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Welcome to the Wii Hacking FAQ. I am going to attempt to List answers and links to the most relevant and informative threads here. FAQ is still in its infancy and will be undergoing updates and re-arranging. Please excuse the mess. Note: Feel free to add and update information, any information that is incorrect, or asinine, will be undone.

What are Modding and Homebrew?

Modding is altering your wii so that it runs code not authorized by Nintendo. Homebrew are unauthorized programs created by talented people. There are two ways to mod your Wii. They are soft modding or using a Mod Chip. The main advantages of using a modchip is the ability to read the backups at 6x and better brick resistance. The advantage of soft modding is that you don't need to buy a chip, open up and solder it into your Wii. Soft modding will only allow a read speed of 3x (for DVD launchers) at this time, however the load times aren't much longer at 3x due to advanced caching methods (load times are faster than 6x for USB loaders).

If you are thinking about soft modding

Do not run any updates until you are sure you won't lose any functionality by doing so. Nintendo has released several fixes to try and block homebrew and softmodding, although so far a way around has always been found. If in doubt check http://wiibrew.org/ to see if its safe to run the latest update. Always read and re-read the instructions. If you do something improperly it can result in a "Bricked" wii.

What is a / How to Soft mod

Soft-modding is using an exploit to allow unsigned code to run on your system. Due to the length of the instructions links are provided to walkthroughs below. I suggest reading all of them as most of the process is the same, and some guides are better detailed than others.

Guide Author Type One pack Images Offline Lu64+ Sections Update Disc launchers USB loaders Extra
Simplistic mod xzxero Hacking Guide Yes Yes Yes Yes No Waninkoko/Wad Neogamma R7, Softchip R99 No FAQ/Utilities
Fully softmod any wii Deviyl Hacking Guide No No Yes Yes Yes No Neogamma No None
Noob starter Guide Nabster92 Informations No Yes Neogamma, GC backup launcher Setup Extra (detailed) info about apps/terms
Complete Softmod Guide tj_cool Advanced Hacking Guide No Yes Yes Yes Yes Official/Wad Neogamma, GC backup launcher, (GeckoOs) Setup, USB loader GX, Configurable USB loader Extra info about apps, cIOSCorp, Revirginize, Wad manger, Themes, HideandSeek, CrazyIntro
GAFs Wii homebrew tutorial NEOGAF Advanced Hacking Guide No No Yes Yes Yes Official/- GeckoOs Setup, Configurable USB loader Alternate dol, GParted, FTPii, Homebrew browser, for dummies part
Ultimate System menu 4.x guide assassda Hacking Guide Yes No Yes No No Waninkoko/Wad Neogamma No FAQ, cIOSCorp (NO LU64+)
Guide
Name of and link to the guide
Author
Author of the guide
Type
What kind of Guide. Hacking guides explain the basics, Advanced hacking guides explain more than just that, Informative guides only give info (No hacking is done)
One pack
One download to get everything you need
Images
Images used in the guide
Offline
Compatible with offline Wii's (Wii has no Wifi). Extras are not counted
Lu64+
Does not Brick Lu64+ Wii's
Sections
Divided in sections, so its easier to read
Update
What kind of update is used in the guide (online/offline)
Disc launchers
Explains how to use these disc loaders
USB loaders
Explains how to use these USB loaders, Setup means that the guide tells you how to prepare the USB drive
Extra
Optional additions in the guide

Modchips

See the Modchip wiki page: http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/index.php/Category:Wii_Modchips

Homebrew

You can find most homebrew on one of these sites:

Wiibrew

Tehskeen

Hackmii

Blog of waninkoko

GBAtemp

Backup Loaders and Disc Channel Loading

Loading backups can be done in two ways, each having its advantages and disadvantages. Backup Loading programs allow cheats to be used and video modes to be set before each game. Disc channel loading is supported natively by mod-chips. As of CIOS rev 7 by Waninkoko this can now be accomplished with soft-mods as well by using the rebooter option in the backup loader, or using a program that patches or replaces all IOS on the system by cIOS (cIOSCorp).

