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[CTLance]

I think a sinister laugh is in order.

MWA HA HA HA HA.

I finally caved in and wrapped my head around the usbloader. Damn thing isn't the most stable when ripping, but I gotta admit it's a darn convenient tool.

Took some time to rip my 50+ games, 200+GB of 320GB are still available though; looks like I'm good for another 100+ games. Thanks to Stumpokapow and all the other helpful souls in this thread.

 

[Fuzzy]

I think a sinister laugh is in order.

MWA HA HA HA HA.

I finally caved in and wrapped my head around the usbloader. Damn thing isn't the most stable when ripping, but I gotta admit it's a darn convenient tool.

Took some time to rip my 50+ games, 200+GB of 320GB are still available though; looks like I'm good for another 100+ games. Thanks to Stumpokapow and all the other helpful souls in this thread.

Really? Which version were you using?

 

[CTLance]

Really? Which version were you using?

The Ultimate one (v7.4) from Stumps step-by-step tutorial.

For example, it froze up four or five times when I ripped Metroid Prime 3 - roughly three times somewhere near 50% pogress, and the other times at around 5%. I could still eject the disk, but the screen was frozen and none of the Wiimote buttons worked. All I could do was push the Wii reset button, which resulted in a reboot (as it should be). No clue what went wrong there.

But whatever. Only two annoyances I've encountered in "daily usage" so far is that it doesn't want to download the cover for the german COD3 version, and that Red Steel apparently doesn't work with it. Boo.
...
Oh well. I'll survive.

 

[Linkhero1]

I think a sinister laugh is in order.

MWA HA HA HA HA.

I finally caved in and wrapped my head around the usbloader. Damn thing isn't the most stable when ripping, but I gotta admit it's a darn convenient tool.

Took some time to rip my 50+ games, 200+GB of 320GB are still available though; looks like I'm good for another 100+ games. Thanks to Stumpokapow and all the other helpful souls in this thread.

I still haven't installed USB Loader. I am currently trying to get a good hard drive for cheap. It's amazing how 50+ games were only around 100 GB. I think I only have around 20 games, so I am now considering a smaller HD.

 

[Mejilan]

I used various versions of Ultimate USB Loader to rip my (then) 54 games, and got 2 hangs (which actually cost me some HDD space I couldn't recover.)
I wound up reformatting that drive and reripping all of my games (now 58) using Configurable USB Loader v29d, and they all went without a hitch.
Now that Ult USBL is basically dead-in-the-water, I do recommend you update to Cfg USBL. It's basically everything Ult used to be, plus more.

Even with 58 games installed, I'm using under 120GBs of my 500GB HDD!

 

[Stumpokapow]

that Red Steel apparently doesn't work with it. Boo.

I can't speak for Red Steel in specific, but at least half of the games that do not work with USB Loaders will work if you put any disc in the disc drive. I know this is the case for Metroid Prime 3 and De Blob.

Not sure about Red Steel, you'd have to check a compatibility list.

 

[scitek]

I can't speak for Red Steel in specific, but at least half of the games that do not work with USB Loaders will work if you put any disc in the disc drive. I know this is the case for Metroid Prime 3 and De Blob.

Not sure about Red Steel, you'd have to check a compatibility list.

Red Steel hangs at the "Licensed by Nintendo" screen. It's completely incompatible right now. It's one game that could really use the cut-down loading time, too.

 

[Neverfade]

I just read the last few pages of this thread, and my face exploded.


Here's my question:

I have 3.3 running with Twilight Hack. I want 4.0 to happen. WIibrew.org tells me Bannerbomb replaces TH.

How does I bannerbomb?

Just follow the instructions on wiibrew? Or do I need to undo the TH work? Can I BB through my current Homebrew channel?

Apologies in advance if I'm treading into redundant material, there's a lot of posts here.

 

[Saint Gregory]

I used various versions of Ultimate USB Loader to rip my (then) 54 games, and got 2 hangs (which actually cost me some HDD space I couldn't recover.)
I wound up reformatting that drive and reripping all of my games (now 58) using Configurable USB Loader v29d, and they all went without a hitch.
Now that Ult USBL is basically dead-in-the-water, I do recommend you update to Cfg USBL. It's basically everything Ult used to be, plus more.

Even with 58 games installed, I'm using under 120GBs of my 500GB HDD!

I've been using a really generic 120GB usb-powered drive that I had left over from a work project. The only game I've put extensive time into since I loaded all my discs has been Oboro Muramasa. With all the crazy scenery changes and dynamic music it could be possible that I haven't played a game yet where this spindown can be an issue.

