Tutorial: Softmod a Wii to play burned backup iso dvd-r discs
Posted by: Atkins in Hacking, tags: backup, burned, cios, dvd-r, dvdx, geckoos, hack, softmod, wad manager, Waninkoko, wii, wiigator** This is old news. With the release of Wiigator’s Backup Launcher 0.3 beta, it is now much, much easier to setup and run backups on your Wii. Please see my update to this tutorial.
With the recent leak of Waninkoko’s backup iso loader and an improved loader made by Wiigator, it’s now possible to softmod a Nintendo Wii to load burned backup discs created from iso files. I got this working on my Wii a couple of days ago and had to look all over the web to find the correct and most up-to-date directions. I’m going to post what I did and what tools I used in this blog so that everything can be found in one place. While this process is far from difficult, I’m hoping someone comes up with a homebrew package that does the following hacks in an easy, run once format. Anyhow, lets get started.
First, you need to find a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for Wii so that you can run the twilight hack and install the Homebrew Channel. I’m not going to cover that part, since it’s already well documented. Even if you’re not interested in the backup loader, I highly recommend installing the Homebrew Channel to everyone out there. It’s fun, legal and very safe.
Now the fun part. Fire up some Dio or Foreigner and get ready to rock.
Add the following apps to your SD card in the \apps\ folder so you can run them from the homebrew channel. Note that you will need to make a folder for each app (ex. \apps\dvdx) and put the .elf or .dol file in that folder and rename it to boot.elf or boot.dol. Do this with the following apps:
Now download CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad and place it on your SD card in the \wad folder. Now stick your SD card in your Wii and do the following
- start the homebrew channel
- run the WAD Manager and install the CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad file and return to the homebrew channel
- run DVDx, select advanced install and install CIOS249
- shutdown your Wii and restart it
Your Wii is now ready to run burned dvd-r discs. You can run them by inserting the dvd-r, starting up the homebrew channel and launching Wiigator’s GeckoOS. From there just select Launch Game. Wiigator’s GeckoOS will launch both PAL and NTSC originals and burned dvd-r games. I believe that it will also launch all kinds of Gamecube discs too but I haven’t tried that.
Finally, to make a Wii iso compatible with the loader you need to do the following. You need a Wii iso file which you can rip yourself or download. There is a tutorial at wiiisos.com on how to create an iso from your original Wii disc. Please note that downloading Wii iso files is illegal.
Now download backup-creator-v1.zip and place your iso and the contents of the zip in to a folder. Open a command prompt and cd to that folder. Run backup-creator.exe with the name of your iso (ex. backup-creator mario-kart.iso). Lastly, burn the newly created partition.iso file with the free burning software ImgBurn. I use all the defaults options with ImgBurn and burn on dvd-r (not dvd+r) media at slow speeds.
The Wii scene is changing fast. The loader and the cIOS will surely be updated again soon to iron out the bugs which are in this early release. Update the loader and the cIOS as new ones are released. Currently, there are a couple of problems with this method. First, read speed is locked at a max of 3x, which means load times are longer and full screen video is slow or jumpy. The second problem is disc compatibility isn’t 100%. Currently PAL games work better than NTSC games and around 20% of games will crash or freeze.
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Interesting. I had a lot of fun with PSP stuff but I hadn’t even thought about homebrew stuff for the wii. Now I have a new project.
Works good, except that my screens turn in black&white when i load the backup. But hey, i bet that someone will improve!
Try using the HD Wii component cable (the six plug cable) instead of the old RCA (three plug cable).
Maybe you got a PAL version of the game… That’s probably why it’s in black and white.
we followed all directions as above, but when we loaded the backup disc which works fine on a modchip wii, it’s “ERROR UNIDENTIFYING DVD”. What should I do next? Please help!
wiigator didn’t “update” waninkoko’s backup loader like some may think you imply. It is mostly independent of waninkoko.
