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Table of Contents
Nintendo Wii
Operating Systems (IBM PowerPC Broadway)
Archii
X11 tar has X.Org installed along with the OpenBox3 WM and Cwiid
Minimalist, similar to Gentoo, but an X11 filesystem tar can be found.
Bricks-OS
a microkernel based network distributed operating system
The NGC/Wii port seems to be the most barebones port of them all.
https://github.com/rickgaiser/bricks-os
https://code.google.com/archive/p/bricks-os/
https://web.archive.org/web/20090222060403/http://bricks-os.org/
Classic Mac OS x.x.x?? (DOSBox somehow)
It's SLOW!!!!!!! Idea was flawless on other platforms, yet in DOSBox is struggling
A very slow and poor port, but it is noted to have loaded.
Console emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these consoles is unknown; it must be looked into further. Consoles without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_homebrew_emulators
Atari 2600 – Wii2600, StellaWii
Atari Lynx – Mednafen, WiiHandy
Bandai WonderSwan (Color) – mednafen
Coleco ColecoVision - WiiColEm
Megazeux GCS – Megazeux git (has CHIP-8!)
https://github.com/AliceLR/megazeux https://www.digitalmzx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9709
NEC TurboGrafx-16 – Hugo-Wii 14Dec, WiiEngine 1.5b, mednafen
Nintendo 64 – Not64, Wii64 Beta 1.1, Wii64 Rice
Nintendo DS – DeSmuME Wii r185
Nintendo Entertainment System – FCE Ultra GX 3.2.6, mednafen, nestopia
Super Nintendo Entertaintament System – Snes9x GX 4.2.8, CATSFC
Nintendo Game Boy (Color) – Gnuboy GX 14/12, RIN Wii 16/12, VBA GX 2.2.5, mednafen
Nintendo Game Boy Advance – VBA GX 2.2.5, mGBA +enhanced, RIN, mednafen
Nintendo Virtual Boy - mednafen
Sega Genesis – Genesis Plus GX 1.6.0, mednafen
Sega Master System – Genesis Plus GX 1.6.0, SMSPlus 14Dec, mednafen
Sega Saturn – Yabause Wii r2649 Beta23
Sony PlayStation 1 – PCSX-Revolution rev50, WiiSX Beta 2.1, wiiSXR/SXRX
Debian 4 Etch/Xwhiite
Don't use the 2009 method
The old tutorials/videos are for posterity; only use the new method which works with attention.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-linux-xwhiite-0-2-with-wi-fi-in-2020-tutorial.570945/ (BEST.)
Debian 6 Upgrade
have a working whiite-linux installation, follows steps 20 and 24+
Can be installed as a base, but it seems easier to go from an Xwhiite install.
DosBOX 1.7 (Windows 3.1, 95, ME(?))
Using DOSBox 1.7 on wii, all confirmed to work in some capacity in DOSBox, with glitches. Note: There is a maintenance port of DOSBox that is patched up to SVN r-4301. Use this one first.
https://github.com/dborth/dosbox-wii
https://github.com/retro100/dosbox-wii (maintenance version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_EjnLwa8iw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTNGXMhTUnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcpJWSKp7VE
Emulation Nest
This device runs an operating system which is known to emulate various devices with EOPs. See the AmigaOS, Classic Mac OS, DOS, MSX, and NEC PC-9801 series pages.
FreeBSD
The result is not usable: You will not obtain a shell prompt
Not completely functional, but an interesting proof of concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsh46zv3ckY
http://gugus69.free.fr/freebsd/wii/freebsd-wii.tar.xz
https://blog.cochard.me/2012/09/freebsd-kernel-for-nintendo-wii.html
GeeXboX
free embedded Linux distribution which aims at turning your computer into a so called HTPC
This port is unoffiical, but supposedly works.
Linux (base kernel, old)
Linux operating system kernel and assorted GNU userspace
The base foundation for all of the below distros, similar to GameCube Linux.
https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux
https://sourceforge.net/projects/gc-linux/files/wii-linux/
https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/tree/stable-v3.x
https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/tree/experimental-v3.x
https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/tree/experimental-v4.x
Linux (base kernel, recent)
rebased patches for the purpose of running a modern Linux distribution on the Wii
A revived attempt of working on Wii Linux, with stable support on 3.x and experimental 4.x.
PC emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these computers is unknown; it must be looked into further. DOSBox was formerly in this list, but has been made into a separate entry, as OSes are possible. PCs without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_REoKdrlfo (past 36:09)
https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_homebrew_emulators
Amstrad CPCs - wiituka 0.98.8, CrocoDS?
Apple II/e - wii apple 0.0.7
Atari 8-bits - WiiXL 0.1
Atari STs - hatari wii 0.0.8, AtaWii
CHIP-8 – Chippy
Commodore 64 - Frodo 2.4.1
Commodore Amigas - UAE wii v12
MSXs - BlueMSX wii 1.0.7, MiiSX 0.4, uMSX
NEC PC-9801s - Neko project II v0.83 beta 1
Sinclair ZX Spectrums - FBZX wii 1.5, Fuse snap3
Stock OS/Wii Menu
Well, this is the best stock OS of all time.