One thing that's worrying me though is it looks like my drive never powers down, even when the Wii is off. I think it might be because of WiiConnect24 (some people use the usb lan adapter) and while I haven't had any in-game issues I noticed that the last few games I loaded a couple days after I did the bulk of them took forever to install. If this drive dies on me or I experience spindown can I copy to a new drive or will I have to do the install all over again?

 

[Synless]

I'd recommend the Seagate FreeAgent Go portable drive. You can get 500GBs for under $100 these days. I think I paid $90 for mine. And you can easily get much smaller ones for cheaper.

Pros:
+100% USB Loader compatible. No known issues.
+Tiny, quiet, cool, lightweight.
+Silver color matches the Wii fairly well.
+USB powered means there's no external power source, and it can auto-power on/off with the Wii. No power switches.
+One of the only portable drives to come with onboard software that can permanently disable spin-down, which if it happens, will freeze any game at the next load attempt. Software even works if the drive has been reformatted to WBFS.

Cons:
-Not the best buck vs. size value.

Is the spin-down thing something that you have to manually turn on or is it always there? I have the same one you have (a 320 though not a 500) and the other day Klonoa froze up on me after I left it paused for a few minutes. When I unpaused it and ran through a door that had a loading screen it just froze....

 

[Mejilan]

I have 3.3 running with Twilight Hack. I want 4.0 to happen. WIibrew.org tells me Bannerbomb replaces TH.

Eh, if you already have the HBC installed, you don't need the TH or the BB exploits. They're used to... install the HBC.

You're basically good to go. There are a couple of ways you can update, including following some of Stump's tutorials posted throughout the last couple of pages.

If I were you, I'd probably do something like this:
1) Install BootMii to boot2 if possible, otherwise to IOS.
2) Install CIOS36 rev10.
3) Use the IOS60 Updater/Patcher on Wiibrew.org to download and patch IOS60 (skip the downloading of IOS61 and the Wii Shop Channel).
4) Upgrade to 4.0 using Nintendo's own updater.
5) Run IOS Downgrader to patch the usual exploits back to the IOSes Nintendo's fixed over the past few months.

Once that's all done, you'll have the best of both worlds. Download and set up the USB Loader of your choice (recommended: Configurable USB Loader v30x) and you're set.

I've been using a really generic 120GB usb-powered drive that I had left over from a work project. The only game I've put extensive time into since I loaded all my discs has been Oboro Muramasa. With all the crazy scenery changes and dynamic music it could be possible that I haven't played a game yet where this spindown can be an issue.

One thing that's worrying me though is it looks like my drive never powers down, even when the Wii is off. I think it might be because of WiiConnect24 (some people use the usb lan adapter) and while I haven't had any in-game issues I noticed that the last few games I loaded a couple days after I did the bulk of them took forever to install. If this drive dies on me or I experience spindown can I copy to a new drive or will I have to do the install all over again?

Using a WBFS GUI (recommended: WBFS Manager 3.0.1), you should be able to do a drive->drive cloning. I think. I've not had cause to do it, but I'm sure that at least some of the WBFS GUIs out there allow it.

Is the spin-down thing something that you have to manually turn on or is it always there? I have the same one you have (a 320 though not a 500) and the other day Klonoa froze up on me after I left it paused for a few minutes. When I unpaused it and ran through a door that had a loading screen it just froze....

Most portable drives come with spindown enabled, usually set to go off in 5 - 15 minutes. Few drives allow you to switch it off without cracking open the HDD and fiddling with it. Seagate FreeAgent Go drives, thankfully, are friendly in that sense. They come with on-board software that can be used to toggle the spindown off completely.

 

[Synless]

Most portable drives come with spindown enabled, usually set to go off in 5 - 15 minutes. Few drives allow you to switch it off without cracking open the HDD and fiddling with it. Seagate FreeAgent Go drives, thankfully, are friendly in that sense. They come with on-board software that can be used to toggle the spindown off completely.

How do you toggle this? I don't see an option....Actually to be honest, my computer won't even let me access the hard drive at all after I formatted it on the Wii.

 

[Mejilan]

What drive are you using? The Seagate FreeaAgent Go?
The drive would have come with software called Seagate Manager.
Unless you reformatted the entire thing as WBFS.

If that's the case, just download it from Seagate's website.
Seagate Manager can detect the drive and allow you to disable the spindown even if it's already been reformatted as WBFS.

 

[Neverfade]

Eh, if you already have the HBC installed, you don't need the TH or the BB exploits. They're used to... install the HBC.

You're basically good to go. There are a couple of ways you can update, including following some of Stump's tutorials posted throughout the last couple of pages.

