NDEV Setup Guide

EDIT: I am not going to be on this site a lot but an updated version of this guide can be found here:

https://www.obscuregamers.com/threads/ndev-setup-guide.21628/

This is a guide on how to setup the NDEV for basic use and running single layer and dual layer Wii games/homebrew applications (I have tested most of the dual layer games and only Super Smash Bros Brawl didn't work). There are a few things you will need to set everything up:


An NDEV

3 USB cables

A computer running Windows XP

The Nintendo Revolution SDK

NDEV Installer and Drivers

@cmonkey 's DOL2ELF program (runs via the CMD)



After you have downloaded everything run the NDEV installer and install the NDEV software to the root of your C:\ directory.

Next hook up your NDEV to your Windows XP PC via the 3 USB cables and connect it to your TV, and then turn on the NDEV. You will get a prompt asking how the drivers should be installed. Select the option to install them manually and select the NDEV Drivers folder when asked. Do this for all 3 drivers. After this is done you should get a display on your TV like this:


Now you need to install the Nintendo Revolution SDK (this is a guide for SDK version 3.1 patch 4, I will include a link for the 3.3 patch 2 SDK if you want to use that instead). I have already setup the files/folders for the SDK for you so all you need to do is copy the blt folder to the root of your C:\ drive and that’s it.

The next thing you need to do is to setup your Environment Variables. Click start and right click on Computer. Go into the properties, click advanced, and then Environment Variables. From there add the following to the System Variables:


Now that your Environment Variables are setup you need to set the DvdRoot. You will first need a Wii game and or homebrew game/application (files and folders not an ISO or WBFS file). Go into the CMD and type:


setndenv DvdRoot “PATH”


After DvdRoot type the path to where the files for the game/application are located (without quotes). For Wii games the path needs to be set to the files folder.
EDIT: Its also a good idea to make sure there are no spaces between any words or letters when naming any of the folders in the file path. This could cause problems with the DvdRoot when trying to run a game.


Then after the DvdRoot is set copy cmonkeys DOL2ELF program and paste it in the folder where the main.dol (or boot.dol) is located. Now in the CMD go to the same folder and use the DOL2ELF program to convert your main.dol (or boot.dol) to a main.elf (or boot.elf) using the following command:


dol2elf main.dol main.elf

or like this:

dol2elf boot.dol boot.elf


This should give you a .elf file that you can run through the SDK.

So now the last thing that needs to be done is to use the ndrun command to tell the SDK to run the new .elf file and run the game/application on the NDEV. Make sure to go to the folder where the .elf file is located using the CMD and type the following command:


ndrun main.elf

or like this:

ndrun boot.elf


Now the SDK should launch the game. It should look like this when loading/running:



It will also make a .dlf file (in the same folder as the .elf file) that can be used with the NDEV Optical Disk Emulator program from now on. J̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶D̶v̶d̶R̶o̶o̶t̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶u̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶C̶M̶D̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶t̶a̶r̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶u̶n̶c̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶l̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ After testing I can confirm that you don't need to set the DvdRoot every time. You only need to do it before running the ndrun command to launch a game for the first time.


Also huge thanks to @cmonkey for creating the DOL2ELF program! Without it booting .dol files on the NDEV would not be possible.


I hope that this guide helps some of you. This is my first attempt at a guide like this so if I messed up or you need some help please feel free to contact me and let me know.

 

How do you get the file folders from a wii iso?

 

Very nice job ! Thanks a lot !

 

I use Wii Backup Manager. It lets you add files then extract the folders using the SNEEK option when you click transfer.

 

No problem. Thanks for the kind words!

 

OK, Thanks

 

Every time I run dol2elf it says Couldn't open DOL for reading. Check filename is correct. I have tried with the mkw main.dol and various homebrew ones.

 

Did you go to the folder in the cmd using the cd command? You have to have the dol2elf program in the same folder and route to the folder in the cmd before running the program.

EDIT: Also what are you trying to run? If you send me the files I can try and run it.

 

Also I did not make the DOL2ELF program so I do not know if it works with every .dol. I have tested a good amount of games and a few emulators.

 

thanks it worked. Also, how do you install the system menu?

 

I'm glad you got it working. Download the Wii 4.5 SDK download and the Wii menu installer is in there somewhere. It's a .gcm file that can be loaded using the Optical Disk Emulator program.

According to the on screen instructions you need to format the NDEV system memory before you try and save anything with the Wii menu. I made the mistake of making a mii without formating a year or 2 ago and I almost bricked my NDEV lol.

You can also load games normally with the system menu installed.

 

How do you format it and last question what do the dip switches do?

 

Sync a Wii mote to the NDEV and then while holding the home button press the reset button on the NDEV. It will load the dev menu settings. One of them lets you format the system memory.

And there is no documentation saying what the dip switches do. I read somewhere that you are not supposed to flip any of them though so it's probably best to leave them be.

 

Thanks again, my NDEV had a save for something on it. I dumped it to an SD card but I have no idea what it is.

 

No problem. I wonder what the save is. Maybe you can load it into a regular Wii and find out.

 

Noticed a small error in the guide about the DvdRoot but I fixed it.

 

Hi jakeeeenator and thank you for the guide! I just got my hands on one of these babies just a couple days ago. My question is can I run it in VM or does it have to be a legitimate xp machine?

Thanks again for the guide, I really got it at an opportune time!!!

EDIT: Also, is it possible to run gamecube ELF's as well?
EDIT 2: Would it be possible to set up on a windows 7 machine?

 

From what I am to understand its not possible to run Gamecube .gcm files but I don't know about Gamecube .elf files. I say try it and let us know if it works. I never tested any Gamecube stuff before.

And I have never tried running the NDEV using a VM. I have a nice refurbished xp machine. But again try it out and see how it goes. As long as you can install the drivers and store all the files for the games/applications in the partition for the VM then you should be able to run it I would imagine.

Lastly I have heard its possible to run the NDEV on a windows 7 pc but I have never seen anyone do it. I know its not possible on windows 10 because its not possible to install the drivers. As long as you can install the drivers I guess you should be able to do it.

And thanks for the kind words! I hope you are able to setup your NDEV and have some fun with it.

 

Yes this is how I am running it.

 

when I try and run any elf file this happens