[ # ] Install Wii Virtual Console Game Channels with WAD Installer
/* Posted May 7th, 2008 at 12:16am *//* Filed under Mods, Nintendo, Wii */
Wii gamers have been able to download their favorite virtual console games from the Wii Shop channel and install them as channels in the main menu for a while now, but each download costs some number of points and we all know those points aren’t free. A recent development in the Wii homebrew scene has enabled the capability to extract these virtual console games as .WAD files and with the help of some software, install them onto other Wii consoles without going through the Wii shop channel and without paying. Before we go into details, let’s first list some reasons why you should not do this. Firstly, you can already play loads more NES, SNES, Gameboy Color, and heck even Sega games through the various emulators available as Wii homebrew, so why bother with this just to get a few pretty channels on your Wii menu? Second, you risk Nintendo’s wrath because this mod is detectable. Third, you’ll fill up all your Wii memory blocks if you try to install too many WADs (a better approach: figure out block sizes for each game and do some arithmetic) Still want to persevere? Then we shall continue…
Background
If you’re not yet familiar with the Twilight Princess hack, we suggest you familiarize yourself by reading these posts on the twilight hack (up to v3.2 firmware) or (latest v3.3 firmware). You’ll need it to load the WAD installer. The only difference will be in step 3, where you’ll be using the WAD installer as the boot.elf homebrew to run after loading the Twilight hack. If you want to play it safe, disconnect your Wii’s Internet connection while you are running this mod and do not reconnect it until you have erased all traces of this mod with the uninstaller.
Part I: Twilight Princess Hack Preparation (if you v3.2 firmware or older)
- Format your SD card to FAT16 or FAT32.
- Download the Twilight hack game saves and choose the correct file corresponding to your version of Twilight Princess. Put the proper game save file on your SD card in a directory called “/private/wii/title/RZDx/” on your SD card, replacing “RZDx” with RZDE, RZDP or RZDJ as appropriate (again, see the twilight post for more information on which file to use).
- Rename the game save to “data.bin”.
- Download the WAD installer v2.1 homebrew and extract the “wad-installer.elf” file to the root directory of the SD card. Note that this is the latest version which drops Wii remote support and supports multiple WADs.
- Rename the “wad-installer.elf” to “boot.elf”.
Part I: Twilight Princess Hack Preparation (if you the latest v3.3 firmware)
- Format your SD card to FAT16 or FAT32.
- Download the Twilight hack game saves and choose the correct file corresponding to your version of Twilight Princess. Put the proper game save file on your SD card in a directory called “/private/wii/title/RZDx/” on your SD card, replacing “RZDx” with RZDE, RZDP or RZDJ as appropriate (again, see the twilight post for more information on which file to use especially for US Wiis as there are now two save slots to load).
- Download the WAD installer v2.1 homebrew and extract the “wad-installer.elf” file to the root directory of the SD card. Note that this is the latest version which drops Wii remote support and supports multiple WADs.
- Rename the “wad-installer.elf” to “boot.elf”.
Part II: WAD Preparation
- Create a folder called “wad” in the root directory of your SD card.
- Get some WADs. These are the data files that contain virtual console games that are normally bought from the Wii Shop channel. One WAD file represents one virtual console game.
- Copy every virtual console game WAD you wish to install as a channel in your Wii menu to the “wad” folder. You can fill up your Wii’s internal memory quickly if you try to install every WAD in existence, so be picky and choose only the games you will play.
Part III: WAD Installation
- Put the SD card in your Wii and load The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess game.
- Load the hacked save game and either walk backwards or talk to the man directly in front of you. This starts the Trucha exploit and loads the WAD installer.
- Attach a Gamecube controller to navigate the homebrew.
- Let the program run and follow the on screen prompts to load the WAD installer.
- Reset your Wii by pressing the reset button or using the Gamecube controller and sit back as each WAD gets installed onto your Wii. When this step is done, your Wii will reset itself.
- Now when you go to your Wii channel menu, you should see the new virtual console channels which you should now be able click and play as if you had downloaded them.
Note that though there is a method to load homebrew from a channel without using the Zelda game disc, this particular exploit will not work if you do that.
Bonus: WAD Uninstaller
Repeat Parts II and III but with the WAD Uninstaller v1.1 homebrew instead.
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33 Responses to “Install Wii Virtual Console Game Channels with WAD Installer”
Try bittorrent.
Can this be done to a modified wii ( wii-key )? and in the first step, that it reads… “drops Wii remote support” does that mean that when you start the Wii you no longer will be able to use the wii control to point at the screen or play with it in a game? Does this mean that one could only use a game cube controller afterwards or is this only during the steps?
This is just referring to the installer program itself dropping remote support from the last version. While running it you will only be able to use the Gamecube controller but anything outside of that won’t be affected at all.
ok, i get an error when i install the wad that says “This channel can’t be used.” What am i supposed to do about that?
