GAF Wii Homebrew thread: Homebrew, emulators, USB disc installs! Easy tutorial!
- Thread starter radioheadrule83
- Start date
I have to give a huge shoutout to Clipper and all of the wonderful posters here for hosting the whole wiki and this thread, as I went from knowing nothing about Wii homebrew to being in the middle of ripping all of my discs through Configurable USB Loader in an hour or two of reading and 30 minutes of actual work. Thanks, GAF. I followed the Wiki to a T and was able to take my stock 4.3U Wii through everything with almost no fuss.
I still don't quite understand everything, but I had an external 120GB drive lying around, so I left it at FAT32 and am in the process of ripping my games to it through USB Loader. I'm doing it mostly out of curiosity, as I haven't really used my Wii in ages, but the thought of having everything at my fingertips is part of the reason I busted open my PSP as well. Between this and the fantastic PSP custom firm thread, I've come to realize this is really the only place to get intelligible, helpful tips on these topics (and written in full sentences to boot!).
Beyond having everything in USB Loader, what are some other game-enhancing things that can be done? E.g., how do I get the DKC Returns Classic Controller patch that I remember hearing about some months ago?
I still don't quite understand everything, but I had an external 120GB drive lying around, so I left it at FAT32 and am in the process of ripping my games to it through USB Loader. I'm doing it mostly out of curiosity, as I haven't really used my Wii in ages, but the thought of having everything at my fingertips is part of the reason I busted open my PSP as well. Between this and the fantastic PSP custom firm thread, I've come to realize this is really the only place to get intelligible, helpful tips on these topics (and written in full sentences to boot!).
Beyond having everything in USB Loader, what are some other game-enhancing things that can be done? E.g., how do I get the DKC Returns Classic Controller patch that I remember hearing about some months ago?
UltimaKilo
Gold Member
Hey guys, quick question. I did the mod to another Wii (black) that I just picked up yesterday and I'm planning on selling the white one to my neighbor for $20 with SMG2 & SSMB.
Can I just delete the homebrew channel and the kid will no longer be able to access IOS and the rest of the stuff I put on the Wii?
Can I just delete the homebrew channel and the kid will no longer be able to access IOS and the rest of the stuff I put on the Wii?
TheBaldEmperor
Member
I'm trying to to do the soft mod for 4.3 U and please.hackmii.com isn't working. This is where i am supposed to enter my MAC address. What should I do?
Sorry, I've got no clue what could be causing that. Ubisoft has been doing much more than Nintendo to thwart USB loading lately (no other publisher has even tried), so it could be an advanced form of protection that just hasn't been noticed yet. All I can suggest for now is trying some other bases, or playing just that one from the disc.kamorra said:
The DKC thing is an Ocarina cheat. YOu need to get the cheat file, save a .gct file with the controller cheat enabled (which should be possible in Cfg), then in the options for the game, turn on Ocarina and start the game. YOu might find you need to experiment with different hook types until it works too.Clunker said:
Yes.UltimaKilo said:
Either wait a day or two and it will probably come back up, or go with one of the game based 4.3 alternative methods.TheBaldEmperor said:
Quote
Member
Clipper, looks like you were right. If I sit in CFG for too long the HDD goes to sleep (I think it's less than 5 minutes). I also forgot to mention that it's a USB 3.0 drive and some other sites are saying that they are a bit unstable in general on the Wii. Looks like I'm going to be returning this one for another.
i have a question.
i finally gave in and upgraded my wii to 4.2 (seemed to be the safest update). i have everything running now after installing a lot of stuff i avoided before like bootmii (i even made a backup this time)
here's my problem: when i went to install a new forwarder for my usb loader, the wad manager gave me an error (-1) when using a 4GB SDHC card but when i switched to my older 2GB SD card, it worked fine. i formattted the 4GB card to the same filesystem as the 2GB one (FAT) but there was no change and i still ge the same error. is there a way to fix this? my old card is full and i wanted to use the new one to keel all my games between the wii and 1 card.
i finally gave in and upgraded my wii to 4.2 (seemed to be the safest update). i have everything running now after installing a lot of stuff i avoided before like bootmii (i even made a backup this time)
here's my problem: when i went to install a new forwarder for my usb loader, the wad manager gave me an error (-1) when using a 4GB SDHC card but when i switched to my older 2GB SD card, it worked fine. i formattted the 4GB card to the same filesystem as the 2GB one (FAT) but there was no change and i still ge the same error. is there a way to fix this? my old card is full and i wanted to use the new one to keel all my games between the wii and 1 card.
