Warning

Use this at your own risk. Messing with the isfs superblocks is dangerous and can brick your Wii U. Make sure to make a SLC backup before installing isfshax. If something goes wrong, you will need defuse to restore this backup. The superblock linked here was tested and confirmed working. Installing an broken superblock will brick your Wii U.
Also while ISFShax is installed standby services and with that the quick start menu won't work. (Your Wii U will hang once you turn it off till you remove power if standby services are enabled).
Also keep in mind: if you are restoring an old SLC backup, which was taken before installing ISFShax, ISFShax will remove by restoring that backup.

To protect against Nintendo pushing a boot1 update (very unlikely, but you newer know), which would brick a console with ISFShax, system updates get blocked by the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx plugin. If you need to do a system update, you can use the v1.0 of said plugin, which doesn't contain the update block. Game updates are not affected.

Update

04.04.2024 - Add Fastboot
13.03.2024 - System updates now get blocked by the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx plugin.
29.12.2023 - Standby Services are now supported. For that to work you need to have the latests ISFShax superblock installed and need to use the latest minute fw.img and wafel_core.ipx. Also autoboot needs to be enabled.

What is this for?

ISFShax exploits boot1 with specially crafted ISFS (the filesystem of the SLC) superblock. Once it is installed ISFShax provides similar capabilities to defuse once it is installed. Since it launches before IOSU, so it can be used to apply early patches to IOSU and can be used to fix most bricks. But it won't protect you of bricks caused by: breaking boot1, seeprom bricks or installing a broken ISFShax superblock. ISFShax also doesn't help you if you already bricked the Wii U.
Usecases are:

• Rebuilding / upgrading the MLC
• Removing 64GB MLC limit and disabling SCFM
• Brick protection (e.g. before doing region change)
• Cold booting redNAND (useful when when the eMMC is failing)
• It gives a minimal CFW, which can launch old homebrew using the homebrew launcher (not sure how usefull since we have Aroma and Tiramisu)
• Stop the Wii U from turning the Tablet on during boot (using a stroopwafel plugin)

Choosing the Exploit

There are multiple ways to launch the ISFShax installer:
If you already have Tiramisu or Aroma installed and can launch it follow the Instructions for [Tiramisu]
If the Browser still works and you can launch the browser exploit u.wiidb.de follow the Instructions for [Browser]
If you can't access the Browser, but Settings still work follow Instructions for [DNSpresso]
If you your Wii U crashes in the initial setup on Mii creation follow Instructions for [DNSpresso]
If your Wii U can't launch the browser anymore or can't connect to the internet follow the Instructions for [UDPIH]
Steps without a prefix apply to all.

Preparing the SD card

Make sure the SD card is formatted FAT32 (already the case if you are using it for Tiramisu). You can use guiformat for that.

Get the following files and put them in the root of the SD. Choose the release tagged with "Latest" for each.

1. ISFShax installer (ios.img) from https://github.com/isfshax/isfshax_installer/releases
2. ISFShax superblock.img and superblock.img.sha from https://github.com/isfshax/isfshax/releases
3. Put the stroopwafel wafel_core.ipx from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/stroopwafel/releases in wiiu/ios_plugins
4. Put the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx stroopwafel plugin from https://github.com/isfshax/wafel_isfshax_patch/releases in wiiu/ios_plugins
5. [Tiramisu | Browser | DNSpresso] minute fw_encrypted.img from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases and rename to fw.img
6. [Browser | DNSpresso] fw_img_payload from https://github.com/wiiu-env/fw_img_payload/releases extract the zip and put the wiiu folder, containing the payload.elf on the SD
7. [DNSpresso] Extract the root.rpx from https://github.com/wiiu-env/PayloadFromRPX/releases and rename it to launch.rpx and place it in the root of the SD card
8. [UDPIH] minute fw.img and boot1.img from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases
9. [UDPIH] recovery_menu from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/recovery_menu/releases

The structure on the SD should look like this:

boot1.img (only for UDPIH)
fw.img
ios.img
recovery_menu   (only for UDPIH)
superblock.img
superblock.img.sha
wiiu
    ios_plugins
         wafel_core.ipx
         wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx

Launching into minute

This step heavily depends on the used Exploit.

