Hacking USB Loader - HDD Compatibility

[MizuhoChan]

I posted this in another topic, but it might be some help here:

Okay, I did some testing.

Rebooting and trying with the partitioned 4gb resulted in the same error. Trying with both sticks in both slots resulted in no partition found, with the 4gb unrecognised.

Switching them around, so the working USB was in the left slot, resulted in my original error.

Plugging in an extension with the 4gb resulted in the error.

The extension + the 256mb resulted in the no partition found.

Switching the 256mb to the 4gb in the extension, resulted in the 4gb showing up. I then pressed B to exit back to the menu, whereupon Animal Crossing came up on the device. I had the disc out and attempted to boot the game, which worked fine.

So it seems if you have a non-functioning device, you may be able to get functionality out of it, via swapping for a working one.

 

[Bloodlust]

a new wii is being shipped to me with 3.1u installed, i bought it 2 hours ago...

I'm sure i'll send you a PM, Kong, in the next 2-3 days just to make sure 100% I have the entire process down correctly from start to finish... since you are very knowledgeable... and i promise that will be the last time I bother you LOL -- the other difference is I will not be installing a hardware mod this time around.

Not sure what I'm going to do with my old wiikey/4.0 wii w.o cios, yet. Before anything I want to make sure my new one is working 100% how I want.

It looks like the USB loader has motivated you to get another Wii after all? May I know if the new one you are getting is chipped or you planning to softmod it yourself? A US machine? Do share your upgrading experience with me over PM if possible. Thanks!

Posts merged

Do you need to install the USB2.0 CIOS to compliment the loader? Anyone tried WD passport essential series of HDDs yet? Or seagate freeagents?

 

[WalterCool]

Waninoko should be sponsored for some hard disk enterprise, isnt?

 

[krawhitham]

40GB WD passport did not work
16GB Sandisk Micro Cruzer does work

 

[spiritofcat]

I'll try the 40GB Samsung IDE drive I have here with my iSun branded enclosure.

 

[r9delta]

8GB Sandisk Micro SDHC with Cyclo DS Evolution USB Micro SD->USB adapter. Works great, no problems as of yet. Have tested with Wii Sports and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Wii Sports took about a minute to install, TvC took about 11. Loads and plays fine.

 

[delta123]

I have a 320gig WD my passbook, running off the wii usb power and it works like a charm. got it for mplayer and geeXboX and now for this. No problems.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=391

This is my one.

 

[krawhitham]

anybody get a 2.5 Sata to USB enclosure to work?

If so which one?

 

[Bladexdsl]

I have a 320gig WD my passbook, running off the wii usb power and it works like a charm. got it for mplayer and geeXboX and now for this. No problems.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=391

This is my one.

that's the one i was gonna get but they had this crap wd 640gb on special at JB.

 

[Scribs84]

Maxtor Basics Portable Storage 320GB: WORKS!!!
Kodak 4G Thumb Stick: WORKS!!

 

[amars464]

Just thought I'd register and jump on to say that I tried using a Western Digital 1TB My Book, and got a nice shiny "ret= -1" so I don't think it works.

**EDIT**
Yeah, I tested it out a bunch of different ways and still got an error, so my only hope will be to wait to see if there's an updated version that has better hard drive compatibility

 

[maduin]

my Western Digital 500GB MyBook works, I made a separate partition on it for the Wii File System thingy set at 80GB to test it out. It only says that there are 4GB available and I was able to install Pikmin Wii on it just fine, I'm trying to install PES 2009 right now but it will take a half hour to install, Pikmin only took 8 minutes. I'll let you guys know how it goes once it's installed (if it installs).

Worked great, time to install more games.

 

[zidane_genome]

40gig WD Protege IDE - WORKS!!! (full size drive)
80gig Seagate Momentus SATA - WORKS!!!! (laptop drive)

 

[Filter]

Verbatim 160GB USB Portable Hard Drive

Works great.

 

[EmperorOfCanada]

8GB Kingston micro sd card in adapter and usb card reader worked fine, for what thats worth

 

[FenrirWolf]

I'm using this Toshiba 320GB external HDD and it works like a dream:
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Portable-Ext...X/dp/B0013FVZXC

 

[spiritofcat]

40GB IDE WD Caviar in iSun Enclosure working fine.
After formatting it reported 1.25GB free.
After installing some games it reports around 2.5GB free and used.
Nice reduction of load time in MadWorld.

 

[anonymous_cactus]

Debating between a blue 320gig WD passport at newegg for $79.99, black 500gb and the Toshiba 320 for $72 (or 500 for 96) but at amazon i gotta pay tax (stupid NY amazon tax)... both don't need power... but I find it odd that one size passport works but not another "40GB WD passport did not work"...

EDIT: they also have a WD 400gb black drive at newegg for 79.99 as well but its not a passport, its an "elements" drive... dunno about that. But they also have the 400gb black for 89.99 the passport model. Sounds like everyone with the 320 WD passports have had no problems whatsoeverbut they cost so much in comparison to the other colors with great size... bah! ... and yes in white I think that would be extra sexy

EDIT 2: ended up buying the black 320 WD passport from newegg... the evil contrast between black and white lol saved $20 that way . if I don't like it it can always be tucked away hidden from view, so no big deal. Just realized I could have got the extra 80gb [400gb black] for $10 mpre... but I know the 320 will work for sure, and I think having 80+ games will be plenty lol. Both my new wii and my new hard drive should be here by friday

--- the only downside to all of this is the few saves that I can no longer use / transfer from the one system to the other... smash bros and mario kart specifically... oh well i guess i'll live

Off to bed finally, its almost 5am here... yikes!! gotta put away that credit card

 

[malacai]

i have a white 320gig WD passport usb drive.. works like a charm.. and matches the wii. OMG they are pretty together =P

 

[collin]

If it helps, the issue preventing the Loader from working for me was that I had a GUID partition table -- set to MBR and it worked well.