Best route for updating an already soft modded Wii on 4.1E

[ThaKarra]

Hi all,

I've been working on a job lot of Wii consoles that I picked up, over the last week or so. Mucking around with them had made me feel extremely nostalgic, so I decided to hook up my own personal Wii and see what was on it (a bit of a time capsule experience).

I haven't turned this Wii on in well over a decade, probably since like 2009-2010 or something...

I noticed that it's on firmware version 4.1E and all of the homebrew apps that I have installed on the SD card are quite outdated (which is to be expected).

If I wanted to update the Wii to the latest firmware and update all my homebrew apps, what would be the best approach for this? I don't really remember how I soft modded this Wii, or any of the steps I took back in the day. It honestly wouldn't bother me if I lost all my data and had to start again, as there wasn't really anything important that I could find on there.

In theory, would it be safe to just update the Wii like normal (using an internet connection) to 4.3 and then reapply the soft mod from scratch?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Blauhasenpopo]

You can use this tool:
https://modmii.github.io/

Read carefully

 

[totakeke95]

You can update online perfectly, that's not going to brick your console. You will only have to modify it again after updating. I don't understand how people are still afraid to update this console.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

You can update online perfectly, that's not going to brick your console. You will only have to modify it again after updating. I don't understand how people are still afraid to update this console.

And if you own a region changed Korean console, possibly without even knowing this, you might end up with Error 003 when running an official update.

wii.guide also recommends a manual method.
https://wii.guide/update

 

[Asia81]

Isn't letterbomb still a thing ?
I remember using that on all the wii I had.

 

[XFlak]

You can update online perfectly, that's not going to brick your console. You will only have to modify it again after updating. I don't understand how people are still afraid to update this console.

Then let me help explain because you are mistaken.

To your credit, >95% of people can do an online update safely. I'm guessing in the figures, but I can tell you I encounter people that brick from official updates not infrequently, and I'll explain how.

If a wii was originally Korean, then POORLY region changed, an official update would install 4.3 and a stock ios80. This would cause 003 brick if the Korean key is still in the seeprom and never removed using Korean kii.

If u region changed using modmii then you would be safe to do an official update. As it would protect u in 2 ways. 1, it would have u remove the Korean key from the seeprom using Korean key. And before Korean kii existed modmii protected against this by installing a custom version of ios80 based on ios60 that would not get overwritten by a stock ios80 during official updates, and this is still done today for redundant protection and its just a better solution TBH for other reasons, like how removing the Korean key is a more authentic region change, and modmii's patched system menu IOS not only provides this extra protection it also allows users to play fakesigned content/channels that have been moved to the official sd card menu.

Similarly, if someone followed an inferior method to region change an official update could lead to 003 brick as mentioned above. However, this is always safe using modmii, because modmii will have you install a custom system menu IOS based on ios60 (as described above), so if the Korean key is still present in the seeprom, users won't brick because the special system menu IOS protecting against this. This is protection users don't get from an official update, and it makes sense, why would Nintendo go out of their way to protect softmodded/region-changed consoles?

This post took me so long others have come along saying the same thing, but hopefully you still find some value in my more detailed explanation.

Cheers!

Edit: yes, letterbomb is still a thing

Edit2: also modmii's method has the added benefit of not needing wifi on the wii

Edit3: I'm often also asked why I say modmii is better than wii.guide in some ways, and this is a great example. Modmii will have u softmod your console without updating it using older exploits like bannerbomb, then update as described above. Whereas wii.guide (I think) tells users to do an official update to 4.3 then from there has everyone use the same exploits. Don't get me wrong, wii.guide is great especially for those without windows

 

[totakeke95]

Changing the region in 2023 is completely absurd, that was done more than 10 years ago. The normal thing is that someone wants to update it from their own region but ok, there have your likes.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Changing the region in 2023 is completely absurd, that was done more than 10 years ago. The normal thing is that someone wants to update it from their own region but ok, there have your likes.

The year data doesn't say much in this regard, if anything. Besides: a Wii still being on 4.1 reminds of not being used for quite some time – unless consciously chosen to not update the System Menu and only the (c)IOS.

Also: One might own a console that has been region changed by a previous owner without knowing about this. 003 Errors out of nowhere happened exactly like this. Of course this is rare. Still worth noting and double checking before simply starting online update.

 

[CoolMe]

I wanted to update the Wii to the latest firmware

Honestly, i'd just install the necessary cIOSs and be done with it (no need for updating).

and update all my homebrew apps

Well, you'd want to first update the HBC & Priiloader, it's easy to update the other homebrew apps (just drag and drop files to the apps folder). Either way it's easier to just do it using ModMii.

 

[XFlak]

Changing the region in 2023 is completely absurd, that was done more than 10 years ago. The normal thing is that someone wants to update it from their own region but ok, there have your likes.

