Wii question for the experts...

[Ed_McCarron]

I fear the modchip on my old Wii may have given up the ghost.  Kids broke the switch off the external board.  Even original discs won't load.

So, I'd like to remove it and do the softmod that has since been created.  No brainer.

Heres the question:

What happens to the Wii if I remove the chip and let it update?  Its got ancient FW on it.  Will the remnants of the homebrew stuff cause grief, or will it just all automagically disappear and become a shiny new virgin Wii?

[Ginsu Victim]

It could brick your Wii. Do the softmod without updating the firmware, then you can update all the IOSes to their current versions later. I use Pimp My Wii.

[hypernova]

Theoretically, it SHOULD just magically disappear.  But Ginsu's right, and it could potentially brick it.

You could just format your Wii system, then update.  But I'm guessing that's not what you want to do, though backing up isn't time consuming at all on the Wii.

If you did format, you'd have the latest in FW, and still be able to reinstall homebrew with the new methods.

[Malenko]

I'd softmod, back up the NAND, then patch all the IOSs then update. most bannerbomb packages include apps in the homebrew channel to update the system first to 4 then the one after 4

[ChadTower]

Of course, you can always brick it, nobody is going to say you can't. 

But really it depends on which version of the system menu you update to... it's pretty safe to go up to 4.0.  That gets you direct SD access which really makes softmodding easier.  If you go up to 4.1, that's just a minor update, but 4.2 is going to stub out all of the known cIOS slots and break any homebrew/hacks that you have in there.  That doesn't kill anything permanently, though.  You can then restore your trucha bug, use that to drop all of the required cIOS back in, and it will all work again.

This is probably the best guide out there at the moment. 

If you decide to go so far as using a hard drive let us know.  I have done a lot of research lately into the various cIOS revs and how they affect the various homebrews out there. 

Definitely, if you do this, first thing you want to do is install bootmii to boot2 (I am guessing your Wii is old enough for that) and then back up the NAND as suggested above.  Doing that will gain you the ability to unbrick your Wii if something goes wrong.

[Ed_McCarron]

Pulled the chip.  Did the bootmii thing. Backed up the NAND.  Updated to 4.2.  Deleted the stubs.  Did the rest of the softmod.

All went well.  Sitting at 4.2U.

Problem is, the DVD still won't spin up.  Maybe it wasn't the chip after all.   

Working on the USB thing now...  Grr...

It doesn't like my generic newegg self powered drive, or the powered maxtor external.  Tried all combinations of ports possible.

Formatted the drive with WBFS manager, copied over an iso or two, but neither coverfloader or neogamma will see the usb drives.

Thoughts?

[rlehm]

compatible hard drives:
0GB+

AData:
- Adata Thumb Drive 8GB - Working

Corsair:
- Corsair Flash Voyager USB Flash Drive 16GB - Working

Dane-Elec:
- Dane-Elec USB Flash Drive 1GB - Working

Duracell:
- Duracell USB Flash Drive 16GB - Working

Hitachi:
- Hitachi Sata FTS541080G9SA00 80GB in a Western Digital Passport enclosure 250GB

Iomega:
- Iomega Select Hard Drive 1GB - Working

iPod:
- iPod Video 60GB - Working Instructions

Kingston DTI:
- Kingston DTI Pendrive 8GB - Working

Patriot:
- Patriot Exporter XT Flash Drive 8 GB - Working

PNY:
- PNY Attache 1GB - Working
- PNY Attache 2GB - Working
- PNY Attache 4GB - Working

Sony:
- PSP 1000 Sony Memory Stick 1GB - Working
- PSP 1000 Sony Memory Stick 16GB - Working
- Sony Micro Vault USM8GH 8GB - Working

Sandisk:
- Sandisk Cruzer Flash Drive 4GB - Working
- Sandisk Cruzer Flash Drive 8GB - Working
- Sandisk Cruzer Flash Drive 16GB - Working
- Sandisk Cruzer Micro 16GB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate 2.5" mounted in USB to IDE Caddy 40GB - Working

Verbatim:
- Verbatim 16GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital 3.5" IDE Drive in a MadDog USB Enclosure 80GB - Working


100GB+

Hitachi:
- Hitachi Sata Laptop Drive in cheap Chinese enclosure HTS542512K9SA00 120GB - Working

Imation:
- Imation Apollo 2.5-inch Portable Hard Drive 25 PHDD-10GB 160GB - Working

Lacie:
- Lacie HDD 160GB - Working with minor issues

Maxtor:
- Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 160GB - Working
- Maxtor OneTouch III Mini 9MN2A3-326 120GB - Working
- Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini 9NU2AH-500 160GB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate 9bd862-560 160GB - Working

