Hacking USB Loader GX

[Cyan]

Thank you Greywolf for helping users and taking the time to look at the sources

If r1243 is slower, it's easier to find the problem as there's very little changes:

* Updated Libfat to 1.0.13
* Fixed compiling with DevkitPPC r27 (1 warning left)
* Added throw exception to some buffers
* Fixed DEVO config name

So it's either :
- The compilation warning fix (I edited few variable type : u32 to u8 etc.)
- The throw exception I added (I don't know if it's affecting cycles, it shouldn't slow that much)
- PPC r27 itself !

Could you try compiling r1243 with DevkitPPC r26 ?
For easier PPC revision switching, keep all your revisions installed at the same time like this :
c:\devkitpro\devkitppc\ <--- latest revision (I keep it just in case)
c:\devkitpro\devkitppc_r27\ <--- rename the folder to keep all revisions
c:\devkitpro\devkitppc_r26\
c:\devkitpro\devkitppc_r25\
etc.

Before typing "make -j4" (if you have quad cores), then type "set DEVKITPPC=/c/devkitPro/devkitPPC_r26" and it will temporarilly (until you close the command window) replace the default path from \devkitppc\ to the r26.


Edit:
I checked the changes, the ressource loading are affected by 2 changes in r1243:
- Banner alpha color for the texture.(casting the result from u32 to u8, maybe it slow down to much to cast the type each time?)
- Textbox's Tevcolor. for a strange reason, old version didn't compile with new PPC revision.

I had to explode the single function in multiple operation. It could be the cause of the slowdown.
If compiling with r26 doesn't help, try reverting Textbox.cpp changes and compile with r26 again.
see if this is the reason.

When compiling with r27 it asks to report to devkitpro devs but I didn't do it.

 

[guichochepe17]

Hi, first I want to thank the entire USB Loader GX team for developing and continuously updating such a great piece of software, it's my favourite since I modded my wii two years ago. I just have a very dumb noob question: I understand that the loader uses wbfs images for wii games, I just want to know if it is capable to read .iso files. I'm asking this because I have a problem loading Silent Hill Shattered Memories when it is in .wbfs (it freezes). I tried to dump the game in a .iso file instead but the game doesn't boot, only returns to the usb loader channel. I know this will sound like blasphemy but I tried another loader and it does boot the .iso image. I also know that it is not a corrupted image because I checked the game's MD5 and it's correct. I thought I needed to update the loader because I was using a 3.0 version from 2012 and updated to rev 1239 but still unable to continue progress with .wbfs file. I have CIOS D2X V8 installed (all the recommended bases, I think the game uses base 53 ios) but now I know this is not a CIOS issue since was indeed able to continue playing in the other loader. I would appreciate if someone can help me with the questions I have and I apologize for the bad english as it is not my first language. Once again thank you for a great loader, it's awesome!

 

[GreyWolf]

I set up my dev environment under Debian in Hyper-V and just use a different account for each project. If you install devkitPro without su access it puts the files in your home directory. I will create one for r26 for GX and see if it makes any difference. It could be the actual banner class that's slow.

 

[Acidflare]

Hi, first I want to thank the entire USB Loader GX team for developing and continuously updating such a great piece of software, it's my favourite since I modded my wii two years ago. I just have a very dumb noob question: I understand that the loader uses wbfs images for wii games, I just want to know if it is capable to read .iso files. I'm asking this because I have a problem loading Silent Hill Shattered Memories when it is in .wbfs (it freezes). I tried to dump the game in a .iso file instead but the game doesn't boot, only returns to the usb loader channel. I know this will sound like blasphemy but I tried another loader and it does boot the .iso image. I also know that it is not a corrupted image because I checked the game's MD5 and it's correct. I thought I needed to update the loader because I was using a 3.0 version from 2012 and updated to rev 1239 but still unable to continue progress with .wbfs file. I have CIOS D2X V8 installed (all the recommended bases, I think the game uses base 53 ios) but now I know this is not a CIOS issue since was indeed able to continue playing in the other loader. I would appreciate if someone can help me with the questions I have and I apologize for the bad english as it is not my first language. Once again thank you for a great loader, it's awesome!

