How to soft Mod your Wii, version 4.3 without a disc, safely and easily.

Why am I doing this people?  There are a few of reasons…………….

1.    I do not in any way condone piracy of games.  You can play backups of games that you already own from a USB Drive. 

 

I in no way advocate or encourage or condone illegal copying, downloading or playing pirated games on your Wii.  There are plenty of Homebrew games etc out there and the hacking of your Wii is legal, it will however void your warranty!

 

Hacking the Wii console happens and so many people are “bricking” there Wii’s in an attempt to play backups or use “The Homebrew Channel”, that I felt that a safe walkthrough was needed.  The Wii is expensive and some parent has worked hard to pay for it and then it’s rendered useless and there hard earned cash has gone.  Not fair!  This method is safe and risk free.                                                              

 

2.    Although all the software is available for free out on the internet, some people are being scammed into buying it as a package for around $30 or so. 

I will guide you through the process and show you how to hack your Wii and play backup Wii games from a USB external drive or a USB flash card.

 

What I am going to show you is:

1.    Simple, quick and free.

2.    Does not require any Wii game discs like some methods.

3.    Is brick free, won’t render your Wii useless.

4.    Works with any 4.3 regions and colour.

5.    Is compatible with over 97% of all Wii games.

6.    Requires only software install.

7.    Does not require the installation of a chip etc.

 

I have broken this guide down into its various parts and have followed a logical order.  I have also collated the various software needed and put the files into ordered packs to make the whole process as easy and quick as possible.

The only components that you may need to purchase unless you already have them may be, an SD Card, USB Drive and Wi-Fi access.

What we are basically going to do is keep using the SD Card to hack the Wii until you can use it to load games from the USB drive.  We will use the Letterbomb exploit to begin the hacking process.

Since Wii games can take from an hour to days to download, depending on your speed, I will show you how to get them ready and onto your USB drive for immediate playing once the hack is completed.

Please look at this list and make sure that you have everything before you start the hack.  I will not state the obvious like TV, Wii console and wiimote……

 

Requirements 

1.    Sorry to the computer literate amongst you but you won’t believe some of the questions I am asked!

 

2.    The ability to install stuff on your PC, SD card etc.  Understand simple computer terms like “format”.

 

 

3.    *************DO NOT UPDATE YOUR Wii DURING OR AFTER HACKING THIS WILL CAUSE YOU SERIOUS PROBLEMS************

 

  

 

If you update after the hack, then all your hard work will be undone and they may not be a hack available yet!  Please check on Google what the current upgrade version is. The 2nd screen shot shows the version in top right of screen.

 

      THIS SYSTEM IS FOR 4.3 ONLY

 

You can upgrade to 4.3 before the Hack.

 

 

4.    A Laptop or PC with an SD card reader and internet connection.

  

If you don’t have a card reader built into your Laptop or PC then a USB type like above is perfectly ok.

 

5.    1GB or 2GB SD Card.  Make sure that it is an SD Card and not an SDHC Card.  These will work with some but not all Wii consoles.

  

6.    USB Hard Drive.  The size is entirely up to you, just bear in mind that games take up on average about 4GB of space each.

 

You can of course use a Flash Drive; just remember that it needs to be at least 4.7GB if not more.  I personally would use a USB Hard Drive.  It’s easier and cheaper and can store a lot of games.

Let us begin

Ok firstly here is a quick rundown of what we will be doing.  I will go through each process stage by stage.  You can skip through this part if you are confident in what you are doing; if not then it will be a easy intro into the process of hacking your Wii.

 

[Part 1] Install the Homebrew Channel and Bootmii

You will use Letterbomb to load Hackmii, which you will use to install the Homebrew Channel (HBC) and Bootmii.

• Letterbomb:  a new exploit to load Hackmii

 

• Hackmii:  an installer for HBC and Bootmii

 

• HBC:  a new channel that lets you load applications such as USB Loader GX from your SD Card.

 

• Bootmii:  enables Homebrew software to boot before original Wii software does.

[Part 2] Install WAD files and Priiloader

You will use IOS236 installer and YAWMM Multimod Batch to “upgrade” the HBC by installing WAD files and Priiloader.

• IOS236 Installer: restores Trucha Bug for proper WAD installation.

 

• YAWMM Multimod Batch:  Installs WADs.

 

• WAD Files: enables the Wii to read applications and Homebrew software.