Having trouble installing the Twilight Hack keeps coming up can not be copyed when trying to copy it on to wii system i think it has somthing to do with my wii is on 3.3 is there an updated hack out thee?
bnwchbammer:
Did you download the correct region wads for your Wii? If it’s not that then I can’t help you further.
rhys:
The latest 3.3 firmware patches the Twilight Hack so it effectively kills all Wii homebrew. Right now no workarounds exist.
Actually, the Homebrew Channel still functions with 3.3. The Twilight Hack has been ended… however, theyv’e already got a workaround, though it isn’t public yet.
Yes that’s true, Homebrew Channel will still work if you already had it installed before you updated to v3.3 firmware.
will wad installer/uninstaller work in 3.3 if you installed them before 3.3 update
homebrew channel will not break your wiimote support
keep your wiiconnect24 off and you will be fine
if you use the wad uninstaller to erase the wads you had installed, nintendo will never know you had them in the first place
Hello i av downloaded a game called donkey kong and its format is .wad how can i play it?any 1 knw bout it so answer me plzzz. regards
read the instructions above?
please help my.
my wii is 3.3E version. the first wii-key ever made in it.
en when i want to copy the hack it says : the data was not copied.( in dutch : bestanden kunnen mogelijk niet gekopierd zijn ) ….. when i copy stands this above : twilight hack by team twiizers v0.1-alpha3-24-g1807b77.
Hold on, hold on, hold on - somebody explain to me how is this mod detectable?
when i try to load the homebrew, everything works but it says it can’t load the wad installer after i hit the reset button… dunno what to do.
will i, wont i. im too scared, but i really want free wiiware and vc games!
Comment from ice [September 8, 2008, 12:30 pm]
Well this is just a guess but maybe they can detect your channels by wifi and see if you ACTUALLY bought the channel with points.
[...] However you can get do the WAD installer trick to get "free" SNES/NES games on your wii without a mod chip. http://www.coderetard.com/2008/05/07/install-wii-virtual-console-game-channels-with-wad-installer/ [...]
can the twilight hack be done too with the gamecube version of it?
cause i haven’t Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii but: Zelda: Twilight Princess Gamecube.
And how it can be done then?
Hi all!
For all of you that have already understanded the dangers and benefits of installing downloaded wads (I haven’t seen any dangers so far.. just benefits! :), ’cause no, they won’t brick your console or ban or anything), I put to your disposal 3 primicies for the NES that I just created… mwahahahahah, well just injected MEGA MAN 2, 3 AND 4 into some other wad and created a nifty icon for the wii menu, so it looks like the original… but it’s not…jijiji. I couldn’t create the banner, it just resulted in a corrupted banner then I decided not to change it.
Well, thats all, they are 100% functional and emulated and safe for your wii, so test them please, any hate or love mails go to hugo.noboa.g@gmail.com
If any1 gets the original NTSC MEGA MAN 2 vc wad PLEASE let me know!! i’ll be in debt forever.
Just LOVE Mega Man!
Here are the links:
MEGAUPLOAD (sry.. :( )
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1LHKBZ5G -> mega man 2
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O1WFYAV7 -> mega man 3
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RSEQOPAF -> mega man 4
TIP: try using Mozilla Firefox 3.x, it won’t ask for any add-on or stupid toolbar to download from megaupload
i cant install FFCC my life as a king, and other games, how come? please answer
Comment from bobby [October 6, 2008, 8:32 pm] 
i got a problem guys.
i installed it and went smoothly.
when i try to play megaman 9 it just starts to reset. why oh why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from boomer [October 11, 2008, 8:10 pm] 
I’ve installed the .wad files correctly and the channels are on my main menu.. but.. when i try to play them the message ‘this channel cannot be used.’ always pops up.. what did i do wrong? my friend loaded other vc games on my wii w no problem, but when i downloaded them myself they do not work… can anybody help me?
Ok, i want to do this, but im not sure if i should. I have a few questions.
1) i dont have the LoZ:TP game, do u think that the hack will still work if i rent the game, even if it is a newer version than the older games?
2) The game im wanting to put on there is Smash Bros 64, & i have the wad file. I have the game, so it isnt illegal, right?
3) Is there a high chance of bricking the wii? its the family system, but we want Smash Bros on there since it was an awsome game.
Do NOT use the WAD installer! Install the Homebrew Channel using the TP hack, then use this http://wiibrew.org/wiki/WAD_Manager (WAD Manager). This is the successor to WAD Installer, and it uses a channel to add and remove the WAD’s. This is both easier and safer if you remove the WADs once you are done.
when i install the wad i get an error saying i cant install it. anyone give me some help?
where can i download .wad files (no torrent sites plz)
Comment from Ryan [November 12, 2008, 11:55 pm] 
Comment from WiiHelp [November 16, 2008, 2:29 pm] 
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