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Topic: Wii U storage and hard drive questions. I'm really confused. Help appreciated very much!

Posts 21 to 36 of 36

jariw

FWIW, I don't think you should be over-concerned about Y-cables as a source of error. Most Y-cable related issues I've read about seem to be related to auto-sleep for the HDD. Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time.

jariw

WiiUseeker2

munchakoopas wrote:

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

dizzy_boy wrote:

6. I have a portabe HD drive plugged in with a Y cable and I've had no issues so far, and it's on all the time when my WiiU is on. If you're worried about it, just move games off the HD drive and play your games from the WiiU memory, then unplug the HD drive so it's not running. You can move the game back when you've had enough of playing it. This way the HD drive is doing less work and shouldn't break.

dizzy_boy wrote:

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

dizzy_boy wrote:

6. I have a portabe HD drive plugged in with a Y cable and I've had no issues so far, and it's on all the time when my WiiU is on. If you're worried about it, just move games off the HD drive and play your games from the WiiU memory, then unplug the HD drive so it's not running. You can move the game back when you've had enough of playing it. This way the HD drive is doing less work and shouldn't break.

This is probably what I will do. what type of hard drive are you using? what type of Y-cable did you get? how long have you been using it? I would appreciate any information on this please

I a WD My Passport Ultra 50gig. The Y cable is a cheap USB 3 one I bought from amazon.
I've had them for over 6 months and I use my WiiU about 3 hours a day, most days.

This is probably what I will do. what type of hard drive are you using? what type of Y-cable did you get? how long have you been using it? I would appreciate any information on this please

It depends. There are several types but usually you'll deal with 3 types.There is the MicroUSB(most common on cellphones nowadays),Micro-B USB(variant of MicroUSB with 3.0 capability and popular on 3.0 USB external HDDs) and MiniUSB.(most common on digital cameras in the last decade) google the pictures and you'll see what I'm talking about

hmm thanks!

jariw wrote:

FWIW, I don't think you should be over-concerned about Y-cables as a source of error. Most Y-cable related issues I've read about seem to be related to auto-sleep for the HDD. Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time.

I don't have my Wii U yet, I'm trying to figure this all out before to minimize complications.

"Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time."
this is with the gamepad with the screen on it?

WiiUseeker2

jariw

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

"Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time."
this is with the gamepad with the screen on it?

Yes. The Gamepad is the standard/default controller for the Wii U.

jariw

WiiUseeker2

jariw wrote:

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

"Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time."
this is with the gamepad with the screen on it?

Yes. The Gamepad is the standard/default controller for the Wii U.

Oh okay, I know that, just wanted to make sure that's what was implied. thanks.

WiiUseeker2

MegaMari0

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

munchakoopas wrote:

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

dizzy_boy wrote:

6. I have a portabe HD drive plugged in with a Y cable and I've had no issues so far, and it's on all the time when my WiiU is on. If you're worried about it, just move games off the HD drive and play your games from the WiiU memory, then unplug the HD drive so it's not running. You can move the game back when you've had enough of playing it. This way the HD drive is doing less work and shouldn't break.

dizzy_boy wrote:

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

dizzy_boy wrote:

6. I have a portabe HD drive plugged in with a Y cable and I've had no issues so far, and it's on all the time when my WiiU is on. If you're worried about it, just move games off the HD drive and play your games from the WiiU memory, then unplug the HD drive so it's not running. You can move the game back when you've had enough of playing it. This way the HD drive is doing less work and shouldn't break.

This is probably what I will do. what type of hard drive are you using? what type of Y-cable did you get? how long have you been using it? I would appreciate any information on this please

I a WD My Passport Ultra 50gig. The Y cable is a cheap USB 3 one I bought from amazon.
I've had them for over 6 months and I use my WiiU about 3 hours a day, most days.

This is probably what I will do. what type of hard drive are you using? what type of Y-cable did you get? how long have you been using it? I would appreciate any information on this please

It depends. There are several types but usually you'll deal with 3 types.There is the MicroUSB(most common on cellphones nowadays),Micro-B USB(variant of MicroUSB with 3.0 capability and popular on 3.0 USB external HDDs) and MiniUSB.(most common on digital cameras in the last decade) google the pictures and you'll see what I'm talking about

hmm thanks!

jariw wrote:

FWIW, I don't think you should be over-concerned about Y-cables as a source of error. Most Y-cable related issues I've read about seem to be related to auto-sleep for the HDD. Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time.

I don't have my Wii U yet, I'm trying to figure this all out before to minimize complications.

"Auto-sleep can be turned off in Data Management: press Down on the D-Pad while also holding down + and - at the same time."
this is with the gamepad with the screen on it?

You're gonna love your Wii U when you get it. That first system update when you set it up is time consuming. Might I also suggest you invest in the Pro controller and battery upgrade for the gamepad(it's on nintendo's site).

"When expecting booby traps, always send the boob in first." -Megatron-

3DS Friend Code: 3153-3802-3566 | Nintendo Network ID: coldfusion88

WiiUseeker2

munchakoopas wrote:

You're gonna love your Wii U when you get it. That first system update when you set it up is time consuming. Might I also suggest you invest in the Pro controller and battery upgrade for the gamepad(it's on nintendo's site).

I'm worried I might not find the correct one, May I please have a Link? (to the Wii U gamepad battery?) also, should I get the Wii U pro controller on Amazon, or on their website?

