Region Change of 4.2(U) Wii + NAND Question

Findings: Region changing is still very possible in 4.2 without restoration of previous nand dump.

Basically, it works just like region changing always did with AnyRegion Changer. The difference is that you have to let it semi-brick in AnyRegion Changer, because changing the Menu THERE leads to a full-brick (because it installs 3.2x but not it's necessary IOS, which even if it did, doesn't work on Wiis that come with boot2v4 from factory)... so let's go with the semi-brick instead of a full one.

Anyway, credit really goes to sensimillia who had the gonads to try this (it helps having bootmii/boot2 ;)). I've also successfully accomplished this without bootmii/boot2; however, it's still more kosher to use bootmii/boot2 for potentially nand-screwing-up type stunts.

Okay... so, here are the steps. They are thanks to sensimillia and his ability to understand what should have been happening while I was sitting here completely dumb-founded with my thumb up a certain oraface ;) and my eventual experimentation with Dop-IOS MOD (GREAT Program). For Dop-IOS MOD you need a functioning internet connection working on the Wii! If you have a japanese Wii I understand this might be a difficult proposition. I then suggest you refer to elcapitanwii's post on page 5 (post #43) if you can't get internet working.

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Needed programs:
NUSD
Trucha Bug Restorer (TBR)
AnyRegion Changer (ARC)
Dop-IOS MOD

Search each program up at WiiBrew for reliable links to the latest versions and what-not.


1. create backup of Nand with BOOTMII

2. Download IOS15 v257, IOS15 v523 and IOS36 v3351 with NUSD and place the created wads to the root of the SD Card.

3. Run Trucha bug restorer and:

• Skip IOS reload by pressing "B" when asked to select an IOS to reload.
• Select downgrade IOS15 to v257
• Restart TBR and select IOS15 when asked which IOS to reload (DON'T hit "B" this time)
• Select IOS36 menu and make set the bottom option to match to top 2 above it, then hit "A" at the top to install to slot 36. (also doing this to slot 236 is optional. I prefer to put IOS36 back to normal after this but keep IOS236. the problem is, is that AnyRegion Changer needs IOS36 with trucha bug)
• Restart TBR again and skip IOS reload like before. Then restore IOS15 back to normal (not necessarily required, but let's just do it to be safe)

4. Run ARC and change region, country, etc to the desired region EXCEPT for System Menu then hit "save" (I REPEAT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T LISTEN AND THEN COMPLAIN: DON'T DOWNGRADE TO SYSTEM MENU 3.2!! You probably will mess up your Wii that way =D )

5. Run Dop-IOS MOD and reload IOS36 at the beginning. Navigate to the "System Menu"-Menu and select the desired region, set version to 4.2 (please don't fool around here, especially if you don't know much about the wii) and let it do it's magic.

Optional: Changing the Shop's country.
Before you change the region of the wii, you should go to the shop and delete it's account in the options menu. Now, I don't know japanese, so you'll just have to press buttons and find the settings menu. it should be the last option at that menu though. after you've done have, change the country code for the shop with ARC (country codes can be found at wiibrew's page for ARC) and then reinstall the Shop Channel with Dop-IOS MOD for your region. Magic.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any problems.

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Original 1st post from me:

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So... First question: I have a 4.2U Wii. I originally had it as a 3.3U. I used the magic of homebrew and made it 4.1E. I then downgraded to 3.3E then converted back over to 3.3U then updated to 4.2U (with Waninkoko's "safe (as it gets in reference to 4.2)" updater).

Now I need (or rather really really want) the Wii to be European again. Is it even possible to change the region now with 4.2 seeing as downgrading isn't an option anymore?


Second Question: I made a backup of my nand when it was 4.1U. Would a restoration 1: be possible and 2: bring me back to 4.1?

Thanks in advance for any help.

P.S. Anybody telling me I'm dumb for updating to 4.2 can in all respect suck it and I request that any Mods that see people flaming in that respect please just delete the messages.

P.P.S. I could also explain why I've been switching between EUR and USA, however no one really cares and I don't care to explain. Please just help me and provide me with any information I might not have knowledge about.

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P.S. I know it wasn't covered in this Thread at all really, but from my reading (and experience from actually trying it with Bootmii/IOS just not working properly: possibly due to non-original GC-Controller... but not likely): It is not currently possible to restore a nand image unless Bootmii is installed in boot2. (I know... it sucks... but oh well)

I have a similar question.