Spoiler: Tiramisu

1. Hold B on the Gamepad while booting (if coldboot is enabled) or launching the H&S app
2. A black and white menu should show up asking you to choose a payload.
3. Select fw_img_loader

Spoiler: Browser

1. Open the Browser and browse to u.wiidb.de
2. Click on "HAXX"

Spoiler: DNSpresso

If you can a access the settings just follow these instructions (you already have the right files on the SD): https://gbatemp.net/threads/dnspresso-a-wii-u-dns-exploit.642123/
If you are stuck on the Mii creation in the Inital setup:

1. If you already connected your Wii U to your AP / Router, turn the AP / Router or the Wifi on it off.
2. When the setup asks you if you already have a NNID, say yes (even if you don't have one)
3. Now it tries to connect to the Internet, but will fail and ask you to take you back to the Wifi settings, follow back to thge settings.
4. Turn your Router / AP on again and give it time to start.
5. If you don't already have your Wifi configured there, connect to it now, but enter a wrong password.
6. Edit your wifi connection and configure 85.215.57.182 as Primary DNS, if you entered a wrong password before set the right one now.
7. Press (B) Back and select Connection Test.

Spoiler: UDPIH

1. Load the recovery using UDPIH: https://gbatemp.net/threads/udpih-usb-host-stack-exploit-recovery-menu.613369/ (don't replace the recovery_menu)
2. Unplug the Pico
3. select the "Load BOOT1 payload" and proceed. (If you don't have screen output: 18x eject, 1x power, 1 eject, 1 power)

Now you should see the minute main menu. If not something went wrong, make sure you have the correct fw.img file on the SD.
In minute you move the cursor with the power button and enter with the eject button (swapped compared to the recovery menu).

Note minute only outputs 1080p through HDMI, no picture on the gamepad, and nothing on the analog outputs.
Some people reported that the screen output is not working for them when minute was loaded from the recovery. If you made sure nothing else is the problem (right fw.img, TV supports 1080p HDMI), you can still follow along blindly by pressing the approriate buttons. Make sure to wait long enough between the presses, so the system has time to load. Without display output skip the first backup and go directly to Installing ISFShax.

Backup

1. Navigate to Backup and Restore
2. Dump SEEPROM & OTP
3. Dump SLC.RAW
4. Return to Main Menu

Installing ISFShax

1. Choose Boot `ios.img` (5x Power, 1x Eject)
2. Now the ISFShax installer should launch (this takes a few seconds)
3. Follow the Instructions on the screen, the buttons are the same as in minute. (3x Eject, 1x Power, 3x Eject)
4. The console should now turn off.
5. [Tiramisu | Browser | DNSpresso] replace the (encrypted) fw.img on the SD with the fw.img (NOT the encrypted one) from https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/minute_minute/releases
6. If the install was successfull the Wii U should directly start into minute once you turn it on again.

Backup ISFShax

Dump the SLC.RAW again. This will overwrite the previous SLC.RAW file on the SD. This is required if you need to restore the SLC for unbricking, without loosing ISFShax. Keep that backup in a safe place.

Booting

If you came here from the redNAND or the MLC rebuild tutorial continue with that tutorial now.