This section will link to information for each of the loaders.

Common to All Disc based Loaders

All backup loaders require the use of a Custom IOS.

Due to issues native to the wii itself All backups should be on Single Layer DVD-R discs. DVD+R booktyped to -R will work as well.

Wiigator/Wiipower

Neogamma topic

Common Problems

Screen displays in black and white - Pal mode on a tv that only supports NTSC. try forcing the video mode

Red tinted games - Force video mode, Use composite cables instead of RBG

Game hangs at a green or black screen. Don't force the video mode. Get a copy of the game from your region.

Disk Read Errors - Check the compatibility thread, Re-install your CIOS, Verify the integrity of your burn with dvdinfo.

Audio Cuts-off or stutters in Game X - This is due to 3x read speed. No way to fix in until someone figures out a way to unlock 6x reads without a chip.

Jumbled error message - CIOS install corrupted, reinstall

324 Error - Re-install the loaders CIOS - This may also be caused by bad discs (try using Verbatium DVD-R and reburn - it may save you headaches

002 error - Enable 002fix

Softchip

A project started by Requiem. Due to the open source nature of this program, the revisions are to numerous to cover in a faq. The official thread for this loader can be found here Compiled binaries can be found here Official Website: link Google Code Site: link

Waninkoko

A leaked loader released by a beta tester. Abandoned by the creator, Waninkoko, who later teamed up with wiigator, and continues to write and improve the CIOS used by the current loaders. Blog of waninkoko

IOS's and System Menu

System Menus

These programs patch or replace the nintendo menu, adding features not available from nintendo.

Prelude (cSSM)

A Project in the works from Forsaken. A combination dashboard and system menu. Sneak Peak thread here Has Not been released yet. The thread is rather long, here is a highlight of features. Completely Brick proof your wii as long as you don't update, by allowing you to boot into ANY title in NAND before the system menu. Region Free System without copy flags (channels, games, saves) Disc Channel lock removed, move it wherever you like... Skip Disc Update Check, Backup Support, Twilight Hack Protection, Toggle Health warning

IOS's

The IOS is the routines and calls that the games and system menu use to run. Different versions add support and fix bugs. Due to GBAtemp's rules on IOS's links cannot be provided, but file names are. Please do not add the actual links.

Cheating in Games

What are SD Codes and how do i use/get them

Codes can be obtained at geckocodes.com Codes will only work with games from the region they were designed for. Wii region doesn't matter just disc region. Converting from pal to NTSC or vice versa will not make the codes work. The CodeManager program comes packaged with ocarina. Extract the PC folder to your computer and run the codemgr.exe file. SD codes must be placed onto the sd card in the codes folder. (X:\codes\XXXXX.gct)

How do I make my own cheats

To make you own cheats you must buy a USB Gecko, and use its associated software. Info here

Cheats not working under GeckOS

Go into the options menu and ensure that use ocarina is set to ON. Hooktype may need to be set to VI.

Ocarina

Ocarina had become obsolete and is only needed for the codemanager program that comes with it. It can be found at http://wiird.l0nk.org/wp/archives/21 Both GeckOS and Neogamma Support Ocarina codes now.

Game Cube Games

Thanks to wiigator and waninkoko,we can now play GC Backups on a unmodded wii.

Game Backup Process

There are a couple nice tutorials on this process up at Nintendo-Scene.

Standard PC Method: http://wiki.nintendo-scene.com/Wii_Disc_Backup Wifi Backup: Method: http://forums.nintendo-scene.com/index.php?topic=2415.0

Where can i download the ISO for game X?

This would be referred to as piracy in many countries. As such we can't give you any links. Just look in the normal places for that sort of thing.

How do I Unpatch/Re-encrypt an ISO

You can't. Once decrypted you would require the private key that only Nintendo has to re-encrypt it.

EDIT: You can re-encrypt a game. Go here. It undoes what the patcher/decrypter does, sans any update partition (meaning it doesn't restore the iso to 1:1). It also doesn't work on DVD9 games (aka SSBB and MPT).

