Method to tell if a Wii can install BootMii as boot2 from the outside
TONS HAVE CONFUSED THE RVL-REGION with the MODEL NUMBER. DO NOT CONFUSE THEM.
This is a bit of an odd one. This is something that isn't even very often talked about, but it came to my eye recently.
I was looking at my stack of Wiis, and while looking at them, I noticed something on the sticker: "RVL-USA". But on my other Wiis, "RVL-USA-1". What gives? Well, as it turns out, we are blind. We have all been blind the entire time. Nobody realized that this signifies a Wii's age.
I will say right now, if your Wii is not white, or doesn't have GameCube ports, it is guaranteed to be too new for BootMii as boot2.
Previously we had to rely on the serial numbers of the Wii's to find the answer to this question, but now that's only being used to tell the accuracy of this method.
Attached I have two wii's here:
One of these can install BootMii as boot2, and one of them can't. What gives? How can you tell?
Well, neither of these are my Wii's, but on my own Wii's this is accurate. I will be using the old serial number USA console exclusive method to tell these apart:
The LU32 console can install BootMii as boot2, but the LU64 console can't.
DO NOT CONFUSE THE MODEL NUMBER. LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LEFT OR BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE STICKER, DEPENDING ON THE REGION.
Well, if you take a look, you see RVL-REGION on these Wii's on the bottom LEFT. On a European Wii, the RVL-REGION is on the RIGHT. Depending on your region, this will tell you which area to look.
If there is a 1 after the RVL-REGION (ex RVL-USA-1), then that means the board is at least an RVL-CPU-20 (though some RVL-CPU-20s are compatible, it is very inconsistent and the risk should not be taken of gambling if they can install BootMii as boot2 if you're just buying a Wii for something.) 99% of the time this means the Wii is too new.
If there is NO 1 after the RVL-REGION (ex just RVL-USA), then the Wii is guaranteed to be able to install BootMii as boot2. It will be either an RVL-CPU-01 or an RVL-CPU-10.
This could also be used to tell if a Wii is newer if you're looking for a 4 layer White wii for some reason.
I hope this helps somebody.
It is very interesting this was not found long ago.
This is a bit of an odd one. This is something that isn't even very often talked about, but it came to my eye recently.
I was looking at my stack of Wiis, and while looking at them, I noticed something on the sticker: "RVL-USA". But on my other Wiis, "RVL-USA-1". What gives? Well, as it turns out, we are blind. We have all been blind the entire time. Nobody realized that this signifies a Wii's age.
I will say right now, if your Wii is not white, or doesn't have GameCube ports, it is guaranteed to be too new for BootMii as boot2.
Previously we had to rely on the serial numbers of the Wii's to find the answer to this question, but now that's only being used to tell the accuracy of this method.
Attached I have two wii's here:
One of these can install BootMii as boot2, and one of them can't. What gives? How can you tell?
Well, neither of these are my Wii's, but on my own Wii's this is accurate. I will be using the old serial number USA console exclusive method to tell these apart:
The LU32 console can install BootMii as boot2, but the LU64 console can't.
DO NOT CONFUSE THE MODEL NUMBER. LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LEFT OR BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE STICKER, DEPENDING ON THE REGION.
Well, if you take a look, you see RVL-REGION on these Wii's on the bottom LEFT. On a European Wii, the RVL-REGION is on the RIGHT. Depending on your region, this will tell you which area to look.
If there is a 1 after the RVL-REGION (ex RVL-USA-1), then that means the board is at least an RVL-CPU-20 (though some RVL-CPU-20s are compatible, it is very inconsistent and the risk should not be taken of gambling if they can install BootMii as boot2 if you're just buying a Wii for something.) 99% of the time this means the Wii is too new.
If there is NO 1 after the RVL-REGION (ex just RVL-USA), then the Wii is guaranteed to be able to install BootMii as boot2. It will be either an RVL-CPU-01 or an RVL-CPU-10.
This could also be used to tell if a Wii is newer if you're looking for a 4 layer White wii for some reason.
I hope this helps somebody.
It is very interesting this was not found long ago.
Last edited by Aep,