it is on

is this thing on?

This is like facebook walls :crazyr:

what the hell is this?

I would love to mod my Wii, but i don't play it enough as is, i doubt modding it would give me any more use out of it

Bricking:

Wii bricking can be prevented when using your head:

1. Do NOT update your console with games that are outside of your region code. Do not take a PAL (European) disc, play it on your NTSC-U (North America) console, and approve an update. The clashing firmwares (3.XE to 3.XU) will brick the machine. If you don't know where the game image came from, be safe and run it through WiiBrickBlocker first.

2. Do NOT run .WAD files that have been "injected". People take Virtual Console titles (Kirby, SNES) and insert their own ROM image into it. A bad ROM to WAD injection will brick the console. If you want to play an injected file ... read user feedback on it first.



and that's all I know! Be sure to read these trails of messages in reverse.

Firmware Cautions:
Nintendo thwarts piracy through firmware updates.

Firmware updates can occur in 3 ways:
1. Game disc packed with the file
2. WiFi update
3. Unnotified WiFi upate

A part of the 3.4U firmware's user lisence is a blurb about Nintendo FREELY updating your console's firmware without notification.

So, now that you're at the good 3.2 firmware, lock it in ... how?


3.2 firmware protection
You want to keep this one. With the Wii modchip, the firmware / settings are accessed through a master disc / dvd. Insert the dvd into your console and turn "firmware updates" to "off".

The WiiKey2 will block all updates.


To further block updates, you can remove them from the game discs with "WiiBrickBlocker". This is a PC application that will clean the .ISO game image prior to disc recording. WiiBrickBlocker will rip out the game update, retain the disc's file structure, and keep your system safe.

Sometimes a game really needs the update, so you have to keep your eyes open on the WiiHacks forum for non-firmware update fixes. The fixes are .WAD installs, so they're easy to do.


Another block is to run the "StarFall" application found in the previous post linking WiiHacks.com


The final block is to disconnect the Wii from the internet when not gaming online. Gaming online with the Wii is completely undetectable by Nintendo. It's safe, unlike Xbox Live.

The software mod ...

Materials:
This one is a bit tricky, but here's the required items:

1. Launch day copy of Zelda
2. SD Card (up to 2GB)

Firmware ID:
Nintendo's firmware updates look like this:

3.4U
3.4J
3.4E

U = North America, J = Japan, E = Europe

Update the console to the 3.4U firmware. It's located on the Animal Crossing game or through the Nintendo WiFi service.

Register and read this:
http://www.wiihacks.com/faq-guides-t...atutorial.html

You'll need to register because the first post has all the files you need for the SD card.

Firmware Notes:
This guide contains steps to downgrade to the 3.2 firmware. The 3.2 firmware is the magical number because it still allowed for .WAD installation. When I modded my console, I was at the 3.3 firmware, so I had to downgrade. It's all I know and I can confirm the link above works when followed 100%

FYI
.WAD's are the channels you see on the dashboard. They're often called "wads" because of the file name's extension.

On top of playing copied DVD-R's, I can now freely install games onto the Wii's OS / dashboard. I ran a few hacks to get this done:

1. Twilight Princess hack. This installs the "Homebrew Channel". The Homebrew Channel is needed to run custom installs.
2. Firmware downgrader. The newest is the 3.4U, the magical firmware is the 3.2U.

The crazy thing is, you don't need a modchip to get this done.

Here's my dashboard after installing a few games ...


Page 2 of the dash. The most important thing here is the "Homebrew Channel". The BackupChannel is no slouch either. It'll launch DVD-R's without a modchip. (results may vary)


The Homebrew Channel will access the SD card slot.


My SD card already has a file structure to it (downloaded in the link above) and here's what's on there. I'm interested in the first option.


A "WAD" is a file that can be installed onto the Wii's dashboard / OS. It's called a "WAD" because the file to be installed has a file extension of ".wad". (Ex. SuperMario.wad)


Generic disclaimer screen ...


After the disclaimer, load from the SD ...


Thanks to BitGamer.com, I have a complete collection of .WAD's available on Nintendo's Shop Channel. I took the .WAD from my PC, transferred them to my SD card, and now they're almost ready for the Wii.


Depending on the size of the .WAD, some installs are a few seconds, others a few minutes


Back to the OS, and there's the .WAD I just installed ... "Pokemon Snap" (N64)


and ready to play


If you installed a .WAD from the SD card, don't delete it. You'll need to leave the file on the SD to uninstall it from the OS if you run out of space.

Otherwise, this entire process was a 3/10 on the difficulty meter.

Where to order:
I only have experience with 1 modchip (WiiKey2) and one store (Modchipcentral.com)

This is the exact bundle I ordered:
Wiikey*2*Bundle*(Wiikey2*+*V14*WiiClip2*+*Triwing* Screwdriver)*::*Solderless*Clip*/*Wii-clip*Bundles*::*Nintendo*Wii*::*Mod*Central*Ltd.*

If you do order from these guys, make sure to select the soldered on option from the drop down. The clip mod was so easy that I can't recommend anything else.

The item shipped from Canada within 24 hours and arrived to my house (USA) in 5 business days. I'm sure the sponsors on the board are good people too.