If I were you, I'd probably do something like this:
1) Install BootMii to boot2 if possible, otherwise to IOS.
2) Install CIOS36 rev10.
3) Use the IOS60 Updater/Patcher on Wiibrew.org to download and patch IOS60 (skip the downloading of IOS61 and the Wii Shop Channel).
4) Upgrade to 4.0 using Nintendo's own updater.
5) Run IOS Downgrader to patch the usual exploits back to the IOSes Nintendo's fixed over the past few months.

Once that's all done, you'll have the best of both worlds. Download and set up the USB Loader of your choice (recommended: Configurable USB Loader v30x) and you're set.

wat.

I'm not interested at all in a USB loader, does that simplify that jibberjabber at all?

 

[Mejilan]

Then what do you want?
To update to 4.0?

Just update via Nintendo's servers. You won't lose the HBC.
I'd still at least try to install BootMii to your Wii's boot2, however.
Brick protection.

Actually, I'd probably do 1, 3, 4, and 5 just to be safe. You don't want to regret anything later. (I'd do 2 as well, while you're at it.) ;p

 

[Linkhero1]

wat.

I'm not interested at all in a USB loader, does that simplify that jibberjabber at all?

Then if you want your Wii to be safe and updated, you're going to have to do 1, 3, 4 and 5. 1 is necessary if you want to be able to bring your Wii back to life in case of a brick. I'm not really sure what IOS60 does but just to be on the safe side update it.

 

[Synless]

What drive are you using? The Seagate FreeaAgent Go?
The drive would have come with software called Seagate Manager.
Unless you reformatted the entire thing as WBFS.

If that's the case, just download it from Seagate's website.
Seagate Manager can detect the drive and allow you to disable the spindown even if it's already been reformatted as WBFS.

Awesome, I don't know why I didn't have that software to begin with but I have it now and shut the powersaving features to never. Thanks again!

 

[EphemeralDream]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I hope all the USB Loader development won't overshadow other major movements on the wiibrew front. I may use it down the line, but as of now not interested enough to spend $50+ for some better load times on Wii games.

 

[Linkhero1]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I hope all the USB Loader development won't overshadow other major movements on the wiibrew front. I may use it down the line, but as of now not interested enough to spend $50+ for some better load times on Wii games.

I haven't done it yet but think about it this way. You'll never have to get up to insert a Wii game again. (well unless it's a new game that you haven't put on your hd yet)

The only reason I haven't done it yet is because I am dirt poor as of now and can't afford to buy a hd.

 

[Mejilan]

Well, the big deal was the release of a beta version of BootMii. I can't wait until it gets perfected, and more importantly, honestly utilized. MINI is a bit of an innovation. It's full level access to the Wii WITHOUT using Nintendo code, such as the existing IOSes or custom versions of them.

Awesome, I don't know why I didn't have that software to begin with but I have it now and shut the powersaving features to never. Thanks again!

It was on the drive to begin with. But if you did a complete wipe and reformat, then yeah, you would have lost it. Eh, it's probably better to get a newer version of the software from their website, in any event.

 

[Linkhero1]

I just got up BootMii running and am in the process of backing up my NAND. I was wondering, what a bad block means when creating a backup of the NAND?

So far no issues at all.

 

[Saint Gregory]

Using a WBFS GUI (recommended: WBFS Manager 3.0.1), you should be able to do a drive->drive cloning. I think. I've not had cause to do it, but I'm sure that at least some of the WBFS GUIs out there allow it.

Cool, I doubt I'll need anymore drive space since my entire collection so far is 60GB but it's good to know I have options if my drive starts to die.

 

[Mejilan]

Wiis come from the factory with bad blocks, apparently.
At least according to the BootMii documentation.

 

[Linkhero1]

Wiis come from the factory with bad blocks, apparently.
At least according to the BootMii documentation.

Interesting. I was just reading up on bootmii and this one guy had no bad blocks apparently. I was close but got 1 bad block.

 

[fugimax]

So, to play Punch-Out I had to upgrade to 4.0. After upgrading I used the bannerbomb stuff to add HBC, which I didn't have before. I also have a wiijii modchip that runs one of the open-source firmwares.

Questions:
Did I screw myself by not installing bootmii before 4.0?
I see all this talk of CIOS, IOS, etc. yet HBC installed just fine. What's that all for?

 

[Mejilan]

The BootMii installer employs a new exploit that allows you to install it, the HBC, and DVDX even on a 4.0 Wii. Before this, 4.0 had blocked HBC and DVDX installations, for the most part.

A CIOS is necessary to run USB Loader.

