alternatives in the choices (dop-mii vs mmm). Calling it outdated may be true, but I think useless is a little bit much.

Well if just one person uses the guide then it is of course not useless

That said how many noobs (presumably the point of any guide) do you think would prefer all text to text +visuals?

tj_cool · Jul 5, 2010

I can't see anything useless/outdated about the guide. Sure, it uses different methods and we already have some guides, but so what.
See yellow notes below in quote:

Something I thought would be useful since most guides I have read split the steps and it can get confusing about what you need to do and exactly in what order.
I present to you how to install a "fully" hacked wii from scratch on a "virgin" 4.2 os:
1) Use the bannerbomb to install HBC (Home Brew Channel) and BootMii (as IOS)
2) Backup your nand Via HBC/BootMii
3) Use TBR (Trucha Bug Restorer, first option hit b) to downgrade IOS15, reload it with IOS15 (first option scroll to 15 then hit a) then patch IOS36 with Es_Ident, Trucha, and Nand Permission
4) Use IOS36 to install PriiLoader (unless you have bootmii as boot2, in which case this isn’t necessary)
5) Use HBC to run DopMii and remove Stub IOS249 and IOS250 (if they exist), and uninstall NOTHING ELSE!!
6) Install cIOS38 R17 into slot 249 (slot is chosen automatically, and yes there is a newer version, but it has more options which would only confuse, needs more work to use if installing wads, and this version does EVERYTHING with no problems for me so far)
7) Use TBR to unpatch (restore by unselecting options) IOS36
8 ) Restore IOS15 (also via TBR)
Next step homebrew, you now have a fully hacked wii system, I would recommend turning off updates in the priiloader menu (hold reset when you start your wii) as they can cause problems and possibly bricks if they clash with something you have installed.
********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************

Warning! I have tested everything I am writing here on only THREE WIIs (my own....and two others now) and everything listed below is run
at your OWN RISK! This guide comes with no warranty of any kind, please read each step carefully before doing anything. You accept the
risks associated with this guide and you are responsible if anything YOU do to YOUR Wii causes any unwanted side effects.

********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************

Disconnect any Gamecube Accesories before doing any hacking on your wii, IT MATTERS (though I don't know why??) <- because of the debug output to the GC Memory card slots

********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************

<!--coloro

urple--><span style="color

urple">Most files needed for this I just uploaded into a .zip file to megaupload here <- Contains HackMii installer + bannebomb, which can not be redistributed....
Does NOT include any Ninty (Nintendo) files, as these are copyrighted and sharing them (even though freely downloadable) is questionable
If you use this pack skip the "unzip/copy move" instructions below, just copy everything in the sd folder onto the root of your sd card, if you already have a private folder delete or rename it.
The only thing you would still need to download are the IOS Wad files.....

