Bricked my wii, I'm afraid - be careful

[RTSDaddy2]

Ok, so everything going super smooth today - no probs.  I am at menu 4.0, USA, Loaded IOS60 WAD, SD card working perfectly, etc....but internet off.  Thinking I had messed it up by loading IOS60 WAD, I removed the wad and THOUGHT I reinstalled 249. 

Wii wound up in a loop, staying on homebrew browser and never returning to Wii Menu.  Once again, assuming I knew best, I turned it off.

BAM! Turned back on, screen is totally black, no picture and Wiimotes act as if they won't sync up.

HBC - when I had a picture - had a selection for load Bootmii, but I have no idea how to get that started - have tried GC controller in nearly every port...nothing works.  Does anyone know if there's a fix for it other than sending it to Nintendo?

[RTSDaddy2]

Did not install preloader, of course...not smart enough to do that - but as I said, thought Boot Mii was - apparently not.

On a slightly positive side, I'm not getting the "Need Help" screen, just a black screen.  I am hoping maybe it's only semi-bricked since it never goes to the help screen.

[ahofle]

Have you tried a bootmii guide?
http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=154828&st=90&start=90

[RTSDaddy2]

Tried the method, nothing comes up - still just a black screen.

[northerngames]

will it play any games still or no?

[RTSDaddy2]

Disc inserts, stays in - just not getting the opening health hazard screen- no sync with wiimotes at all. No way to know if disc is playing.

I KNOW I loaded bootmii as a boot 2 - or cios -  but I cannot get the damn thing to start running with a GC controller to save my life.

[Nipedley]

When you install bootmii as boot2, it creates a folder on your sd card for itself - when that folder is present, bootmii boots up before the wii system menu. Most people move or rename the folder for convenience (including myself), did you make sure you put it back so that bootmii can boot?

[RTSDaddy2]

No, there's still a bootmii folder on the SD card....however (and here's that STUPIDITY thing in play again)....

1) I wonder if I had the right SD card in while ago (don't ask) - I might not have

2) I wonder if I need to copy those files in that folder to the root drive (ie G:\ppcboot.elf) verses leaving it in the folder (ie G:\bootmii\ppcboot.elf)

Thoughts on #2?

[hypernova]

You are supposed to leave the file structure intact.  The elf file stays in the bootmii folder.

IOS60?  Did you need that for the VC & WW stuff?

[RTSDaddy2]

Hyper,

yea, I was using the IOS 60 (patched) so I could load stuff from the SD menu (edit) Wii seemed to freeze without it, so I tried that patch and it worked....it seemed to mess up my internet though.

Going to try bootmii again, make sure it's in the folder, but I could have sworn it didn't start up, even though the file was created / placed on my SD card. (edit): Again though, it's possible I did not have the SD card with that folder on it in the slot when I booted the Wii up before.

Like I told a friend today, I pulled a "dad"...thought I knew what I was doing, so I did it, and now I'm paying for it....'cause I didn't know half of what I thought I knew.

[RTSDaddy2]

Once again, its past fair to say I do not know what the hell I'm trying to do right now, but I'm going to provide you guys with some info that might help.  Sorry for the length, but thought these might help:

Here is a copy of the boot mii configuration that was on my SD Card (created July 8, 09):

# BootMii config file

# Video mode, possible settings:
# NTSC, PAL50, PAL60, PROGRESSIVE
VIDEO=PROGRESSIVE

# Autoboot, possible settings:
# SYSMENU, HBC
#AUTOBOOT=SYSMENU

# Autoboot delay, in seconds:
# Default is 5
#BOOTDELAY=5

This is all in notepad with no spaces when shown on my PC.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, I found a log of the installer when I ran the bannerbomb program to install HBC in the new 4.0 menu.  Here it is (effective July 8, 09)

