My twilight hack/homebrew channel install guide - Wiihacks

Olivares · 06-22-2008, 08:56 PM

We've been needing a new thread. The original thread was pre-wiibrew. Now we'll use this one for all wiibrew/homebrew channel discussion.

I spent a good half a day getting this all figured out. Some info is missing in certain places and files in others. So I'll try to make it easier for all of us.

Yes this works with the 3.3 update! Download the zelda save file in this post

At any rate. Some of you may have heard of the "twilight hack". This allows you to load a homebrew channel on your Wii using a Zelda gamesave.

Wait, wait! I thought Nintedo fixed the twilight hack!

Nintendo released a patch for some Mii parade crap. And also didn't allow modified zelda save files. I'll just let this wiihacks update explain it.

Quote:

A new update has just been released that does something with the Mii Parade...but here's the interesting part:

"Because unauthorized modifcations to save files may impair game play or the Wii console, updating to Wii Menu version 3.3 will also check for and automatically remove such save files."

So update or NO update? that is the question

EDIT:

I went ahead and updated the Wii to 3.3u. Here are my findings

1.) Homebrew Channel works fine no problems no freezes no hangs
2.) I Had the internet channel Installed before the update. Still works fine no hiccups.
3.) I removed the internet channel using the wad manager and installed it again with no problems.
4.) All backups work fine Including different region (i have NTSC-U will and pal game), brick blocked games and wii scrubbed games, SSBB works.

IT IS SAVE TO UPDATE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE HOMEBREW CHANNEL INSTALLED BEFORE...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Quote:

The Homebrew Channel is a channel for launching Wii homebrew applications without the need to run the Twilight Hack first. It will list apps stored and organised on an SD card in a nice little GUI, which you can very easily customise with descriptions and shiny little .png icons all by yourself if you want. You can also launch homebrew apps via TCP (with a correctly configured PC) or USB Gecko. Both of those built in options make it extremely convenient for testing out new code, as well as a general purpose homebrew launcher. You've seen the video, now try it yourself!

What else can you do? - The twilight hack only needs to be done once. The old method was everytime you wanted to load a .wad/channel onto your wii you had to run the twilight hack. Now there's an application that can run through the homebrew channel to do it. You can also stream any type of video file from your PC via Wiideo. The quality has some to be gained but it's better than x-box in that you can view almost any file. Plus the navigation with the wiimote. Apparently there is also a dvd player (the Wii has a dvd player. Just not the software to run it). There isn't much yet but this should open up a ton of doors for awesome homebrew and programs.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Legalities? I don't want to have my Wii get banned! - There's an obvious risk with doing any of this. But Nintendo apparently has no security for online. If there's ever an update via WIFI or from a game simply check out the sites and make sure it's ok to install. No one I know of has gotten banned yet. You can also delete anything whenever you want.

Files you'll need.
Homebrew Channel boot file -
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Twilight Hack files -
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Apps Package -
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Other bits you need

-Wii
-SD card formatted to FAT/FAT16. Must be under 2 gigs or smaller. (A micro sd card with sd card adapter will work)
-Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess
-USB SD card reader/plugin

The Twilight Hack

Read the inside of your Zelda CD to see which save file you'll need.

Europe/Australia RVL-RZDP-0A-0 JPN rzdp0.bin
Asia RVL-RZDJ-0A-0 JPN rzdj0.bin
America RVL-RZDE-0A-0 JPN rzde0.bin
America RVL-RZDE-0A-0 USA rzde0.bin
America RVL-RZDE-0A-2 USA rzde2.bin

Quote:

Begin by formatting your SD card to FAT16 if it is not already (in Windows it's just called "FAT"). If you get an error such as "FAT_ReadFile(boot.elf) failed with error -1" then reformatting your SD card with Official SD Card Format Tool may help. Make a directory on the SD card called "/private/wii/title/RZDx/" Replace "RZDx" with RZDE, RZDP or RZDJ as appropriate (See above table). If a file called data.bin already exists in this folder you may wish to back it up as it contains your save file for the game. In any case, copy the appropriate bin file from the download into this directory, renaming it to "data.bin". Take your homebrew Wii executable (elf file) and save it in the root directory of your SD card as "boot.elf".