********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************


The longer description of above
*note, it is assumed you know how to add/remove files from an sd card*
1) Get the <a href="http://bootmii.org/download/" target="_blank">HackMii</a> installer and extract it to find the boot.elf file.
2) Get the <a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Bannerbomb" target="_blank">Bannerbomb hack</a> (v2 for 4.2, the only one I've tested, this page is a description which leads to the download page and more details about it, the actual download comes from <a href="http://bannerbomb.qoid.us/abds/abd6a_v200.zip" target="_blank">here</a>)
3) If you have a private folder on your sd card you need to remove or rename it for the time being. The private folder from the zip abd6a_v200.zip goes directly into the root of your sd card, you also need to place boot.elf from the previous zip into the root (the root means NOT in a folder but directly on the card).
4) If you are running a version prior to system menu 4.2 (you can find out what system version you are using by going to the "wii" button on the bottom left and choosing wii settings) you need to use a different bannerbomb hack and it uses a slightly different way to run it. On system menu 4.2 you go to the SD card button on the bottom of the starting page, after the hack runs it will ask if you want to run the boot.elf/dol say yes. It will pause before allowing you to hit yes on the next screen but accept the information until it takes you to a black install screen, you want to install HBC and BootMii (either as Boot2 or IOS whichever it can, boot2 is better but it can't on 4.2 wiis (as I understand) <- Newer Wiis can't have BootMii as Boot2, it is unrelated to system menu version. Also, you must prepare the SD card or it won't work...)
4.1) Restart Wii, (if you want now would be a good time to start the HBC and hit home button, then run the BootMii to back up your nand, this is the one time you need to insert a gamecube controller as the wiimote won't sync, don't forget to unplug it after) <- Buttons on the Wii itself can also be used.
5) Now on your sd card you can remove the private folder and boot.elf you used to install those 2, and if you had one restore your previous private folder. You need to create a folder on your wii called apps, the first 2 programs I recommend putting on there are <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Ftpii" target="_blank">FTPii</a> (if you put a _word after the name of the folder it will be the ftp password of your wii, so ftpii_mypass as the foldername for this homebrew would mean you would need to enter mypass as the password, no username) and <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Browser" target="_blank">HomebrewBrowser</a> - The first gives you network access to your wii sd and some partitions of the system (usb fat32 drive also if you have it attached), the second gives you easy access to downloading both program updates for your homebrew and provides easy download/installation of homebrew without swapping a card in/out all the time (assuming your wii has network access).....all homebrew goes in apps folder in the individual folder per program, such as:
/apps/homebrew_browser/
+boot.dol (program itself)
+icon.png (banner image)
+meta.xml (info about program-displays when loading)
(some programs may have more files than that but those are three most if not all should have)
5.1) The next stage of what you want to do to continue hacking your wii is to install a patched IOS36 (so you can use it to install a cIOS and priiloader), for this you will need either a network link to your wii, or 4 downloads from the NUS (Nintendo Update Server).
IOS15-64-v257.wad
IOS15-64-v523.wad
IOS36-64-v3351.wad
IOS38-64-v3867.wad
You can use <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/completesg/downloads/NUSDownloader.zip?attredirects=0&d=1" target="_blank">NUS Downloader</a> to get the necessary files or just use a wii attached to wifi and it can download them when it needs them automatically. If you use NUS, make sure you choose the pack->wad checkbox, it will download many files in a separate folder in the NUS folder, the one you want ends in .wad, and these files also go in the root of your sd card.
6) Use the <a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Trucha_Bug_Restorer" target="_blank">TBR</a> (Trucha Bug Restorer) (run via the homebrew channel, most everything at this point is run from HBC, it also pauses before it loads, you have to wait for it to say hit 1 to load app) to first downgrade your IOS15 (if you downloaded the files via nus already and have them on your sd card root, choose Load IOS from sd card, otherwise choose Download IOS from NUS in the installer). The wii will restart, load the TBR again, and when it asks where to load, choose IOS 15 (first screen) then choose patch IOS36, put 3 patches on it (Trucha/Es_ident/Nand Permission)
7) Use <a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Preloader/Priiloader" target="_blank">priiloader</a> installer (via HBC) to install Priiloader to your System Menu, have it run using IOS36 (it asks) you also need to put <a href="http://gbatemp.net/t185323-4-1x-4-2x-hacks-ini?st=0&" target="_blank">hacks.ini</a> compatible with your system menu version on the sd card root (needed for modifying options once you load priiloader).
Use <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/DOP-Mii" target="_blank">DopMii</a> (run on IOS36) to uninstall the stub IOS249 and IOS250 (if you have it, and on 4.2 you will) this runs from HBC also, choose IOS from DopMii menu, then scroll (right d-pad button) to 249 and check if it is installed (on upper right part of screen). If a stub is installed there then uninstall it, do the same with IOS250. If a file is already there and it isn't a stub, your wii was already hacked!
--No step 8--
9) Install the cIOS 38 v17 using hbc to run the installer and chooses IOS36 to complete the install, install it to location 249 (location is automatic, it puts one into 250 also under different version number, assuming of course you erased the stub there also).
10) Restore your original IOS Versions for 15/36, to do this run the TBR again and set it to run from 15, open the IOS36 menu then de-select all of the options (patching 36) and have it install the original IOS36 (IOS 249 will do everything that you were using 36 for and more), the installer will exit, return to it (leave default run from by hitting b) and restore your IOS15 (option on the main menu). This means you have an untouched IOS15/36 (so games won't cause problems when using them and other hacking files won't have trouble with them)
11) Have fun!
What we have done, the changes to IOS15/36 are undone <- IOS36 doesn't really need to be restored, though possible... (IOS15 doesn't need to be restored either, but it is usually done)
HBC is installed (for me at IOS61)
priiloader is patched into the system menu IOS70 (60 on 4.1) this gives you partial brick protection - you can still load hbc from it (hold reset when starting to load priiloader then choose hbc), and you can use it to allow extra options in the home menu (move disc channel, backup/transfer non-copyable save files, replace healthscreen with backmenu or auto hit a on health menu)
You have a cIOS which performs all the functions of any trucha bugged IOS and adds other options

