Wii softmod or Hardmod (Modchip)

Why do I mod my Wii using a modchip since I could easily softmod my Wii?

This is a big discussion among Wii modding circle, confusing to some and could be argumental side  by side.  While the comparison doesnt favour either of the techniques some logical benefits of chipping a wii console may be highlighted.

1. Updates – Modchips are not affected by any updates that potentially come out. If you incorrectly update your Wii with a softmod you lose everything (either a dead wii or a loss of the softmod).) Wii updates wipe out softmods until a new method of getting it back on is found. iI this case downgrading the firmware and installing the update IOS packs. With a modchip it doesn’t really matter , you can update your Wii and not need to do anything special to get it to play games.

2. Speed – Softmods run much slower than a modchip. Modchips will actually give you faster load times and read speeds. This basically means that users of soft-mods that play multi-disc games may experience some slightly longer load times . Speed In softmods is limited to 3x, where as most chips run at 6x (the laser dying because of a chip is a myth, use good media that is all that is necessary, that is true for softmods as well).

3. Bricking – Modchips will not magically cause your wii to die from an update or any other reason. A modchip will actually help unbrick a console if it has been unsuccessfully updated. In softmodding you will continuously have to manually update your wii (each time to risk a brick) because Nintendo’s number one focus is eliminating softmods and not modchips. Bricking which is very common with softmods on several different levels/places and frustrating for a lot of people to fix a bricked unit depending how they bricked it.

4. PC Knowledge -  In softmodding you need to keep up with updates and know your way around a computer/software. You must be willing to keep up with updates whereas with a modchip its just one off fix.

5. Plug and play – Modchips are great for the person who just wants to put in a backup and play. Modchips play backups just like original discs and run zero chance of a bricked wii because there is update block control. You can update your wii freely with no fear of losing your capabilities of playing burnt discs.

6. Convenience – If u got kids or friends messing about with your wii in the house then modchip is much more convenient as they are hidden inside wii and cant be touched.

7. Compatibilty – Softmod isn’t 100% compatible with all titles whereas modchips will let you play all games even new ones.

8. Trace – Hardware mods can be removed without any trace of modification.

9. Succes rate – Modchips have 100% success rate. Soft modding however looks easirer mode is harder to do and lot of instructions to follow. Chipping is one time affair and once fitted its always there. Almost all chips we sell are solderless and very easy to place on the drive

10. Stealth. – A modchip like d2pro/wasabi/ drivekey etc run under a stealth mode, if an update or software were made by nintendo to scan changes a homebrew mod would be detectable.

11. Region update blockers – The newer modchips have these built in and prevent the wii from doing updates from foreign regions automatically. (prevents bricking)

12. Double benefit – You are free to softmod your wii after hardware modding and reduce the risk of interruption if anything goes wrong with software modding.

So does it make you lean towards a modchip for your Wii ? Find out solderless , plug and play solutions here

How to set up iEDGE card – The complete and simplified guide

Important: This guide is intended for use on Windows PC, sorry not suitable for MAC.

This simplified iEDGE set up guide is supplied by All4consoles.co.uk . If you see an exact copy elsewhere please tell us.

Before flashing the iEDGE, when you insert the iEDGE into the slot-1 of the DSi, you should see the iEDGE logo/ icon.

Step 1

FORMAT the MicroSD card with supplied IEDGE USB microSD card reader. Once the formating is in process or done, DO NOT remove the microSD or the microSD card reader.

Note:

• The file system for the format SHOULD be FAT32.
• If you have any stored data on the micro sd card save it somewhere before formatting.

Step 2

You now need bootstrap update application EdgeBootUpdate-v1.exe . Make sure that the application is on your PC instead of the microSD. The easiest way is to place the file on your desktop.

Step 3

Now get the Sudoku ready. For information on how to obtain the Sudoku, please refer to the iEDGE Bootstrap v1 Updater (Windows) Readme text file supplied by EDGE team.

Just like the bootstrap update application, please put the Sudoku on your desktop.

Step 4

Run the EDGEBootUpdate-v1.exe bootstrap update file and you should see a window with the title iEDGE Boot Update 1. The application automatically identifies your micro SD memory card.

Step 5

Now look at the ROM bar and locate the Sudoku (which was placed on the desktop) by hitting the button between ROM bar and Update button.

Once located you should see a file “scz-psv3.nds” In the Sudoku window. Highlight this file and click open. You should now see in the ROM bar.

Step 6

Click Update to start the flashing.

Step 7

Flashing is done. At the same time, a new window opens up. It is the root folder of the microSD memory card ( Removable drive).

Under the root folder of the microSD, there is new file generated from the flashing process mentioned above. A new file bupdate BIN file has been written to microSD root folder.

Important: bupdate BIN file is required for updating the iEDGE cart on the DS in the next step.

If you can’t see the bupdate BIN file, please restart from step 1.

Step 8

Plug in your DSi with its power charger. You never know if your DSi is fully charged! This is vital as flashing can’t be interrupted. DO NOT turn on the DSi yet. If ON turn it OFF.

Plug in the iEDGE into the slot-1 of the DSi. Then turn on the DSi. Do not press any button of the DSi. Leave the DSi on a table or flat surface.

Bootstrap update flashing should start almost immediately.

Step 9

This is the most crucial part of the bootstrap flashing.

Look at the iEDGE in the slot-1. The LED light inside the iEDGE should be visible as orange.

If the bootstrap flashing functions correct, the LED light should flash on and off.

If the LED light is constantly on, that means that flashing does not function correct. Please restart the process from step 1.

The flashing will intensify slowly and the LED light will be off when the flashing is completed.

Step 10

If you have come this far to this step great! You have successfully flashed the iEDGE, the most difficult part of the whole process.

Now, go ahead to download and copy the iEDGE OS v1.7 to the root folder of the microSD.

Then plug in the microSD to the iEDGE and then to the DSi.

You should see the Sudoku icon.

Attention : After lauching the Sudoku iEDGE programme, if you see the white screen for over 1 minute, reboot your DSi.