For anyone new reading up on the forums all I can say is if you read this site and Google enough you will most likely find all your answers. Here is a little list I put together of what I found useful during my modding experience. I'm not a wii guru for sure but I thought this might be helpful for some. For those of you that are experts at this, yes I have a lot of free time, I work night shift, and no I am not trying to repeat or write what already has been said in other forums, I'm just trying to compile what I found useful for those in similar situations.
However, every situation is different so mod at your own risk! Enjoy
WHAT WII DO I HAVE?
A D2C with 3.3u update, aka USA. LU5792XXXX, purchased 6/20/2008.
HOW DID I KNOW WHAT MODCHIP TO GET?
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]and easy to install for those with D2C and D2C2 chipsets, which are all the Wiis except for the very, very new ones apparently - D2E. I don't know anything about those. To tell which chipset you have just take you wii apart by following the link below. Either way the D2Pro v2 v4c will work, it's just a matter of if you will need to update your chip via the D2Pro9 programmer [$30] using your computer or by simply using a DVD. Unless your Wii is VERY new in which case you may have a D2E I hear, just take it apart and look for peace of mind.
WHERE DID I GET MY CHIP FROM?
I ordered my chip 7/10/2008, received 7/28/2008 with triwiNG screwdriver from Canadamods.ca. Total with shipping it was $103. Came with v1.3 update on it.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
HOW DID I KNOW THE CHIP WAS REAL?
When it arrives click here and check it out.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
WHAT ELSE DID I NEED AND WHERE DID I GET IT?
1. SD Card 2gb = $14
Do not get a SDHC card, or high capacity card.
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2. Triwing screwdriver = $0.96
Note: My mod chip also came with one from canadamods so now I have two. I guess if you order through them you don't need to get this. Although if you need one I got mine through this site in like 4 days free shipping from Hong Kong!
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK
3. DVD's = $31
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HOW DID I TAKE THE WII APART?
Simple.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
Thanks jbloggs
HOW DID I INSTALL THE MODCHIP D2Pro9 v2 v4c?
Follow the link and click "Install" on the left. From start to finish it took about 30 minutes. Although I'm pretty meticulous so it can be installed in a much shorter time. Somthing that helped me was punching all the screws I took out of the wii through a piece of paper with a crude drawing of where they went on the wii. Keeps you from loosing them and remembering where they went.
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Thanks vanylapep
HOW AND WHY DID I UPDATE THE CHIP?
Click on the link below, I used v1.5 Utility Disc. There may be newer ones released so just look at what they have. Extract the ISO [use winwar-free just google it] and burn it to a DVD and put it in your wii. Follow the instructions on the screen and poof, updated. *Note: the D2Pro9 2v v4c I got from canadamods.ca in July had v1.3 on the chip when it arrived, not a bad thing but the update V1.5 fixs a lot of bugs. I probably would have left v1.4 if that was on it instead.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
HOW DID I KNOW I WOULDN'T BRICK [RUIN/PARTIALLY RUIN] MY WII?
I used Wiu 1.1, you open the ISO with it, and it will tell you if there is an update on the disc and what region the game is. It will fix one or both if you need it to as well. FYI, if you have a USA Wii, and there is an update on the USA [NTSC] disc, it's okey to leave it there, it won't brick your wii, and it makes it easier to burn them working. At least for me it did. It won't brick your wii if the game is the same region as your wii. It's worth noting that if the game has been changed from a PAL to NTSC [USA] there still may be a PAL update so just check to be sure with Wiu 1.1 first. If you only use your backups of the DVD games you own you will never have a problem, that's what I do. Read this forum for info.
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HOW DID I BURN MY BACKUP DVD GAMES?
Use IMGburn, it's free and easy.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]to see how to use it.
WHAT DVD BRAND DID I USE?
Verbatim seems to be the best DVDs for backup games, most people say the DVD-R at x2 speed to start. Here are the ones I got from bestbuy and they work great for USA games, although for some reason all the games that were changed from PAL (Europe) to NTSC-U (USA) via wiu 1.1 get disc errors partially through the game. That problem I fixed by burning those games to Memorex DVD-R at x2 speed from bestbuy and they work perfectly. *Note the Verbatim DVDs I got were from India, which if you read is not as good a Singapore but I didn't have the option.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
NOTE: YOU ARE DONE MODDING AT THIS POINT! YOU CAN PLAY BACKUP GAMES NOW! THE REST IS A "SOFT HACK" OR A MOD FOR THOSE WITH OR WITHOUT MODCHIPS. IT'S WELL WORTH DOING IF YOU ARE WILLING TO READ A FEW TUTORIALS.
WHAT IS THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL AND TWILIGHT HACK?
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
HOW DID I INSTALL THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL?
Easy if you just follow the steps 1 by 1, even if you already updated your wii to 3.3u. There is a install kit, meaning that you just have to put theses files on your SD card exactly how they are along with your WAD failes and everything will just work when you plug it in. Simple enough.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register] For more information on the kit and how to install it
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]. Note: You don't need a modchip to do this, although I waited so I could use a backup copy of Zelda which worked perfectly.
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WHERE DID I GET THE HOMEBREW APPLICATIONS?
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
WHERE CAN YOU GET OLD NINTENDO GAMES AND HOW DO YOU INSTALL THEM?
Some people download the WAD files from any multiple of
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]and use
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]to install them.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]
Hope this posting helps a few people with basic questions, feel free to correct any mistakes I have as well, it is 2am so I'm sure there are a few.
