Hacking USB Loader GX

[Maeson]

The option works for everything that I tried, regardless of 16:9 or 4:3. I thought the framebuffer option was going to help primarily on 16:19 forced games, and to me it does, but it actually seems to improve 4:3 games quite a bit more.

I'm yet to try games that are 4:3 but have 16:9 modes (the vast majority of Wii games, really).

It's not day and night, of course, but you do gain some sharpness as the video output is less stretched.

Here's a couple of comparative screenshots I took with of Rhythm Paradise, game with very simple and clean visuals, so you can see the difference between the default and the framebuffer options.

Default:

Spoiler

Framebuffer:

Spoiler

You could open them on separate tabs to compare them more easily.

But that's basically it. It takes away the small stretch. It's a bit like the difference between comparing Anamorphic Widescreen and 4:3 if you ask me, just less obvious. But I'm liking it, honestly.

 

[cobhc]

You dont have to verify your game but if you want to rule the game out as an issue you should. You could also dump it again if you trust your usb disk.

I tried another version and it works until I turn off the deflicker filter.

 

[Sypherone]

Tested on vWii/WiiU with the recommended cios setup :

• 249(base56) dx2-v10-beta52
• 250(base57) dx2-v10-beta52
• 251(base58) dx2-v10-beta52.

Iam using a two hdd setup with

• vWii-HDD in Port 1
• WiiU-HDD in port 0

with

• loader IOS 151(base58)
• game IOS 151(base58)

and everything works fine by loading USBLGX trough WiiU forwarder or vWii Channel.
Previous used version was 1272 mod7.

Tested also launching USBLGX through the Homebrew Launcher like he did and can verify, it will open the interface 1 sec and then returns to the Homebrew launcher. With USB drive plugged in or not.

When I open USB loader (tried with an external USB HDD and thumb drive in the lowest port) it finds it and goes into the UI screen then instantly closes back to the homebrew channel (even without a HDD plugged in it does the same)

Try running USBLGX trough the Channel in Wii Menu.

And ya.. i have to edit some stuff in the guide.

 

[benten2000]

Just tried a previous version of USBLGX ( r1271) to test if all other requirements are sorted and updated and that works perfectly.

 

[rexus_pl]

Is updating d2x to new verion needed to run newest version of USB Loader GX?

I'm facing same issue as @benten2000 - new version crashes instantly after UI shows up - doesn't matter if I run it via forwarder, or Homebrew Channel. Also I've created new clear copy in another directory, and it goes the same (huh, there is one diffrence - default theme). Old version (r1272 mod) works fine. I haven't updated d2x (what if it wouldn't work too?).

I use PAL version of Wii, firmware 4.3E.

 

[godreborn]

Is updating d2x to new verion needed to run newest version of USB Loader GX?

I'm facing same issue as @benten2000 - new version crashes instantly after UI shows up - doesn't matter if I run it via forwarder, or Homebrew Channel. Also I've created new clear copy in another directory, and it goes the same (huh, there is one diffrence - default theme). Old version (r1272 mod) works fine. I haven't updated d2x (what if it wouldn't work too?).

I use PAL version of Wii, firmware 4.3E.

I think it may affect games working, but dx8 and 10 are comparable. I think usb loader gx usually uses ios 58 like most homebrew, so it doesn't even use a cios.

 

[cobhc]

Deflicker filter on rev 1280 also breaks Mario Kart Wii online for me. After it shows selected opponents, it again crashes the Wii. I think I'll go back to rev 1272 as having deflicker filter on is worse than not having the framebuffer video width as far as sharpness is concerned.

 

[Sypherone]

I think it may affect games working, but dx8 and 10 are comparable. I think usb loader gx usually uses ios 58 like most homebrew, so it doesn't even use a cios.

• r1271 and older builds reload to cIOS 249 before initialising USB drives and reading your config file.
• r1272 by cyan, uses IOS 58 for everything but breaks backup creation and can cause the loader to freeze.
• r1272 mod 7 by blackb0x, loads with IOS 58, reads your config file and then reloads you to your preferred cIOS (249 by default).

 

[godreborn]

• r1271 and older builds reload to cIOS 249 before initialising USB drives and reading your config file.
• r1272 by cyan, uses IOS 58 for everything but breaks backup creation and can cause the loader to freeze.
• r1272 mod 7 by blackb0x, loads with IOS 58, reads your config file and then reloads you to your preferred cIOS (249 by default).

I was thinking ios58 was from the release of dragon quest x, since it adds usb support. however, you can install it directly if not on the latest firmware. I don't know that for sure though, but I remember not having it on my wii, so I installed it directly so that clean rip would work.

 

[Sypherone]

Ya. IOS 58, its Nintendo originally USB 2.0 IOS and is automatically installed with system menu 4.3.

• Nintendont is using IOS 58 by default.
• If u will stay on system menu below 4.3 there exists IOS58 installer, which installs the previous last version (NOT LATEST).
  • NOTE: Dont run this on SysMenu 4.3 as you will downgrade the installed version!