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
Quick question, its driving me nuts, where the hell do I add
ntfs_write=1
fat_split_size=0
on the XML file? Any guide says dump it in there, but I did and it didn't work, so Im guessing it must be within some line of code?
To be super anal, where in here do I put those lines?
ntfs_write=1
fat_split_size=0
on the XML file? Any guide says dump it in there, but I did and it didn't work, so Im guessing it must be within some line of code?
To be super anal, where in here do I put those lines?
SecretMoblin
Member
Raging Spaniard said:
Just cut and paste them into config.txt. That's what worked for me.
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
Yeah but I need to use the xml file if I want it to work with my NTFS partition, which I do.
Everybody explains how to config the txt file, but its the xml one I need help with
Thanks though
Everybody explains how to config the txt file, but its the xml one I need help with
Thanks though
SecretMoblin
Member
Raging Spaniard said:Yeah but I need to use the xml file if I want it to work with my NTFS partition, which I do.
Everybody explains how to config the txt file, but its the xml one I need help with
Thanks though
Really? I use an NTFS drive and I added those lines to config.txt and it works fine...
Edit: The Wiki also makes clear you can add those lines to meta.xml or config.txt.
You either put them directly into config.txt, or you put them into the meta.xml file in <arg> tags. If you have a Windows machine (or a Linux or Mac machine with Mono), the easiest way is to use the Configurator, a version of which that can be updated to the latest version by the menus should already be in your usb-loader directory.Raging Spaniard said:
To change config.txt with the Configurator:
- Load the Configurator
- Read the existing config.txt with the button (if you start from the usb-loader directory it will ask to do this automatically)
- Go to Global Options 2 tab
- Set the ntfs_write and fat_split_size options to the values you want
- Click Generate config.txt with all options and save over the old one.
To change meta.xml with the Configurator:
- Load the Configurator
- Go to Meta Arguments tab
- Click read.xml and pick your file
- Go to Global Options 2 tab
- Set the ntfs_write and fat_split_size options to the values you want
- Go back to Meta Arguments tab
- Check the box next to Global Options 2 (or click Set All)
- Click Write meta.xml and save over the old one.
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
SecretMoblin said:
Then why do people rec. Using the xml file? Whats the benefit?
I don't know why anyone would recommend it for those options. It does have a difference when you put the ios option in there, but all the other options I can think of can appear in either location and will be handled the same way independent of the location. meta.xml options also exclusively allow you to select a game for autolaunch (without going by the menu) and to turn off the Cfg splash screen while autolaunching, which can't be done via config.txt.Raging Spaniard said:
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
Putting the<arg> tags did the trick! Thanks a lot for the help
FreeMufasa
Junior Member
Can I play online on my installed games?
fly high ~ayunite~
Member
About using the cfg to dump games...can I use those dumps in Dolphin without any messing about?
JumpingTheGun
Banned
You guys are making this seem a hell of a lot more confusing than that Joystiq article seemed to infer. Im awaiting on my hard copy of Xeno and I have a 2G SD card for the modification. Is it really reccommended to install the game to the card? If the game itself is almost 7GB how am I supposed to fit that all onto one card? Do I use multiples? Ugh. Self doubt rising.
FreeMufasa
Junior Member
I'm having a problem. Tried playing Tenkaichi 3 today and my Wii freezed halfway through the intro video. It's happened before with other games but after a restart and install, things were back to normal.
The problem is now my Wii won't even power on, not even the red or orange Wiiconnect24 light appear. I unplugged and replugged everything but still nothing. Any idea as to what I can do?
EDIT: nm, it's on =)
The problem is now my Wii won't even power on, not even the red or orange Wiiconnect24 light appear. I unplugged and replugged everything but still nothing. Any idea as to what I can do?