For now your Wii U needs the SD card to boot. From there it loads minute (fw.img), which then applies the required patches from SD card. (IOSU needs to be patched, so it doesn't fall over the ISFShax superblock).
To boot into the Wii U OS select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)

Aroma / Tiramisu

1. To install Aroma or Tiramisu put the corresponding files on the SD.
   Tiramisu: https://tiramisu.foryour.cafe/
   Aroma: https://aroma.foryour.cafe/ (You don't need to have install Tiramisu to have Aroma, also the FTPiiU plugin will become handy later)
2. Put the wafel_payloader.ipx in the ios_plugins folder https://github.com/jan-hofmeier/wafel_payloader/releases
3. Put the root.rpx from PayloadFromRPX in the wiiu folder on the SD https://github.com/wiiu-env/PayloadFromRPX/releases

Note: if you are already coldbooting Tiramisu / Aroma via the PayloadLoaderInstaller, you have to disable the coldboot in the PayloaderLoaderInstaller first. For more detailed instructions on this, see this post by ZaMaster: https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-set-up-isfshax.642258/post-10343876

Booting without SD

This step is optional but highly recommended. Now the Wii U doesn't show anything on the screen without the SD. That could lead to confusion if the SD ever gets lost or corrupts.
To make it from the internal memory we need to install the minute fw.img and the ios_plugins to the SLC. This can be accomplished using FTPiiU Everywhere, which can be launched from Tiramisu and is already part of the Aroma Package (enable Everywhere in the settings) or you can use the haxcopy homebrew https://github.com/mackieks/haxcopy/releases
Using haxcopy is recommended for most users, but if you copy a wrong plugin to the slc or need to delete one for whatever reason you still have to use FTP for that.

Spoiler: haxcopy

1. create a folder hax on the SD card (this will be copied to the slc)
2. copy the fw.img to the hax folder
3. create a subfolder ios_plugins in the hax folder
4. rename the wafel_core.ipx to 0core.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
5. rename the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx to 6isfshax.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
6. if you want to coldboot aroma or tiramisu, rename the wafel_payloader.ipx to 9payldr.ipx and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
7. If you need any other plugins like the wafel_unlimit.ipx, you have to rename and copy it to the hax/ios_plugins folder
8. Copy the haxcopy app to the wiiu/apps folder (like you usually install homebrew)
9. Put the SD in the Wii U and run haxcopy to copy the hax folder to the slc.

Spoiler: FTP

On Aroma you have to make sure access to system files is enabled:

1. Open the Aroma Plugin Configuration Menu using L + Down + SELECT (-) on the GamePad or Pro Controller (or B + Down + Minus (-) for WiiMotes)
2. Open the FTPiiU option, then settings and set ‘Allow access to system files’ to ‘true’ by pressing A

Uploading the files:

1. (Tiramisu only) Make sure FTPiiU Everywhere is running on the Wii U
2. Using a FTP client on the PC browse to /storage_slc/
3. If you see a scfm.img file and sys folder go into the sys folder. If you see a bunch of folders (config import logs proc rights security title tmp) just go to the next step.
4. create a subfolder hax and enter it
5. Make sure your FTP client is in binary mode (not ASCII mode)
6. upload the minute fw.img to the /storage_slc/sys/hax folder
7. create another subfolder ios_plugins in /storage_slc/sys/hax
8. enter that /storage_slc/sys/hax/ios_plugins folder
9. rename the wafel_core.ipx to 0core.ipx and upload it
10. rename the wafel_isfshax_patch.ipx to 6isfshax.ipx and upload it
11. if you want to coldboot aroma or tiramisu, rename the wafel_payloader.ipx to 9payldr.ipx and upload it
12. If you need other plugins like the wafel_unlimit.ipx, you have to rename and upload them too

Now the Wii U should autoboot if no SD card is inserted.
If a SD card is inserted the minute menu should show up (even if the SD doesn't contain a fw.img). In that menu you can select the Patch (slc) and boot IOS (slc) to load the plugins from the slc and boot (no need to have them on the SD anymore).

The Wii U will first try to load the fw.img from the SLC and if that fails it falls back to the SD.
If you installed a broken fw.img which doesn't load, you can force isfshax to load the fw.img from sd by repeatly pressing power till the menu shows up.