Phew, for a second I thought no one would hit like on my well thought out answer. It's a good thing too cuz I'm running low on dopamine.

 

[CoolMe]

Phew, for a second I thought no one would hit like on my well thought out answer. It's a good thing too cuz in running low on dopamine.

We all know that you're helping people just so you can get likes..

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Hi all,

I've been working on a job lot of Wii consoles that I picked up, over the last week or so. Mucking around with them had made me feel extremely nostalgic, so I decided to hook up my own personal Wii and see what was on it (a bit of a time capsule experience).

I haven't turned this Wii on in well over a decade, probably since like 2009-2010 or something...

I noticed that it's on firmware version 4.1E and all of the homebrew apps that I have installed on the SD card are quite outdated (which is to be expected).

If I wanted to update the Wii to the latest firmware and update all my homebrew apps, what would be the best approach for this? I don't really remember how I soft modded this Wii, or any of the steps I took back in the day. It honestly wouldn't bother me if I lost all my data and had to start again, as there wasn't really anything important that I could find on there.

In theory, would it be safe to just update the Wii like normal (using an internet connection) to 4.3 and then reapply the soft mod from scratch?

Any help would be appreciated!

Don't update it. 4.1 is the best version, the only thing they added in later firmwares was more attempts to block homebrew (which wasn't very successful, but still, no point in updating)

 

[ThaKarra]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your input.

I think I've run into a problem. So I downloaded ModMii and went through the wizard process. I selected that I was on 4.1E and wanted to update to 4.3E.

It gave me 43 WAD files to install:

Spoiler

1. cIOS249[57]-d2x-v10-beta52
2. cIOS250[56]-d2x-v10-beta52
3. cIOS251[38]-d2x-v10-beta52
4. IOS11v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
5. IOS12-64-v526
6. IOS13-64-v1032
7. IOS14-64-v1032
8. IOS15-64-v1032
9. IOS17-64-v1032
10. IOS20v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
11. IOS21-64-v1039
12. IOS22-64-v1294
13. IOS28-64-v1807
14. IOS30v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
15. IOS31-64-v3608
16. IOS33-64-v3608
17. IOS34-64-v3608
18. IOS35-64-v3608
19. IOS36-64-v3608
20. IOS37-64-v5663
21. IOS38-64-v4124
22. IOS40v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
23. IOS41-64-v3607
24. IOS43-64-v3607
25. IOS45-64-v3607
26. IOS46-64-v3607
27. IOS48-64-v4124
28. IOS50v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
29. IOS52v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
30. IOS53-64-v5663
31. IOS55-64-v5663
32. IOS56-64-v5662
33. IOS57-64-v5919
34. IOS58-64-v6176
35. IOS60v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
36. IOS61-64-v5662
37. IOS62-64-v6430
38. IOS70v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
39. IOS80v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
40. IOS9-64-v1034
41. RVL-mios-v10
42. SystemMenu_4.3E_v514
43. USBLoader(s)-ahbprot58-SD-USB-v12-IDCL-alt (see spoiler for boot info)

I used YAWMM Mod to install them. It said all 43 installed successfully. I exited and rebooted my Wii.. But it still stays I'm on 4.1E firmware.

 

[CoolMe]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your input.

I think I've run into a problem. So I downloaded ModMii and went through the wizard process. I selected that I was on 4.1E and wanted to update to 4.3E.

It gave me 43 WAD files to install:

Spoiler

1. cIOS249[57]-d2x-v10-beta52
2. cIOS250[56]-d2x-v10-beta52
3. cIOS251[38]-d2x-v10-beta52
4. IOS11v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
5. IOS12-64-v526
6. IOS13-64-v1032
7. IOS14-64-v1032
8. IOS15-64-v1032
9. IOS17-64-v1032
10. IOS20v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
11. IOS21-64-v1039
12. IOS22-64-v1294
13. IOS28-64-v1807
14. IOS30v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
15. IOS31-64-v3608
16. IOS33-64-v3608
17. IOS34-64-v3608
18. IOS35-64-v3608
19. IOS36-64-v3608
20. IOS37-64-v5663
21. IOS38-64-v4124
22. IOS40v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
23. IOS41-64-v3607
24. IOS43-64-v3607
25. IOS45-64-v3607
26. IOS46-64-v3607
27. IOS48-64-v4124
28. IOS50v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
29. IOS52v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
30. IOS53-64-v5663
31. IOS55-64-v5663
32. IOS56-64-v5662
33. IOS57-64-v5919
34. IOS58-64-v6176
35. IOS60v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
36. IOS61-64-v5662
37. IOS62-64-v6430
38. IOS70v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
39. IOS80v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
40. IOS9-64-v1034
41. RVL-mios-v10
42. SystemMenu_4.3E_v514
43. USBLoader(s)-ahbprot58-SD-USB-v12-IDCL-alt (see spoiler for boot info)

I used YAWMM Mod to install them. It said all 43 installed successfully. I exited and rebooted my Wii.. But it still stays I'm on 4.1E firmware.