EDIT: nm, it's on =)
Yes. Just don't cheat while doing it.FreeMufasa said:
If that's all, then they're safe for him to leave on there.Anabuhabkuss said:
If your drive is formatted as NTSC and you add the options ntfs_write=1 and install_partitions=iso, you can use the same rips for both Cfg and Dolphin. Otherwise, you will need to use wbfsfile or another converter or manager app to convert the .wbfs file/s to a .iso.fly high ~ayunite~ said:
No, you don't need to install the game. It's just really convenient to do that if you have a spare hard drive or an 8GB SD card. All four region free techniques in the easy tutorial mentioned in the thread title support loading from the original disc.JumpingTheGun said:
Just got the HBC installed! But that's it. I'm trying to put Gecko OS on there without using the Homebrew Browser.
On the SD card I used to install HBC, it says I need to put the Gecko1931 folder inside sd:/apps . I do not have a folder called apps. Can I make one? If so, where do I place it?
BASICALLY: I apparently don't have this /apps folder. What should I do? Just make one?
On the SD card I used to install HBC, it says I need to put the Gecko1931 folder inside sd:/apps . I do not have a folder called apps. Can I make one? If so, where do I place it?
BASICALLY: I apparently don't have this /apps folder. What should I do? Just make one?
Thanks!
I also put the Browser on. Made things really easy since I actually couldn't get Gecko OS to work until I downloaded it through the HB Browser.
So glad that's over. My heart was pounding nearly the entire time I was doing all this. Terrifying. I hope I never have to do this again
I also put the Browser on. Made things really easy since I actually couldn't get Gecko OS to work until I downloaded it through the HB Browser.
So glad that's over. My heart was pounding nearly the entire time I was doing all this. Terrifying. I hope I never have to do this again
fly high ~ayunite~
Member
Clipper said:Yes. Just don't cheat while doing it.
If that's all, then they're safe for him to leave on there.
If your drive is formatted as NTSC and you add the options ntfs_write=1 and install_partitions=iso, you can use the same rips for both Cfg and Dolphin. Otherwise, you will need to use wbfsfile or another converter or manager app to convert the .wbfs file/s to a .iso.
No, you don't need to install the game. It's just really convenient to do that if you have a spare hard drive or an 8GB SD card. All four region free techniques in the easy tutorial mentioned in the thread title support loading from the original disc.
Many thanks, can anyone recommend a ripper to rip Gamecube games for use in Dolphin? Cfg doesn't seem to support gamecube discs.
lowrider007
Licorice-flavoured booze?
Loving my Wii since soft modding it, I mainly wanted to do it to play some of my classic snes games on my TV with the soft filter, Snes9xGX with the Club Nintendo Super Famicon pad is perfect, works like a dream.
<goes back to playing Super Ghouls and Ghosts>
<goes back to playing Super Ghouls and Ghosts>
Okay, I have just dusted off my Wii and installed it in a kitchen press with a projector. I haven't really used it in a year or so, but last time I did I vaguely rememeber it updating something - not the main firmware - just something like the cfg loader, I think, anyway I'm not getting this:
Any ideas how I would fix this? Changing disks is a pain and I can't even play Super Mario Bros as it wants to update the wii firmware.
EDIT fixed the huge image:d
Any ideas how I would fix this? Changing disks is a pain and I can't even play Super Mario Bros as it wants to update the wii firmware.
EDIT fixed the huge image:d
I don't remember but I'm pretty sure using cfg loader you can ignore disk updates, it would be in the options.
Also it's telling you what to do right there, you need to update some IOS files with the custom ones.
Don't remove any IOS files numbered 50 or lower, if I recall correctly. if you modify them at all, only overwrite them. Otherwise you will brick your console.
Also it's telling you what to do right there, you need to update some IOS files with the custom ones.
Don't remove any IOS files numbered 50 or lower, if I recall correctly. if you modify them at all, only overwrite them. Otherwise you will brick your console.
What you want to do is:Vagabundo said:
- Perform the Upgrading steps for the HBC (there is a separate section for upgrading instead of installing).