Warning: A factory reset will delete the hax folder. Without the fw.img on the SD the Wii U will then just have a black screen with a orange LED

Optional Autobooting with SD

To make the Wii U autoboot with an SD card inserted you need to create the file sd:/minute/minute.ini with the following content:

[boot]
autoboot=1
autoboot_timeout=3

You can adjust the timeout (in seconds) to your liking. The autoboot option specifies which entry from the minute menu will be loaded. 1 corresponds to Patch (slc) and boot IOS (slc), which loads the ios_plugins from the SLC. If you haven't installed them to the SLC or want to load them from the sd for another reason you can change that value to 3 which corresponds to Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)

As an Alternative check out the Fastboot option below.

Optional: Fastbooting (Advanced)

To make the Wii U boot as fast as possible, without showing minute, you can now use the fw_fastboot.img. This won't work with redNAND
It is hardcoded to go straight to the first option (booting the slc, with patches from SLC). It won't display anything and ignore any autoboot configuration in the minute.ini.

1. First make sure the system can boot using the first option in minute. (see booting without SD)
2. Replace the the fw.img in the hax folder on the SLC with the fw_fastboot.img (renamed to fw.img)

In case you ever get stuck and need to load the full minute from SD you can do this:

1. Place the minute fw.img on the SD card
2. repeatedly press the power button until the minute menu shows up on the screen.

Uninstalling ISFShax

DON'T just restore an older SLC backup, as that would break SCFM!

• Make sure your Wii U doesn't depend on any patches (linke wafel_unlimit_mlc.ipx or redNAND). You can check that by booting with only the wafel_core.ipx and the wafel_isfshax_ipx plugins in the ios_plugins directory on the SD and using the Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) option
• Delete the /storage_slc/sys/hax folder if you set up the slc booting
• run the ISFShax installer again from minute and follow the on screen instructions to uninstall.

Credits

• @rw-r-r_0644 for finding and implementing isfshax
• @GaryOderNichts and ashquarky for their direct contributions and help
• @vgmoose for all the support and for the Wii U that replaced the one Idestroyed during early isfshax testing
• @Maschell for his help and all other contributions to the Wii U scene
• hexkyz for the warmboot boot1 exploit which made all of this possible
• @shinyquagsire23 for de_Fuse, minute and stroopwafel
• Salt Team for the original minute CFW
• dimok789, FIX94 and others for the iosuhax CFW
• fail0verflow for mini
• and all other contributors to the Wii U scene!

 

[LeshawnJames]

You pressed B after triggering the exploit to get the menu where you can select the fw_img loader?

No I wasnt taken to that screen to select fw img loader at all. I turned the wii u on, went into browser and then went to the website, then i put the sd card in and clicked on haxx and i just waited, thats when it took me back to the home menu. I also tried turning the wii u on then putting the sd card and then going into browser and doing it in that order but it didnt seem to make a difference. I didnt hold B at all because the guide didnt say anywhere to do it.

 

[SDIO]

You need either to replace the payload.elf in the wiiu folder with the fw img loader payload.elf or you need to hold B after clicking on hax to get the menu to select the loader.

 

[LeshawnJames]

You need either to replace the payload.elf in the wiiu folder with the fw img loader payload.elf or you need to hold B after clicking on hax to get the menu to select the loader.

I held B after clicking on HAXX and it took me to the screen so i clicked on fw img loader and it showed me that pink screen like it did in the video and then it just took me back to the wii u menu screen permanently, the console light also stays blue throughout the whole process.

 

[SDIO]

UDPIH is also an option, if this doesn't work...

