Topic: Things I should know before resetting system to O.F.S.

So, I want to reset my WiiU to the original factory settings and format the system memory. For the WiiU save files, I guess I could use a flashdrive or something like that - correct? As for my Nintendo Network profile, I guess I would simply re-log in when the console restarts and re-download all the eShop games and the DLCs...

My main concern is the Wii save files (just my PES2009 save file though) and a couple of WiiWare games I downloaded from the WiiU itself. Is there a way to save those somewhere so they won't be erased in the process? Thanks in advance.

As far as I know, Wii save files can be transferred to an SD card. Doesn't work for all games though - I remember Smash Bros Brawl not allowing you to transfer saves, for example.

I don't think there's a way to keep any save files at all.

You might even lose your Nintendo network id.

What is the purpose of resetting the Wii U if you want to keep your saves and redownload things?

really?

I bought a used Wii U a while back and the first thing I did was reset it. It had 3 games that were to come with the console. I thought that meant at any time I could just re-download them. But after I reset, I made a new Mii person and I couldn't find any games anywhere. So I contacted the guy who I bought it from and he gave me his Mii user/password and as I logged into him the games were downloadable from the E-shop.

so I think it's all about owning the specific Wii U system with a specific Wii account that makes all the games re-downloadable.

The Wii half of the system never had an account system. So the WiiWare games will certainly be lost if a Wii U reformat also resets the 512MB Wii memory chip in the process.

This is not true.
I reset the WiiU the other day and I was able to re-log in to my NintendoNetwork account and redownload all the games I purchased previously on the eShop. So re-getting the games after the system reset is not a problem.

The problem is the save files. I transferred the save files to an USB thumbdrive, but after the reset the console wouldn't read the peripheral, forcing me to re-format it (which I didn't do yet, because I want to see if I can find a way around it). I must conclude that once a USB thumbdrive is set to work on a console, it only works with that certain console with those specific settings, and if you reset it you lose those settings. This makes the whole concept of having a backup absolutely useless, because you backup stuff in case your system fails, but if the backups are tied to the system anyway, what's the bloody point?!

@spizzamarozzi Didn't know this. LOL at the Wii U backup safety measures 😂

I dunno, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but the way it looks now is that I won't be able to access any of the files I backed up for the purpose of backing them up, unless through piracy. Another excellent reason not to buy a Nintendo console ever again, I guess.

It's kinda ridiculous considering that I still have my PSX save files from almost 25 years ago, and my 20 years old Dreamcast still has working VMUs with save files I downloaded off its web browser 20 years ago, and I can still copy, erase and duplicate them, and manage them without even turning the console on.