I have a Japanese Wii, and because I can't read any Japanese I managed to click 'yes' when it asked me to upgrade to 4.2.
So, here I am with a 4.2J Wii. Apart from the HBS I have no extra channels or cIOS installed. Worse, I have no NAND backup of anything.

In order to avoid upgrading my Wii by mistake in the future, is there any functional way to change my Wii's region to US or Europe?

Here I found a post that seems to indicate that it's possible but I don't feel very sure
-- Wii System Update 4.2 Mega Topic --


Thanks a lot

I've also seen two or so posts hinting towards people having already downgraded, however wiibrew.org and the major tut's here say that it's not possible (from what I understood at least).

I trust the big 4.2 tutorial and wiibrew before I trust some random post. I'm paranoid about bricking my wii with 4.2.

4.2 is the devil

(polite) *bump*

Do you have bootmii/boot2 or bootmii/IOS?

Some are downgrading from 4.2 to 3.2 which is for fools really, some are getting away with it and some are bricking, some straight away and some when they stupidly use an update disc.

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Do you have bootmii/boot2 or bootmii/IOS?

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Umm... to be honest I don't even have THC up and running just yet, but (just as I've previously expressed my faith in that big *** howto) I'll get that up and running soon enough.

Now, I'm pretty (99%) sure I'll be able to get bootmii/IOS up and running. I'm not so sure about the boot2, however, although I know I don't have a LU64 (or whatever it is with the "pos" boot2v4... like I said, it came with boot2 and Sys-Menu 3.3). I didn't get bootmii (as boot2) running back then; however, through messing around with region changing back then, I discovered the whole IOS15/16 ordeal with NAND permissions.

Assuming I get bootmii (IOS) up and running AND NAND permissions (who knows... even with cIOSCORP... that's at least sure-fire, assuming it works, to have vulnerable IOS'), will that work with the NAND restore?

Now, on the not-so-high probability I get the bootmii/boot2 working with the rest of the other factors as written above: Do I then stand a chance?

I really wish there was a reset button so that I could just install everything fresh

After reading a bit here and there, I figured I should apply the following steps to change my Wii's region from 4.2J to 4.2U or 4.2E:

1. Use setting_replace to backup my settings.txt file

2. Use anyregion_changer to change my Area, game and system menu region and shop country code to US (or EU).

I should now end-up with a semi-bricked Wii

3. Exit anyregion_changer and load the homebrew channel

4. Use 'any title deleter' and DOP-IOS MOD to install System Menu 4.2U over 4.2J , I used NUSD to download 4.2U

5. Use DOP-IOS MOD to update all channels to the US version.

My questions before I go ahead:
a) will the above procedure work?
b) Do I need to apply trucha-bug restorer and install cIOS249 in order to DOP-IOS Mod to work? All my games work fine in GeckoOs, so I don't see the need to softmod the system at present.
c) I read that it's impossible to install BootMII/BOOT2 on system menu 4.2, so making a NAND backup will be worthless. If I brick my Wii there will be no way to restore it. Correct?
d) Due to some previous mistake I have 2 weather and news channels. Will I be able to remove them using 'any title deleter'? It's not working with 'duplicate channel remover'

Thanks a lot.

WARNING!
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Please do not attempt this when you are not able to install BOOTMII/BOOT2. While trying to get it working I fully bricked and had to restore my Wii from NAND backup.

Here are the steps

1. create backup with BOOTMII
2. Trucha bug restorer:
a) downgrade IOS15 to version 257
b) install a fully patched IOS36 in slot 236
c) restore IOS15

3. Install cIOS 249 rev 15

4. Use Trucha bug restorer to patch IOS36 as well (needed for ARC)

5. Run ARC and change region to US

6. Download Wii SystemMenu v481
7. Copy to sd:/wad
8. Run Wad Manager 1.5 and install system menu 4.2

I tried with System menu 4.1 at first, it led to a full brick.

9. use Trucha Bug Restorer to install original IOS36 if you like.

Thank you very much for this information! This is great news actually that this is even possible still despite the evil 4.2 update.

I'm quite (sadly) in the other boat... Located in a certain creek we all know and loathe.

I've since cracked my 4.2 and have the Trucha Bug restored and have Priiloader up and running and Bootmii/IOS installed. I have no BootMii/boot2. My hopes of being able to restore my old nand backup are slowly being dashed unless someone can give me reason to believe otherwise...