HackMii v0.2 installer starting up
PVR = 00087103
97 titles are installed
Found IOS 254: revision: 0x7a6a*
Found IOS 250: revision: 0xffff*
Found IOS 61: revision: 0x131a.
Found IOS 60: revision: 0x181e.
Found IOS 53: revision: 0x141d.
Found IOS 55: revision: 0x141d.
Found IOS 38: revision: 0xe1a.
Found IOS 249: revision: 0xd*
Found IOS 16: revision: 0x200.
Found IOS 50: revision: 0x1400.
Found IOS 51: revision: 0x1300.
Found IOS 10: revision: 0x300.
Found IOS 37: revision: 0xe1c.
Found IOS 36: revision: 0xc16.
Found IOS 14: revision: 0x107.
Found IOS 33: revision: 0xb12.
Found IOS 35: revision: 0xc14.
Found IOS 34: revision: 0xc13.
Found IOS 28: revision: 0x50d.
Found IOS 22: revision: 0x30c.
Found IOS 31: revision: 0xc14.
Found IOS 30: revision: 0xb00.
Found IOS 21: revision: 0x20d.
Found IOS 20: revision: 0x100.
Found IOS 17: revision: 0x206.
Found IOS 15: revision: 0x10a.
Found IOS 13: revision: 0x10.
Found IOS 12: revision: 0xc.
Found IOS 11: revision: 0x100.
Found IOS 2: revision: 0x1a1.
Found IOS 9: revision: 0x209.
Found IOS 4: revision: 0xff00.
Calling boot2_run(1, 34)
Waiting for boot2 to load ...
boot2 loaded, waiting for IOS
IOS loaded: IOS34 v12.19
IPC started (0)
parsing last generation bootmap
found valid boot2 blockmap at block 1 (pos 0x627c0), submap 0, generation 2
found valid boot2 blockmap at block 5 (pos 0xe67c0), submap 0, generation 3
parse_blocks: found 2 valid blockmaps
found 2 valid blockmaps
using generation 3
boot2 blocks: 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
boot2bin @5,0 (blocks=0,1 - bootmii=0)
bootmii@-1,-1
boot2 blocks: 06 05 04 03 02 01 00
boot2bin @5,1 (blocks=6,5 - bootmii=0)
boot2 block layout: 2 2 1 1 1 0 0
Assembling boot2 in RAM
copyright size = 34
copyright text = 'Copyright 2008,2009 Team Twiizers.'
tmd ends at 0x802884ac, data starts at 0x802884e0
bootmii version  = '0.9'
Ok for boot2 install
The test results are in:

  Using IOS versions:      Installer: 34, HBC: 61, DVDX: 36

  The Homebrew Channel:    Can be installed
  DVDX:                    Can be installed
  BootMii:                 Can be installed
Removing title 0x0001000844564458...
Deleting 1 ticket
A BootMii install requires a SD card.

Runtime files will be written, these are required to
properly boot BootMii.

Mounting SD card...
Creating directory '/bootmii'...
Writing '/bootmii/armboot.bin'...
Writing '/bootmii/ppcboot.elf'...
Writing config file...

Done.

Removing title 0x00000001000000fe...
Deleting 1 ticket

So, it appears to me that I DO have bootmii somewhere within my Wii....but I obviously do not know what to do to get it started, NOR how long it should take it to run and fix things.  I got a couple of suggestions for .ini files from GBAtemp.net, but I've tried them all and nothing happens.  Yet again, it appears that bootmii is on my machine.

How long once I boot should it take for that thing to start?

[hypernova]

It should be on your SD card.  You need to pop that card into your PC, and let us know what the file directories and such are. 

[RTSDaddy2]

These are the files on my SD card:

1) armboot - a karaoke file for directx it says, 49 KB
 
2) bootmii configuration settings, the general generic list as per previous post: when I open it in notepad it reads this way -

# BootMii config file

# Video mode, possible settings:
# NTSC, PAL50, PAL60, PROGRESSIVE
VIDEO=PROGRESSIVE

# Autoboot, possible settings:
# SYSMENU, HBC
#AUTOBOOT=SYSMENU

# Autoboot delay, in seconds:
# Default is 5
#BOOTDELAY=5

Only difference is that it's in one straight line with two semicolons seperating each item.

3) ppcboot.elf file of 189 kb

Is anything missing? For some reason I've got two SD cards with that same info on it (I'm guessing I made a backup), but both have the exact same three files within the bootmii file folder.

[RTSDaddy2]

Googled and looked up BootMii just to see if I could figure out why the program won't load.

Ok, they mention that if you don't see a flash of light from the thing when you power it on, bootmii is not installed.  Good news there; the blue LED does flash for a second when I turn it on, with or without SD...I can still turn the power off via the power button too.

One thing it did say on their page was that 25 percent of the SD cards do not work properly with one of the programs and one might need to try a different SD card.  Could that be the entire problem as to why the damn program won't run when I put the SD card in - I've got a card that falls in that 25 percent?  Be just about my luck, truthfully.

[RTSDaddy2]

If I only had a brain......

