Guide: Virtual Wii (Wii Mode) Softmod for Wii U
V-Wii Soft Mod Guide v1.0 2/9/2013
Please be aware that modding your system voids the warranty and can possibly damage your system.
We are Not responsible for anything that happens to your Wii U as a result of following this guide.
NOTE: The Wii U Update released on 4/25/2013 does not affect the vWii Softmod in any way!
VWii Softmod Guide Update History
- This guide is a work in progress. As time goes on and we learn more about the vWii, this guide will be updated accordingly.
- Here you will find a detailed list of things that are added/removed between revisions of this guide.
2/11/2013 - Modpack now at v1.1
Added d2x cIOS Installer 2.2 MOD to Modpack. This gives compatibility with the Motion Plus (TR) remotes, as well as removes the need for the base IOS to be on the root of the SD card.
Part 1 - Things you MUST KNOW before softmodding your vWii
WARNING: While every possible precaution is taken in giving the following instructions, there is inherently a small chance (as there is with software modification of any console, phone, etc.) that you could brick. Accept this fact or stop now. You have been warned.
- The following instructions are for modifying the Wii Mode on the Wii U console in order to play backup Wii games from SD card, USB stick, or an external HDD. This guide IS NOT compatible with the regular Wii. If you are looking to modify your regular Wii, look HERE.
- The HDD used to hold your game backups MUST BE EXTERNALLY POWERED. (Meaning it has its own power supply that plugs into an outlet) The Wii U does not supply enough power to completely run an external HDD.
- After this mod, if you leave your HDD plugged into the Wii U console, it will prompt you to format the drive every time you power on your Wii U. ALWAYS select Cancel, otherwise you will delete all of your backed up Wii games!
Part 2 - Things you will need
- A Wii U :p
- A standard SD card, 2GB or less, FULLY formatted to FAT32.
- One of the following 5 games in order to softmod your vWii:
-----Lego Indiana Jones
-----Super Smash Bros Brawl
-----Lego Star Wars
-----Lego Batman
-----Tales of Symphonia
What this guide installs
This guide will install the following to your vWii:
- The Homebrew Channel v1.1.2
- cIOS249[56] d2xv10 b53alt
- cIOS250[57] d2xv10 b53alt
- cIOS251[58] d2xv10 b53alt
All usb loaders and apps will be read directly from the SD card (for reasons that are explained in the Final Important Notes spoiler of this guide)
Part 3 - Installing the Homebrew Channel
NOTE: Korean Wii U consoles can only use the Super Smash Bros Brawl hack. All other regions can use any of the below hacks.
- Format your SD card to FAT32
- Use one of the below games to launch the Hackmii Installer:
Lego Indiana Jones
-Download Hackmii_1.1.2_IP.zip, Extract directly to sd:\
-Play Lego Indiana Jones Original. Start a new game, then exit to System Menu.
-Go to wii settings, data management, save games, wii, SD
-Click SD, copy Indiana PWNS for your region
-Play Lego Indiana Jones original, load save game slot 1
-
Quote:
When the game loads, you will be in Barnett College. Walk to the Art Room (through
the Courtyard), approach the left character on the podium. When it zooms on him, choose the switch
to option (two silhouettes, staggered, with an arrow pointing between them).
-Hackmii Installer Loads
Super Smash Bros Brawl
Smash Stack
-Requires "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" for your region
-download Smash Stack_Hackmii_1.1.2.zip ----
-extract to sd:\
-Load SSBB , with sd-card removed, make a save file if asked
-Go to the stage builder, delete all custom stages found, exit the stage builder
-Exit all the way back to the main SSBB menu
-Insert SD-CARD, Go back to the stage builder
-HackMii Installer loads
Lego Star Wars
-Requires 1-2g SD card
-Requires Lego Star Wars game
-Play the game once
-Return of Jodi- Download hackmii-1.1.2_return-jodi.zip
-Extract directly to sd:\
-Go to wii data managment, savegames
-Delete your lego starwars save file
-Copy the hacked save file for your region from your sd card to your wii
-Start up the game, load the first save slot (on the left, at 0.0%)
-As soon as the level loads, run to the right and you'll see two characters floating. Run to the area in
front of them and you'll see "Return of Jodi" show up, press the "A" button on your Wiimote and your boot.elf
will run
-Hackmii Installer loads
Lego Batman
-Requires 1-2g SD card
-Requires Lego Batman game
-Play the game once
-Download hackmii-1.1.2_bathaxx.zip
-Extract directly to sd:\
-Go to wii data managment, savegames
-Delete your lego Batman save file.
-Copy the hacked save file for your region from your sd card to your wii
-Boot LEGO Batman and load the savegame you just copied. You are now in the batcave, take the elevator on
the right side. Then in the trophy room, go to the upper corner and go through the door in order to enter the
"Wayne Manor". Now you can select a character. Choose the last enabled one in the lowest row
-Hackmii Installer Loads
Tales of Symphonia
-Play "Tales of Symphonia: Dawn ofthe New World" (RT4EAF).
