Ultimate WIIKEY installation guide- for NOOBS

[emoray]

Heres a guide to try and clear up all the 'How do I solder', 'What do I need to install the chip' threads that are currently all over the MAXconsole forums.

Intro

Basically I'm writing this guide as this is my first mod chip install, (First time soldering since high school) and I needed lots of info to get the courage to doing the install. So I've looked through the forums and found all the info below that I will be using to do the install, so hopefully if I can follow the guide and install my WIIKEY fine, SO CAN YOU.

I'll have all the stuff I've ordered for the mod job on tuesday, so I'll take pictures of each step as I do it and add them to the guide.

Info about the WIIKEY


* Direct boot of wii backups
* Direct boot of GC backups
* Direct boot of homebrew in GC mode
* Supports all currently available console/drive versions
* Supports D2B chipsets
* Sophisticated (true) update mechanism via DVD (future proof, expect cool features to come)
* Direct boot of different NTSC region Wii games/backups on US and JAP consoles
* Partial support for NTSC region Wii games/backups on PAL consoles
* Boots different region GC games/backups (partially without swapping)
* Supports multi-disc games for BOTH Wii and Gamecube
* Supports DVD-R / true DVD+R and +RW support (no bitsetting required!)
* Improved readsettings for recordable media
* Built-in audio fix
* Supports fullsize 4GB discs for gamecube homebrew
* Stealth mode
* 512 byte EEPROM to store configuration
* Quicksolder interface - no wires required
* Unique disc backup application via sdcard
* Compact design, best quality components, rock solid high speed controller
* Professional ESD packing
* Recovery mode - Can recover from a bad flash

Updates

- April/07 Ordered all the bits, waiting for them to come for the install.

Contents

- What you need for the install.
- Getting prepared.
- Installing the WIIKEY.
- Testing and making sure everything is fine.
- How to back up your disks / Burn them to DVD media
- FAQ

[emoray]

- What you need for the install.

A Nintendo WII obviously...

Solder
- Rosin Core Silver-Bearing Solder, (Spool Silver-bearing Solder (62%-tin, 36%-lead, 2%-Silver), Diameter: 0.022").

Soldering iron
- 15w soldering iron, smallest tip possible.

Other stuff
- Magnifying glass
- Electrical tape
- Triwing screwdriver
- flux paste
- 30 awg kynar wire
- Tweasers

- Multimeter, you will only need this if you mess up the install to check if you have shorts on the board.

[emoray]

- Getting prepared.

Firstly from everything I've read doing the 'wired' install seems the easiest and theres is no real reason to use the quicksolder method.

* Get a old board off something to have a quick practice on, this is a must! Don't go hardcore straight out on your WII. *

To get ready for the install there are a number of things you want to prepare before you start so you can concentrate on the main part of the install. It will keep the install a step by step process.

- Opening up the WII - Please check out this link as it has all the info you need- http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=49665

- Cut your wire to the needed lenghs. About 5/7cm X 6. You also need to strip about 1/2cm of the wire each end, so show the bare wire.

- Soldering - Plug in the soldering iron and let it warm up, may take upto 10 minutes. It's hot enough when you can dab the solder onto the iron and it melts straight away. You want to have the soldering iron in your 'good' hand and the solder in your other. To put solder on something place the solder on the object and dab with the iron untill the desired amount is on the object.

- These ends of the wire then need 'tinning', this is putting a small amount of solder on the wires, after you have placed some flux on them.

- Next on the WII chip itself, flux the pads then place a small amount of solder on these too.

- Again on the DVD drive flux and tin the points that you will be working with.

[emoray]

- Installing the WIIKEY.

- Firstly I'd tape down the ship while soldering the wires on and I'll be soldering the wires to the chip first. This way the chip can be taped down to the board in its finished position while soldering the other end of the wires to the DVD drives board occours. We can check all the wire is the right lengh and that it'll all fit in nicely.

[emoray]

- Testing and making sure everything is fine.

[emoray]

- How to back up your disks / Burn them to DVD media

[emoray]

- FAQ

Q. Once chipped can you use your WII to watch DVD movies?
A. Nope.

Q. I have a PAL WII but want to use import games, that possible?
A. I'm pretty sure you have to use the same back ups as the console, but orginal imports will work fine.