That being said I've made another backup of my nand with 4.2U on it. I'm willing to attempt this region change under certain conditions.

If I mess up and get a brick through the steps you posted, will Priiloader theoretically remain intact? If not, can one implement it in the middle of the 4.2 update (of the other region one desires)?

Having made those questions, I have several geared specifically to your guide (if you don't mind me calling it that :D)

In regards to step 2-B, what do you mean by fully patched? I have so many IOS36 wads flying around on my computer I'm losing focus.

Am I correct when reading this: When changing the region, DON'T install the corresponding 3.2 System Menu (we really need an ARC for 4.2)? The reasoning is logical of course, but if we're to install 4.2 later, does it even matter and if it does, what should be done?

In regards to step 4: Does one have to (re)apply that specifically at the order? If IOS36 is already patched, is this still necessary due to any changes? If so, which? (I'm assuming this is either a dumb question or I'm just dumb and not grasping what's going on)




Again, thank you for your testing. Someone needed to do it.



Do others think any "problems" (i.e. full brick) would be reversible having Priiloader installed and using Waninkoko's 4.2 updater for the appropriate region? Worst case scenario: with SaveMii??



This is where I'm also confused about the transitions between the steps for analyzing if it's feasible without BootMii/boot2:


1. create backup with BOOTMII
2. Trucha bug restorer:
a) downgrade IOS15 to version 257
b) install a fully patched IOS36 in slot 236
c) restore IOS15

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

3. Install cIOS 249 rev 15

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

4. Use Trucha bug restorer to patch IOS36 as well (needed for ARC)

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

5. Run ARC and change region to US

*Loading HBC needed - is it still able to be opened by hitting Home/whatever? (System menu is obviously not an option... is Priiloader still an option?)*

6. Download Wii SystemMenu v481
7. Copy to sd:/wad
8. Run Wad Manager 1.5 and install system menu 4.2

I tried with System menu 4.1 at first, it led to a full brick.

9. use Trucha Bug Restorer to install original IOS36 if you like.



If anyone reads all of this: thanks. =)

I have no experience with Priiloader... I hope somebody else can answer those questions.

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Originally Posted by ddanat

In regards to step 2-B, what do you mean by fully patched? I have so many IOS36 wads flying around on my computer I'm losing focus.

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Trucha Bug Restorer allows to patch IOS36 at three different points. Enable all three patches

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Originally Posted by ddanat

Am I correct when reading this: When changing the region, DON'T install the corresponding 3.2 System Menu (we really need an ARC for 4.2)? The reasoning is logical of course, but if we're to install 4.2 later, does it even matter and if it does, what should be done?

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Installing anything but 4.2 will fully brick your console. (I tried 4.1)
If you reboot your Wii after step 5, you will get a semi-brick.

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Originally Posted by ddanat

In regards to step 4: Does one have to (re)apply that specifically at the order? If IOS36 is already patched, is this still necessary due to any changes? If so, which? (I'm assuming this is either a dumb question or I'm just dumb and not grasping what's going on)

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I found that ARC specifically needs a patched IOS36 to run (otherwise you'll get error -1017 or similar). At first I installed my patched IOS36 in slot 236.
You can do this step at any time. Second time I tried (after bricking and restoring my console) I combined this step with step 2b.

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Originally Posted by ddanat

Again, thank you for your testing. Someone needed to do it.

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And finally I can cancel my Japanese classes. :-)

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Originally Posted by ddanat

This is where I'm also confused about the transitions between the steps for analyzing if it's feasible without BootMii/boot2:
1. create backup with BOOTMII
2. Trucha bug restorer:
a) downgrade IOS15 to version 257
b) install a fully patched IOS36 in slot 236
c) restore IOS15

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

3. Install cIOS 249 rev 15

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

4. Use Trucha bug restorer to patch IOS36 as well (needed for ARC)

*Loading HBC needed - no problem (4.2 not affected yet)*

5. Run ARC and change region to US

*Loading HBC needed - is it still able to be opened by hitting Home/whatever? (System menu is obviously not an option... is Priiloader still an option?)*

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Here you will get a semi-bricked console. System menu 4.2 will start (at least it did on my set-up the two times I tried). You can use the system menu to start the homebrew channel.

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Originally Posted by ddanat

6. Download Wii SystemMenu v481

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Obviously you will need NUSD to download the SystemMenu v4.2 for your target region. v841 = 4.2US

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddanat

If anyone reads all of this: thanks. =)

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You're welcome ;-)