-Make a savegame
-Download
Hackmii-1.1.2-Eri HaKawai.zip
-Extract directly to sd:\
-Go to wii settings -> data managment -> savegames -> wii
-Delete your Tales of Symphonia savegame
-Go to the sd card savegames ->Copy your exploit savegame to the wii. Then start the game, and load the save data.
-Once the game starts ( and you see a dog waving at you ), press PLUS to enter the game's menu.
-Scroll down to "Status" and press A.
-Then scroll down to the second character (named "Giantpune"). Highlite him, and press A.
-Hopefully everything works out like it should and the boot.elf is loaded from your SD card.
-Hackmii installer should load
- The Hackmii Installer is now loading. Be patient, give it a minute or two. Eventually "Press 1 to Continue" will appear.When it does, press 1.
- Press A to Continue
- Press A to install the Homebrew Channel, Homebrew Channel Installs
- Exit the Hackmii Installer
- Congrats! You have now installed the Homebrew Channel onto your vWII!
Part 4 - Installing cIOS
- Download Modpack-vWii-v1.1 and extract directly to your SD card.
- Insert your SD card into your Wii U
- Launch the Homebrew Channel
- Select IOS236 Installer v8 MOD and press A to Load
- Press A to continue, IOS236 Installs
- Press any button to exit
- You should now be back in the Homebrew Channel
- Select d2x cIOS Installer and press A to load
- At the top of the screen you will see the word Welcome highlighted in green. Press any button to continue
- At the top of the screen you will see the words Working IOS highlighted in green. Press A to continue
- At the top of the screen you will see the words CIOS Settings highlighted in green.
- You will see a > next to Select cIOS. Press the right dpad to change this setting to d2x-v10-beta53-alt-vWii
- Press down and Select cIOS base should say 56
- Press down again and Select cIOS slot should say 249
- Press A to install, cIOS 249 installs
- Press A to continue
- Now you are back at the CIOS SETTINGS screen again. This time press down to go to Select cIOS base, and press right to change the base to 57
- Press down and then right again to change the cIOS slot to 250
- Press A to install, cIOS 250 installs
- Back at the CIOS SETTINGS screen again. Press down to go to Select cIOS base, and press right to change the base to 58
- Press down and then right again to change the cIOS slot to 251
- Press A to install, cIOS 251 installs.
- Press B to exit.
Congrats! You have now installed all cIOS needed! Proceed to part 5.
Part 5 - Installing your Apps
- Format your SD card again to FAT32
- Download vWii App Pack v1.zip and extract directly to your SD Card.
- In this app pack we have including the following usb loaders:
----
WiiFlow v4.1
----USB Loader GX r1180
----CFG MOD r15
- Make sure your external HDD is plugged in to your Wii U and turned on. (Use the usb port closest to the middle on the rear of the console)
- Insert your SD card into your Wii U and launch the Homebrew Channel in Wii Mode.
- Launch any one of the loaders from the Homebrew Channel
We included all of these different loaders in hopes that you will find the one you like best, or best suits your needs. All have different interfaces and features. Which one is best is entirely up to personal preference. :)
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing black screens or game loading issues with a HDD that you have confirmed as working on a regular Wii, look HERE.
Final Important Notes
- DO NOT attempt to install wads or channels onto your vWii. Is it possible? Yes. So why don't we recommend it? READ BELOW.
- As of current moment there is absolutely ZERO BRICK PROTECTION!!! A bad wad file could brick you permanently! Play it safe!
- We will post back with anything new we find that we know works 100%. Until such time as brick protection is available, YOU THE END USER are the last line of defense against a brick. Once again, PLEASE play it safe and do not mess with any IOS/cIOS/wads etc!!!!
- DO NOT follow any guides meant for the Wii, and attempt to install stuff from them to the Wii U!!! Anything Wii U related will be in this section of the forum.
- The Staff here at WiiHacks has always taken pride in protecting it's members by providing guides that we know are safe. In the case of this guide, we have chosen NOT to have you install forwarder channels or any other channels. The reason behind this is simple: With no brick protection available, the less that is done the better. If you decide to do anything beyond this guide for aesthetic reasons, that is entirely your call. Dont blame us if something bad happens!!!
Credits
A HUGE shout out to Jax for all the research he has done to help out with this guide, and also for the layout!
Mauifrog for the game exploit guides and vids, and the inspiration to help and protect the users of our guides.
TT for Hackmii!!!!
FIX94 for the IOS236 Installer
davebaol for d2x v10
And all the other coders out there who made all of this possible - Kudos to you guys!!!!
Warning: It is illegal to obtain/distribute backups of games you do not own. WiiHacks does not support or promote software piracy. Play fair.
d2x installer issue with vWii on Wii U !!
Your d2x installer seems to not work because none of the wii controllers work once it is loaded, they will not turn on and go black.. I had to revert to d2x 2.2 FIX 94 installer... Just thought you should know..
Can I use a bigger than 2GB SD card for apps?
Thank you so much for the excellent guide.
I understand that I need to use a 2GB or less SD card for installing onto the Wii U, but can I use a bigger SD card for the apps?
Also, will I be able to run my GameCube games off an SD card like I can with USB Loader on my Wii?