Do a syscheck and post it here.

 

[XFlak]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your input.

I think I've run into a problem. So I downloaded ModMii and went through the wizard process. I selected that I was on 4.1E and wanted to update to 4.3E.

It gave me 43 WAD files to install:

Spoiler

1. cIOS249[57]-d2x-v10-beta52
2. cIOS250[56]-d2x-v10-beta52
3. cIOS251[38]-d2x-v10-beta52
4. IOS11v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
5. IOS12-64-v526
6. IOS13-64-v1032
7. IOS14-64-v1032
8. IOS15-64-v1032
9. IOS17-64-v1032
10. IOS20v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
11. IOS21-64-v1039
12. IOS22-64-v1294
13. IOS28-64-v1807
14. IOS30v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
15. IOS31-64-v3608
16. IOS33-64-v3608
17. IOS34-64-v3608
18. IOS35-64-v3608
19. IOS36-64-v3608
20. IOS37-64-v5663
21. IOS38-64-v4124
22. IOS40v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
23. IOS41-64-v3607
24. IOS43-64-v3607
25. IOS45-64-v3607
26. IOS46-64-v3607
27. IOS48-64-v4124
28. IOS50v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
29. IOS52v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
30. IOS53-64-v5663
31. IOS55-64-v5663
32. IOS56-64-v5662
33. IOS57-64-v5919
34. IOS58-64-v6176
35. IOS60v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
36. IOS61-64-v5662
37. IOS62-64-v6430
38. IOS70v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
39. IOS80v65535(IOS60v6174[FS-ES-NP-VP-DIP-RC24])
40. IOS9-64-v1034
41. RVL-mios-v10
42. SystemMenu_4.3E_v514
43. USBLoader(s)-ahbprot58-SD-USB-v12-IDCL-alt (see spoiler for boot info)

I used YAWMM Mod to install them. It said all 43 installed successfully. I exited and rebooted my Wii.. But it still stays I'm on 4.1E firmware.

Yes, because 4.3 is not any better than 4.1, as per this message:

Don't update it. 4.1 is the best version, the only thing they added in later firmwares was more attempts to block homebrew (which wasn't very successful, but still, no point in updating)

ModMii had you update everything that actually mattered, and being on 4.3 instead of 4.1 actually makes zero difference.

 

[ThaKarra]

Do a syscheck and post it here.

Yes, because 4.3 is not any better than 4.1, as per this message:


ModMii had you update everything that actually mattered, and being on 4.3 instead of 4.1 actually makes zero difference.

I fully get that. But I had already started this process before everyone started telling that updating to 4.3 is pointless. -- Its irking me out now that I've installed all the WADs and it didn't update the system menu. It's going to sit in the back of my mind that something didn't go as planned.. So I'd just like to fix it and update regardless.

 

[CoolMe]

Looks good, you're all set!

I fully get that. But I had already started this process before everyone started telling me that. -- Its irking me out now that I've installed all the WADs and it didn't update the system menu. So I'd just like to fix whatever is stopping me from updating to 4.3 with peace of mind.

Seriously, you aren't not lacking anything, your softmods are all up to date. You will not gain anything by updating to fw 4.3, and not updating will not affect your system in any way. Hope that makes sense.

 

[ThaKarra]

Looks good, you're all set!

Seriously, you aren't not lacking anything, your softmods are all up to date. You will not gain anything by updating to fw 4.3, and not updating will not affect your system in any way. Hope that makes sense.

Alright cool, I'll leave it be.

My final question.. is there a way to update my version of Priiloader? I'm currently running v0.6 which I think is from when I soft modded my Wii all those years ago.

When I try to run the installer it just tells me to press A and throws me back to the HBC.

 

[CoolMe]

Alright cool, I'll leave it be.

My final question.. is there a way to update my version of Priiloader? I'm currently running v0.6 which I think is from when I soft modded my Wii all those years ago.

When I try to run the installer it just tells me to press A and throws me back to the HBC.

Yea, sure, download Priiloader v.09 from ModMii (or from here), and install it again.

 

[ThaKarra]

Yea, sure, download Priiloader v.09 from ModMii (or from here), and install it again.

I already have the v0.9 installer on my SD card. But when I run it via HBC it just says "Press A to exit back to loader.."

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2023

Fixed it!

I downloaded 4.1E system menu from NUS Downloader and force installed the .WAD with WiiMod Lite via HBC.

After the Wii rebooted I was then able to run the v0.9 Priiloader Installer and it updated the v0.6 that I previous had installed.

Thanks guy!