GAF Wii Homebrew thread: Homebrew, emulators, USB disc installs! Easy tutorial!
- Thread starter radioheadrule83
- Start date
Bel Marduk
Banned
So, uh, would this SD card and SD card reader get the job done for region free (don't know anything about these kind of things)? They're pretty cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J47W12/?tag=neogaf0e-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NS828K/?tag=neogaf0e-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J47W12/?tag=neogaf0e-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NS828K/?tag=neogaf0e-20
You need a Japanese game to hack it in the first place, but once you have the HBC on there, it is the same as any other Wii for hacking purposes.kunonabi said:
You wouldn't need to wait. You might have to play Skyward Sword through the same method you use to play region free discs for a while, though. Installing homebrew will not affect any of your other content or online services, so VC, WiiWare, retail games, the Wii Shop and everything else is safe.Aurarian said:
I seriously doubt SS will even have an update, though. We will almost certainly know before launch whether it includes one and the workarounds should be ready then too, so just check back in the thread before playing SS for the first time and we will have a solution for you. There is no danger to installing homebrew now and if yo do it via our GAF Wiki tutorial, then it works with all current discs and updates too.
Finally, Cfg is one of the ways to allow yu to do region free, but it also enables USB Loading for you too if you want to try that out. The Wiki lists the other region free methods too and gives some pros and cons of each.
I don't know where you get those instructions. You need IOS236 to install d2x. BootMii is optional, but instructions for installing it are on the BootMii page and you can do that while you install the HBC. Basically, all the pages on the GAF Wiki link to all the previous stuff you would need.Big Papa Husker said:
Yes, but note the special offer on the SD card. The seller you plan to use will give you a free SD card reader if you buy the SD card reader from them, so I suggest you get that card reader from them instead of the Amazon one you linked.Bel Marduk said:
Edit: I just clicked the link again and it took me to a different seller, but they were also offering a free card reader, so maybe your initial seller wasn't making the offer, but at least two are.
Edit 2: I just noticed that the other seller (eTech) might be giving you an SDHC card instead of an SD according to the pictures. You do NOT want an SDHC card. Only SD will work with the initial hack you make to the Wii. The SD card in the 3DS is good for this, though, if you have one.
Bel Marduk
Banned
Clipper said:
Wait, so some sellers are selling a reader on top 2GB SD card? Cool.
One last question btw. I was on the GAF Gecko OS site and the instructions for installing the app without the Homebrew Browser is as folllows:
So basically, when I do that, I put in the SD card back in and go to the Homebrew Channel and Gecko OS will be there? Then I could install the Gecko OS channel too?
jediyoshi
Member
Bel Marduk said:
I have that same reader, works fine for me. Just be weary of this one and all the ones that look like it, there seem to be a lot on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FNDWLQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Mine died pretty quick, although it makes sense at that price
Gecko OS is not a channel. It is an app for HBC. You could install a forwarder channel that links to the Gecko app if you like, but I do not recommend it as channels from untrusted sources can cause problems. The forwarder channel I link to for Cfg is known to be safe, but I don't know of any safe Gecko OS forwarders (though I'm sure most are).Bel Marduk said:
Bel Marduk
Banned
Clipper said:
Hmm I saw someone with a Gecko OS channel on Youtube. But doesn't really matter. So basically I just follow the instructions listed, I put in the SD card back in the Wii and go to the Homebrew Channel and Gecko OS will be there?
Bel Marduk
Banned
Clipper said:
Wow, much easier than I thought then. Thanks
Now to hope import prices aren't that bad a while after Xenoblade releases. I'll homebrew my Wii by then.My wife accidentally updated our Wii the other day, so I can't use homebrew stuff anymore. At first I was thinking "eh, no big deal, I barely use the Wii anyway", but then I realized that I'm going to want to import Last Story and Xenoblade eventually. Is it possible to reinstall the Homebrew channel with the most recent Wii firmware?
Bel Marduk
Banned
aett said:
Yes, the Homebrew Channel can be installed on the latest firmware (4.3U).
A Human Becoming
More than a Member
Is it okay to ask for help installing Smash Bros. mods in here?