Hi Lank - would you please give more detail infomation how to update or pick the right one for my wii system? Thanks
I got my backup to work but i got lines through my screen just like a old fashion tubed Tv when u didnt have signal. the picture is moving from top of the screen to the bottom. Any ideaslet me know
hi iv done everything im using dvd Rs but burning them as a dvd-rom iv heard alot of ppl say this should work fine but when the game loads up the screen goes blank right at the begining and stays like it i dont supose you know whats wrong and how i can fix this do you thanks
Alright, I noted that Wiigator’s loader is an improved and separate loader from the original by Waninkoko. Now to clarify a few things. You must patch your iso file with the backup creator and then burn that patched iso to a dvd-r. That’s dvd minus r, NOT dvd+r. If you can, use a PAL game, no matter what system you have. The PAL discs seem to work better with the loader than the NTSC discs.
Mike, I think your problem is that you are NOT using a patched iso burned to a dvd (minus) r. I burn my iso’s at 2x or whatever the slowest available option is. This creates a disc that is easier for the wii to read and tends to produce more compatible discs when using lower quality media.
Wiigator’s loader is better than Waninkoko loader and is the one I host on this page. There is no reason to use Waninkoko’s loader, I just wanted to give him credit for his amazing work.
Finally, not all games work, check a compatibility chart to see if the game your trying works. If it does and you’re still having problems, use the HD component cables instead of the older RCA cables.
If you’re still getting boned then just chill for a while. These hacks are all very new and will hopefully be updated soon.
can u explain the command prompt thing a little more. i don’t understand. my iso is called imars-wwap(compress). now how do i command prompt it?
Here’s an easy way to do the command propmt bit.
Paste your ISO in the same folder as the backup-creator.
Rename it rom.iso
Now, open notepad, and type in the following.
backup-creator.exe rom.iso
save the document as runme.bat (not runme.bat.txt)
you should now have a batch file in the folder (a little window with a cog in it)
Run that, and go make a cup of tea. It’ll take a while. At the end, you’ll have a file called partition.iso which is the one to burn on good dvd-r at slow speed.
Have a nice day.
What speed should i copy the iso to dvd?
I have done everything exactly as this tutorial says, and I still cant get my backed up games to work. Is it because my Wii’s firmware is 3.3?
No Egan, I use 3.3 but look at these instructions.
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4404308/Wii_Backup_Loader_Beta_v.1(Unofficial_Release)
I’m using the 3.3 firmware on my Wii
Thanks, Atkins for the info! I’ll try it again as you mentioned this weekend. I’m so frustrating…..hihihi……it looks very simple, but not working on my wii……..it pissed me off……….hehehe
to Makmud - would you please updoad it to megaupload.com for me to test it. My firmware is 3.3 too and I don’t use “torrent” to download stuffs. Thanks in advance!
Okay what should i upload? And read what Justin wrote.
I need to buy a component cable because some games come out black and white. Which one works?
http://www.gamestop.com/browse/search.aspx?N=138&Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntt=component
I use the official cables from Nintendo. http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=63951
I am using that latest Wii update from sourse and my backups work fine PAL Version. I think that if you have done the Homebrew install before the update you are ok as the update just prevents you from installing it. I have been looking on the net and found that there are more people working on a loader that will not need the off setting on the iso’s ( Patching for those that dont know what it does). Looking for ward to trying it and I hope that this means that it will run the disc’s that have already been patched.
The back of my tv is as goes red blue green
red white yellow
red white yellow
How should i put the component cables?
hey i done the patching homebrew is all set up fine when i burned it at slow speed done everything right but the game loads no error codes the screen just goes black n freezes any ideas
[...] Softmod a Wii to play burned backup iso dvd-r discs! I thought this was pretty cool. Tutorial: Softmod a Wii to play burned backup iso dvd-r discs [...]
I patched ISO with backup-creator as Justine’s instruction and burn it with imgburner at 2X speed on Taiyo Yuden dvd-r. It lauched the backup game with black and white, so I installed the hd component cable. It said “NOT SUPPORTED MODE”. What should I do next? Please advice!
