Secret Wii recovery mode discovered, allows backup disks to run UPDATE: Maybe not.

Getting the Wii to run backup disks has never been quite as easy as running homebrew, but that might be about to change -- there's apparently a secret recovery mode that can be accessed with a special GameCube memory card. Not much is being revealed yet, but apparently if a "device" with a unique ID signature is present in the slot at boot, the Wii will drop into recovery mode and happily run whatever you throw at it, from backup disks to homebrew code. Hopefully we'll find out more soon -- video after the break.

Update: It looks like the recovery mode is only good for fixing "certain bricked consoles" -- so much for that.

[Thanks, brakken]

[Rafael @ Sep 4th 2008 12:28PM]

Modchips are done !

[tom @ Sep 4th 2008 12:58PM]

+1

Looks like Nintendo can never feel more naked than this discovery. LOL.

Question, can this loophole be closed with future firmware update?

[tom @ Sep 4th 2008 1:00PM]

firmware question - answered

[iofthestorm @ Sep 4th 2008 1:36PM]

False alarm- http://hackmii.com/2008/09/wii-recovery-dongle/

[ybd @ Sep 4th 2008 3:03PM]

Yes, now we can run Wii games without a modchip! Now all we need are some Wii games!

[Jonathan @ Sep 4th 2008 12:28PM]

but does it play Pitfall?

[Zinger314 @ Sep 4th 2008 12:29PM]

Incoming firmware update in 5...4...

[y2julio @ Sep 4th 2008 12:40PM]

wont matter. You need to be online to get updates, and only if you want to download them.

[matt @ Sep 4th 2008 12:46PM]

Disconnecting from the internets in 2...1

[Hold McGroin @ Sep 4th 2008 12:55PM]

Not so fast, recovery modes usually come into play before the OS/firmware boots in the case that the OS is corrupt. That's how you refurbish a Wii that won't start assuming the hardware is still good.

This is why the pandora battery trick for the PSP still works, that's how Sony fixes them to resell. You sure can make a unit without a recovery mode, but imagine all the "dead" PSPs and Wiis they would just have to throw out instead of selling again.

Finding a recovery mode is pretty much game over for any DRM you had because it allows you to load things before the OS boots (like something to disable the DRM checks on game discs).

[ybd @ Sep 4th 2008 5:45PM]

Nice explanation, McGroin. Thanks.

[Carl Vitullo @ Sep 4th 2008 12:30PM]

Yeah...
Backup discs...

[tlarkin79 @ Sep 4th 2008 2:24PM]

People tend to lose credibility when they call something different than it really is. We all know this if for playing pirated game discs. Let's all be adults and call it what it is.

[chris @ Sep 4th 2008 3:33PM]

Little kids + shiny disk, is the reason for backup disc. And why should I put use on my orignal copy of the game. It should be some where safe for in the case the backup dies

[Reader @ Sep 4th 2008 3:56PM]

I actually do use Daemon to run backups I make of my comp games with this free ISO maker. It's nice not having to worry about, losing, scratching, or even putting away the CD. Of course, 99% of the time people are looking to run "backup disks" they're not backups at all.

[EI8HT @ Sep 4th 2008 12:30PM]

swiit!!!...get it???

[Backlin @ Sep 4th 2008 1:40PM]

Get off the stage!

[senseiwiz @ Sep 4th 2008 12:34PM]

Looks like its not what it says it is.

http://hackmii.com/2008/09/wii-recovery-dongle/

[Chris Are @ Sep 4th 2008 12:34PM]

I don't really like the idea of sticking foreign objects in my Wii... Maybe if the "memory card" or whatever it is had the casing on it I'd feel a little better.

[NHAnimator @ Sep 4th 2008 12:48PM]

"I don't really like the idea of sticking foreign objects in my Wii"

I don't really like the idea of sticking my Wii in foreign objects, either.

[BigD145 @ Sep 4th 2008 2:31PM]

If I put a gun in a Care Bear, will you feel safer?

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 4th 2008 6:22PM]

that video was hilarious.

[fischju @ Sep 4th 2008 12:35PM]

Brakken? Really? One day he is high and mighty on a holy crusade against pirates, and then he submits this to engadget?

[StalematE @ Sep 4th 2008 12:39PM]

yes... but can it play doom

[CubeGuy @ Sep 4th 2008 1:12PM]

Yes.

[substance90 @ Sep 4th 2008 12:44PM]

I wonder why Engadget editors are so excited about everything piracy and unlocking related... you know I use some pirated software, it`s normal, I`m in Bulgaria and we don`t have that much money, but this is an official hardware blog and I get the feeling that you like.. promote these things.

[phanbouy @ Sep 4th 2008 1:19PM]

hey, a lotta spam, spyware, and warez come outta eastern europe, eh?

[hungryhippos @ Sep 4th 2008 11:21PM]

Yes we do!