Post automatically merged: Apr 4, 2024

@LeshawnJames

OK a few more things you could try:

1. to load the attached version of the isfshax installer (fw.img)
2. Even though your SD looks right, I attached a zip with all the files for isfshax, prepared in the right structure. Just put that on the SD
3. Prepare the SD with the Aroma files and run the PayloadLoaderInstaller from Aroma to update the PayloadLoader in the H&S app: https://wiiu.hacks.guide/#/aroma/sd-preparation.
4. Try to use DNSpresso, for that at the root.rpx, like in the DNSpresso Instructions, boot again without the SD inserted, insert the SD and try to trigger DNSpresso
   

EDIT: I added a minute which doesn't do gpu init, you can give that also a try.

 

[LeshawnJames]

UDPIH is also an option, if this doesn't work...

Post automatically merged: Apr 4, 2024

@LeshawnJames

OK a few more things you could try:

1. to load the attached version of the isfshax installer (fw.img)
2. Even though your SD looks right, I attached a zip with all the files for isfshax, prepared in the right structure. Just put that on the SD
3. Prepare the SD with the Aroma files and run the PayloadLoaderInstaller from Aroma to update the PayloadLoader in the H&S app: https://wiiu.hacks.guide/#/aroma/sd-preparation.
4. Try to use DNSpresso, for that at the root.rpx, like in the DNSpresso Instructions, boot again without the SD inserted, insert the SD and try to trigger DNSpresso

EDIT: I added a minute which doesn't do gpu init, you can give that also a try.

So i ended up spending a while attempting to use UDPIH and I managed to get up the recovery menu and select load BOOT1 payload but the problem was that whenever I clicked on that there would be no output to the gamepad or the tv and the LED would go from purple to amber, so then I looked at a comment that you replied to a while ago on this post and apparently amber means the fw file is wrong, so i went to replace the file and the console stayed purple after loading BOOT1 payload but there would still be no output anywhere. I was blindly clicking the power and eject buttons, following the guide but I wasnt even sure if it was doing anything and the console wouldnt turn off at the end of the sequecne, after multiple tries even after waiting a while in between clicks.

That was when I saw you edited your comment with more info on how I can try to solve this issue (which I really appreciate by the way) and i tried step 1 which was using your fw.img which didnt work. But then i tried step 2, cleared all the files from my sd and used all of your files and when I turned on the wii u it launched straight into minute on both the tv and my gamepad, it was the first time I had ever seen that menu. I navigated to boot ios img and the LED went purple and I could see what was going on, up on my tv and gamepad as well I think. But there was no ios img on the files since I cleared all of mine and used the ones you sent, so i went and downloaded and put one onto the sd. I think I managed to install it in the end because the console powered off. The only problem being that when I power it on the tv and gamepad doesnt turn on but the LED stays purple. So im not really sure where to go to from here, I feel like copying back my files onto the sd but im just worried something will go wrong but I just wanted to update you to thank you for all your help in getting me to this point.

Edit: I just copied back my original files onto the sd and minute is launching at boot so it seems to have worked, thanks so much for your help

 

[CrazySquid]

Hi, I have a question, is it safe to format the Wii U while having ISFSHax installed?

 

[SDIO]

You mean the factory reset in the settings? Yes that would be safe, but it deletes the hax folder on the SLC. So you would have to boot from SD and recreate the folder.

 

[MoonBlade197]

I have an issue, i did the installing, i was careful to put every files that i need, but after the installation there is no video output, i even try to turn on on a tv that i'm sure about its supports 1080p, i don't know how i can boot back on the wii u menu, the console only lights up in a strange purple color

 

[SDIO]

Ok purple is good, that means minute is running. Press power two times and then eject once and it should boot like normal.

EDIT: also make sure you have the correct fw.img on the SD (NOT the encrypted one)

 

[MoonBlade197]

Ok purple is good, that means minute is running. Press power two times and then eject once and it should boot like normal.

EDIT: also make sure you have the correct fw.img on the SD (NOT the encrypted one)

Oh, i used the encrypted one, i'm gonna replace it

 

[mihai_crazy]

Ok purple is good, that means minute is running. Press power two times and then eject once and it should boot like normal.