WiiShell
a simulated UNIX shell for the Wii with an image viewer
Not a true OS, but has functions similar to one.
WiiToo!
minimal precompiled stage4 made to let you run Gentoo
Basic and minimal, but has some essential features.
https://wiibrew.org/wiki/WiiToo!
https://web.archive.org/web/20160802041911/http://wiitoo.sourceforge.net/
Internet
Internet Channel
The classic stock Opera-based wii internet browser.
WiiBrowser
Seems like it doesn’t work, but the 2nd to last revision is said to work.
Version & Revision Guide
For general information, see the Game Console Revisions Overview.
Versions
There are three versions of this console, arranged chronologically.
“Wii (original; RVL-001)” (2006-2011)
RECOMMENDED OVERALL; BEST RELIABILITY; LOWEST PRICE
Coming in many colors and containing many revisions, the RVL-001 possesses the most features, the most functionality, and is the most recognizable. On the front is the power, reset, and eject buttons, plus the disc drive, the SD card slot, and a sync button (the last two are normally covered with a plastic flap). The bottom has vents, plus a screw-on access to the clock battery (this is important later, for revisions). More importantly, the top has four GameCube controller ports, and two GameCube memory card slots; both of these are normally covered by separate plastic doors. Lastly, the back has 2 USB ports, a “sensor bar” port, an AV out plug, and the AC in. While reliability and detailed functionality varies by the internal revision, all RVL-001s are easy to mod, can play GameCube games, and have their button and logo labels oriented in a way which presumes upright use. Serial numbers begin with LU or LB.
“Wii Family Edition (RVL-101)” (2011-2014)
A cost-reducing variant of the Wii, the Family Edition does not actually lose many features compared to the RVL-001. For the most part, all inputs and outputs are the same. Only the GameCube ports (controller, mem) have been removed, and the console’s labels are now oriented in a way which presumes horizontal use. Furthermore, the software has been changed to restrict playing or launching any GameCube software. The excellent news is that, simple software modding can remove this restriction, and simple hardware modding can allow using GameCube peripherals again, as the pads for them still exist on RVL-101 boards. While it is easier to buy an RVL-001 for these features, just a bit of handiwork can turn the RVL-101 into a system effectively just as capable as the RVL-001. Serial numbers begin with KU or KB.
“Wii Mini (RVL-201)” (2013-2017)
DO NOT PURCHASE
Yet another cost-reducing variant of the Wii, and this time, a significant amount of features have been lost. Alongside the removal of the GameCube ports, Wii Mini systems don’t even have the pads for adding them again. They have also removed Wi-Fi connectivity, one USB port on the back, the SD card slot, and 480p out. In essence, these consoles require hardmodding or weird methods for them to have the capability to do anything. Visually, they’re red and black with a top loading drive. While internet access can be softmodded back in, and certain features like the SD slot can be soldered back in, these really won’t be worthwhile for anyone, except as mere happenstance. Serial numbers begin with HW.
Revisions
There are three revisions within the Wii (original; RVL-001), and no revisions within the Wii Family Edition (RVL-101) and Wii Mini (RVL-201).
Wii (original; RVL-001) revisions:
“RVL-CPU-01/20” (2006-200?)
DO NOT PURCHASE
The original launch model revisions of the RVL-001. Taking up the most space (6 layer), consuming the most power, and outputting slightly worse video than later revisions in two different ways, these are not really worth getting. Their only positive is that they’ll often have DVD support, which isn’t very relevant nowadays. To identify these (as for other board revisions), unscrew the Wii’s clock battery on the bottom, and look inside for “01” or “20”.
“RVL-CPU-30” (200?-2009)
While retaining the reduced video output of the 01 & 20s, this revision has a markedly lower power output and consumption. However, they still are 6 layers, and they did remove DVD support. Otherwise, these are an OK midpoint between the worst (01/20) and best (40/60) RVL-001 revisions. To identify these, look for the “30” inside the Wii after unscrewing the clock battery.
“RVL-CPU-40/60” (2010-2011)
RECOMMENDED OVERALL; BEST RELIABILITY
These boards were reduced to 4 layers, and have a low power consumption. Furthermore, two aspects of video quality improved. First, a small SDK/software-based 480p rendering bug was corrected, resulting in slightly superior pixel alignment in ALL software. Second, the video chip has been improved in an unknown way, which causes the component output itself to become noticeably clearer. These don’t have DVD support, but who cares? 60s consume slightly less power than the 40s. To identify these, look for the “40/60” inside the Wii after unscrewing the clock battery. Alongside this, ALL RVL-001 consoles in red, black, or blue are guaranteed to be of this revision, as they were made after Q4 2009/Q1 2010(?). White RVL-001 systems can also be a 40 or 60, but one must unscrew the clock battery to find this out, unlike the colored RVL-001 systems.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii#Revisions
https://www.reddit.com/r/WiiHacks/comments/h8geiy/what_wii_should_you_get_a_complete_guide_on_the/
https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?p=1235894#p1235894 (revision component tips)
https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-480p-video-bug-discovered.536599/ (480p software bug tips)
http://forums.modretro.com/index.php?threads/wii-board-revisions-guide.14059/