Can you do me a favor and try ripping your game using WiiFlow and CFG USB Loader MOD, there are a few games that usb loader GX doesn't rip properly but only a couple are known. I know cyan would be thankful if we can further narrow down what the problem ripping some games might be.
The only game I know about that does this in my collection is Sonic and the Secret Rings WiiFlow and USB Loader GX won't produce a valid wbfs file but CFG USB Loader MOD will. test it out it may work

 

[justisdaimpaler]

Hello,
I am new to the community and I have recently downloaded usb loader gx to my black wii, every time I restart the loader it resets the usb port to 0, and the paths are reset as well. So every time I open loader, it counts down and tells me it can't find my usb drive and then I go into the settings and change the port to 1 and reset my paths for covers which I manually saved on to my hard drive. I just haven't figured out why it does this. I thought maybe it has to do with a "read only" attribute tied to my hard drive but I even change the document in the apps folder to usb port 1, all the paths and then I saved it and opened the permissions to be able to read and write. And then when I install and turn on the wii, it's like the system rewrites the settings back to original and everything I just changed goes back. What is causing this problem?

 

[GreyWolf]

Hello,
I am new to the community and I have recently downloaded usb loader gx to my black wii, every time I restart the loader it resets the usb port to 0, and the paths are reset as well. So every time I open loader, it counts down and tells me it can't find my usb drive and then I go into the settings and change the port to 1 and reset my paths for covers which I manually saved on to my hard drive. I just haven't figured out why it does this. I thought maybe it has to do with a "read only" attribute tied to my hard drive but I even change the document in the apps folder to usb port 1, all the paths and then I saved it and opened the permissions to be able to read and write. And then when I install and turn on the wii, it's like the system rewrites the settings back to original and everything I just changed goes back. What is causing this problem?

What IOS do you have installed and which versions? It sounds like it's not able to read the drive. It will screw up with read-only attributes, btw.

 

[tswntk]

Hi, first I want to thank the entire USB Loader GX team for developing and continuously updating such a great piece of software, it's my favourite since I modded my wii two years ago. I just have a very dumb noob question: I understand that the loader uses wbfs images for wii games, I just want to know if it is capable to read .iso files...

IIRC, ULGX does support .iso but you will need an NTFS partition as wii iso are greater than 4G
Since you have a good iso, you can use Wii Backup Manager o convert it to .wbfs.
I haven't really played the game, but at least it boots as .wbfs

Edit: oh yes, did you mark your game iso/wbfs as read only? It will cause problems.

 

[Acidflare]

Hello,
I am new to the community and I have recently downloaded usb loader gx to my black wii, every time I restart the loader it resets the usb port to 0, and the paths are reset as well. So every time I open loader, it counts down and tells me it can't find my usb drive and then I go into the settings and change the port to 1 and reset my paths for covers which I manually saved on to my hard drive. I just haven't figured out why it does this. I thought maybe it has to do with a "read only" attribute tied to my hard drive but I even change the document in the apps folder to usb port 1, all the paths and then I saved it and opened the permissions to be able to read and write. And then when I install and turn on the wii, it's like the system rewrites the settings back to original and everything I just changed goes back. What is causing this problem?

Hello justisdaimpaler Welcome to GBATemp.

Have you installed a cIOS to slot 249?

with the Wii standing up port 0 is on the left port 1 is on the right. with the wii laying down with the rubber feet on the floor Port 0 is on the bottom and port 1 is on the top.

The Read-Only Attribute doesn't apply to a whole drive. Every file has a Read/Write attribute take away the Write attribute and you can't write to the file anyone you may only read it, what the read-only attribute for usb loader gx is talking about is each individual WBFS file contained on your HDD in /wbfs/xxxx.wbfs right click your wbfs files and make sure read-only is not set, it often causes issues with reading games properly if read-only is set

 

[justisdaimpaler]

I believe it's running on 249, don't remember version, downloaded the all in one 249. The games load and play. I'm not sure if they are read only or not. every time I start the usb loader gx it automatically saves settings and then tries to open the settings it just saved. The hard drive only works in one usb port. And for some reason it resets the usb port to 0 and the paths reset to a usb8

I think I installed d2x v 10 beta 53. Because I was following the instructions on code.google.com

 

[GreyWolf]

beta 53 is only for Wii-U, I think. You need beta 52 if you have an original Wii. The regular one only works with usb0 and the alt one works with either but doesn't work with emulated NAND very well.