At first, I thougth the component cable can solve the black and white problem. It caused another problem………hihi
I have a question. I’m patching the ISO right now, but I dont really see anything happening. Acommand prompt opened up and says:
[+] Creating backup ISO, please wait…
ISO size: 4219.625 MB
_
and nothing is happening and its been a few minutes now. Is this normals, or should I be seeing a lot more text right now?
Also Atkins, this is by far the best tutorial I’ve seen, really good work
Nevermind now it says: Backup ISO created successfully! I was expecting a different process but apparently it got done. And it only took a few minutes too.
Thanks for the how-to! Got me up and running easily.
hey was just wondering if anyones tried gamecube games yet?
Don’t suppose theres a way to softmod without Zelda? I’ll probably never play Zelda, so it’s a pretty bad investment on my part - should I just get a Modchip instead?
Is there a way to play a PAL game on an NTSC Wii? I have 3.3 firmware.
Never mind I’ll download the NTSC. But when i download, can’t I just download the main part of the iso and not the rest? Would it still work?
how do u run dvdx i cant even see it?
lol nvm mind my last question but wen i use the backup creator it says “error could not retrieve iso info”
Hey I was wondering if doing this is safe? What exactly does CIOS do? Do it modify the firmware?
Basically, if there is any chance that I will ruin my Wii, I won’t do it.
Thanks!
I would like to know if this will work on a d2pro9 modded Wii? Before i do this to my friends wii i want to make sure i do this correct and to know if the game works or not.
Thanks,
John
@Choco, maybe you have a bad iso… that’s assuming that you have the key, the backup creator and the iso in the same directory and are running the backup creator properly.
@jbk Safe is a relative term, I’ve never heard of anyone damaging their wii by doing this and all the changes are reversible. You can revert your wii back to the factory default by going back to the original IOS and removing the homebrew channel. That being said, I’m pretty sure this will violate your TOS and end your warranty. If you have problems, you could probably be shady and remove the IOS and homebrew channel and send it back.
@John Dude, if you have a mod chip, can’t your already run backups? Isn’t that the point of having a modchip? If you just want to test the soft-mod process on your wii, there should not be any complications installing the IOS, homebrew channel and launcher. The backups should be running on your wii since you chipped it, so it will be hard to tell if you did it correctly.
Atkins,
Thanks for the reply and Yes i can run backups i am tring to get my friends to work with out a mod but i found out what the problem was i was tring to run Madden 2009 and that game does not work. I keep getting a Black screen that has CCODE DUMP: and alot of code after that. I will try a different game tonight to see if i can get it to work.
Thanks again for your time,
John
when i try to load wad manger and install CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad it says error! ret =-1
loren,
Mine said the same thing i redowloaded that file again and it worked the second time. You may have gotten a bad download file.
tried it again with same result. Are you downloading straight to sd card or to comp first then to sd. Do you think this might be my problem?
I sent mine to my computer first then copied to the sd card into my Wad folder. I don’t think it would matter if you sent it to computer or sd card. I do not know what else you can try to get it to work. Maybe try sending to your computer first then copy to your card.
Hey, are there Linux versions of the backup creator, or does it run in Wine?
@ loren, I had the same problem but it came down to a simple little oversight. Whether you try to install the wad by external usb or sd card, make sure the wad file is in a folder named “wad” on the root of the usb stick or sd card. It kept giving me ret -1 until I realized that my “wad” folder was called “wads”. A simple little over sight. When I changed it everything worked fine.
interesting…… I will try tonight after I get off work. Thanks! I also wanted to mention that I have had this wii for a year now and I have never updated firmware. I think I am on 3.0u. Do you think this might be my problem?
I had a 4.6 g iso image. When I ran the backup-creator it made it 7.4 g that is like almost double. Is this supposed to happen like that.
Hallo ,
i have the same problem as Loren. When i start install a error ret =-1 came. With a new download the same error, pleas help me.
ps i don´t can install dvdx with advaced install CIOS249 because i have only io1 to io39??
ok i have the same problum as loren but i have checked and double checked my “wad” folder on my sd card and usb drive it seems to be in order but i get the error ret= -1 every time ………. do you need to have more than just the CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad in the wad folder on the root of your sd/usb drive? Also whenever i start Wad Manager it says that CUSTOM IOS DETECTED AND LOADED. Dose that mean CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad is already loaded on my wii and if so why dose that stupid ERROR (ret= -1) keep popping up every time i accept the terms and pick a drive?
