Hardware System Updates

[Kanahpoo]

I was wondering what's really being updated when you perform official system updates.
I suppose not every update comes with a new system menu (resulting in a higher version), but sometimes only new IOS, right?

Because i'm currently already on 4.3E using a Wiikey2, but Donkey Kong Country Returns (PAL) asks for a system update.
Although i can't really imagine what needs to be updated when already on 4.3E ... or is this just more of the ongoing cat & mouse game (especially with 1st party titles?)

 

[Porobu]

use modmii to update all your ios and cios
and you should also use a usb loader

 

[nl255]

I was wondering what's really being updated when you perform official system updates.
I suppose not every update comes with a new system menu (resulting in a higher version), but sometimes only new IOS, right?

Because i'm currently already on 4.3E using a Wiikey2, but Donkey Kong Country Returns (PAL) asks for a system update.
Although i can't really imagine what needs to be updated when already on 4.3E ... or is this just more of the ongoing cat & mouse game (especially with 1st party titles?)

Simply put, each IOS and channel (and the system menu) has a version number. The Wii checks to see if any of the files on the update partition of a game (or online, for an internet update) have a newer version. Now, Nintendo also has versions of the IOSes used by USB loaders (223/224/249/250/etc) that do nothing (called stub IOSes) but have a very high version number (65,280) so that an update will replace your custom IOSes with the "updated" stubs which will prevent you from using USB loaders unless you can reinstall the custom IOSes. That used to be hard if you didn't have a cIOS or older IOS installed but not anymore thanks to HW_AHBPROT and IOS236 installer.

To avoid having to go through such a mess, install Priiloader and use the hacks to disable disc/online updates. Then use Dop-Mii (Wiibrew edition) to update IOSes as needed (never update your system menu IOS or any IOS above 200 with Dop-Mii Wiibrew edition). Finally, use NeoGamma for loading disc backups (cioscorp/darkcorp are buggy, avoid them) and a USB loader for hard drive backups.

 

[Bow$er]

Great noob-friendly answer nl255. Thanks.

 

[Kanahpoo]

Thx, it"s pretty clear now!