If you haven't patched/decrypted an iso, please don't.

What is WiiScrubber

Use WiiScrubber to prepare any Wii or GameCube ISO for compression to trim its disk space. By replacing unused portions of the full disk image with the same bit, it allows a compression tool to offer better compression and make the file smaller. Scrubbing an ISO is always useful if you’re sending or sharing an ISO with other people or for personal backup storage purposes as normally each ISO is 4.7GB. It also allows you to extract and replace files within an ISO image.

http://www.coderetard.com/2008/08/05/wii-iso-compressor-wiiscrubber-130-final-release/

How Do I Un-scrub an image back to the original ISO

When an image is scrubbed the junk data is replaced with all 0's to increase compressability. Its gone forever and can't be reproduced, but it doesn't matter its just there to take up space and push the game to the edge of the disk which is accomplished just as well with 0's.

Burning Information

What is the best burn Speed to use for backing up games?

There is no universal answer for this. You need to test each speed that your burner and media support, and then verify your burn against the original image. Whichever speed has the fewest errors is the best speed for your drive with that media. Media Types Very greatly, even from batch to batch from the same manufacturer. So always remember to verify your disks and adjust to the best speed for that batch of media (always start with what worked best on the last batch)

I Heard that burning at X speed will shorten my laser life

Your burning speed does not affect the wii laser in any way. If anything is going to "kill" the laser it would be adjusting it to work outside of specs in order to read discs it isn't meant to. The wii drive is a DVD drive. Nintendo left the dvd command in because they were originally going to have a dvd player, but went with the "wii format" to avoid paying royalties. When a disc is read its read speed is determined by the firmware, hardware capabilities and media integrity. A bad burn (lots of errors) will cause the wii laser to do more work re-reading sections of disk, which does lead to more wear and tear over time.

What type of media should I use for burning backed up games

This really comes down to your wii, dependant on a variety of factors from drive model in your wii to dust. If you have some disks laying around give one a try, just remember to check for errors and adjust your burn speed before you give up on a type of media. Discs must be DVD-R or +R booktyped to -R. Dual layer discs are not advised due to issues native to the wii.

For an idea of what others have had success with you can browse the following threads http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=46215

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=48774&view=old

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?act=findpost&pid=1287131

USB loaders

USB loaders can load backups from a USB device or SD(HC) card. More info can be found here

Brick Prevention and Repair

Everything you need to know about bricking.

Everything you need to know... Topic

Update Brick Prevention

Not needed if loading through the backup loaders as they have an update block feature built in. If you run games with the disc channel, use preloader to block the updates.

It's too late for prevention, I'm already bricked

If you've managed to brick yourself you may be able to undo it.

I have a Modchip!

You can unbrick your Wii from either banner or update bricks by burning Wad manager patched with autoboot enabled. Use it to uninstall wads that cause banner bricks or install the correct region again. The same steps used for softmod unbricking will also work for mod-chipped bricks.

I Don't Have a Modchip

You can only unbrick your wii if you have bootmii or preloader installed. Use them to load the homebrew channel, so you can unbrick the wii.

Miscellaneous Questions

How do I Install MplayerWii?

Tutorial available here. http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=119489

How do i edit/make banners?

The best program to use for editing wads in general is WADder. The only thing you need to replace a banner is a Base wad (a wad with the animation you want, or no animation) and the images to replace the ones from the base wad.


Downloads
WADder 3.1 Link
Base wads Link

Where can i find a list of Cios Error Codes?

Look no further. http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=119317

I downloaded a file ending in x what do i do with it?

RAR/ZIP/R##

You can use WinRAR to extract the data. http://www.rarlab.com/

001,002,003,...

Use HJsplit to combine all parts

ISO

This is a disc image file. Burn it using ImgBurn http://www.imgburn.com/

cISO

Used by USB loaders. Use WBFS intelligent GUI to place them on a HDD.

WII

Rarely seen anymore, convert it to a .iso using either Rawdump 2.0 http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=1769 or Unscramble 0.4 http://www.ingenieria-inversa.cl/?p=9

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