How to Install a Mod Chip on Wii

The Nintendo Wii is a great family entertainment system. Its major drawback is that the game disk can be easily scratched and the Wii does not run backup copies of your Wii game disk or an original DVD. Installing a Wii mod chip enables the system to run copied disks. A mod chip, or modification chip, is a small computer chip inserted between the Wii's optical drive and the Wii's CPU. The mod chip fools the Wii into thinking that a non-original disk is the correct format, so the Wii will play it like a regular disk, thus allowing you to play both backup copies and regular DVDs.

Wii Disassembly

• 1

  Place the Wii on a static-free workspace, such as a wooden table. Turn the Wii so the back port game cover is facing you. Remove the three Phillips-head screws that hold on the cover. Remove the cover and set it aside. Remove the two exposed tri-wing screws. Leave the two small Phillips screws in place.

• 2

  Position the console so the flat side with the rubber feet is facing up. Use a craft knife to carefully remove the two rubber feet at the rear of the console. Remove the two stickers at the front of the console. Leave the front feet in place. Place the stickers and rubber feet close to their removal point to avoid loosing them. Remove the four tri-wing screws that were under both the stickers and the rubber feet.

• 3

  Turn the Wii with the back facing you. Remove the top front rubber foot. Remove the center bottom sticker. Leave the other feet and stickers in place. Remove the battery cover and battery. Remove the Phillips-head screw and the two tri-wing screws.

• 4

  Take off the face plate carefully. The face plate is connected to the Wii with a red and black wire clip. Reach in and gently pull up on the white clip that is attached to the Wii. Do not pull on the wires themselves. Place the console with the front toward you. Take the Wii in both hands and gently pull it apart. The Wii should separate easily.

• 5

  Remove the four Phillips screws holding the optical drive in place. The two screws that secure the drive at the rear are reached through a hole in the drive at each back corner. Rotate the drive toward you. Gently lift the drive up to your left. As your lift the drive up, reach in and unclip the power and ribbon cables from the optical drive. They should come unplugged by gently pulling on the clips. Do not pull on the wires or ribbon directly.

Installing the Wii Mod Chip

• 1

  Cover the back of the Wii mod chip, or drivekey, with electrical tape. This will insulate the chip from the metal surroundings. The chip will have small switches on the front called jump switches. Follow the jump switch settings for your geographical region as stated in the directions.

• 2

  Set the optical drive aside. The mod chip will be placed on top of the Wii computer. The mod chip has two ports for a data ribbon. To attach the ribbon, lift up on the clip, connect the ribbon, then push the clip back down. The ports will be marked; find the one marked Wii, and attach the ribbon from the Wii to it. Gently double the ribbon back on itself, so the chip is sitting on top of the ribbon, in the middle of the computer. Secure the mod chip to the computer with electrical tape, being sure to cover the entire top of the chip.

• 3

  Attach the extra data ribbon to the mod chip, then to the optical drive. Attach the power cable to the optical drive. Place the optical drive carefully back on top of the computer section of the Wii.

• 4

  Reassemble the Wii by following the disassembly steps in reverse order. Hook it back up to your TV and check to make sure it is working properly.