EDIT: also make sure you have the correct fw.img on the SD (NOT the encrypted one)

No matter what fw.img file I try when I load boot1 from recovery menu I'm losing hdmi output, console led is purple (with all fw.img files it is purple). Can't figure it out what is wrong, could it be the SDHC CARD? it's 32 GB..?

 

[SDIO]

You have to use the NOT encrypted fw.img with the recovery menu, you don't even have to try the encrypted one.
You could try to do the ISFShax install blindly. Also your TV needs to support 1080p, that's the only resolution minute supports.

 

[MoonBlade197]

You have to use the NOT encrypted fw.img with the recovery menu, you don't even have to try the encrypted one.
You could try to do the ISFShax install blindly. Also your TV needs to support 1080p, that's the only resolution minute supports.

I replaced with the right fw.img and now its fully working, i needed for region changing and i done that succesfully, thanks for the help!

 

[SDIO]

I made that step in the Guide mor eclear, since a few people already tripped over that.

 

[mihai_crazy]

You have to use the NOT encrypted fw.img with the recovery menu, you don't even have to try the encrypted one.
You could try to do the ISFShax install blindly. Also your TV needs to support 1080p, that's the only resolution minute supports.

I did try every fw.img file I found ... encrypted and unecrypted, I did try to do it blindly but it didn't work and the TV support 1080p.

 

[SDIO]

what happens if you rename the fw.img to boot1.img and see if that loads? Does the LED turn blue?
Also if that works, I am not sure if it would be a good idea to install ISFShax, since whatever problem the boot1 has, might also affect ISFShax. (but I think someone else had the same problem and was fine when installing ISFShax... but still a risk in that case)

 

[mihai_crazy]

what happens if you rename the fw.img to boot1.img and see if that loads? Does the LED turn blue?
Also if that works, I am not sure if it would be a good idea to install ISFShax, since whatever problem the boot1 has, might also affect ISFShax. (but I think someone else had the same problem and was fine when installing ISFShax... but still a risk in that case)

The LED turns Blue and is blinking, also no hdmi output.

LE:
I did rename fw.img into boot1.img and pressed blindly power & eject as in the guide, at the end it did shutdown but now I think it's bricked.... When it boots LED truns from red to blue quickly and then purple for 1 sec and it goes to orange.
LE2: with help from Lazar now I am finaly in the minute menu. It looks that I did install it blindly and I had to redownload fw.img.

 

[SDIO]

Ok maybe try another SD. Also what is the console doing if you boot it without ISFShax? Maybe we can get the fw_img loader to work, if PRSHhax doesn't work for some reason on your console.
Also do you know what firmware the console is on?

You could also try to rename the ISFShax installer (ios.img) to boot1.img to load that directly. You won't get screen output, but if the LED turns static blue, you could try to navigate that blindly (3x Eject, 1x Power, 3x Eject) and the console should turn off. (That would install ISFShax, which has some risk, if minute wasn't working before)

 

[DIngoAmuro]

Hey guys, also having major problems getting it to work with UDPIH. I checked and re-downloaded all the files several times and also tried 3 SD cards, but I am always stuck after "Load BOOT1 payload." There is no output on the TV and the gamepad just freezes. The LED stays purple, and nothing happens, if I press the buttons blindly like in the description. Everytime I press the eject buttons, it makes the ect noise.
I tried it now for several hours and went through the comments, but nothing helps. Any ideas much appreciated!

EDIT: Just wanted to let you know this worked!

"You could also try to rename the ISFShax installer (ios.img) to boot1.img to load that directly. You won't get screen output, but if the LED turns static blue, you could try to navigate that blindly (3x Eject, 1x Power, 3x Eject) and the console should turn off. (That would install ISFShax, which has some risk, if minute wasn't working before)"

 

[SDIO]

I think the boot1.img from the speed release doesn't work properly with udpih for some reason.
The one from the previous releases should work