Hacking USB Loader GX

[chrisj91]

Hey all!

Just wanted to express my appreciation and gratitude for these updates to USB Loader GX.

I know that a dark theme has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread since the new releases, and after nully kindly shared the resources and guide, I gave it a go.

I have posted the theme here with screenshots etc - hope you enjoy! I'm open to any feedback if anyone has any suggestions, but I've tried to keep it as close to the default light theme as possible (with a few tiny tweaks).

 

[chrisj91]

Just posted v1.1 update of the above dark theme which fixes a couple of things and now gives an option to choose between the original circles background from v1.0, or a more simple background (shown below).

Would highly recommend updating if anyone has downloaded v1.0, as this is now more polished.

I don't envisage any further updates unless anyone has any other suggestions.

 

[blackb0x]

Hopefully that'll satisfy some people who want a modern dark theme

I can confirm that I still plan to release an official dark theme, but a few other things have taken priority for now. For example, I've almost finished adding exFAT support to the loader, and I've made a few changes that I think people using CRTs will appreciate, depending on their setup.

On the subject of file system changes, I also wanted to ask if anyone knows of a popular 3TB+ portable USB HDD that's still being sold and works with the loader, but is currently limited to 2TB? I'm asking because I recently set a goal on my Ko-fi page that might interest a few people.

 

[Oddx]

Hopefully that'll satisfy some people who want a modern dark theme

I can confirm that I still plan to release an official dark theme, but a few other things have taken priority for now. For example, I've almost finished adding exFAT support to the loader, and I've made a few changes that I think people using CRTs will appreciate, depending on their setup.

On the subject of file system changes, I also wanted to ask if anyone knows of a popular 3TB+ portable USB HDD that's still being sold and works with the loader, but is currently limited to 2TB? I'm asking because I recently set a goal on my Ko-fi page that might interest a few people.

Probably all of them show as 2tb if you format fat32 with default sector size, WDBA3A0040BBK-WESN is still sold but you need a format util that does 32k or 64k sectors to use 4tb in fat32. Pretty sure the fat32 formater modmii gets can setup the drive.

 

[blackb0x]

Probably all of them show as 2tb if you format fat32 with default sector size, WDBA3A0040BBK-WESN is still sold but you need a format util that does 32k or 64k sectors to use 4tb in fat32. Pretty sure the fat32 formater modmii gets can setup the drive.

That wouldn't be my first pick, since I know that you can use WD software to format some revisions of that drive, whereas my goal is to make all 3TB+ HDDs work correctly without you needing to format them in a special way. But it might make a good second pick, since ideally I need two different HDD brands to validate changes against and offload data onto as I test different partition layouts, cluster sizes, and so on.

I'll eventually remove the Ko-fi goal if the demand doesn't seem to be there. But I think it's fair to give the community the option while I'm working on file system changes.

 

[Oddx]

That wouldn't be my first pick, since I know that you can use WD software to format some revisions of that drive, whereas my goal is to make all 3TB+ HDDs work correctly without you needing to format them in a special way. But it might make a good second pick, since ideally I need two different HDD brands to validate changes against and offload data onto as I test different partition layouts, cluster sizes, and so on.

I'll eventually remove the Ko-fi goal if the demand doesn't seem to be there. But I think it's fair to give the community the option while I'm working on file system changes.

Sorry, i meant it needed a format with a larger cluster size to make use of larger than 2tb, ill see if i can find the chart i used when dicking around with these drives.

 

[chrisj91]

Hopefully that'll satisfy some people who want a modern dark theme

I can confirm that I still plan to release an official dark theme, but a few other things have taken priority for now. For example, I've almost finished adding exFAT support to the loader, and I've made a few changes that I think people using CRTs will appreciate, depending on their setup.

On the subject of file system changes, I also wanted to ask if anyone knows of a popular 3TB+ portable USB HDD that's still being sold and works with the loader, but is currently limited to 2TB? I'm asking because I recently set a goal on my Ko-fi page that might interest a few people.

