Even though I started the idea and learned a lot of things in the way, soon after Job joined the project and created a design that was much smaller and much safer than mine.

Today, DeadlyFoez installed and tested that board live over at YouTube, verifying (for the second time, since Job did it on his own a while ago) that the board is fully functional.

So, I am very happy to announce that the board is fully open source and anyone can produce it right now by uploading the output.zip file located inside the miniRGBii folder on the GitHub repository Soon we will also have a Bill Of Materials required to order the parts to solder on.

While we do not offer pre-soldered boards as of right now, we may in the future, so keep an eye out.

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who helped in this project, first and foremost Job Feikens over at the Wii mini Hacking Discord, as well as DeadlyFoez for his testing. Lastly, a huge thanks to the wonderful people over at BitBuilt for their invaluable insight and patience to an Electrical Engineering moron that I am.

Have a great day and have fun modding!

Has anybody ever tried this mod? I'd be interested to hear about any results. This may be what drives me to get out my somewhat old soldering iron, get the needed materials, and start (not cheapskate) soldering.

Quite amazing how long Nintendo kept their submittions open for the Wii. Who's gonna pick one of these up?

Mine is:

sdhsako

PS Vita

If you have any suggestions, I'd be glad to add them to this page, just write them in the comment section below. If something is wrong, say so. I will gladly smack myself in the face and correct it. 

Currently, do not consider any of these pieces of information accurate yet as they are only based on my memory and the observations of readers. All statements with a * mark are untested or I am not entirely sure about (but I have listed anyway so I don't forget about them)

Here, all software mods that can be performed on the stock Wii mini shall be listed.

• Wired network connectivity (You will need a compatible LAN adapter. Use this homebrew by Fullmetal5, or install a normal system menu to enable its functionality).
• Wiimmfi (albeit only wired).
• Wiiware/Virtual Console title installation via a Wad manager.
• Update of the Mii Channel to the full-featured Wii version (albeit without the online interaction and ds connection).
• (c)IOS installation (though some IOSes may not be compatible with the stock Wii mini and may cause issues or brick your console! Please ask below or in the Wii mini Discord before installing.) The only cIOS specifically built for the Wii mini is Leseratte's d2xl cIOS which can do most of the functions a normal user would need.
• Installation of the full-featured Wii system menu (requires no-wifi cIOS or a wireless module, see Installing the original Wii System Menu)

More to be added...

Here, all original Wii functions that cannot be performed on a stock Wii mini shall be listed. (All features that can be enabled with a hardware mod will link to the corresponding section).

• Wifi connectivity (see installing a wireless card) This will allow for most, if not all Wireless connectivity functions such as Mii channel DS connectivity, RiiConnect24, etc to work.
• 480p component video out (see adding component video functionality)
• 2nd USB port (see adding a 2nd USB port)
• SD card slot (see adding an SD card slot)
• Reset button (see adding a reset button)
• GameCube controller ports (see adding GameCube controller ports)
• GameCube memory card slot #1 (see adding a GameCube memory card slot)
• GameCube disc/DVD playback (This isn't possible at all as the original Wii disc drive differs from the Wii mini)

More to be added...

There are 2 ways to do this:

The first way, requires no soldering skills but may be hard to do some steps due to these resources not being readily available on the internet.

1. Obtain the Wii System Menu WAD for your region. (SM 4.3U if you're in an NTSC region or SM 4.3E if you're in a PAL region) and place it on your USB.
2. Download Wii Mod Lite and place it in the apps folder on your USB.
3. Obtain IOS80-nowifi and place it on your USB.
4. Install IOS80-nowifi using Wii Mod Lite's WAD manager.
5. Install the System Menu WAD using Wii Mod Lite's WAD manager.

The second way can be more challenging as it requires soldering skills and has steps requiring resources not readily available on the internet. However, it allows you to install RiiConnect24 down the line if you ever want it.

1. Install a wireless card (see Installing a wireless card)
2. Obtain the Wii System Menu WAD for your region. (SM 4.3U if you're in an NTSC region or SM 4.3E if you're in a PAL region) and place it on your USB.
3. Download Wii Mod Lite and place it in the apps folder on your USB.
4. Obtain the normal IOS80 for the Wii and place it on your USB.
5. Install IOS80 using Wii Mod Lite's WAD manager.
6. Install the System Menu WAD using Wii Mod Lite's WAD manager.

Adding a reset button is easy enough. All you have to do is wire a NO (normally open) push-button between the solder pad marked TP233 and any ground plane such as the pad TP172 as illustrated here (Picture credit to @DeadlyFoez). The two pads are circled with orange and yellow respectively.