Ahofle, I went back and looked at the guide you posted again....I knew I'd seen SD card compatability thing somewhere.

You guessed it....the card I've got the bootmii file on - DOESN'T WORK. PERIOD (a PNY Optima SD 2 gb)

Mercifully I have several old SanDisk cards lying around here.  I can make copies of the stuff that's on them, format 'em, and stick that bootmii file on it ....and IF all is well, I should then be able to see it load up, by what I read. It appears that this "mini" file is compiled and contained in the ppcboot.elf file and that it just doesn't work with some SD cards yet (something about it not being a true IOS, etc).

Giving this a try a daybreak, with fingers crossed.....

[RTSDaddy2]

Ok - copied everything in bootmii to a Kingston Micro SD card 2g....still no luck.  Is there something in the configuration files above I need to specificially change? Should I just remove all the comments?

I'm thinking I'm probably screwed.  I did not copy the NAND file with BootMii after I loaded it; the way I read it I thought you could do that later /did that later.

[Nipedley]

Is that card known to be working?

The files you should have are; (root = \)

\boot.elf
\installer.log
\bootmii\armboot.bin
\bootmii\bootmii.ini
\bootmii\ppcboot.elf
\private\wii\title\aktn\content.bin

This is on my PAL wii's bootmii installed at boot2 files.

[RTSDaddy2]

Is that card known to be working?

The files you should have are; (root = \)

\boot.elf
\installer.log
\bootmii\armboot.bin
\bootmii\bootmii.ini
\bootmii\ppcboot.elf
\private\wii\title\aktn\content.bin

This is on my PAL wii's bootmii installed at boot2 files.

The card, as far as I knew it at the time,  was perfectly fine.  I was told onscreen that everything went through fine....but I knew I had to be missing some files somewhere.

Like I said, this morning when I checked card compatability issues, it told me that the card I was using was not compatible with BootMii.  I wonder if that's why it did not create the other files.

Is it possible for me to get a copy of your files Nipedley, that I am missing, or is it just hopeless?

I cannot get savemii free to work either - how good does your timing have to be on that?

Please tell me some of them don't show up in the unzipped HackMii file...I deleted it.  I did find the private/wii/title/aktn file on the card, but it was NOT in the boot mii file....I also have an installer notepad file that was NOT in the boot mii file - it appeared to have been generated by Hack Mii

[Nipedley]

I've never used savemii (hopefully won't have to!) so I can't help you there, which of those files are you missing? boot.elf is probably critical. I've just uploaded the files for you here; http://www.nipedley.net/BootMii.zip

I'd recommend you to find a card known as working on that list and just chuck them all on, if bootmii was installed as boot2 then it *should* work! If not then I don't know what else to suggest

[RTSDaddy2]

Nip, I really appreciate that.  I think that's about our only hope, because savemii free just don't do nothing.

It came up as installed ok, so I'm praying it works.  Let you know later today!

[RTSDaddy2]

Word of warning to all future hackers out there -when installing bootmii, use an SD card known to work with it or it's RIP Wii if you do the wrong things to it (which I did).

I had been using Optima cards, thinking that any SD cards worked.  When I ran bootmii, it said it had installed correctly....but when I was told what files should be on the SD card, I realized I was missing 3-4 of them.  The installer log also mentions deleting a ticket at the end of it, which my friend Nipedley's did not.

Bottom line - bootmii did not install, or did not install properly and I've got a dead one at my house now.        

[Nipedley]

Sorry to hear that I don't know what if any other options are available to you but if anyone would know it would be the forums on gbatemp if you've not tried there already. Bricking is a horrible feeling, I managed to do that on my PSP but fortunately there was always a way out.... Even if its not possible right now I'm sure down the road someone will develop a de-bricking process for the wii too

[RTSDaddy2]

I downloaded an universal unbrick disc last night,  but I do not know if it was one specific to the Wii, or just an unbricker.  I will try the link, let you know how it works out.  Thanks for at least one more option!

[hypernova]

Send it in to get it fixed if all else fails, as I believe the worst they'll do is remove whatever stuff you had on it.

Do it before they upgrade the system menu again, else they may block the current methods to hack the Wii, and you'll be stuck at least for some measureable amount of time without the USB capability.

[RTSDaddy2]

Bad news time: even though I thought bootmii went / took as boot2, apparently it did not.  Only flashes once at me, and so I'm fairly well toast.