 

• Priiloader:  blocks Nintendo updates that could brick your Wii.

 

[Part 3] Install Wii .iso backup files onto USB Drive

You will import your Wii .iso files on to USB Drive using WBFS Manager.

• WBFS Manager: Formats your USB Drive to WBFS Format and imports your Wii .iso’s on to it.

[Part 4] Install and USB Loader GX to play backup Wii .iso files.

• USB Loader GX:  an application that allows you to play backup Wii .iso’s from a USB Drive.

 

 

 

Instructions

 

 

Part 1 Install the Homebrew Channel and Bootmii

Step 1 Find your Wii’s MAC address for Letterbomb

A.   Turn on your Wii and select [Wii options > Wii settings].

B.    Select the right arrow to go to the second page then select              [ internet > console information].  Write down your MAC address, turn off the Wii and then go to your computer.

C.    You will need to use WinRAR next.

D.   Visit ( visit www.startpassiveincome.com ) select your Wii’s version and enter the MAC address you wrote down before.

E.     Enter the Captcha and click on Cut The Red Wire.  You should now be downloading “Letterbomb.zip”- we will use it in a second.

Step 2 Format your SD Card and then Letterbomb to the SD Card.

A.    Make sure your SD Card isn’t locked; (small switch on side of card) then put it into your card reader on computer.

B.    From “My Computer” or “Computer” right click on the SD Card and select format.

C.    Make sure that it is set to FAT32 and Quick Format is off and click [Start > OK > OK > Close].

D.   Right click on “Letterbomb.zip” and extract to your desktop.  Now with your SD Card and “Letterbomb” folder open, drag and drop the first two files (Private Folder + Boot.elf) from Letterbomb and into your SD Card.

E.    Put the SD Card into your Wii (SD Card slot is behind the small flap on front of Wii, next to red button for pairing wiimote) and turn it on.

F.    Select the Wii Message Board (envelope at the bottom right of the Wii menu) and press the minus button (-) on the Wiimote and you should see a red envelope with a bomb.  Click on it and wait for Hackmii to load.

 

 

Step3 Use HackMii to install the HBC and BootMii.

A.    Press 1, and select Continue on the next screen.

B.    Select: Install the Homebrew Channel > Yes, Continue.

C.    Once it reads “Success” select continue.

D.   Select : BootMii…> Install BootMii as IOS

 

NOTE……If you have the option to install BootMii as Boot2, select that instead.

 

E.    Select: Yes, continue > Yes, continue > Continue > return to the main menu > exit.  The HBC should now load.  You can now turn off your Wii and remove the SD Card.

 

 

Part 2 Install WAD files and PriiLoader

Step1 Format your SD Card

A.    Put your SD Card into your laptop or computer.

B.    From My Computer or Computer, right click your SD Card and select Format.

C.    Make sure it is set to FAT32 and that quick format is OFF and then click Start > OK > OK > Close.

Step2 Download the files from 4.3 Hack Pack (for software visit www.startpassiveincome.com) onto your SD Card

D.   Having both the SD Card and the 4.3 Hack Pack open, copy all the files from 4.3 Hack pack onto the SD Card by dragging and dropping.

Step3 Install IOS236, WAD files and PriiLoader

E.    Turn on your Wii and insert the SD Card.

F.    Go to the Homebrew Channel and select Start.

G.    On the next screen select IOS236 Installer v5 MOD > Load.  Wait a little bit.

H.   After that’s done its thing select YAWMM Multimod Batch > Load, wait a little bit longer.

I.      After that’s done its thing, select PriiLoader 236 Mod > Load.  Then press A on the next screen.

J.     After that you are sent back again, hold down the reset button on your Wii to load PriiLoader.

Step4 Configure PriiLoader

 

Note.  If for some reason the PriiLoader crashes, simply turn off your Wii by holding down the Power Button until the light turns red.  Then press the Power Button to turn it back on and press A to go to the Wii Menu.

A.    Once PriiLoader is loaded select System Menu Hacks.

B.    Enable : Block Disc Updates, Block Online Updates, Auto-Press A at Health Screen, Region Free Everything, Finally select Save Settings.

C.    Now back at the PriiLoader Menu, select System Menu.  You can now turn off your Wii and remove the SD Card.

 

 

 

 

Part 3 Import Wii.ISOs into a USB Drive.