P.S> i know im talking a lot but also whenever i go to install DVDX and go to advanced and pick IOS249 it appears with an error too. -2011. and if i try the normal install the same 2 errors come up!!!! i mean what the COME ON!!!
thANKS stan. It work for me. Now all i have to do is work on the dvd-r. for all of you having the same problem as me. do not put the “wad” folder in the “apps” section. put it in the root directory. after that the the dvdx install will show the ” CIOS249″
okay justin, did what you said and it says [+] ERROR: Could not open “rom.iso”! …….. what should i do now ….need help! thanks!
Hallo,
i put the wad foder in root directory, but it is the same problem: dvdx only ios4 to ios37 no ios249. And i can´t install the wan manager because the same error =-1. What can i do? Can enywhere send mi another compatible files (or website to download). I have the eur-version fo wii. its a new wii with serial-begin LEH197xxxxx and a firmware 3.3E.
Thanks!!!!
Some questions, can anyone help?
Will this work on a PAL console?
Will it enable multi region gaming?
Does it matter that I’m running firmware 3.3?
Does this work with gamecube games? I download a gamecube ISO, but the patcher won’t patch it… i though that maybe it had already been patched, so I went ahead and burn anyway, but no joy.
Once this is installed and working, I can upgrade to 3.4 firmware, without causing this to stop working… right?
i go to install DVDX and go to advanced and pick IOS249 it appears with an error too. -2011. and if i try the normal install the same 2 errors come up!!!! i mean come on
thanks
OK, Loader install was successfull ( i have not change in Menu on “CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad” but “boot.elf” left ……. ). Now i make a Backup Iso-File (from my original Game: mario&sonic olympic game) with rawdum 2 and then make the different iso with backup-creator and burn slow (1x) on a verbatin dvd-rw to test. But the no run (error dvd in loader) what´s wrong? daes the loader not support dvd-rw disks or must i have a iso from the torrent-site (not rowdump-iso)?
i happy for any information, thanks!
To my understanding a raw dump will work, just so long as you patch it, however you say that you have not installed changed to CIOS? That’ll be your problem.
Also, DVD-RW disks do not genurally work as well as non RW disks, so try burning to a DVD-R and see if that helps.
I’ve not got it working yet though (Still getting an ISO) so maybe my advice will not help… but I have read up on this alot, making sure that everthing will work as soon as I have the ISO I want.
thanks, have burn slowly on a dvd-r , now runs!! thanks to Atkins and all another for help and this great projekt….
thanks to every one! I have officially played my first burned game . And to think I was going to buy a mod chip. Thank god for google.
hey so when i run the wad installer it gives me an error saying “error …(ret = -1)” what does that mean?
ok akito i think that means wad manager cant find any wads on your sd card or usb drive. see links above.
ALSO i have been asking the same question for a wile now can some one answer IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok i have the same problum as loren but i have checked and double checked my “wad” folder on my sd card and usb drive it seems to be in order but i get the error ret= -1 every time ………. do you need to have more than just the CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad in the wad folder on the root of your sd/usb drive? Also whenever i start Wad Manager it says that CUSTOM IOS DETECTED AND LOADED. Dose that mean CIOS36_rev5-64-v1042.wad is already loaded on my wii and if so why dose that stupid ERROR (ret= -1) keep popping up every time i accept the terms and pick a drive?
P.S> i know im talking a lot but also whenever i go to install DVDX and go to advanced and pick IOS249 it appears with an error too. -2011. and if i try the normal install the same 2 errors come up!!!! i mean what the COME ON!!!
This tutorial is now deprecated. There is a new backup loader (v0.3) and a new cIOS to go along with it. I put a short post up about it here. I highly recommend that everyone use the new backup loader, it’s way way better and much easier to install.