TBA

TBA

-----UNDER CONSTRUCTION - DO NOT ATTEMPT YET-----
The SD card mod is the second easiest mod. It isn't difficult per se, but it will be easier to perform with the proper parts.

TBA

TBA

TBA

A little fun fact about the white one: It's a cheap knockoff nunchuk, so when I had it open, one of the wires actually detached from the solder joint on the PCB, causing the nunchuk to stop working. I was working on an extremely tight budget, so I tried touching the wire to the solder joint it came from, which caused it to start working again. Then, I used several layers of scotch tape to hold it in place. So far, it has held up, even after using it multiple times. Cheapskate soldering all the way.

The problem here is that when you load the HackMii Installer, it either freezes on the press 1 to continue screen, or it loads into the installer but claims it cannot find any IOS vulnerabilities. Another potential issue is if you open the Homebrew Channel, it will be flipped upside down. Now, you might be thinking, "If I have an issue with the HackMii Installer, how would I know if my Homebrew Channel is having issues?". Hang on. This will be explained later.

The symptoms of this issue are essentially what I mentioned before. Here's that in more detail.

• When attempting to load the HackMii Installer, you encounter one of two problems. Either the installer freezes on the Scam Screen where it asks you to press 1 to continue (in this case, the press 1 message will never appear), or when it loads to the installer screen, it complains about not finding any IOS vulnerabilities.

• Inside the Homebrew Channel, the channel itself is upside down. It's usable, just incredibly difficult.

When you have this issue, the root cause is that an IOS has been patched. To break it down further,

- If the HackMii Installer is having issues, it means all of your IOS, or at least a large chunk of them, have been replaced/patched with cIOS. This could be because you installed a wad pack from the internet that contained these IOS, or you used the program DARKCORP, which replaces every IOS on the Wii with a cIOS. The HackMii Installer looks for certain vulnerabilities in IOS, but it will always refuse to use a patched IOS, so if all of them are patched, there's nothing the installer can do.

- If the Homebrew Channel is upside down, it means that IOS58, the IOS that the channel uses, has been altered, as mentioned above. However, having an upside down HBC does not necessarily mean your HackMii Installer will also have issues. The simplest way to put this is that if the HackMii Installer is having issues, it means that all of the IOS that it could use, including IOS58, are patched. This means that the HBC will definitely be upside down then, as IOS58 has definitely been tampered with. However, if the HBC is upside down, HackMii Installer could potentially work fine, as the HBC can only indicate tampering with IOS58. There may still be another IOS that HackMii Installer can use. Essentially, A means B, but B does not necessarily mean A.

You might be wondering how this can happen when your Wii does not have any visible traces of being softmodded. On the outside, it looks like a fresh Wii. Chances are, what happened is at some point in the past, you or a previous owner did something mentioned previously that caused the IOS to get patched, and then reset the Wii. This removes the HBC among other things, but leaves the IOS there, meaning next time you try to use HackMii Installer, you will have issues.

This issue can be prevented pretty easily

• Do not use WAD Packs you find online.

• Do not use DARKCORP. It's dangerous and there are better ways to accomplish what DARKCORP does. I have another post on this.

• If your HBC is upside down, don't take the risk of resetting your Wii.

Overall, just don't tamper with any IOS that doesn't need to be tampered with. Also, follow updated guides (video tutorials are not recommended), as some of the causes of this issue are related to old methods of accomplishing homebrew-related tasks. There are likely updated methods.

If you've got a Wii that has this issue, or accidentally got yourself into this mess, don't fret! There is a solution to this problem.

First, you have to discern the issue severity.

• If you have the Homebrew Channel installed but it is upside down, and HackMii Installer still works, follow Method 1

• If your Homebrew Channel is installed but is upside down and HackMii Installer does not work, follow Method 2

• If you do not have Homebrew Channel and HackMii Installer does not work, follow Method 3

Method 1:

This is by far the easiest method out of the three.