Good news: There is a shop down the street from us, just opened, where they do repairs on cell phones, ipods, and game systems. Stopped in on Friday, and explained what I did. The guy who was working said he couldn't do it, Wii was not his specialty, BUT the boss - who is back in on Monday - might be able to help me out.

I am hoping two things: 1) he can help me restore it to working without undoing too much of what I already had done (may or may not be possible).  2) At least he's closer, I won't have to wait on Nintendo to strip it of EVERYTHING we'd done perhaps, then send it back....might have it back within a week.

It's so wonder my daughter hasn't killed me. She's been a bit upset that she cannot play Wii Sports Resort this week.

Already made up my mind to get this one fixed, but ASAP (hopefully before Christmas I'll be working again) I am going to by us a 2nd Wii....so that if my "tinker one" goes blooey we still have a nice, unmodded one to play.  Crazy - yes, but I won't put my kid through this again otherwise...and I know me too well; the next cool homebrew thing to come out, I'll be a wantin' to tinker with it again.

[RTSDaddy2]

I appreciate the offer Jim, but she's dead sold on the Wii.  I took it to the shop this morning, and he hoped to be able to call me this afternoon to let me know if it was fixable. 

No news is good news, right? So far, I've heard nothing. It's not really a matter of the guy having something that I can't / couldn't find online, it's 1) maybe he's more proficient at using it, 2) maybe he knows exactly what program combo will work.  I spent a week downloading different fixes and got nowhere. 

We'll see - above all else, I hope he can return it to its previously modified state, so that I would not necessarily have to start over (EXCEPT for making sure 1 - I install preloader, 2- I fix bootmii so it works).

[hypernova]

If he hasn't called, it's probably because he hasn't looked at it yet, or hasn't found a way to fix it.  I would figure that in this scenario, no news is exactly that-no news, as in hasn't tried or can't do anything, unfortunately.

Good luck!

[RTSDaddy2]

The latest, but first a song (cough)  Ahem....(cough cough)...Mi Mi Mi Mi......


Ding dong the Wii is dead
Which old Wii / RTS's Wii
Ding Dong the old white Wii is dead

It's gone where the consoles go
When owners think they know the most
So sad / It's bashed
Too bad / it's trashed and

Ding dong the Wii is dead
Which old Wii / RTS's Wii
Ding Dong the old white Wii is dead

(with every possible apology to the cast of the Wizard of Oz)

Yep, it's over. Software issue that they can't fix, short of buying a new Wii and replacing my board with that one.  Not going to lose a lot in VC stuff, nor in Wiiware, but damn that sucks right now.  Time to start saving!

[crashwg]

I wouldn't have thought it was possible to do that PBJ since the PS1 since they started putting holes in the box to scan the barcode on the actual console, but I just looked at the box my Wii came in and it actually doesn't have the hole for scanning the console...  I actually transferred the guts of a PS1 that I had thought was fried so I could return it under the guise of a freshly purchased one way back in the day.  Turned out to be a bad power supply. 

Maybe you could get away with it.  I suppose the decision to do so depends on your moral code though.

[ften]

When you used the SaveMii Frii method did it go into a rescue mode menu where it tells you your version number? If you did see the version number, hang onto your Wii until they release a game with a system menu update higher then 4.0 and do the SaveMii FRii fix and it should update your system properly.

-FTen

[Nipedley]

I wouldn't have thought it was possible to do that PBJ since the PS1 since they started putting holes in the box to scan the barcode on the actual console, but I just looked at the box my Wii came in and it actually doesn't have the hole for scanning the console...  I actually transferred the guts of a PS1 that I had thought was fried so I could return it under the guise of a freshly purchased one way back in the day.  Turned out to be a bad power supply. 

Maybe you could get away with it.  I suppose the decision to do so depends on your moral code though.

It is possible, me and my brother both bought Xbox 360's at the same time, however when his RROD'd he put it all back into the wrong box (mine), they never bothered to look. And then when mine RROD'd naturally I had mine in his box (with his serial number on it), still went fine. Both were different bundles & from different stores.

What annoyed me most though was when I returned mine (to PC World) the xbox they gave me as a replacement turned out to be an older (2006) "refurbished" model rather than new which RROD'd itself a month later

[hypernova]

I'm telling you, all Nintendo would do is erase your stuff, and charge you the fixing fee.  For all they know, you bought a "broken" one off ebay.  After everything was fixed, you would still have the ability to redownload your VC/WW games.