Recommended files for use now:
<a href="http://usbloadergx.koureio.net/downloads" target="_blank">USB LOADER GX</a> (to run backups from a hard drive formatted WBFS (Wii Backup File System)
I've tested r937, r935, r929, and r921, r937, r935 and r921 worked, r929 didn't work)

<a href="http://wbfsmanager.codeplex.com/releases/view/26808" target="_blank">WBFS Manager 3.0</a> - Creates and maintains wii backup file system, can be used to format, add, or recover iso files from a wii backup file system

<a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D0MBCKAA" target="_blank">Wii Game Manager 1.5.0.2</a> - Same as above, some different features and compatibility, recommended to use this instead after you get drive formatted

and ANY emulator your heart desires, available on that Homebrew browser, or <a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_homebrew_emulators" target="_blank">here</a> with other homebrew

other useful things
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?i2mvjhxmzhl" target="_blank">Wad Manager v1.5</a> - installs or uninstalls wad files <- version 1.7 is out

<a href="http://winscp.net/eng/index.php" target="_blank">WinSCP</a> - for use on windows pc, allows ftp access when running ftpii

<a href="http://www.wiidewii.com/data/CrapV3.3b.rar" target="_blank">Crap v3.3b</a> – create/install custom channels from disc

Trustworthy sites

<a href="http://usbloadergx.koureio.net/" target="_blank">USB Loader GX</a>
<a href="http://hbc.hackmii.com/" target="_blank">Homebrew Channel</a>
<a href="http://www.wiibrew.org/wiki/List_of_all_homebrew" target="_blank">Homebrew downloads</a>
<a href="http://sites.google.com/site/completesg/hacking-guide/" target="_blank">Wii Softmod, tells you what to do and what NOT to do</a>
<a href="http://blog.scurker.com/2009/08/creating-wii-channels-usb-loader" target="_blank">How to create/install custom channels from games on usb</a>
and of course gbatemp.net <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I would put a blank line between the steps personally. Now it's just one big block of text <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

kimikal27 · Jul 5, 2010

well
im not gonna bother all that much looking, but ill tell you a couple of things that ARE outdated,
like the cios and the wad manager...

75UR15 · Jul 5, 2010

I posted this guide one other place, which had 8) as a smiley, it must have been removed when I brought it over, added note about wii buttons, and I never did any special prep on sd card (as far as formatting) and it worked. (when installing ios bootmii it adds the necessary files to the sd card). As for the system menu version, I was under the impression (part of the good of this guide to inform me if I was wrong) that 4.2 updates the boot2 so that no matter which wii you can't install it. The cios version was chosen for a reason, and it is noted (before your post) that it is not the newest version, just an easy (fewer options to confuse) and 100% working version, it is also the one still recommended by http://sites.google.com/site/completesg/cios/waninkoko - in addition to the fact that many of the new "options" in r19 don't let you run wad installers or some games.

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