Hacking The latest cios and old backup disc launchers

[laukinming]

I'm shopping for Wiis and have been looking on the Internet for answers.

I prefer to run disc backups as opposed to just using an external hard drive. Don't ask why, it's just my preference.

After reading the guide from CompleteSG (https://sites.google.com/site/completesg/), I am perplexed as to how safe it is to use updated cIOS with older Backup Launchers like Uloader.

If anyone can answer my question, I would be immensely gratified. Thank you.

 

[Cyan]

uLoader doesn't use updated cIOS.
uLoader only runs on Hermes cIOS (installed on slot 220-224), and there's no new version. Last release is v5.1

Other old loaders (neogamma?), should work fine with updated d2x cIOS.

CIOSCorp/DarkCorp doesn't use cIOS but patches all the official IOS to add burn disc ability launched directly from the System menu. I wouldn't suggest installing xxCorp nor using PimpMyWii to patch them. Keep as much IOS clean as possible.
only install patched IOS on slot above 200.

You have almost 200 free slots for your needs, you can install older version of cIOSes if a specific loader require a specific old cIOS. You are not forced to install cIOS in slot249 anymore. So you can install old cIOS in slot249 and new one in other slots.

Attention, don't install too old cIOS version, it can brick your Wii.
dont install Waninkoko IOS below v12.
v14+ is recommended (but shouldn't be required. Rev17 is probably the older cIOS version you will need)

 

[laukinming]

If I do use Uloader and another program that uses d2x cIOS, should I install both Hermes cIOS and d2X cIOS together?

 

[Cyan]

yes, you can install both at the same time.
Hermes cIOS are installed in slot 222, 223 and 224
other cIOS (d2x) are usually installed in slot 249, 250, 251. some users install also in slots 247, 248 etc.

homebrew, games, and anything you launch only use one IOS slot at a time. uLoader use what's installed in one slot, when you launch another USBLoader it use a different slot, Retail games use IOS slots too (36, 56, 57, etc.)
A slots is not interfering with the other ones.

In most loader's settings, you can choose the slot to be used by the loader.

 

[laukinming]

I have a question about IOSs.

Are they like file directories? If not, what's a batter analogy?

 

[Cyan]

You are right, IOS are files located in directories.
The directory name represent the slot number. (it's named with an hex value from 00000000 to 0000101 (slot257).
it's stored in /title/00000001/ folder on the NAND.

Slots from 1 to 80 are used by nintendo, plus slot 256 and 257.
/title/00000001/00000009/ is IOS slot 9
/title/00000001/00000024/ is IOS slot 36
/title/00000001/0000003A/ is IOS slot 58
etc. to slot80
/title/00000001/00000100/ is MIOS
/title/00000001/00000101/ is BC


Slot 81 to 255 are unused by nintendo, so hackers use them to place their own patched IOS files or programs in it.
as a common rule, hackers don't install custom IOS below slots 200 (as nintendo added them in incrementing order, it left enough spaces to not conflict with future updates)

For example:
IOS236 is actually a patched version of the system files located in the folder /title/00000001/00000024/, and the result is copied in folder /title/00000001/000000EC/
IOS 236 is "based on IOS 36".

It's the same with all other cIOS.
There is a "base IOS" which are patched, and the resulted files are copied to another slot.

d2x cIOS 249[56] = original IOS56 from nintendo patched using the d2x program to add more functions (EmuNAND, Wii games from USB, FAT32, etc.), and the result is installed in slot 249.


each slot is a full system by itself (wiimote functions, NAND functions, external device functions, etc.).
instead of updating the existing system files (like a Firmware update would do on other consoles), nintendo is using a method to keep old files intact for old games, and use new files for new games. Probably in fear that an update would break old games, and there's no way to download fixes for individual games.
they install new versions in new slots instead of updating older files.
Old games (like Zelda Twilight Princess) still use IOS9 and it hasn't been updated/replaced (except bug fixes, but no new features were added to it).

If a IOS had a new feature (for example adding USB2.0 support for games like WiiSpeak/animal crossing), it was installed on a new slot, and games requiring USB2.0 access only use the system files located in that folder.


a IOS is in fact multiple set of files, not a single one.
There are also shared IOS files, which are single files identical for all IOS. instead of having multiple copied of the same file, they are stored in the /shared1/ folder on the NAND.

 

[laukinming]

http://www.hacksden.com/showthread.php/63-The-uLoader-Handy-Guide

I happened to come upon this link from a Google search, and, when I looked at the Hermes installation guide, it presented me a list with IOSs, namely IOS60, IOS38, IOS37, and IOS57.

Is it mandatory to install all of them?

 

[Cyan]

no, it's the IOS on which the cIOS is based before the patch is applied to them.
Some games work better if the cIOS is based on IOS 38, other with base60 etc.
Hermes also allow installing a mixed base.

I have cIOS Hermes:
slot 222[base38+37] v4
slot 223[base57] v5.1

I never used uLoader so I don't know the compatibility with games. But try to install only one or two slots.
if a game doesn't work, try another IOS and overwrite the existing slot (or install it in a new slot if you don't care to have a lot of unuseful slots)

 

[laukinming]

Thanks for all your help, Cyan.