You will need:

- An SD Card formatted as FAT32, along with a way to transfer files to the SD Card

- The HackMii Installer .zip file, which can be found here

Procedure:

- On your SD Card, create a folder called apps on the root of the SD

- Inside this apps folder, create a folder called HackMii

- Extract the HackMii Installer .zip file from earlier

- Inside, you will find two .elf files, a boot.elf, and a bootmini.elf. Make sure you take the boot.elf, not the bootmini.elf. Move this file inside the HackMii folder that we created on the SD card earlier

- Take the SD Card and insert it into your Wii

- Launch the Homebrew Channel

- Since the channel is upside down, this will be tough, but you need to locate an app named HackMii in the channel. It will not have an icon or a description, which should help. Assuming you have no other apps that do not have an icon or a description, it will be the only one in there like that, which will help. If you are having trouble, if you have any other apps on your SD card in the apps folder, you can temporarily move them somewhere else, leaving only the HackMii folder left

- Once you find this app, launch it

- You should now be in the HackMii Installer. Continue as you normally would, by waiting and pressing 1, then press continue on the main screen

- Now, select the option to uninstall the Homebrew Channel

- Once it is complete, go back and select the option to install the Homebrew Channel

- Once it is complete, you can exit the HackMii Installer

- Voila! Your Homebrew Channel should now be back to normal

Method 2:

You will need:

- A computer with an internet connection

- An SD Card with an ability to transfer files to it

- NUS Downloader, make sure you extract it to a place you can find easily

- A WAD Manager inside the apps folder of your SD Card. I recommend using Wii Mod Lite or YAWMM

Procedure:

- Open NUS Downloader. Ensure the "Pack WAD" option at the bottom is checked. By default it will save the WAD to wherever you extracted NUS Downloader. You can change the save location if you'd like, just remember where it is

- Click on Database at the top left. Navigate to IOS > IOS58 > v6175. Then, start the NUS Download

- When the download is finished, navigate to wherever you chose to save the WAD earlier

- There should be a folder called titles. Inside that folder will be another folder called 000000010000003A. Inside that will be yet another folder called 6175. Inside that folder will be the WAD

- Copy this WAD to a folder on your SD Card called wads. When you're done, the file structure should be sd:/wads/(IOS wad here)

- Next, insert the SD Card into your Wii.

- Launch the Homebrew Channel

- Since the channel is upside down, this will be tough, but you need to locate your WAD Manager of choice in the channel. Try looking for its icon. If you are having trouble, if you have any other apps on your SD card in the apps folder, you can temporarily move them somewhere else, leaving only the WAD Manager left

- Launch your WAD Manager

- Use your WAD Manager to install the IOS WAD you downloaded and put on your SD card earlier

- Exit the WAD Manager

- Voila! Your HBC should now be correct, and HackMii Installer should now work

Method 3:

This method is the most involved, but it is still definitely doable.

You will need:

- An SD card with the LetterBomb exploit or any other SD-based exploit ready and you'll need to be able to transfer files to the SD card

- A computer with an internet connection

- NUS Downloader, make sure you extract it to a place you can find easily

- A WAD Manager. I recommend using Wii Mod Lite or YAWMM

Procedure:

- Open NUS Downloader. Ensure the "Pack WAD" option at the bottom is checked. By default it will save the WAD to wherever you extracted NUS Downloader. You can change the save location if you'd like, just remember where it is

- Click on Database at the top left. Navigate to IOS > IOS58 > v6175. Then, start the NUS Download

- When the download is finished, navigate to wherever you chose to save the WAD earlier

- There should be a folder called titles. Inside that folder will be another folder called 000000010000003A. Inside that will be yet another folder called 6175. Inside that folder will be the WAD

- Copy this WAD to a folder on your SD card called wads. When you're done, the file structure should be sd:/wads/(IOS wad here)

- Now navigate to the root of your SD card

- There should be a file called boot.elf. Move this file somewhere safe, because you will need it later. Make sure it is no longer on the root of the SD

- Inside your WAD Manager of choice, there will be a file called boot.dol. Transfer this file to the root of your SD card

- Insert your SD card into your Wii

- Run the exploit you had placed on your SD card using whatever method is needed for the exploit. For example, if you're using LetterBomb, navigate to the letter and open it

- Now, once the exploit is finished running, rather than seeing HackMii Installer like your normally would, you will see your WAD Manager. Use this WAD Manager to install the IOS WAD you downloaded and placed onto your SD Card earlier

- Once this is complete, exit the WAD Manager

- Voila! Your HackMii Installer should now be repaired. Before you try to run HackMii Installer through an exploit, make sure you delete the boot.dol file from the root of your SD card and restore the boot.elf file that you temporarily removed earlier. Then, you can use an exploit to load HackMii Installer, and you're all set!

As mentioned earlier, this method will only work with SD-based exploits, such as LetterBomb or any of the game-based hacks. It will not work with exploits such as FlashHax.

A side note: Method 3 can be done using Bluebomb (though there's no real point when there are easier options), just replace SD card with USB drive.