Simple Tech:
- Simple Tech External Hard Drive 160GB - Working

Toshiba:
- Toshiba HDDR160E03X 160GB - Working
- Toshiba 2.5" Disk Drive MK1032GSX HDD2D30 100GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital Passport WD1200XMSC-00 120GB - Working
- Western Digital WD1600 SATA MDL: WD1600JD-75HBB0 160GB in Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter - Working


200GB+

Buffalo:
- Buffalo MiniStation™ Metro Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive HD-PXU2 250GB - Working

Hitachi:
- Hitachi SimpleDRIVE Mini SDM/250RW 250GB - Working

Iomega:
- Iomega Prestige 250GB - Working

MaCally:
- MaCally G-S350SU Hi-Speed eSata/USB2.0 External Storage Enclosure for 3.5inch SATA HDD 250GB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate Expansion Portable Drive ST902504EXA101-RK 250GB - Working
- Seagate Passport Portable 250GB - Working
- Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM IDE 3.5" Hard Drive ST3200822A with Mapower AE31FU2G-01-H-1A-SF Aluminum 3.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure - Working

Transcend:
- Transcend StoreJet 2.5" TS250GSJ25M 250GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital My Passport WD2500XMSA-00 250GB - Working
- Western Digital My Passport Essential WDPN WDBAAA2500ABK-00 250GB - Working


300GB+

ATMT:
- ATMT Mobile Media HDD 320GB - Working

Buffalo:
- Buffalo Drive Station USB 2.0 HD-HC320U2 320GB - Working

Iomega:
- Iomega Prestige Portable External Hard Drive 34342 320GB - Working
- Iomega eGo 320GB - Working

LaCie:
- LaCie Mobile Disk 320GB - Working

LG:
- LG 2.5" HXD1 320GB - Working

Maxtor:
- Maxtor Personal Storage 3200 EDA: 9ML2A4-326 320GB - Working
- Maxtor One Touch III 320GB - Working

PQi:
- PQi H550 320GB - Working

Samsung:
- Samsung S2 Portable HXMU032DA/M32 320GB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate Freeagent Desktop ST303204FDA1E1-RK 320GB - Working
- Seagate Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Internal Hard Drive 300GB - Working
- Seagate FreeAgent Go 320GB ST903203FGA2E1-RK - Working
- Seagate Sata in USB Cradle 300GB - Working
- Seagate ST3320620AS ATA 320GB - Working
- Seagte FreeAgent Go USB 2.0 External HDD ST903203FAA2E1-RK 320GB - Issues

SSK:
- SSK HDD 300GB - Working

Targa:
- Targa Databox IV 320GB - Working

Transcend:
- Transcend StoreJet Anti Shock Hard Drive TS320GSJ25M with a Samsung HM320II Drive 320GB - Working
- Transcend StoreJet Anti Shock Hard Drive TS320GSJ25M with a Samsung HM321HI Drive 320GB - Working with minor problems

Toshiba:
- Toshiba Portable External Hard Drive HDDR250E03X 250 GB USB 2.0 - Working
- Toshiba Portable External Hard Drive HDDR320E03X 320 GB USB 2.0 - Working

Verbatim:
- Verbatim 47584, IH9319 320GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital My Passport Essential WDBAAA3200ABK 320 GB - Working
- Western Digital Elements WDBAAR3200ABK 320GB - Working
- Western Digital My Passport 320GB - Working with issues
- Western Digital MyBook WD3200I032 320GB - Working


400GB+

Freecom:
- Freecom 3.5" HDD Enclosure PPOAAA 400GB - Working

Samsung:
- Samsung Spinpoint HD400LJ Rosewill RX35-AT-IU SLV Aluminum 3.5" usb 2.0 400GB - Working


500GB+

Acomdata:
- Acomdata Puredrive WDC WD5000AAKS-22A7B2 500GB - Working

Conceptronic:
- Conceptronic GrabīnīGO 3.5" USB HardDisk WDC WD50 WD-WCAPW025 500GB - Working

Iomega:
- Iomega Prestige Desktop Hard Drive 500GB - Working

LaCie:
- LaCie Hard Disk 500GB - Working

Medion:
- Medion DrivenGo 2.5" 500GB - Working

MyDrive:
- My Platinum MyDrive 124318 500GB - Working

Samsung:
- SAMSUNG Spinpoint 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive F3 HD502HJ with CompUSA Hard Drive Enclosure 500GB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate Expansion Portable ST905004EXA101-RK 500GB - Working
- Seagate Freeagent Desk 500GB - Working with issues
- Seagate FreeAgent Go 9TA2AH-500 500 GB - Working
- Seagate Expansion Drive 500GB - Working

