Wii U's bricking if shut down during update.

[Maxtro]

I'm starting to see more stores online of Wii U's becoming inoperable if it's shut down while installing the update.

http://www.gamingvogue.com/first-wii-u-brick-reported-do-not-shutdown-during-firmware-update/

In addition, the required firmware update is 5 GB!

Know what the system also has? An auto-shutdown built in if nothing is happening for an hour.

I don't know if the systems are auto-shutting down during the firmware installs. If they are. Oh boy.

 

[hazabaza1]

Jesus.
Nice work there, Nintendo. First new console in six years, the supposed "method to bring back the hardcore games" (speaking from fans talking here, not Ninty itself), and it fucking dies if someone's power goes off in the giant update.
Just amazing work.

I hope this people at least get refunds of some kind.

 

[skywolfblue]

Wow, that ain't cool.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Well shit.

Mine said the auto power down was disabled during the update. It's still working on it now, but we'll see. Hope this isn't RRD all over again.

EDIT: All you have to do to keep it from shutting down is wiggle the analog stick every ten minutes

EDIT 2: Mine works just fine after the update. As stated before, you must wiggle the stick and keep the screen from fading to dark very 10 minutes or so. I think that's the quickest fix

 

[madwarper]

I can see the PSA now...

Spoiler

PS3: This yours?

WiiU: What?

PS3: The press found out about it.

WiiU: One of the programmers must have...

PS3: Must have what?

Wii: But, PS3...

PS3: Where did you get it? Who taught you to use an update to brick a console?

WiiU: You! Alright? I learned by watching you!

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Well, the obvious answer is to not turn off your console when updating it. I never turn off anything while it's updating.

Still, this does suck for people who bought it then shut it off while it's updating. Thank goodness for warranties.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

5 GB?!

So, if you get the base model, you only get 3 GB of memory?

Great job Nintendo, assuming that's the case ¬_¬

 

[Daystar Clarion]

5 GB?!

So, if you get the base model, you only get 3 GB of memory?

Great job Nintendo, assuming that's the case ¬_¬

From what I have seen of my Neighbor's Wii U he still had a good six Gigs out of his eight from the firmware update. A Large Download doesn't necessarily mean it will be taking up the extra space, it could replace or fix or add to the existing data already on the HDD.

So you don't actually get 8 GB of space, it's more like 6?

Genius.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

5 GB?!

So, if you get the base model, you only get 3 GB of memory?

Great job Nintendo, assuming that's the case ¬_¬

From what I have seen of my Neighbor's Wii U he still had a good six Gigs out of his eight from the firmware update. A Large Download doesn't necessarily mean it will be taking up the extra space, it could replace or fix or add to the existing data already on the HDD.

So you don't actually get 8 GB of space, it's more like 6?

Genius.

Don't be a smartalec.

Again, I don't have the console so I am unsure of the exact details, it is just what they had told me. They aren't exactly the most brilliant with technology either, you know how frat boys are.

I wasn't criticising you

Ninty advertised the consoles would have X amount of memory, but it turns out they don't have separate drives for the OS, so if you get an 8GB console, it's more like a 6GB console.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

5 GB?!

So, if you get the base model, you only get 3 GB of memory?

Great job Nintendo, assuming that's the case ¬_¬

From what I have seen of my Neighbor's Wii U he still had a good six Gigs out of his eight from the firmware update. A Large Download doesn't necessarily mean it will be taking up the extra space, it could replace or fix or add to the existing data already on the HDD.

So you don't actually get 8 GB of space, it's more like 6?

Genius.

Don't worry dude, you can just add up to 2 Terabytes via Flashdrives (That aren't Nintendo made), and all your storage problems are solved!

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Just disable the auto shut down. I disabled that with my PS3. Why would I leave my console turned on and not touch it at all for X hours, just so that my PS3 can shut itself off? I know people aren't quite that lazy. A stupid feature, as far as I'm concerned.

Beep.

Most things almost never have just as much memory as they're advertised with. A 16GB flash drive won't actually have 16GB, it'll actually be around 15 or so, maybe 15.5. All because of pre-installed software required for these items to work. Same applies with a PC and consoles, unfortunately. All because of the space needed for the OS and that jazz.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I'm pretty sure that the breaking horribly if you turn it off mid-update is something that happens to all consoles, not just the WiiU. There was someone here complaining that it happened to his PS3 recently.

 

[loc978]

...it's flashing its firmware, and someone shut it down? That's genius.

Seriously, there are fewer more certain ways to destroy a BIOS chip (and, by extension, a motherboard). Of course the system is going to brick. Nintendo did some serious wrong here. They've followed the disturbing trend of console manufacturers in being incredibly cavalier with firmware flashing all the way to its logical conclusion.

...the more these things resemble PCs, the more often we get to see how they're just doing it wrong.

*reads again*

Wait, auto-shutdown during a firmware update? Excuse me while I go laugh my ass off. Appropriate lines edited/bolded.

Obligatory PSA: Never flash the firmware of a system not hooked up to a UPS [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply]... unless you don't care if said system fries its motherboard. This is why my PS3 has never been plugged in any other way.

 

[lacktheknack]

Uhhh...

Guys?

Bricking is EXACTLY what will happen in a firmware update power cut.

Like, with ANYTHING.

The Wii U will.

A PS3 would.

My computer would.

Your phone would.

The motherboard I use in school projects will.

That's why all these things have a message saying "Do Not Turn This Device Off" during firmware updates! This isn't rocket surgery! D:<

Seriously, unless the auto-turn-off happens during firmware updates (which I bet a million bucks it doesn't), this is the biggest non-story I've seen all month.

And to everyone saying "What if there's a power outage?"

Well, what if there's an outage while the firmware of your phone/PC/other console/other electronics update? Well, you pull out your shiny warranty and get another one for the cost of shipping. Or, do what the guy above me said, and invest in an uninterruptible power supply.

Seriously, this thread consists of nothing but a bizarrely specific attempt to smear the Wii U, in a manner that is comparable to mocking the kettle for being black when the pot, the cauldron, the stove and the pans are ALSO black.

 

[Kekkonen1]

5 GB?!

So, if you get the base model, you only get 3 GB of memory?

Great job Nintendo, assuming that's the case ¬_¬

From what I have seen of my Neighbor's Wii U he still had a good six Gigs out of his eight from the firmware update. A Large Download doesn't necessarily mean it will be taking up the extra space, it could replace or fix or add to the existing data already on the HDD.

So you don't actually get 8 GB of space, it's more like 6?

Genius.

Don't be a smartalec.

Again, I don't have the console so I am unsure of the exact details, it is just what they had told me. They aren't exactly the most brilliant with technology either, you know how frat boys are.

I wasn't criticising you

Ninty advertised the consoles would have X amount of memory, but it turns out they don't have separate drives for the OS, so if you get an 8GB console, it's more like a 6GB console.

Actually, according to Nintendo's own explanations the 8Gb model gives you 3Gb to work with and the 32Gb model gives you 25Gb... The best bet is probably buying the 8Gb model and then use the extra 50USD that the premium model would have cost and buy a 500Gb external harddrive. Yeah, Nintendo likes putting those kinds of costs on the consumer.

The thing is, I could have accepted that one model of the Wii U, similarily to the Xbox 360 Arcade, only had 8 (3)Gb data, but that the so called PREMIUM model only have 32 (25)Gb, which is still so little that you will be getting an external hard-drive, that is just bonkers.

But then on the other hand, since purchases are apparently not transfarable between Wii U's, which means you seemingly lose your purchases if the Wii U is stolen/broken/bricked during update etc it might be best to stick with physical copies anyway.