Hacking How to reprogram a Wii U?

[Mrx3666]

Hey guys I was wondering since I recently replaced my disc drive and it just gives a disc tray error, I was informed the disc tray was supposedly the wrong year/model than the one originally in it hence why I got the error, I was then told I'd have to reprogram it? I'm hoping you guys might be able to spread some light on how I can do this.


Thanks in advance. Sorry for my low post count. :<

 

[QuarkTheAwesome]

You'll need to be a bit more specific about your issue - how and why did you replace your drive? What do you mean by "disc tray"? (The Wii U is slot-loading.) Where did you get the information around "reprogramming"? What exactly is the error you're getting (Screen showing text? Got an error code? Not booting? Please give details). Nobody will be able to help you without a reasonable amount of information.

I've personally never seen anyone other than Nintendo doing disc drive replacements; I also haven't seen any research into how the disc drive goes together so you're unlikely to find a firmware dump to play with or anything.

 

[Mrx3666]

You'll need to be a bit more specific about your issue - how and why did you replace your drive? What do you mean by "disc tray"? (The Wii U is slot-loading.) Where did you get the information around "reprogramming"? What exactly is the error you're getting (Screen showing text? Got an error code? Not booting? Please give details). Nobody will be able to help you without a reasonable amount of information.

I've personally never seen anyone other than Nintendo doing disc drive replacements; I also haven't seen any research into how the disc drive goes together so you're unlikely to find a firmware dump to play with or anything.

I had to replace the disc drive due to an error the disc drive not functioning correctly.
The error I believe I was receiving was code: 160-1400
I don't remember off-hand has I gotta pick up the wii-u again sadly, and the error the driver let's out says pretty much that I'd have to hold eject for 30 seconds then turn off and turn back on, which doesn't do anything towards fixing the error.

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

The only way that I'm aware of for a third party (or yourself) to replace the disc drive you have to swap the PCB from your original drive onto the new one, as the drive is signed to your console with a unique key. If you just plopped the new drive in it, the keys won't match which is most likely what you're issue is. The key would be on a chip on the PCB somewhere (i have no idea which one) but replacing the PCB with your original would take care of it.

There's no way (that I'm aware of) to reflash or reprogram a Wii U drive unofficially. If so, it surely isn't public.

 

[CJB100]

I can confirm as a repair tech that the above poster is completely correct.

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

I can confirm as a repair tech that the above poster is completely correct.

Nintendo (like every other manufacturer )would rather you throw out your broken Wii u and buy a new one. They intentionallymake repairs more and more difficult....

 

[Mrx3666]

The only way that I'm aware of for a third party (or yourself) to replace the disc drive you have to swap the PCB from your original drive onto the new one, as the drive is signed to your console with a unique key. If you just plopped the new drive in it, the keys won't match which is most likely what you're issue is. The key would be on a chip on the PCB somewhere (i have no idea which one) but replacing the PCB with your original would take care of it.

There's no way (that I'm aware of) to reflash or reprogram a Wii U drive unofficially. If so, it surely isn't public.

That is where my confusion lies, while I was repairing the disc drive I was following a guide (I viewed multiple to make sure they were all the same.)
I took the pcb out and it still kept saying there was a disc error I forgot the exact code like I said and when I googled it said that I had to hold the eject button and turn off etc. That's when my faceplate suddenly stopped working, I then proceeded to replace the cable for the faceplate to see if that'll get it working since the faceplate literally wouldn't even light to show it was on, only the gamepad turned on.

 

[pastaconsumer]

If need be, send it to Nintendo. It would've been cheaper than replacing the disc drive.

 

[Mrx3666]

If need be, send it to Nintendo. It would've been cheaper than replacing the disc drive.

Sadly might have no choice at this point the driver cost only $30 but still :/

 

[TotalInsanity4]

The only way that I'm aware of for a third party (or yourself) to replace the disc drive you have to swap the PCB from your original drive onto the new one, as the drive is signed to your console with a unique key. If you just plopped the new drive in it, the keys won't match which is most likely what you're issue is. The key would be on a chip on the PCB somewhere (i have no idea which one) but replacing the PCB with your original would take care of it.

There's no way (that I'm aware of) to reflash or reprogram a Wii U drive unofficially. If so, it surely isn't public.

Oh INTERESTING! I knew the keys were stored on the console, but I didn't know they were stored on the drive itself... It makes one wonder if maybe a spoof/reprogram actually IS possible...

