Wii System Menu 4.2 will remove ALL homebrew capabilities from your Wii!

This includes:

Homebrew channel

IOS updates

cIOS updates

bootmii

preloader

IF YOU UPDATE YOUR WII YOU RISK LOSING HOMEBREW CAPABILITIES!

(You can run the new HackMii-Installer to reinstall the Homebrew channel, BootMii and DVDx. To do this you can use the new BannerBomb 4.2 (most recommended), or the Indiana Pwns or Smash Stack exploits, but why risk it?  Remember that you generally don't have to update your Wii System Menu and that official Homebrew pages will not give support to install a cIOS.  Instead of updating your Wii firmware, you can just use Wii System Channels Updater to update specific channels such as the Nintendo Channel or Wii Shop Channel without updating the Wii Sytem Menu.  This will allow you to shop with the latest Wii Shop Channel without updating the Wii System Menu.)

WARNING: Don't use IOS60-Patcher to enable launching games from SD. This will probably brick your Wii if you are on 4.0 or 4.1! Instead use dop-IOS to re-install IOS 60 with the signature hash check (trucha bug).  If you are on 4.2, re-install IOS 70 with the signature hash check.

What is USB Loader?

USB Loader is an application for the Nintendo Wii which allows you to to install and load your backup ISO game files to/from a USB storage device.  It also allows you to create such backups straight from the original DVD.

Main Guide

Largely copied from the The UBER Wii Soft-Mod Guide, then edited, extended, and fully updated as of October 17, 2009.

This Guide is meant for people with no hacks/mods on their wii, so essentially a store bought machine. It will however work for people that have hacks already installed, simply do step 1 and then SKIP to part 7.

Disclaimers: 
WeHackWii and it's people are not responsible for any harm made to your system by using our guides. This works on all Wii's to get them modded HOWEVER, on LU64 and newer wii's DO NOT use downgraders or anything that alters IOS files besides what's in this guide "CIOS installers" and "New IOS files from games released in 2009." (This may cause a brick.)

Korean Wii Warning - This guide and any current guides DO NOT work on Korean Wii's, these Wii's work slightly different to the JAP/USA/EUR Wii's, as soon as there is a method available i will make a guide especially for them but right now you will get an error using the HackMii installer.

LU64 Wii's - This guide works, but after you have modded DO NOT downgrade any IOS files or install older ones (Cioscorp) as this may brick your Wii. It is suggested that once you have done all the hacks, install bootmii and make a nand backup.

New Wii Warning (no confirming Serials at the moment) - There is a new Wii motherboard out that this or any other hack will not work on yet. Here is some info on the new D3-2 unmoddable drive. If the guide fails at a certain point and your Wii is really brand new, this is probably the case. If your Wii is more than 6 months old, you should be fine.

What You Need:

• If you don't have the Homebrew Channel or Bootmii, download BannerBomb and HackMii Installer.
  
• Download the Mediafire WeHackWii Package.
• You may want to replace the USB Loader GX dol file in the package with the latest from the USB Loader GX revisions page.
  • You can also just run the update option from within USB Loader GX if your Wii is connected to the Internet
  • However, r784 is the most recommended, not the latest

Instructions:

1. Drag the contents of the WeHackWii Package to your SD Card.

Note: Skip steps 2-6 if you already have the Homebrew Channel and Bootmii (but make sure to do 6-1 if you don't have a NAND backup, otherwise you can't recover from a brick).

2. Drag the contents of the BannerBomb zip file to your SD Card.

---2-1. Copy the HackMii installer.elf to the root of the SD card, and rename it to boot.elf

3. Follow the BannerBomb instructions to launch the boot.elf file

4. It will the ask to load the boot.dol/elf press A. (if it freezes, go to the bannerbomb site and get the next file available, continue until it works). 

5. You are now in the HackMii installer. Install everything (only the HomeBrew Channel is required, BootMii as boot2 is strongly recommended, and dvdx is at your discretion).

6. When done exit to the System Menu.

---6-1. If you installed bootmii as boot2, it is suggested to do a NAND Backup before continuing. If you don't know how to do this, read the official bootmii guide on this site.

7. Open HBC (homebrew channel)

8. Run Trucha Bug Restorer. (Note: If you're on Wii Firmware 4.2, Run Trucha Bug Restorer MOD.)
---8-1. Press B for no IOS reload.
---8-2. Choose downgrade IOS15.
---8-3. Press A on SD Card when it asks.
---8-4. Then press a button to exit.

9. Run Trucha Bug Restorer again from the HomeBrew Channel.  (Note: If you're on Wii Firmware 4.2, Run Trucha Bug Restorer MOD.)
---9-1. Choose IOS15 and press A. (Important)
---9-2. Wait till it says Press 1 then press it.
---9-3. Choose IOS36 menu. In there use these settings:
------9-3-1. Install IOS to slot (249)
------9-3-2. Hash check (trucha) YES
------9-3-3. ES_Identity YES
------9-3-4. Nand Permissions YES
---9-4. Then press A on install patched IOS36, 
------9-4-1. Press A on SD Card when it asks and exit when it's done.

Note: If step nine displays an IOS36 version too high message, please follow the IOS36 Higher Than v3094 Fix and then continue to step ten.

10. Open Wad Manager in homebrew channel
---10-1. When it opens choose use IOS249 (it is probably already set to that)
---10-2. Press A to open from SD

11. Now install IOS60.wad, USB Loader GX-UNEO_Forwarder.wad, and exit.

12. Open Trucha Bug Restorer from homebrew channel.
---12-1. Choose IOS249 and press A
---12-2. Wait till it says Press 1 then press it
---12-3. Then Choose restore IOS15.
---12-4. Press A on SD Card when it asks and exit when done.

Note: Step 13 is meant to install Waninkoko's cIOS v14.  The developer has since ceased updating this software, and so you may wish to substitute Step 13 with the instructions for installing Hermes' cIOS 222/223.

13. Open Homebrew Channel and run the CIOSrev14 installer
---13-1. Choose IOS249 and then WAD install and press A
---13-2. Let it run and when it's done you are done with the guide.

14. You may now restart your Wii.  You're all done with hacking your Wii and may now move on to preparing your USB drive.

You now have a fully hacked Wii with the following:
Homebrew Channel, Bootmii (if you installed), CIOS Rev 14 (or cIOS 222/223), Patched IOS60, USB Loader GX, and whatever Firmware you are on.

15. To begin using USB Loader GX, it is best to follow the USB Loader GX ReadMii. It will teach you how to prepare your USB drive and how to load games onto it and play them.  However, you may also simply begin using the already installed USB Loader GX channel (make sure your prepared SD card is still in the Wii) and figure it out from there.  However, make sure you have a FAT32 partition on your USB drive before plugging it into your Wii.  Also, if you want to manage your drive with your computer after setting it up via USB Loader GX through your Wii, you will need a WBFS Manager.

Can I get some additional help please?

GAF's Wii Homebrew Tutorial

How To Downgrade System Menu 4.0 if HBC is Installed

Fix the v3.3U/E & v3.4 Updates

Are there any more good links?

USB Loader Releases

Waninkoko's (Creator of the USB Loader) Blog

WBFS (The Filesystem for your USB Drive) Managers

USB Device Compatibility List

Game Compatibility List

Matriculated's HBC Icons

Low Lines Wii Style Icons

IOS and Channel WADs

I need some box art and/or disc art for my loader.

WiiTDB (the gold standard)

Wii Boxart (pre-sized, also has disc art)

Raffles' Wii Box Art (high res, also has disc art)

USB Loader Matrix

coming soon...