 

[bobmcjr]

beta 53 is only for Wii-U, I think. You need beta 52 if you have an original Wii. The regular one only works with usb0 and the alt one works with either but doesn't work with emulated NAND very well.

52 and 53 have vWii and Wii versions. 53 = 52-alt

 

[justisdaimpaler]

The alt? Well if I have the wrong version I'm sure that would cause a problem. What's weird is that when I tried to hook it up to port 0 ( standing up- left, laying down-bottom) it wouldn't read the hard drive at all. So I moved it to port 1 and the loader was looking on port 0, couldn't find it, loaded up and had channels in the list. I went to usb settings and changed it to port 1 and hit back, it loaded hard drive, then I hit back again and the games would show and work with no covers. I have a black wii with no gamecube plugins.

I like this usb loader better then wiiflow, or cfg-loader. I can try installing a different version and install usb loader gx again and see if that fixes the problem. I did try changing the attributes to read and write not just on the hard drive itself but to the folders and ti the configuration file. But I think it's saving over the file at start up and then I have the same problem. Idk.

Or I wonder if I should try 250?

 

[Acidflare]

Or I wonder if I should try 250?

I don't think you're completely understanding how the Wii works each IOS slot is essentially an Operating System different IOS versions and revisions have different functions.
IOS slots 200 - 254 are used for customIOS modules.

d2x is a type of cIOS it is an improvement on Waninkoko's cIOSX d2x or cIOSX and are usually installed to 249 and 250 but can be installed to other slots to keep different versions installed. Hermies cIOS is set of cIOS installed to IOS slots 202, 222, 223 and 224.

A cIOS is a modified IOS with added functions for things like reading USB HDD's and Emulated Nands while in game.

When Installing d2x you are asked what base IOS to use for the cIOS that will be installed most users will use Base 56 in slot 249 and Base 57 in 250, but you can change the base and the slot that is used so it is possible for someone without the ability to compile a cIOS to be able to install their own customized cIOS based on the version of d2x or cIOSX that they choose.

I like this usb loader better then wiiflow, or cfg-loader..

you completely missed the point if a wbfs file generated by usb loader gx is booting properly then try a different usb loader there are some games out there it cannot rip to a wbfs file properly Sonic and the Secret Rings is the only one I know of and to better narrow down what may cause that issue is to find other games that cause the issue.

The SHA-1 and MD5 file hashes match a good dump for Sonic and the Secret Rings but the game black screens on boot no matter what settings are used WiiFlow also causes this issue with Sonic and the Secret Rings CFG is the only usb loader that can rip the game straight to wbfs properly.

Also check your memory card that the lock switch isn't pulled down, If it has been pulled down push it back up. Having it in the down position will set your memory card to read only mode it sometimes happens when inserting the card into the Wii it's happened to me a couple of times

 

[Cyan]

answers in random order:

I noticed that if the SD card write protection switch is set to Lock state, the loader is acting very slow. it might be trying to write to the SD multiple time until it succeed instead of canceling the action.

ISO and cISO are working.
ISO will require NTFS or Ext partition format because the game file is bigger than 4GB.
cISO (which is a re-created ISO after scrubbing dummy file) will work on FAT32.

If the dump is good, the loader should load the game.
Dumping from the loader can have issue like Acidflare said (I don't have Sonic disc to test, but I could check CFG sources... before googlecode deletes it).