Moral of the story: Don't follow outdated tutorials, and don't install WAD Packs from the internet.

However, a lot of us, including myself, aren't the most experienced when it comes to this stuff. I recently tore down my Wii all the way to the motherboard (first time I've ever done that with the intention of reassembling it), and I learned a few things along the way that I figured I'd share.

Tools and preparation

- Make sure you have a large enough workspace to do this in. I usually do this on the floor, but a decent sized desk/table would be best.

- Get a proper triwing screwdriver. Don't get one of those sets that has a driver that you can swap the bits on, even if it has triwing bits. Some of the case screws on the Wii are pretty deep, and a screwdriver like that absolutely will not get the job done.

- Having your screws organized will make your life so much easier, especially during reassembly. Personally, what I did was grab a piece of paper, a pencil, and some tape. Every time I removed screws, I grouped them by where they were, gave them a name that i wrote on the paper using my pencil, and taped the screws to the paper underneath where I wrote the name. This is the method I used, but find something that works for you.

Disassembly

- Don't excessively force things out. If it's not coming out and you're using a reasonable amount of force, you're probably missing a screw somewhere. You don't want to damage/break anything.

- Don't remove screws unnecessarily. One of the common mistakes people make is they remove the top half of the Wii case, but they detach it from the DVD drive RF shield. The way you're supposed to do it is only remove the screws holding the RF shield to the rest of the Wii and the screws holding the top half of the case to the bottom half, allowing the top half to be removed with the shield attached to it still.

- Use a magnetic screwdriver. There are some screws that I genuinely believe cannot be removed without it, especially the disc drive screws. If you don't have a magnetic screwdriver, touch a strong magnet to the tip of your screwdriver for a bit. It will make that screwdriver magnetized temporarily.

- Learn the symbols Nintendo uses on the motherboard shield. I believe the 4 symbols they use are an X, a square, an arrow, and a triangle. These different symbols are meant to tell you how deep the specific screw goes. This is more useful for reassembly, but it can be helpful for disassembly as well.

- Screws are commonly hidden in the Wii as well as most other electronics. In the Wii's case, you have to remove pretty much everything to separate the bottom case from the motherboard. The 4 heatsink screws, which you can't see until you remove the motherboard shield, which requires removing literally everything above it, also hold the motherboard to the bottom case.

Reassembly

- Even when not screwed in, a lot of pieces will kind of "click" together, indicating that they're aligned correctly. If they don't, the screws might not go in properly.

- Sometimes, stuff has to be reassembled in a particular order, so I recommend going in the order that you removed stuff.

- If you have screws or other various things that you can't quite figure out where they came from, don't just leave it out. It could be important, though you might not figure that out until later in the assembly process. One of the most common things to be left behind is a square shaped nut. I did this when I tore down my Wii. I left it out, but when I had the case back together and was screwing in the battery cover, I noticed it wasn't screwing in. That square shaped nut came from the black plastic bracket at the front of the Wii, and it is what the battery cover screws into. I ended up having to open up the case all over again, remove the disc drive again, and press that nut into place.

- Even if screws appear to be the same, I recommend trying to put it in the same place it came from whenever possible, just in case. 

- Don't forget to route wires the same way they were routed before. 

- You may want to test as you go. Make sure the disc drive works, the fan works, etc.

These were all the tips I could think of, but if I think of any more, I'll be sure to add them.

I am looking for the following info:

Name that can be used to identify you

Wii Model

Wii Color

Original Region

Serial Number

boot1 version

Compatible with BootMii installed as boot2 or not?

This is how to determine this information:

Wii Model can be determined by looking on the side of the Wii that faces down when the Wii is vertical. To the left of the serial number, you will see a model number that is either RVL-001 or RVL-101.

Wii Color can be determined using your eyes.

Original Region can be determined by looking just to the right of the model number that you determined earlier. In parentheses you will see a region.

Serial Number can be determined by looking to the right of the Wii Model number. There will be an area with a serial number. Make sure to include the digit that is enclosed in brackets.

boot1 version can be determined by opening BootMii (IOS or boot2, either will work), going to the gear option on the far right, opening that menu, and choosing the third icon that has an i on it. In the information that appears, you will see the boot1 version.

Compatibility with BootMii installed as boot2 can be determined by opening the HackMii Installer and on the first screen after the Scam Warning, if the Wii is compatible, BootMii will say "Can be installed" next to it. If it is not compatible, BootMii will say "Can only be installed as an IOS" next to it.

Once you have the required information, please fill out this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/mkTL5iyKZazLAGQm8

I'd love to get as much information as possible.