And you could always go the morally sketchy route as described by pbj.  But you don't seem to be quite that type of person.

But I would follow ften's suggestion.  Had you already updated to 4.1?  If not, check it out!

[RTSDaddy2]

I had not updated to 4.1- am figuring Madden 10 (or 09, whatever) when it bows Friday will need that update, so I might just try it, if I can find the game for rent.  It'll still be up to us to get the timing right on the SaveMii Free, but maybe it will work.  

We did not see a rescue mode, but our timing may have stunk - and could that have also been because we did not have a disc yet that was above the main program we were running (in other words, both were designed for 4.0)? I read for that to work your menu version had to be below the disc you were using, and like I said, both menu and system were at 4.0.  Will try again, refusing to give up hope, I suppose.

[hypernova]

Technically, no games require the system menu to be updated, AFAIK.

USB Loaders purposely remove the updates from discs when ripping them onto a HDD, and the games play fine without them.  Or so I've read.

[ften]

Technically, no games require the system menu to be updated, AFAIK.

USB Loaders purposely remove the updates from discs when ripping them onto a HDD, and the games play fine without them.  Or so I've read.

You are correct, most new games just need newer IOS(s) installed to work. Though the new games that do come with a system update generally come with version 3.4 of the System Menu.
I just took a look at Madden 10's update partition and it's for System Menu 3.4, so it's not going to help you RTSDaddy2. I would guess that the next game that will come with a system menu update that is as high or higher then 4.0 will probably be Guitar Hero 5, as it will have SDHC support and direct download to SD cards which 3.4 doesn't support.

This site keeps a list of what Disc have what updates, although I'm not sure how often it is updated anymore.
http://wum.talevas.com/?page=dev

-FTen

[RTSDaddy2]

Question about eBay below, but first....That was more of what I meant, was when the next disc comes out that is 4.0 or above, like GH5, we'd try it - thanks for explaining that ften.

Question: and I think several of you mentioned this idea, but what about a refurbed Wii? I have seen several from a place called World's Best Deals off eBay, says they are a power seller with a 99.3 percent ranking....and they have a few Wiis to offer that are refurbs in which I might be able to buy two for less than the price of one.  Worth the risk, or no?

[SNAAKE]

I didnt read the thread but cant you just install a modchip and fix the brick??

just wondering. I have random ppl asking for wii softmods but I havent really looked into it yet. wondering about worst case scenario...

[RTSDaddy2]

Just tell them NOT to delete IOS files man....that's where my problem started.  Thought I only deleted a patch but deleted the whole damn thing....that and the fact that my SD card was not compatible with the BootMii program, so I had no backup in place if I DID do something stupid.  That's why I don't see how a modchip is gonna help.

Those of you who have done softmods...recently I've seen two porgrams that might help. Betwiin 1.0 apparently will allow me to mod someone else's NAND file so that it would run on my Wii.  I just wonder if it "flashes" the Wii from the SD card.

Likewise, wondered if the beta version .3 of the HackMii installer would help me any, since it loads up via the SD slot anyway.

Going back over to gba to ask their opinions as well.

No luck yet on the ebay front..

[hypernova]

Try reading up this thread.  It might help.  Just glancing at the posts makes it seems like it could cure what ails ya.
Debrick method?

A few posts in, they talk about autobooting a copy of Smash Bros Brawl and stuff.  That's where it may get interesting for you.

[RTSDaddy2]

Thanks hyper - I appreciate you guys keeping watch out for possibilities.  I've heard "rumblings" about the SSBB thing, so I'll be interested to see what they've got to say.

EDIT: Impossible to say if it will work, since I don't have a modchip installed...don't know how that will affect creating an autoboot version...in other words, don't know if the autoboot disk will start without that IOS file there - or without a modchip present within the unit.  If it does autoboot, however, and I can get to the part where it will allow me to install hackmii again, that would be great...even just get to the HBC from there, I could reinstall that missing WAD and things should - at minimal -be back to normal.

How fortuitous, however, that on our hard drive, before everything went blooey, that I made a copy of our version of Super Smash Bros Brawl using WBFS.  Planning to make a copy of it, then edit my copy. Least I won't have to wait on a torrent download in the morning. We'll see.

EDIT 2: I found a good guide over at Wiihacks as to what all I needed to make smashstack work, and how to install it.  Again, if SSBB will autoboot minus a modchip, I should have this bit of stupidity behind me!