[Level 5 @ Sep 4th 2008 1:05PM]

I doubt Nintendo even cares. While there are pirates that will use this to well.. pirate software, majority of Wii owners just plain old don't care about pirating games. Nintendo seems to have accepted this, and for what it refuses to accept, it attempts to break those methods with firmware updates, I'm sure a firmware update is on the way for this. I love my Wii, however I got to say that it has the weakest library out of the current home consoles. Nintendo is all about 1st party games, and the fair bit of good 3rd party games definitely take a back seat. I'd love to play legit homebrew software for this console, as it seems this is pretty much the best console where a basement developer could just make a little fun, and almost stupid game (a la Defend Your Castle) with a unique play method.

[Brian @ Sep 4th 2008 1:08PM]

It can not play backups.

[Furx @ Sep 4th 2008 1:09PM]

woo another toy for hackers who have nothing to do... what do you want to do with that? program it so it controls your roomba with the wiimote?

[CubeGuy @ Sep 4th 2008 1:13PM]

Nooooo.........


You don't need the actual Wii for that...

>_>

[ben @ Sep 4th 2008 1:20PM]

all i know is, my wii firmware is borked just from usual use ( i didn't do anything dicey). it will not boot, just tells me the firmware is messed up. nintendo wants 75$ to fix it. if there is some kind of recovery mode that saves me 75$ i am all for it.

[Geoff @ Sep 4th 2008 1:27PM]

nintendo doesn't care? I'm guessing right now there's someone pulling the rest of their hair out trying to figure wtf? That is if this prooves to be real or prooves this recovery mode.... If is fixable they'll be a firmware update b4 any commercial release product, if not they'll likely block accounts running systems using recovery code.. I can frankly understand, if I were creative enough to make something and it's stolen it'd suck... and to loose thousands or millions is another thing. Not saying I'm an angel people just stating their reason to block this method!

I think engadget staff may be interested in the tech alone, or if system is cracked to run "anything" you would make homebrew games, custom interfaces, channels, emulators, etc.... But really dunno, I don't care really cause they aren't the only I'm sure

[wardrip @ Sep 4th 2008 1:42PM]

IT RUNS ANYTHING! windows 3.1 here i come

[digitallysick @ Sep 4th 2008 1:43PM]

sounds like time to get a nintendo wii again!

[AnonymousCoward @ Sep 4th 2008 1:47PM]

This is a fake, it has nothing to do with running backups. Want realy Wii Homebrew news? www.HackMii.com

[Eric @ Sep 4th 2008 2:01PM]

buying a wii now

[Eric @ Sep 4th 2008 2:02PM]

Yeah... hmm... I've noticed none of the console hacking sites are picking up this story?

[Tejas Padekar @ Sep 4th 2008 2:22PM]

ewwwwwwww! who wants a 'wee' recovery mode?! :-P

[traitor @ Sep 4th 2008 2:29PM]

My Wii is more of a paperweight now (barely). I will betray Nintendo for a $199 XBOX.

[R1cebrner @ Sep 4th 2008 5:51PM]

you can at walmart this weekend its the arcade but its in your price point

[CreatureX @ Sep 4th 2008 2:29PM]

Wow! I cannot believe a big site like Engadget would run such a false story.

[konshuss @ Sep 4th 2008 2:56PM]

this basically makes me want a wii... now if only nintendo would actually SHIP SOME. seriously, all the big box stores here are sold out. STILL. that's absolutely pathetic.

[Steph @ Sep 4th 2008 3:07PM]

Sounds like the situation where I live. BestBye, FutureSh!t, and FAILMart seem to always be "sold out" of the things (only recently did I see ONE at a FailMart). Yet when I was in a Toys-"we don't know how to print the letter R"-Us one day, I found a stack of them just sitting next to the cash in the gaming dept.

Try some of the "smaller" box stores or grocery/pharmacy stores which have little electronics sections... you may get lucky and find one.

[bangbang023 @ Sep 4th 2008 3:11PM]

I see what Steph did there. It was clever.

[marcan @ Sep 4th 2008 3:10PM]

I MADE THIS THING. Please read on.

This does NOT run backups. It doesn't even let you DO anything that you can't do using other homebrew methods. It won't help you IN THE LEAST BIT to run homebrew OR BACKUPS. AT ALL. It's SOLE and ONLY purpose is to help FIX certain Wii consoles that were bricked, and then only SOME. It's a backdoor that lets you boot a disc (subject to even MORE restrictions than normal disc booting), but bypasses most of the system menu and therefore works even if certain parts of the Wii software are hosed. It is NOT a pandora battery because it doesn't work at low level and it is useless if your system is TOO messed up. In particular, and this is a very, very rough oversimplification, it will usually let you fix certain Wiis which are displaying SOFTWARE problems (hangs or error messages) during boot but which at least show SOMETHING on the screen. Even then, you still need to come up with a way of running the recovery software on it, which is HARDER than running software on a normal non-bricked Wii, and impossible in certain cases.

http://hackmii.com/2008/09/wii-recovery-dongle/

tehskeen made up most of the story. The end.

[jmccain @ Sep 4th 2008 3:20PM]

I'm John McCain and I approve this message

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 4th 2008 6:28PM]

Seriously, there's got to be something else you could be doing.

[rich @ Sep 5th 2008 8:28AM]

i think i niid to buy a wii.....