Now, put the SD card into your Wii and turn it on. Go into Wii Options --> Data Management --> Save Data --> Wii. Find your Zelda save, click on it, click "Erase", and click Yes. Open the SD card and select the "Twilight Hack" save. The icon should say "Wiibrew Loader". Click copy and then yes. Now exit out of the menu.

Insert The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess game disc and run the game. Load file A and either walk backwards or talk to the man standing in front of you.

If for whatever reason the save file doesn't show up rename it to simply "data". The first time I did it data.bin worked but the second time it had to be just "data". Also, if you're getting filez, make sure that they're NTSC format (North American). Anything that is .pal is European I think.

Now, install the .wad installer - NOTE - THIS IS OPTIONAL!

Quote:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

get wad installer from above url

rename the .elf from the wad installer into boot.elf

put the boot.elf under its own folder in apps folder

put .wad that you want to install into wad folder (this wad folder should be on the root of SD, same level as apps folder)

to be more presentable, ive edited an .xml file and created an icon so it is more user-friendly

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register] rename to icon.png and put in the same folder as boot.elf
[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register] or [Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register] here this is the .xml file (paste into notepad & save as meta.xml)

edited: added file/dir/path as below:

x:appswadinstallerboot.elf (from above url & renamed)
x:appswadinstallericon.png (use your own or get from above tinypic url)
x:appswadinstallermeta.xml (i've modified this file using other apps' xml as template)
x:wad -> put your wads in here example:
x:wadmywad001.wad
X:wadmywad002.wad etc

Links -

Homebrew Channel main page -

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

Common problems -

If you're having trouble getting the zelda save file to show up try adding .bin to the end of the file. It may have already had this but sometimes it goes back and forth. One time it worked for me without it and the other time I had to add the .bin

If you're apps aren't fully loading and such take the GC memory cards out of the slots. Actually, take them out whenever you're doing any wiibrew stuff.

Too much text in one post. Go to second page.

jbloggs · 06-23-2008, 06:23 AM

That is a great guide. Thanks very much.

Greentorii · 08-07-2008, 03:21 PM

is there a way to find out which version of twilight princess i have without the cd cover? I don't have it

Thanks!

bumper44 · 08-07-2008, 04:29 PM

nice job helpful guide!

torso · 09-06-2008, 02:44 PM

What happens if you use the incorrect version number of zelda? Does it brick your Wii?

Olivares · 09-07-2008, 12:08 AM

No, I don't think so. From what I know it is pretty hard to brick your wii.

hummer5 · 09-08-2008, 01:36 PM

Well i have downloaded the zelda, but i don't know which version it is as i don't have any cd cases with it, nor does the download mentions anything. Is is still possible to install the homebrew channel. If yes, then can someone guide me through.

thanks.

Wiiwouldliketohack · 09-08-2008, 02:00 PM

What he means by inside of the Zelda cd is the inner circle of the cd there is the code printed on it. Not like the cd book or Wii game case that is comes sealed in. I figured most people on this site would know it , but you can't be mean to people for lacking some knowledge since I don't know it all or even close lol. So if you just have the disc the files and the SD card you are good to go to T.W hack you wii. Also I will answer a question without being asked that I have seen all over the web before some more knowing person then me gives you the cold shoulder for asking it. After installing homebrew you can not use homebrew to read burnt or back up discs, the software app. just can't do it. You do need a mod chip do read those back ups lol. =] Well thank you for reading my rambeling

hummer5 · 09-08-2008, 03:01 PM

thanks alot for quick answer. I don't mean to be harsh on anyone, neither do i want to pick some ones words.

I will try to get the detail and will read more to see how can i get info from the downloaded zelda to install the homebrew channel.

I have already ordered the chip, but thanks for letting me know though.

Wiiwouldliketohack · 09-08-2008, 03:04 PM

No problem man isn't the point of joining this online community is to share your knowledge with those you need it.

Cause I know some others will be called upon when I need help. I would say man just rent a version of Zelda Twilight Princess and use that version to just get the homebrew channel since you only have to do it once. You could also see if one of your friends has the a real copy of the game just for the purpose of doing the hack, it isn't like you need the game everyime you want to use the homebrew channel.