- Update the Wii using the game disc or the Internet (this is safe now).
- Install IOS236 if you never installed it (if you don't remember if you did, do it again anyway).
- Install d2x.
- Upgrade Cfg to the latest version and perform the meta.xml steps.
- If you use a forwarder, install this one, as your old one is probably too old.
abstract alien
Member
Can someone point me to how to remove the warning "press A" screen when the wii boots up? Thanks again for all of the help, this is pretty damn awesome.
Fake Edit: How in the world do you change the music in the CFG...that shit is terrible lol
Fake Edit: How in the world do you change the music in the CFG...that shit is terrible lol
abstract alien said:
Both these types of hacks, while possible, will mean you'll probably brick your Wii, if not now, then at the next time you need to update or something like that. DO NOT fool with the Wii Menu. EVER. It's not worth the risk.Ledsen said:Yeah I thought my speakers were broken or something... I echo the question if you can change/remove the music
RPGCrazied
Member
Isn't really game related, but can you do DVD movie playback via homebrew?
Yes, install WiiMC: http://www.wiimc.org/RPGCrazied said:
Playback can be a bit hit and miss - I watched the entirety of Army of Darkness with no problems on it, but my daughter's Count Duckula DVD kept freezing on it.
Sorry, I somehow missed reading the edit text. The music in Cfg is fully Configurable. It is the Configurable USB Loader after all. It randomly plays all .mp3 and .mod music files from the Cfg base directory (usually sd:/usb-loader or usb:/usb-loader) by default, but you can choose any other directory or specify a single file via the music option. Personally, I have .mp3s I ripped from my Mario and Zelda Big Band CD, which is awesome.Ledsen said:
Yes, as specified above, but playing DVDs is also known to lower the life expectancy of the Wii's laser.RPGCrazied said:
It's always been risky, especially when it was Preloader. Priiloader is a lot better off, but it has been responsible for some bricks and I do not recommend that people install it. If you have it safely installed already, there is no reason to remove it (removing it also has high risks if you mess up).kamorra said:
abstract alien
Member
Holy cow...all though I didn't mean this, I was curious about it. Thanks for the heads up. Sad that we can't safely do anything about the warning screen though, but I'll live with that.Clipper said:
Clipper said:
Nice...changing as we speak :^)
IrishNinja
Member
sorry if this has been answered (looking through posts and the 4 region-free methods), i modded a friend's wii a while back via the smash bros exploit.
i left him with, i forget which, it was a backup loader that was supposed to serve as a means for bypassing region as well - only now, he gets a black screen when loading his Xenoblade game from it. again, he's not touched it in years - am i just lacking some current IOS files? what's the quickest way to get this setup going? thanks in advance here!
i left him with, i forget which, it was a backup loader that was supposed to serve as a means for bypassing region as well - only now, he gets a black screen when loading his Xenoblade game from it. again, he's not touched it in years - am i just lacking some current IOS files? what's the quickest way to get this setup going? thanks in advance here!
That description can only refer to Cfg (provided you used the tutorial). Assuming it's an NTSC Wii, he might need to set Video to Force NTSC for the game. Do other non-import games work for him? If that doesn't help, it's a dual layer game, so he might have a very old IOS249 which wouldn't rip the game correctly. In that case, he needs to delete the game, install d2x and upgrade Cfg to the latest version (including the meta.xml steps), then reinstall the game and it should work.IrishNinja said:
IrishNinja
Member
it's NTSC, and you're right, he might not have the options forcing that mode. again though, he insists on playing from the disc, are there any IOS files in particular he'd need to do so for that game?
ill check on other import games, i'm inclined to say no but i know i did mine the same way and have played several, though a) from USB loader and b) i have more current IOS files on mine. thanks here, clipper.
ill check on other import games, i'm inclined to say no but i know i did mine the same way and have played several, though a) from USB loader and b) i have more current IOS files on mine. thanks here, clipper.
So I have priiloader installed as per some tutorial I used a long time ago told me. The hacks I have enabled are skipping the health screen and blocking disc updates. I see that you mentioned that it was not worth the risk of messing with the menu, so should I uninstall it? How should I do that?