I don't know why you have issue with the config file.
You are using SD card or only USB?
having "USB8" everywhere is a symptom that both SD and USB couldn't be initialized at launch.
The loader is checking SD + up to 8 USB partitions for a place save/load the GXGlobal.cfg file.
It tries with SD card first, if not found tries USB and stop on the first working partition (SD, USB3, USB4 etc.) and keep the last tried partition in memory for all the path.
If no partition is detected it stops trying after USB8 and keep "usb8" as the last tried path as it's not reset to any other partition (because there wasn't any found)

First easier fix : Plug an SD card without write protection lock
Second : Try another USB hard drive (not a flash stick, which are less compatible)
Third : Try to set the meta.xml argument to use IOS58 at boot
fourth : no idea, sorry

 

[sunefa]

So i'm having some problems, Running GC games on vWii through Nintendont is alright, using the rest combination while in game with the gamecube controllet makes the screen go Crazy/glitchy on me. It also sometimes makes the controller vibrate till a GC game starts. For anyone's info, im using external hard drive with Y cable, split in 2 partitions, first is fat32 for GC, second is formated with the manager for Wii games. Regarding the loader, i simply unziped the zip file in my sd card, updated the program through vWii, and fixed the settings to use Nintendont

Regarding Wii games, i've only tried Okami so far, works good but why is it so blury? I'm using just the gamepad as my screen, is it supposed to be this blury? Should i change anything at settings?

 

[GreyWolf]

So i'm having some problems, Running GC games on vWii through Nintendont is alright, using the rest combination while in game with the gamecube controllet makes the screen go Crazy/glitchy on me. It also sometimes makes the controller vibrate till a GC game starts. For anyone's info, im using external hard drive with Y cable, split in 2 partitions, first is fat32 for GC, second is formated with the manager for Wii games. Regarding the loader, i simply unziped the zip file in my sd card, updated the program through vWii, and fixed the settings to use Nintendont

Regarding Wii games, i've only tried Okami so far, works good but why is it so blury? I'm using just the gamepad as my screen, is it supposed to be this blury? Should i change anything at settings?

Okami just kinda looks like that. It's styled after Japanese paintings. The original PS2 version actually had more filters on it.

 

[guichochepe17]

Can you do me a favor and try ripping your game using WiiFlow and CFG USB Loader MOD, there are a few games that usb loader GX doesn't rip properly but only a couple are known. I know cyan would be thankful if we can further narrow down what the problem ripping some games might be.
The only game I know about that does this in my collection is Sonic and the Secret Rings WiiFlow and USB Loader GX won't produce a valid wbfs file but CFG USB Loader MOD will. test it out it may work

Thank you for your answer, I did create the .wbfs rip with GX so now I will try with CFG or Wiiflow.

IIRC, ULGX does support .iso but you will need an NTFS partition as wii iso are greater than 4G
Since you have a good iso, you can use Wii Backup Manager o convert it to .wbfs.
I haven't really played the game, but at least it boots as .wbfs

Edit: oh yes, did you mark your game iso/wbfs as read only? It will cause problems.

I own a 1TB HDD with 3 partitions: first fat32 for gamecube games, second fat 32 for wii games in and third ntfs which is where the silent hill iso is stored. I will follow your recommendation and try converting it with wii backup manager

 

[Cyan]

the ISO should work if it's in the correct folder.
All the path you can use:

NTFS partition:/wbfs/GameID.iso
NTFS partition:/wbfs/Silent Hill [GameID].iso
NTFS partition:/wbfs/Silent Hill [GameID]/GameID.iso
NTFS partition:/wbfs/GameID_Silent Hill/GameID.iso

be sure the extension is in lowercase.

 

[sunefa]

OK, so i managed to probably figure why the reset combination was making my screen buggy(when playing Nintendont through GX loader), the console wasnt connected to any tv, i was only using the gamepad as a screen. The bug didnt occur now that my Wii U is connected to a TV. Maybe it was this.

BUT, i have noticed another bug on me, whenever i launch USB loader GX, going at Nintendont after makes my Gamecube controller vibrate endlessly till i pick a game to start. Tried changing some settings, but no luck. Even if i have launched GX loader once but didnt choose a game and go back, to load Nintendont, the never ending vibration from controller still exists. If i load Nintendont without loading GX loader a single time, the problem doesnt occur. Hopefully i covered everything.

 

[VinsCool]

Regarding Wii games, i've only tried Okami so far, works good but why is it so blury? I'm using just the gamepad as my screen, is it supposed to be this blury? Should i change anything at settings?

I own the game. It is made to look this way