How does the Wii get "bricked"?

[M-Warrior]

Just like the title says, I didn't know where to ask this. I'm curious...

[111]

Full Brick/Semi Brick:  These can occur when you install an update to your console that is of a different region than what your Wii is set at.  For example, installing a JAP firmware update on an NTSC Wii.  This mostly happens when people with drive chips play imports on their console, and they are told to update.  GeckoOS/Ocarina bypasses the update portion of a disc, so you shouldn't have to worry about this with these programs.  There are fixes for a semi brick, but none for a full brick.  I am also not sure what causes one, and what would cause the other.

Banner Brick:  This can occur if you install a channel onto your Wii.  I guess that the channel has an image that the Wii is not able to read, so after the Warning Screen, the Wii usually hangs at a black screen.  Under certain circumstances, there are fixes for this.  However, as long as you just install channels like the Homebrew Channel, you should be fine, as there have been no reports of banner bricks with any public version.

These are the only three that I know of, so there may be other types.

[M-Warrior]

So... I don't have to worry about anything? Since I'll never use imports or install channels that you can't get originally through the Wii.(The Homebrew Channel is  the only channel I got that you can't get through the Wii)

[Nuke]

System files on the Wii itself are changed in a way that the console can't complete its full boot execution.

If you install software you know is tried and tested you will be safe.

There is no reason to run software that permanently edits your console region and things like that. Its just risky of the coder to release such tools also.

GeckoOS, Ocarina, and tools posted by us don't touch the Wii's internals as there is never any reason too.

[111]

I'm not saying that something weird couldn't happen at some point, but the Homebrew Channel was made by people who have a very good understanding of how the Wii works, and they have thoroughly tested it to make sure that it is considered safe for anyone to use.  If that is the only unofficial channel you install, you should be safe in that regard.

I believe that you might be able to get a full or semi brick by using the downgrader and/or region changer, so you might want to avoid those if possible.

[M-Warrior]

I only got the Homebrew Channel so I can use Ocarina, when I found out it can use Emulators and these little games like Duck Hunt and Tetris, I got those too, but I didn't actually use the Emulators yet...

[Foxx]

Check out this link: Bushing's Blog.

Busing is a pretty serious and genuine Wii Console Hacker, I respect his work. So no need to worry about his blog being theory, hypothetical crap, or otherwise heavy opinions on things people dont understand. If he posts something about the Wii, I damn well believe it.

111 summed it up pretty well. A Full brick is when you use a modchip to play a game from another region, and it applies an update (that you must agree to, and Nintendo warns about "Unauthorized modifications") on a console. Bushing explains why this happens. Long story short, the path to file names in the IOS are different between PAL, NTSC, and JAP consoles. The Wii cant find the files, thus cant load the Wii Home Channel.

A Semi-Brick is when you run an update but it only replaces some key files, and can no longer load the Wii Home Channel anymore, since the pathnames are changed. Bushing released a disc ISO that (is 100% legit) can fix this Semi-Brick, but you NEED a modchip to run it.

A banner brick occurs when someone tries to make a channel and uses stollen banners. The banner is the files used to make the animation displayed in the Home Channel. The Wii is highly encrypted and 'Signed'. A Signed chunk of software is like having a back-stage pass at a concert, or a valid State ID. Without that special 'ticket' you do not have access to an event (say a back stage party, maybe a late night bar that reqires ID). If a home-made (not to be confused with homebrew) channel is installed and it has a stolen or hacked ticket or banner, it will fail the security check. Now you could imagine what happens if you were to sneak into a late night bar or club without proper ID and were caught... you would get thrown out. This is the best analogy i can make when explaining a Banner Brick.

The Wii Homebrew Channel does NOT use hacked banners or stolen tickets, so no worries there. It doesnt apply Wii System Updates at all, so no worries there. GeckoOS does not effect the Wii OS (called IOS) in any way, or use any kind of shady hacks to get around security. For all intent the code is 100% legit and legal to run on your console. GeckoOS does however bypass any kind of system updates from disc, so as long as you play your imports loaded through Region Free or geckoOS, you are good to go, have no fears. Although this is homebrew and its not always 100% stable, so if the Wii locks up or crashes, dont freak out, just hold the reset button to reboot and you will be fine.

[M-Warrior]

Okay, now that I know about bricking, I can say that I have nothing to worry about! Thanks. Just like they say: Better be safe than sorry.

[Nuke]

yeah i forgot about bushings blog posts, some really in depth and technical info in those.

[Nuke]

i don't blame you for asking, 300 USD is a lot of money.

Emulators are safe to run, but run these from the SD card from the Homebrew channel. They are normal DOL or ELF files which are Wii executable files.

You may see channel versions of emulators, these are pointless and often built by people using WAD tools which are not coded correctly (some are).

Okay, now that I know about bricking, I can say that I have nothing to worry about! Thanks. Just like they say: Better be safe than sorry.

[M-Warrior]

I tried one emulator, the Wii64, it sucked.
And usually, if your Wii is having problems, Nintendo will fix it pretty damn fast for no cost.

[Foxx]

WiiN64 is making a lot of progress, but Sepp256 and EmuKidid have been busy with school. Ive been trying to help them beta-test.

On another note, dont install .WAD files (Channels) unless you know they are from a reliable source, like the Homebrew Channel. That also goes for virtual console games and emulators. People have been rebuilding the Nintnedo Emulators and packing alternate ROMS in them, which is naughty. This is piracy/warez, and not nice. Homebrew emulators are safer and not based off of code thats copyrighted.

By repacking the Virtual Console title with an alternate ROM, you are breaking a bunch of laws, and licence agreements. All in all its not a nice thing to do. I dont know why people do it... its pointless. Most Nintendo Virtual Console Titles are hard-coded with controller and save file settings which wont be compatable with other games, not to mention actual Emulators have so many more features! Save states, ROM hacking, cheats, light gun support, etc... I just dont see why people do it.

So yah' stay away from warez in general and you will be safe ;}

[Makar8000]

And I have something to add to this...

I got the Homebrew Channel, and I see this Homebrew Browser application, it lets you download stuff to your the HBC without any SD card, hassle, or anything. It also allows you to update it.

My question is if it is safe to use. Same with the "FTPii" App. I use it to send my ROMs to the SD card instead of using a adapter and going back and forth to the Wii and Computer. I'm not sure if accessing your Wii via FTP is safe ether.

Also, You said the Homebrew Channel does some kind of bypass for a Wii Update. Does this mean you can update the Wii and nothing will happen or that the HBC won't allow you to update the Wii?

[picano]

Actually, the wii homebrew browser still requires an SD card. It just doesn't require a computer. (It'll download apps directly to the SD card). It's safe.

FTPii is safe as well, it just adds to the sd card.

Only worries should be channels (VC, Wiiware, and such). Though... if from a reputable source, they'll probably work. But, just to stay safe... easier to only run stuff through the Homebrew Channel or directly from the TP Hack itself.

[Makar8000]

Oh alright thanks. I already downloaded the Homebrew Browser anyway, that's how I got FTPii. I know how stupid it is to use WADs by the way.

EDIT: Just read the Forum rules, so I edited the bad content out.