Are you talking about Brawl+? If so, you need to use an application to compile the .gct file from the cheat file of your region (or just obtain the compiled .gct file). Once you have that, put it in sd:/cheats and with an application that supports Ocarina, such as Cfg, turn on Ocarina and launch the game and it should work.A Human Becoming said:
Anticitizen One
Banned
Clipper said:
Sorry for my ignorance but what is cfg? and where do I find config.txt?
Cfg = Configurable USB Loader. config.txt will be inside the base directory, sd:/usb-loader.Anticitizen One said:
Before I attempt to install the Homebrew Channel to my Wii, let me ask two things just so it's clear:
1. I can install it even with me having the most recent firmware, right?
2. After installing, I have to update the Wii Shop Channel separately from now on? Is that still the case?
1. I can install it even with me having the most recent firmware, right?
2. After installing, I have to update the Wii Shop Channel separately from now on? Is that still the case?
1. YesPyrokai said:Before I attempt to install the Homebrew Channel to my Wii, let me ask two things just so it's clear:
1. I can install it even with me having the most recent firmware, right?
2. After installing, I have to update the Wii Shop Channel separately from now on? Is that still the case?
2. Yes but we havent had an update in a while and it's not a real issue.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
The Wii Shop channel is updated separately just to avoid upgrading the firmware. It may be the case that newer firmwares are perfectly hackable... but why risk it? So you keep your old firmware if you can, and to get into the shop you just update that separately.
As Linkhero1 said, this is only an issue when Nintendo upgrades the firmware... and at this rate it's something you think about on a yearly basis, if that. At this late stage of the Wii... maybe there will be no more updates...?
As Linkhero1 said, this is only an issue when Nintendo upgrades the firmware... and at this rate it's something you think about on a yearly basis, if that. At this late stage of the Wii... maybe there will be no more updates...?
So just double checking. I've soft-modded my 4.3U Wii and installed StartPatch and told it to block disc and online updates. I also enabled the region free hacks. So I should be all ready to play Xenoblade/TLS when they come out in Europe, right? I don't have any imported games to test with. Is there a chance I'll experience any video errors or anything?
I followed the tutorial wiki to the letter.
I followed the tutorial wiki to the letter.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
It sounds like you've done it right... but how can you really know until you have the disc in hand?Zane said:
One of the startpatch toggles was "force NTSC" wasn't it? If that's working then I wouldn't expect video problems...
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Maybe import Disaster, Another Code-R, or Pikmin 2 NPC to test the setup before September?
BocoDragon said:It sounds like you've done it right... but how can you really know until you have the disc in hand?
One of the startpatch toggles was "force NTSC" wasn't it? If that's working then I wouldn't expect video problems...
No, there wasn't an option to force NTSC mode. Gecko OS has that but I read on the wiki that it doesn't work with all games. So I used the StartPatch method.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Hmmm well you'd better hope that StartPatch does force NTSC in some way... otherwise the PAL Xenoblade will not work.Zane said:
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Most likely. They're both PAL.Zane said:
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Actually the Homebrew Channel itself will be stored on the Wii storage after you install it.Pyrokai said:
But all the homebrew programs that you launch in the Homebrew Channel will be stored on an SD card. And yes, it's ok to have the stuff on the same card as official Wii Shop games.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Pyrokai said:
You can just use your Wii SD card no problem, no need to format.
Clever Pun
Member
Clipper said:
is it best to update config.txt before installing Cfg for the first time, or after?
velvet_nitemare
Member
Hey guys, some help please.
So i moved recently and i don't have a wired internet connection in my room, no XBOX 360 wireless dongle and i got a PS3 ylod 2 months ago.
Wanted to try netflix on the Wii wirelessly, but it doesn't accept the disc anymore and is telling me to update. I haven't updated in a while, i don't even have acess to the Wiishop, which doesn't bother me since i refuse to buy stuff off it. But i needs my netflix, so i was wondering how to go about getting around the update issue? Many thanks.
So i moved recently and i don't have a wired internet connection in my room, no XBOX 360 wireless dongle and i got a PS3 ylod 2 months ago.