Toshiba:
- Toshiba PX1394U-3G50 500GB - Working
- Toshiba Store Art 500GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital My Passport Essential WD5000MES-00 500GB - Working
- Western Digital 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive with Rosewill RX-358-S BLK 3.5" SATA to USB & eSATA Ext. Enclosure w/Int.80mm fan 500GB - Working
- Western Digital My Book Home Edition wd5000h1cs-00 500GB - Working but goes into a sleep mode depending on hows its connected
- Western Digital My Book Essential WDBAAF500EBK 500GB - Working
- Western Digital Elements WD500AAV 500GB - Working
- Western Digital Elements WDBAAR5000ABK-00 500GB - Working
- Western Digital Elements WDBAAU5000EBK-EESN 500GB - Working


600GB+

Samsung:
- Samsung S2 Portable HX-MU064DA/G22 640GB - Not Working

Ultra Speed:
- Ultra Speed 640GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital Caviliar Black NON-USB 640GB - Working Instructions


700GB+

Samsung:
- Samsung with Welland iQube Enclosure (Sata Model) 750GB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital My Book Essential WD7500H1U-00 700GB - Working
- Western Digital Passport WDBABM7500ABK-00 750GB - Working
- Western Digital My Book Home Edition 750GB - Working
- Western Digital Elements 750GB - Working


800GB+


900GB+


1TB+

Buffalo:
- Buffalo Drivestation External USB 2.0 HD-CE1.0TU2 1TB - Working

Fantom:
- Fantom Drive GF1000EU 1TB - Working

Iomega:
- Iomega Prestige TJA9302955 1.5TB - Working
- Iomega Prestige Desktop Hard Drive 1TB - Working
- Iomega GDHDU 1TB - Working

LaCie:
- LaCie Hard Disk 301304U USB 2.0 1TB - Working
- Lacie 301840E 1TB - Working

Samsung:
- Samsung Story Station USB HX=DU015EB/B62 1.5TB - Working
- Samsung Story Station USB HX=DU010EB/B62 1TB - Working

Seagate:
- Seagate External Desktop Hard Drive ST310005EXA101-RK 1TB USB 2.0 - Working
- Seagate Free Agent Desk External ST310005FDA2E1-RK 1TB - Working

Verbatim:
- Verbatim External Hard Drive 1TB - Working

Western Digital:
- Western Digital Elements WDBAAU0010HBK 1TB - Working
- Western Digital My Book WDBAAF0010JBK 1TB - Working
- Western Digital Elements WDE1UBK10000N 1TB - Working
- Western MyBook Essential WDBAAF0015HBK-NESN 1.5 TB - Working
- Western Digital My Book Home Edition 1TB - Working
- Western Digital MyBook Pro Edition II WD10000C033-001 1TB - Working with some issues
- Western Digital Elements WDE1UBK10000E 1TB - Working
- Western Digital My Book Essential WDBAAF0010HBK-NESN 1TB - Working
- Western Digital WD3200C032-002 1TB - Working
- Western Digital WD10000H1U-00 1TB - Working


2TB+

[Ed_McCarron]

Hm, thanks.  The enclosure I've got was reported as working by a few others, but I'm wondering if my Wii is borderline on the USB ports.  I'll have to pick up one thats listed and see what happens.

[ChadTower]

Make sure you're using the right port for the cios you are using with the loader.  The modded cios will go to a specific port, not just look for a drive.  Test is easy enough, just put it on the other USB port.

That right there is a great drive that will work perfectly.  I'm using that exact drive and have been suggesting it to many others, none of whom are reporting problems with compatibility.  It is externally powered and powers on/off with the Wii, both ideal here.  Plus it looks pretty good too.

Which filesystem are you using?  WBFS Manager has been redone and is now called Game Manager.  GX supports NTFS, fat32, and WBFS.  If you use NTFS or fat32 you can use the drive for other storage or put your other homebrew on it - but support for those are not perfectly stable yet.  WBFS is mature and works really well but makes it dedicated Wii game only storage.

Best cios IMO for WBFS is 249 rev 14... for NTFS or fat32 you need 222.  I haven't played with that so I can't recommend a specific rev.

[Ed_McCarron]

Woot!  Switched to game manager instead of WBFS manager and it works!

Thanks experts!

[hypernova]

Good to hear you're up and running!