Ace! Feel free to use/butcher any bits from the theme I uploaded if it helps when it comes to the official dark theme. I have ran them all through pnggauntlet to optimise them, but I can send you the originals if you did want them at all in the future. I understand it's not a priority right now though.

The new changes/updates sound good. And going above the 2tb limit is wild - that would be awesome if possible. I do have some larger drives knocking about, but they're all full of old backup stuff at the mo. If I can get them tidied up and organised, I can try free one up and see if I can get it recognised as 2tb in the Wii.

Off the top of my head, I have WD and Samsung drives. Can get model numbers if I get one working.

 

[blackb0x]

Ace! Feel free to use/butcher any bits from the theme I uploaded if it helps when it comes to the official dark theme. I have ran them all through pnggauntlet to optimise them, but I can send you the originals if you did want them at all in the future. I understand it's not a priority right now though.

I actually have most of the dark theme done, and I have all of the original assets, so it'll perfectly align with the light theme. But thanks for offering

The new changes/updates sound good. And going above the 2tb limit is wild - that would be awesome if possible. I do have some larger drives knocking about, but they're all full of old backup stuff at the mo. If I can get them tidied up and organised, I can try free one up and see if I can get it recognised as 2tb in the Wii.

Some WD drives can be formatted via the WD Quick Formatter application, which then allows them to work via 512-byte emulation. But in recent years there's been reports that it doesn't work correctly with newer drive revisions.

Assuming the goal is met I'll try to get most 3TB+ drives supported, even if they're using 4Kn.

 

[chrisj91]

I actually have most of the dark theme done, and I have all of the original assets, so it'll perfectly align with the light theme. But thanks for offering

No worries! Sounds like it will make a nice addition once it's ready

Some WD drives can be formatted via the WD Quick Formatter application, which then allows them to work via 512-byte emulation. But in recent years there's been reports that it doesn't work correctly with newer drive revisions.

Assuming the goal is met I'll try to get most 3TB+ drives supported, even if they're using 4Kn.

Handy to know, thanks for the pointers! I feel like most of my drives are at least a couple years old at this point, but will try free one up for some testing.

And yeah, that would be amazing! It's like the breakthrough with the Xbox 360 HDD XL patch allover again. Well, it will be even more impressive given it's the Wii and all external etc etc. If anyone can do it, you can

 

[gopnikalik]

What could be the reason for the sudden lengthening of the reinitializing devices process? It increased (from about two seconds to eight) after I formatted the SD card (each time exactly as specified here) and put a backup of data on it (absolutely identical to the one that took two seconds). The SD card is in the same SD reader and the same USB port.

EDIT:
I tried another SD card, and reinitializing devices took the standard two seconds. I reformatted the problematic card again, and the two seconds returned.

I think this may be a consequence of voltage fluctuations in our network, which are now constant.

 

[Incure]

On the subject of file system changes, I also wanted to ask if anyone knows of a popular 3TB+ portable USB HDD that's still being sold and works with the loader, but is currently limited to 2TB? I'm asking because I recently set a goal on my Ko-fi page that might interest a few people.

I've just bought you 3 "coffees" to support this project and the larger HDD's. I have some older WD's and Seagates drives ranging from 3-5TB and they all give problems. So let's see if they can be supported what comes out of this

 

[Oddx]

I've just bought you 3 "coffees" to support this project and the larger HDD's. I have some older WD's and Seagates drives ranging from 3-5TB and they all give problems. So let's see if they can be supported what comes out of this

I didnt even realize this was an issue with larger drives. I have never had one that didnt work properly in the loader after being formatted correctly where at least windows sees the full capacity. The fat module in this loader had larger cluster support added a long time ago, but something like neek doesnt have larger cluster support so it breaks with the cluster size required to get full capacity. I guess it would be good to know what the failers are.

 

[blackb0x]

I've just bought you 3 "coffees" to support this project and the larger HDD's. I have some older WD's and Seagates drives ranging from 3-5TB and they all give problems. So let's see if they can be supported what comes out of this

Thank you

I didnt even realize this was an issue with larger drives. I have never had one that didnt work properly in the loader after being formatted correctly where at least windows sees the full capacity.