 

[godreborn]

Ya. IOS 58, its Nintendo originally USB 2.0 IOS and is automatically installed with system menu 4.3.

• Nintendont is using IOS 58 by default.
• If u will stay on system menu below 4.3 there exists IOS58 installer, which installs the previous last version (NOT LATEST).
  • NOTE: Dont run this on SysMenu 4.3 as you will downgrade the installed version!

I'm on 4.1 on my wii.

 

[blackb0x]

and everything works fine by loading USBLGX trough WiiU forwarder or vWii Channel.

Tested also launching USBLGX through the Homebrew Launcher like he did and can verify, it will open the interface 1 sec and then returns to the Homebrew launcher. With USB drive plugged in or not.

I'll add you to the group chat and you can test 2 builds if you'd like to let me know what is and isn't working for you.

I'm currently trying to juggle this issue with the deflicker one that cobhc's experiencing.

I'm facing same issue as @benten2000 - new version crashes instantly after UI shows up - doesn't matter if I run it via forwarder, or Homebrew Channel. Also I've created new clear copy in another directory, and it goes the same (huh, there is one diffrence - default theme). Old version (r1272 mod) works fine. I haven't updated d2x (what if it wouldn't work too?).

I use PAL version of Wii, firmware 4.3E.

It's likely caused by the same bug that's impacting vWii systems, although it's weird that it works for most people with a Wii.

 

[geoGolem]

I'll add you to the group chat and you can test 2 builds if you'd like to let me know what is and isn't working for you.

I'm currently trying to juggle this issue with the deflicker one that cobhc's experiencing.

I just tested the 1280 build. I installed the new d2x v11 ioses as directed. and I also (re)installed the usbloader_gx forwarder for vWII (UNEO) as directed..

I haven't tried any games or anything so far... but I can confirm that usbloader_gx launches fine using the vWII forwarder... but when launching from homebrew launcher directly it launches/loads, then quickly freezes and kicks back out to homebrew launcher.

if you have some builds you want me to test, let me know and I will do my best to test when I have a chance...

Thanks for all your efforts! I look forward to playing around with it more when I have time!

 

[RetraCarteR]

Thanks so much for the updates! I'll be sure to try them out later today.

Just one thing: I saw that along with your cIOS update, you changed the recommended installation slot order so that base IOS 56 is now the default instead of base 57. Why is that? Has base 57 finally been conclusively proven to produce slower load times than 56? I remember that being "common knowledge" for a while, but IIRC, it was never proven to be true.

 

[blackb0x]

Why is that? Has base 57 finally been conclusively proven to produce slower load times than 56?

The change was made because most games request IOS 56 or less, so by booting the loader with cIOS 249 (base 56) you'll avoid an unnecessary ISO reload, since the loader now picks the appropriate cIOS for each game.

There shouldn't be much of a difference between IOS 56 and 57 in terms of speed.

 

[RetraCarteR]

The change was made because most games request IOS 56 or less, so by booting the loader with cIOS 249 (base 56) you'll avoid an unnecessary ISO reload, since the loader now picks the appropriate cIOS for each game.

There shouldn't be much of a difference between them IOS 56 and 57 in terms of speed.

Okay, that makes sense. Guess I'll switch to the new recommended cIOS setup, then.

 

[Maeson]

I just noticed that the names I put for the games (for example, all Nintendo 64 VC games started with "N64" to clump them together) are gone and USB Loader GX is using what appears to be just the channel's internal names.

It must be something simple to fix but I can't remember what I had to change. The wiidtb.xml hasn't been changed with the update, so it must be a setting that resetted or something that I can't find.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

This update looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it.

However, I’m a bit hesitant as I’ve not changed anything for cIOS since I first modded my Wii U/vWii in 2020,

Could anyone provide a NOOB walkthrough to change to the correct cIOS configuration for this update? Sorry to bother!

Cheers!

 

[blackb0x]

I just noticed that the names I put for the games (for example, all Nintendo 64 VC games started with "N64" to clump them together) are gone and USB Loader GX is using what appears to be just the channel's internal names.

It must be something simple to fix but I can't remember what I had to change. The wiidtb.xml hasn't been changed with the update, so it must be a setting that resetted or something that I can't find.

The loader does have a built in way to do that, but that data can be lost when certain changes are made. So you'd be better off editing wiitdb.xml with any custom titles IMO.

However, I’m a bit hesitant as I’ve not changed anything for cIOS since I first modded my Wii U/vWii in 2020,

If you're scared of messing something up then don't bother updating. As long as your USB devices is fast enough you most likely wouldn't notice a difference anyway.

Here's a cIOS guide. You'd just use my installer and where they've got 56 you'd use 57 and where they've got 57 you'd use 56.

 

[Roberto_167]

Hi I'm on vWii, have the latest version of cIOS and USB Loader GX, but I get a hard crash every time I load the app.

It goes through every step and after loading resources I see the home screen for a split second and crashes back to HBC.

Any ideas?