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Update: Possibly bullcrap HD Wii USB support photo

Update: Apparently nobody can get this to work, so it may be a steaming pile of crap or turn out to be specifically based on some hard drives. The Google docs page has gone missing and we're looking for updates.

While Nintendo may catch much grief for making their backwards Friend Code system completely manual and laborious, we have to hand it to them -- they nailed pc-class hard drive support. While performance over USB may not be killer, you can get the job done without breaking the bank, raising much tech fuss, or even using a screwdriver.  It's easy as 1-2-3:

1- Download the latest firmware on your Wii

2- Format the USB hard Drive to FAT32, maximum 120GB
(Though some website claims that a 300GB hard drive works too)

3- Remove Any SD card form the SD slot

The Wii should detect your USB hard drive as an SD card. Beautiful!

So how does it stack up on value? Nicely. You can either pay Microsoft $100 for a 20GB (this will reportedly go down soon ... but judging by the 20GB ripoff we doubt it will be that much better) or you can add a hard drive five times bigger on to your Wii for half the price.

Granted, the point may be moot as you really can't do much on your Wii with a hard drive yet other than certain piraty things, but it's nice to know.  The PS3 gets second place for the belly rip out and replace hack. Until then, here's a naughty tutorial on emu gaming on the Wii.  Tisk tisk!








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18 comments | showing # 1 to 18
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Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:11
Darren Nakamura
Nice. Once Nintendo starts releasing more N64 games on the VC, I'll totally be all over this.
subnet6's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:13
subnet6
Can someone here confirm this actually works? I've read this in several places now but no one can seem to get it to work.
paranoid android's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:24
paranoid android
Any ideas what this special holiday secret Nintendo has up their sleeve? I hope this wasn't it.
Jaded Alyx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:29
Jaded Alyx
From reading that thread at Digg, it seems this is a huge steaming pile of droppings.
JamesSorensen's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:30
JamesSorensen
sucks you cant save game data to usb drives on 360,,, but you can on ps3... so this is kinda equal and nothing new... still dont know who would have these two new systems memories full already
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:36
BlindsideDork
Do you format the USB hard drive on the computer or do you do it thru the Wii?
bassbeast's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:37
bassbeast
I tried to plug my FAT32 drive into the Wii, and no such luck. Anyone have actual proof as opposed to their brother's girlfriend's cousin's roommate's dog's vet's husband's brother's son who heard it from some homeless guy in exchange for a mini shooter-bottle of JD?
LxLegend's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:52
LxLegend
I read on Joystiq that the Wii didn't recognize usb mass drives. Anyone know for sure that this works? Pics or video of it working?
j0k3r360's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 14:57
j0k3r360
Don't work :(
And if you read it on Digg its aload of crap. Seems someone just made it up :(
Ballistic90's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 15:22
Ballistic90
Nintendo did mention this through multiple sources. Chances are, they'll need to release a patch for it.
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 15:30
BlindsideDork
Probably done the line when more N64 games on VC are available I can see them allowing external harddrives...otherwise, what else are you going ot use the usb ports for (besides the WiFi thingy)? I mean there are TWO of them!
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 15:30
BlindsideDork
*down!
LarkOhiya's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 19:40
LarkOhiya
Hay Link I just sent an email to summa as he has comment editing power. Hopefully he will help you out soon.
World Famous's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/05/2006 19:46
World Famous
fixed
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 23:02
mr spooky
I Did get my wii to work but the light only activated and nothing exciting happened. http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/darkair/wii-with-usb-hard-drive-103151.phtml#comment
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 23:04
mr spooky
maybe I should try this but my is 250 gb.
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 23:38
mr spooky
nope nothing.
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