 

[fugimax]

The BootMii installer employs a new exploit that allows you to install it, the HBC, and DVDX even on a 4.0 Wii. Before this, 4.0 had blocked HBC and DVDX installations, for the most part.

A CIOS is necessary to run USB Loader.

Awesome, thanks. It was super-easy to install, I was surprised.

I'll look into the CIOS stuff if I decide to run a USB Loader. Right now, I'm fine popping discs in and out. Though I'd like to have my gamecube library easily accessible ... I assume those all work OK from a HDD?

 

[Mejilan]

Nope. Wii downclocks to a GCN when running GCN games. GCNs didn't have USB ports, thus... no USB Loader. That's Wii-only, for now. Though that may change in the future.

 

[Linkhero1]

Hey Mejilan, I was wondering if there are any issues with having both Preloader and BootMii installed on a Wii. I might install Preloader just in case.

 

[Mejilan]

No issues. They play quite nicely together.
I'm keeping Preloader for the cool hacks.

 

[Linkhero1]

Great to hear. Going to install it now

 

[koam]

Mejilan: Hey! So, If I have a modchip installed, no homebrew chan and on 4.0, I can still get usb loader to work using bootmii?

 

[dream]

No issues. They play quite nicely together.
I'm keeping Preloader for the cool hacks.

I'm guessing it's been covered but why would I want to install BootMii if I already have Preloader?

 

[Disguises]

So, i have a problem...CIOS36 rev10 won't install due to (i think) Nintendo replacing my motherboard when i sent it back for repair. I think this is the problem since it's a launch Wii but BootMii won't install onto Boot2, thus meaning my Boot1 is incompatible and 'new'.

My question is: Will my Wii act how new 'LU64+' Wii's act (as in, wont be able to downgrade and thus install CIOS's?).

Another thing, is it just the newer Boot1's which block downgrades?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Anony]

just making sure; can you install DVDx through bannerbomb

 

[Clipper]

just making sure; can you install DVDx through bannerbomb

With the BootMii installer, yes (you don't have to install BootMii).

I'm guessing it's been covered but why would I want to install BootMii if I already have Preloader?

Read this.

Mejilan: Hey! So, If I have a modchip installed, no homebrew chan and on 4.0, I can still get usb loader to work using bootmii?

That's what most of the last few pages of this thread have been discussing. In short, yes. Use BannerBomb to run BootMii and install HBC, then follow Stump's tutorial.

 

[Mejilan]

I'm guessing it's been covered but why would I want to install BootMii if I already have Preloader?

If you can install the Boot2 version of BootMii, then you've got much more powerful brick protection than anything Preloader can offer. Additionally, BootMii is more than just brick protection. It's also a new, higher level of homebrew that doesn't use or require the use of Nintendo software (customized or otherwise) to run, while still granting full access to the hardware.

Mejilan: Hey! So, If I have a modchip installed, no homebrew chan and on 4.0, I can still get usb loader to work using bootmii?

I don't know ANYTHING about Wii modchips (not a fan), but if you've got some way to launch homebrew using it, then you should be fine.

 

[xero273]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148345

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148341

I am looking to get a hard drive for usbloader. So either of the two drives above should have the option to turn off spin down? Thanks.

 

[Rayne.S]

On the verge of softmodding my Wii console. I only have an SDHD Card, meaning i need to update to 4.0 to use it. Would it be safe to update through Wiiconnect and use Bannerbomb to softmod ?

 

[Clipper]

On the verge of softmodding my Wii console. I only have an SDHD Card, meaning i need to update to 4.0 to use it. Would it be safe to update through Wiiconnect and use Bannerbomb to softmod ?

Your options are limited here as there is currently a bug in the Homebrew Channel that breaks SDHC support if the system supports SDHC already.

You might have some luck using BannerBomb all the way, though. There is a way that might work, although it's a tad complicated. If you want to try it, give it a go, but otherwise wait for the fix on HBC or buy an SD card.

If you update, then you should be able to run your homebrew with a combination of BannerBomb and LoadMii each time as a proxy for the HomeBrew Channel. This has the added benefit that you aren't installing anything on your Wii, so it's even less invasive than the Homebrew Channel. However, if you want to be able to use a USB Loader as well, do the following (which also uses BannerBomb and LoadMii):

First, update, then use this tutorial, except ignore the final step (i.e., don't install IOS36.wad, BUL3g.wad & HBC.wad).

Instead, you need to get cIOS rev 10 from here. Unzip and add the .dol file to the root directory of your SD card. Use LoadMii to run it.

You should now be able to install any of the USB Loaders to your SD card (the .dol should be in the root directory) and run them.