It's been an issue for a while, and over time I think it'll only continue to get worse.

Here's a few examples...

**06/09/22 Firmware on newer drives might be an issue. My recommendation listed below are previous to being made aware of potential issues**

https://gbatemp.net/posts/9841161
https://gbatemp.net/posts/9948989
https://gbatemp.net/posts/9985669
https://gbatemp.net/posts/10032585
https://gbatemp.net/posts/10586669

All of these are WD HDDs, since that's what people keep recommending. And that's yet another reason why I'd deally want to get two totally different brands and get both working with a whole range of settings.

The fat module in this loader had larger cluster support added a long time ago

The current FAT library doesn't use the 64-bit LBA scheme by default and the loader doesn't use 64-bit addressing for storage. So I'd be implementing all of that, while also addressing any issues at the cIOS level too.

 

[lauty29]

I found a game that doesn't like to be forced to other language "donkey kong country returns" if you try to force other language with a japanese wii or wii u it still loads with japanese broken language (lots of ??? symbols). I also tried patching the dol but same results.

 

[Oddx]

Thank you


It's been an issue for a while, and over time I think it'll only continue to get worse.

Here's a few examples...

https://gbatemp.net/posts/9841161
https://gbatemp.net/posts/9948989
https://gbatemp.net/posts/9985669
https://gbatemp.net/posts/10032585
https://gbatemp.net/posts/10586669

All of these are WD HDDs, since that's what people keep recommending. And that's yet another reason why I'd deally want to get two totally different brands and get both working with a whole range of settings.


The current FAT library doesn't use the 64-bit LBA scheme by default and the loader doesn't use 64-bit addressing for storage. So I'd be implementing all of that, while also addressing any issues at the cIOS level too.

Looks like th 5tb model in those posts. I have used 5tb model in past, ill check the model, the biggest issue is they suck at everything because they use smr. The one i linked is cmr. Also never used the wd formatter, whatever the modmii downloads does the job just fine.

 

[gopnikalik]

Although some games don't work when this setting is set to partial or full, which is why it's off by default.

Is this issue still relevant? Has compatibility with EmuNand saves improved in the latest versions of the loader and d2x-v11? Are there any estimates of how many games cannot be saved to EmuNand? Maybe it's just a couple of very rare games and that's it?

 

[Oddx]

Ok the 5tb i had was WDBKUZ0050BBK, it worked but its junk because of the writing tech. If anyone has the problematic drives you should try using the FAT32_GUI_Formatter.exe that modmii can download and set Allocation unit size to 32768 or 65536. It should make you drive use full capacity... if it doesn't then bb will have to work some magic as he has planned.

 

[cyberrep]

Dear guys, how many files in the wbfs folder the usb loader can handle? I have all NTSC games +- 1274 and it broken, also the games folder for game cube wont load. If I leave for example 10, its loads. maybe is a issue?

Post automatically merged: Oct 19, 2025

Dear guys, how many files in the wbfs folder the usb loader can handle? I have all NTSC games +- 1274 and it broken, also the games folder for game cube wont load. If I leave for example 10, its loads. maybe is a issue?

 

[Oddx]

Dear guys, how many files in the wbfs folder the usb loader can handle? I have all NTSC games +- 1274 and it broken, also the games folder for game cube wont load. If I leave for example 10, its loads. maybe is a issue?

Post automatically merged: Oct 19, 2025

Dear guys, how many files in the wbfs folder the usb loader can handle? I have all NTSC games +- 1274 and it broken, also the games folder for game cube wont load. If I leave for example 10, its loads. maybe is a issue?

That should be fine, the more you have the longer it takes. If you let it sit there a few minutes does it come up?

 

[cyberrep]

That should be fine, the more you have the longer it takes. If you let it sit there a few minutes does it come up?

no, I got a black screen. I'll try to format again, its NTFS. the weird its because both folders have the same issue. games (605 game cube games) and wbfs (1274 wii games)