Also, stay away from the Wii system update that came out on October 22nd. If you have installed that update it is going to be hard times getting new cIOS files installed.
@strider: hey i figured it out if you’re still getting the ret = -1 problem, so basically what loren did (or at least this is what she did since it worked for me) was have a wad folder in apps (this has only the wad manager .elf) and another wad folder in te root of the memory stick (this one has the CIOS .wad thing in it) so it’s two wad folders
is weird Akito. i have both of those things done. a “wad” folder in the root of my sd card and also have a copy of the “wad” folder in my “apps” and i also have a file”WAD” in my apps that contains Wad Manager.
also when i start up DVDX installer i go to advance install I can pick pick ISO249. dose that mean i already have the CIOS installed and if so why am i getting an error “-2011 DVD STUB TICKET” and “-2011 TICKET”
it doesn’t make a lot of cents to me..
oh well pleas help want to play backup games =_=
its true what strider says I did have two folders containing the “wad” Loren Is also a ” he” not a ” she” . I have burned about 9 games which 2 of them have worked . Still worth the effort ! I will keep trying . Thanks go out to all if you that helped me
hi i was wondering if i do this can i still play my original games regularly without having to make them into a backup and running through homebrew channel.
@strider: if you still have the problem, try uninstalling everything and redoing it. you may already have cios installed because when i tried to do the update it gave me the 2011 error message so i uninstalled it using anytitledeleter.
Quote:
“Here’s an easy way to do the command prompt bit.
Paste your ISO in the same folder as the backup-creator.
Rename it rom.iso
Now, open notepad, and type in the following.
backup-creator.exe rom.iso
save the document as runme.bat (not runme.bat.txt)
you should now have a batch file in the folder (a little window with a cog in it)
Run that, and go make a cup of tea. It’ll take a while. At the end, you’ll have a file called partition.iso which is the one to burn on good dvd-r at slow speed.
Have a nice day.”
I am having trouble patching. Everytime i try to patch it says ERROR: could not retrieve ISO info!
i have common key, backup creator.exe and my iso in 1 folder.
I have burned 5 discs so far at 1:1. 3 of them have been Super Mario Galaxy and 2 of Disaster day of crisis and i cant get any of them to play on my wii. I have tried auto speed, 3x, 2.4x, and 1x speed using IMGBURN and even tried isoburn by nero.
i have 3.3e(not new update- i can load wads, play homebrew channel etc)
installed cIOS fix
installed backup launcher and channel wad
comes up with an unreadable error everytime i put in the disk.
i was hoping patching might work as i read new laoder can play unpatched and patched games.
i dumped supermariogalaxy using dvd dumper - will that be my problem? maybe i should get it off the torrents?
i really need some help here please i have read about 20 forums and cant solve my problem myself.
k just liked to say that this is a rlly good tutorial every detail was perfect
except for some bad isos all my back ups work perfectly even better thatn some
of the ones shown in wii compatibility.
i give this 10/10
I have problem when I try to run the WAD Manager. It tells me that it is not an acceptable Wii application. What is the problem?
Never mind, I downloaded a different version and it worked.
I had this on my to do list…..and my roommate did the upgrade this past thursday….and from everything I know…there’s nothing I can do it about for now……..?
on dvdx i have no option for ios249 what do i do? i have got the homebrew channel installed and i have got gecko OS.
I did the wii upgrade last week…oops
Thanks
Schmitzy, go to wiibrew.org and download the app from wii homebrew browser. It’s really good and checks for updates.
Browser:
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Browser
Put the DVDx in the apps of your sd card and load it. Somewhere in the list there will be DVDx (Check the Popular section). Click download and it’ll be there when you go to the homebrew channel. Then, load DVDx and cios249. And you’re done!
Does anyone know how to burn gamecube backups to play on the wii? I have the gcboot app and my backup.
Do i have to use backup-creator.exe?
Can I burn to a normal dvd-r disc instead of the gamecube disc(mini-disc)?
Please explain the steps.