 

[Wario64]

I'm on the verge of installing BootMii after getting a freak message saying my system files were corrupted today. All I did was launch USBloader (via a channel forwarder) and it gave me an error message.

I havent read much about Bootmii but I heard that you should use a SD card that you don't mind using since you can't uninstall Bootmii from it? What happens if you accidently lose this SD card? I feel like installing it, backing up my NAND then storing the SD card somewhere so I don't have to deal with the menu coming up every time I boot up.

I simply just want to use it to protect from bricks and maybe dwelve into 4.0 finally

 

[Clipper]

I'm on the verge of installing BootMii after getting a freak message saying my system files were corrupted today. All I did was launch USBloader (via a channel forwarder) and it gave me an error message.

I havent read much about Bootmii but I heard that you should use a SD card that you don't mind using since you can't uninstall Bootmii from it? What happens if you accidently lose this SD card? I feel like installing it, backing up my NAND then storing the SD card somewhere so I don't have to deal with the menu coming up every time I boot up.

I simply just want to use it to protect from bricks and maybe dwelve into 4.0 finally

From my reading, you should be able to uninstall Bootmii from the card. Just copy the bootmii directory to a PC or somewhere else you consider safe. If you are using it to perform NAND backup, then just make sure the SD is formatted to FAT32 before using the BootMii installer. That way you'll have BootMii and your backup on the one card and the boot2 stub will autoboot to the system menu for you due to the lack of the BootMii code.

As for the menu, there's an autoboot option that will allow you to bypass it, I believe. Hence, you may want to keep the BootMii SD card in your Wii anyway.

 

[Linkhero1]

I'm on the verge of installing BootMii after getting a freak message saying my system files were corrupted today. All I did was launch USBloader (via a channel forwarder) and it gave me an error message.

I havent read much about Bootmii but I heard that you should use a SD card that you don't mind using since you can't uninstall Bootmii from it? What happens if you accidently lose this SD card? I feel like installing it, backing up my NAND then storing the SD card somewhere so I don't have to deal with the menu coming up every time I boot up.

I simply just want to use it to protect from bricks and maybe dwelve into 4.0 finally

I think that message is common. I got it the first time 4.0 was out. I'm sure there's a bug in there somewhere.

 

[Mejilan]

Currently, there's no way to uninstall BootMii if it's flashed to Boot2.
You can disable the BootMii menu by switching SD cards or removing the BootMii files from the SD card, but BootMii will technically still be installed. They have not yet incorporated of wiping it from Boot2 for real.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148345

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148341

I am looking to get a hard drive for usbloader. So either of the two drives above should have the option to turn off spin down? Thanks.

Yes. I have the 500GB one and I've been championing it for weeks now.

 

[Neo Child]

Not to sound newbish, but since the topic title said 4.0 defeated - does this mean that I can now re-hack my version 4.0e Wii? Since I hacked before, installed new firmware then accidently deleted twilight hack.

If so, how? Thanks =]

 

[TheGreatDave]

Not to sound newbish, but since the topic title said 4.0 defeated - does this mean that I can now re-hack my version 4.0e Wii? Since I hacked before, installed new firmware then accidently deleted twilight hack.

If so, how? Thanks =]

There's an exploit called Bannerbomb. There's detailed guides in the thread on how to go about using it.

 

[autobzooty]

Can you rip gamecube games to harddrive and run them with USB loader? I have so many games I wanna put on there just for convenience's sake.

 

[Clipper]

Can you rip gamecube games to harddrive and run them with USB loader? I have so many games I wanna put on there just for convenience's sake.

Nope. At least not yet.

 

[Mejilan]

I hear that Crediar is working on getting GCN games working without shutting down Wii functionality. He's calling it "Freedom" or something, according to the little I've read about it.

 

[SS4Rob]

So I picked up Punch-Out!! and it wants me to perform a System Update... not sure how I feel aboot that. I'm currently 4.0 - here are the details of my setup:

1.) Started at 3.2U with HBC 1.0.1
2.) Installed cIOS rev 10, then updated to 4.0 via Nintendo
3.) Used IOS Downgrader to redo the trucha bug, then installed Ultimate USB Loader 7.4
4.) Began the dance of ripping and rejoicing

Any ideas on what this system update actually is? I'm already 4.0, what is Punch-Out!! trying to do to my Wii? Should I re-run the IOS Downgrader? Will I even BE ABLE to re-run anymore IOS modifiers after doing whatever Punch-Out!! wants to do?

Oh, it seems to work just fine via Ultimate USB Loader 7.4... so I may play it a while this way until I figure out what the actual disc is wanting to do... I wanna play it for real at least an hour so I can vote on it in the Nintendo Channel :-D