Wanted to try netflix on the Wii wirelessly, but it doesn't accept the disc anymore and is telling me to update. I haven't updated in a while, i don't even have acess to the Wiishop, which doesn't bother me since i refuse to buy stuff off it. But i needs my netflix, so i was wondering how to go about getting around the update issue? Many thanks.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
So the Netflix disc is finished FYI. It's now an app you download from the WiiShop.velvet_nitemare said:
To gain access to the Wiishop even on old firmwares, follow the instructions here.
velvet_nitemare
Member
BocoDragon said:
Thx, i'll try this when i get home.
HisshouBuraiKen
Member
Zane said:
CFG USB loader offers the full plethora of video options, so if all else fails get a cheap drive and rip your new imports to it, you'll be all set.
I see that the tutorials are all very clear about needing to use a SD Card (<2 GB) for the 4.3 SSBB installation, but what about the earlier firmware updates? They just mention using an SD card, and I'd rather not have to buy an additional card for one use only. My Wii hasn't been updated since either the SMG or SSBB auto-updates, so it should be a fairly old firmware. Any help?
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I imagine in your position you can use any SD card.ag-my001 said:
BocoDragon, you've done a pretty good job of holding down the fort while I slept (lol timezones). Anyway, here's a bit more info for those questions not fully or partially incorrectly answered:
If you have a TV that does 480p, then you almost certainly should be able to get the game working as it should support 480p, which is equivalent in both regions (and 90% of the games that don't support 480p can be forced to use 480p anyway).
It's not certain. Some people find some PAL games work and others don't. It also depends on your TV. Some NTSC TVs play PAL stuff just fine while others have lots of issues (consequently, almost all PAL TVs made in the last 10 years ago display NTSC stuff just fine).Zane said:
If you have a TV that does 480p, then you almost certainly should be able to get the game working as it should support 480p, which is equivalent in both regions (and 90% of the games that don't support 480p can be forced to use 480p anyway).
As stated earlier, there's no need to format. You don't need to delete your games. Note that the instructions ask you to move your private directory elsewhere; those are where your games are. Just copy that directory back afterwards as suggested and you will get access back to them.Pyrokai said:
config.txt is part of the Cfg installation. It is only used by Cfg and you will get the defalt file as part of the installation, which you can then edit to add the lines to write to NTFS drives.Clever Pun said:
The Netflix situation has been answered, but it is also safe to fully update your Wii and I suggest you do. Just upgrade the HBC and install d2x beforehand, then do an official update. Instructions for this process are here.velvet_nitemare said:
It actually depends what your current firmware is. I think they added SDHC support in 4.0, so I don't think an SDHC card will work on firmwares less than that. Using an SD is the safest option as it is guaranteed to work. And that is <=2GB, not <2GB (which is perhaps my mistake on the tutorial and I'll fix it if so).ag-my001 said:
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Clipper said:
Cheers!
Clipper said:
It was <= in the tutorial, I just was too lazy and picked the symbol that I thought more important. I still have to check the firmware version on my Wii (packed in the box from my last move), and since I have SSBB, it shouldn't really matter. Even if I have to spend $10 on a 2 GB SD card, that still puts the total Xenoblade cost ~$100 for the game and CC Pro, which is still in easy rationalization/justification range.
kunonabi
Member
What about discs that come with updates on them? Can you just run them through gecko without downloading the update or would it be better to just update the wii to the current firmware and then then reinstall the appropriate homebrew stuff after? I should be second wii that will not be going online or using the shop so I don't really care about keeping the firmware updated at all.
All current updates are fine and it is recommended that you fully update the Wii after installing homebrew. Future updates might be an issue. Running through any of the region free methods will bypass updates on the disc, but if you run into an update on a newly released game, check this thread first as we will have info about your best approach to take.kunonabi said:
Big Papa Husker
Member
Am I able to install BootMii BOOT2 before I install HBC? I'd like to get a full backup of the NAND before I install anything.Big Papa Husker said:
Clever Pun
Member
Clipper said:
Thanks. One more question - is it possible to install GC games as well, or just Wii?