I live in the USA. thanks to everyone so much for all your tips and help! I'm still going to be watching the thread for what others have to say, I'm very interested in tips and info! I feel like I'm going to play Nintendo64 again. what a lovely community, what a lovely console, and what FUN lovely games! High five

edit:

https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/us/po/browse/productDetailColo...

Edited on by WiiUseeker2

WiiUseeker2

MegaMari0

WiiUseeker2 wrote:

munchakoopas wrote:

You're gonna love your Wii U when you get it. That first system update when you set it up is time consuming. Might I also suggest you invest in the Pro controller and battery upgrade for the gamepad(it's on nintendo's site).

I'm worried I might not find the correct one, May I please have a Link? (to the Wii U gamepad battery?) also, should I get the Wii U pro controller on Amazon, or on their website?

I live in the USA. thanks to everyone so much for all your tips and help! I'm still going to be watching the thread for what others have to say, I'm very interested in tips and info! I feel like I'm going to play Nintendo64 again. what a lovely community, what a lovely console, and what FUN lovely games! High five

edit:

https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/us/po/browse/productDetailColo...

yep. That's the one. have fun and enjoy this site.

"When expecting booby traps, always send the boob in first." -Megatron-

3DS Friend Code: 3153-3802-3566 | Nintendo Network ID: coldfusion88

WiiUseeker2

munchakoopas wrote:

yep. That's the one. have fun and enjoy this site.

thanks you too!

WiiUseeker2

PinkSpider

I'm using a 1 terabyte WD hard drive non powered and using a usb Y cable I got off amazon for £2 and it works perfect I use both USB ports in the back of the wii u to power it and it updates fine when the console is off. I'm very happy with it.

3DS Friend code : 2878 9572 9160 PinkSpider
Mario Kart 7 Community code : 54 7436 5412 6010
Wii U I.D : PinkSpider

gcunit

FWIW, today I have ordered a 64gb micro SD card and a micro sd card reader (usb). I am going to stick this in one of the rear usb sockets of my Wii U and use it to store games.

Can't seem to find anyone saying they've actually tried this, just lots of scaremongering against doing it. So I'm going to test it. I can't see myself needing more than 64gb, and by getting a micro sd card with card reader it should be able to run without a y-cable, and if it doesn't then I can just use the micro sd card in my camera instead.

If it does work then I will do the same with my Wii backups on a separate card. The dream is to have two storage devices plugged in the back and out of sight, and not having to swap them over to make room for a y-cable.

I will update this thread when it fails.

You guys had me at blood and semen.

What better way to celebrate than firing something out of the pipe?

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

My Nintendo: gcunit | Nintendo Network ID: gcunit

retropunky

@gcunit
I've read that it is possible to run games that are stored on SD cards and connected with a usb cable. I'm sure it goes as others will say about USB drives, but if it works then why not.

As for my experience, I've been using a 16gb USB drive going on for two years, and no problems so far. I'm planning on replacing it with a 32gb sometime in January since it's just about full, and it wouldn't hurt to have a fresh new drive.

User beware I guess.

retropunky

3DS Friend Code: 4313-0436-2109

faceplant

I had the same kind of worries when we ran out of space (I heard lots of varying opinions and horror stories). We've been using a 2tb Wester Digital Passport drive with a y-cable (plugged into both usb slots in the back) since June. It has worked great thus far. My brother downloaded and played Splinter Cell: Blacklist on it and it ran fine, as does everything else we have on it.

It didn't come with a y-cable, so we had to buy one separately (it was only a few dollars). Just be sure that it has the correct ends for the drive you use. (Obviously, this doesn't apply if you opt for an externally powered drive.)

faceplant

gcunit

So I set my 64gb micro SD card up with the usb card reader the other night. It now has Tekken, Metroid Prime Trilogy, and Maiden of Blackwater (Demo) installed on it. All tested; all working.

This is without any external power or y-cable involved - simply plugged into a single usb socket.

I'll check back in when it fails...

You guys had me at blood and semen.

What better way to celebrate than firing something out of the pipe?

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

My Nintendo: gcunit | Nintendo Network ID: gcunit

Mister_Wu

For what is worth, I use two 64 GB usb flash drives, neither of them failed so far, but the first one (which now I use for backup of the second one's data) wasn't fast enough and couldn't start the Youtube app. In some rare cases (mainly when retrying a Time Trials on a DLC track) it also failed to load the data (mainly soundtrack) of the first Mario Kart 8 DLC and then made the game crash. The new one is faster and has not these issues.
Of course, if you use USB flash drives, always buy two of them, and use one as backup, and check also the speed of the drive you will use as main. It should always saturate the USB 2.0 ports speed (around 30/35 MB/s).

Edited on by Mister_Wu

Mister_Wu

gcunit

@Mister_Wu: I'm not sure I see the point in buying a backup. Provided I backup all my savegame data to the main drive on the Wii U, I'm covered for what I need. At least until the games are no longer available for download from the eshop. By which point I hopefully won't care too much or will have had advance notice and will sort out a backup then.

You guys had me at blood and semen.

What better way to celebrate than firing something out of the pipe?

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

My Nintendo: gcunit | Nintendo Network ID: gcunit

Mister_Wu

I have the white 8 GB Wii U (and I'm very content because of that, since I like the white one much more than the black one!).

Edited on by Mister_Wu

Mister_Wu

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