 

Step1 Install WBFS Manager and Format your USB Drive. For Software visit www.startpassiveincome.com

A.    Install WBFS Manager onto your laptop or computer.  Ensure that you install for the correct 32 or 64 bit system.

B.    Plug your USB Drive into your laptop or computer.  Check in my computer or computer, which drive letter has been assigned to the USB Drive and remember it.

C.    Open up WBFS Manager and select your USB Drive letter from the drop down menu at the top left corner by DRIVE:

NOTE ……If you have important data on your USB Drive BACK IT UP first!

D.   Click on Format and then click on Yes > OK.

Step2Use WBFS Manager to import your backup Wii.ISOs to your USB Drive.

A.    Click Load

B.    Click on Browse……on the bottom right.

C.    Select .ISO or ISOs that you want to import, then click Open.

NOTE…To import individual .ISOs, hold down the Ctrl key and click the ones you want.  To import entire list hold down the shift key and click on the beginning and the end of the list, to include all the .ISOs in between.

D.   After WBFS Manager is done analysing your .ISO or .ISOs, click on Add To Drive.

E.    Once WBFS Manager is done importing your .ISO or .ISOs, remove your USB Drive from your laptop or computer.

 

Part 4 Install and Update USB Loader GX to play Wii .ISOs

Step1 Format your SD Card

A.    Put your SD Card into your laptop or computer.

B.    From My Computer or Computer, right click your SD Card and select Format.

C.    Make sure it is set to FAT32 and that quick format is OFF and then click Start > OK > OK > Close.

Step2  Install USB Loader GX onto your SD Card and update it via Wi-Fi.

A.    Having both your SD Card and USB Loader GX file open, copy all the files for USB Loader GX onto your SD Card by dragging and dropping.

B.    Take the SD Card out of your laptop or computer and insert it into your Wii.

C.    Connect the USB Drive to your Wii by using the BOTTOM USB slot.

 

D.   Make sure that your Wii is connected to the wireless Internet.  Turn on your Wii and go to the HBC.

E.    Select USB Loader GX > Load.

F.    At the lower left corner, select Settings.

G.   Press Right on your D-Pad (directional pad) to get to the next section.

H.   Select Update > USB Loader GX > All

I.     If your Wii crashes when USB Loader GX restarts, just manually reset it.

Step3 Play your .ISOs with USB Loader GX.

 

NOTE……You must have your SD Card inserted into your Wii when using USB Loader GX or any other applications.  You will not have any cover art for your Backup Wii .ISOs, how to download will be explained later.

A.   Load USB loader GX through the HBC.

B.    Simply select the game title and then click on the spinning disc to start.

Note……About a third of existing Wii games aren’t fully functional until you change the settings in USB Loader GX for them, so you are bound to run into glitches at some point.  For example your game could be in Black and White or just get stuck at the load screen.  Just manually reset your Wii.  Then read through the next few sections to learn how to fix the glitches.

 

 

Configure USB Loader GX

Game Settings.

A.   First try a Google search for your problem e.g. “Wii COD Black Ops loading freeze” 

In this case I needed to change the IOS from 250 to 249 for COD Black Ops to work correctly.

B.    Load USB Loader GX from the HBC.

C.   Select the game you want to change the settings for, then select: Settings > Game Load.

D.   Here you can change the settings.  You need to refer to any Google results for changes to be made.  Just remember to save the changes.

E.    Try playing the game, if still not good, repeat form A and try again.

Download cover/disc art for USB Loader GX.

The best way to do this is to do a You Tube search and there are hundreds of videos that will show you how to put the cover art into USN Loader GX.

It is far easier to watch it being done then to try and follow it from a written page.  I had it written down but honestly its far more confusing than it needs to be.

You can also use fun themes for USB Loader GX, you can install it as a channel and numerous other things that you can find out about on the web.  I merely wanted to show you a safe and simple explanation of the Soft Mod process.  Once you have gotten this far, the world as they say is your oyster!

So Friend,

You probably have lots of questions that are not covered in this simple guide.  I have shown you how to get up and running with Soft Modding.  There is a massive world out there and millions of Forums and Websites that can and will take you a whole lot further.

Please don’t spam me with questions, you can leave a comment and I or someone will give an answer I’m sure.

I plan to make further guides and tutorials in the future.  If you have any requests for guides, please leave a comment and I will see what I can do.

Other than that, please be sure to enjoy this guide, remember of course it is at your own risk and that Piracy of software is illegal.