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

Oh INTERESTING! I knew the keys were stored on the console, but I didn't know they were stored on the drive itself... It makes one wonder if maybe a spoof/reprogram actually IS possible...

And that's the extent I can help to is repair advise...... Lol

 

[3DxMan]

You'll need to be a bit more specific about your issue - how and why did you replace your drive? What do you mean by "disc tray"? (The Wii U is slot-loading.) Where did you get the information around "reprogramming"? What exactly is the error you're getting (Screen showing text? Got an error code? Not booting? Please give details). Nobody will be able to help you without a reasonable amount of information.

I've personally never seen anyone other than Nintendo doing disc drive replacements; I also haven't seen any research into how the disc drive goes together so you're unlikely to find a firmware dump to play with or anything.

Come on man this is what's wrong with gnattemp these days he don't need to know more

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Come on man this is what's wrong with gnattemp these days he don't need to know more

What

 

[Se7ensinsMods]

Take photo of it and maybe I'll help or others who see why not working. If still not working send to me cause you void your warranty by taking it apart. USA law is differentthan Canadaand across ocean with warranty crap.

 

[AmandaRose]

Come on man this is what's wrong with gnattemp these days he don't need to know more

what the fuck are you on about dude??? It's real simple the more information we can get the easier it is to to help and to suply the correct information for the problem.

 

[WulfyStylez]

Disk drives are married to their consoles as others have noted, thus requiring you to move a working PCB to your new drive.
IOSU hax will actually resolve this issue though. With them the issue simply becomes figuring out reading the key off an existing drive (to set on the console), or figuring out reprogramming the drive to the console's existing key. Nobody's looked into either yet, but you can pretty much bet somebody will figure that stuff out once hax are in more hands.

 

[Se7ensinsMods]

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Wii+U+DVD+Drive+Replacement/12811
Use this and go to step 10 and re-use the copper tape PCB of your old drive to new drive. Some of the parts are different and easily to mess up the system. Last year I bought rapid fire for Wii U and it messed up the Game-pad and took it apart and worked fine until smash-bro came in and messed it up and Nintendo repaired it free (warranty gone now). Nintendo should let us buy warranty so in case something happens to it.

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Wii+U+DVD+Drive+Replacement/12811
Use this and go to step 10 and re-use the copper tape PCB of your old drive to new drive. Some of the parts are different and easily to mess up the system. Last year I bought rapid fire for Wii U and it messed up the Game-pad and took it apart and worked fine until smash-bro came in and messed it up and Nintendo repaired it free (warranty gone now). Nintendo should let us buy warranty so in case something happens to it.

You can always buy an extended warranty from third parties like www.squaretrade.com as long as you purchase it within 30 days of purchasing the console. They don't even care if you open the console either, I sent them a modded Xbox 360 that ended up going up in smoke lol. Missing screws and all and they still gave me my money back for it.

 

[Mrx3666]

Disk drives are married to their consoles as others have noted, thus requiring you to move a working PCB to your new drive.
IOSU hax will actually resolve this issue though. With them the issue simply becomes figuring out reading the key off an existing drive (to set on the console), or figuring out reprogramming the drive to the console's existing key. Nobody's looked into either yet, but you can pretty much bet somebody will figure that stuff out once hax are in more hands.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Wii+U+DVD+Drive+Replacement/12811
Use this and go to step 10 and re-use the copper tape PCB of your old drive to new drive. Some of the parts are different and easily to mess up the system. Last year I bought rapid fire for Wii U and it messed up the Game-pad and took it apart and worked fine until smash-bro came in and messed it up and Nintendo repaired it free (warranty gone now). Nintendo should let us buy warranty so in case something happens to it.

I sadly followed that exact guide. I still have the old driver thankfully so when I go to pick up I'll see if I didn't move anything, hopefully it's merely I missed a piece otherwise I have a paper weighted wii u

And for the warranty sadly I bought it back in April; just had to a stuff hit my plate since then

 

[CJB100]

No offense to anyone using iFixIt just as a quick reference, but I'd say a good rule of thumb with hardware, is if you don't feel comfortable trying to fix something going in blind, it's probably best not to even mess with it at all. Of course, that's a bit of a paradox because how can you get to that point without experience? Well, try repairs on similar things that you have absolutely no investment in first. You do that a couple of times and then you find that most consoles fifth gen upwards all have about the same kind of general hardware and quirks.