Should I put my Wii vertical or horizontal? Does it matter?
At this time I am told it does not matter in terms of running down the rotary motors inside the disc loading mechanism.
Another issue was Gamecube disc usage, but it appears that the Wii can handle inserting the smaller discs in either orientation.
Perhaps air flow is better with a horizontal setup. When vertical, the console base has a slot open for the Wii’s internal intake fan to vent the system and keep it cool. (Note: The organizer cases available at many stores do not have this opening, which is something to consider.) lebowsky is the man with the plan on this one. He also wonders if there is a heat dissipation difference between a vertical and horizontal system, and thus see which might be cooler.

Is my Wii's disc slot supposed to glow blue the whole time?
No – it glows blue at certain times.
For example, when you turn on the machine, it will blink for a split second during the boot phase.
It also glows blue when you have a message waiting for you that someone has sent. This can occur after you shut off your Wii, as it will still periodically connect to WiiConnect24 and look for messages to download from your registered friends. FriskyTanuki says it can also do this as you are inside the Wii Menu, but not while playing a game.
Shecky adds that "it illuminates when the system is in the process of exchanging data with other systems or the central servers."

My Wii's power light is all sorts of colors! THEY SCARE ME!
When the Wii is on and in a game/channels/etc, it will be green. jezebelseven and FriskyTanuki add the following, which I have paraphrased: orange means standy but WiiConnect24 is still on, red means standby by WiiConnect24 is off. There is no “suspend” option, and thus no color light to indicate such a state.

Can I shut the system down completely without unplugging it?
No. However, Nintendo made sure it uses very little power in this state, and this is rapidly an accepted practice in consumer electronics (the PS2 did it, for example).

My Wii froze! It won't detect my controller, I can't turn it off! HELP!
This seems to have happened to a number of people (myself included). I tried to sync via the battery compartment and the slot on the Wii's front, but this did not help. The best solution as of now is to unplug the Wii so it shuts down completely, wait a few seconds, then power it on.

Can it play DVDs?
As of now, no. However, Nintendo has said - via announcements from partner Sonic Solutions - that a DVD-enabled Wii will arrive in 2007. There is speculation, however, that this is merely a software upgrade, meaning that the current Wii generation will be upgradeable (via firmware) to play DVDs. I have been told the Wii's discs are DVDs already, and so it has the compatible hardware to pull this off.

Should I remove games before transporting my system?
While I do not think it is absolutely required, I would say that it is suggested. I know that when I moved my system once, it had Rayman in it, and I got disc errors after trying to boot it up. Removing it and trying again worked, but my inclination is that the discs do not sit very well during transport.
I would imagine the problem would stand to have greater potential of happening with Gamecube discs, but this is conjecture.
Again, not required, but suggested. I guess I’m just wary since it’s not like the Gamecube, where you could actually see the disc positioned down on the spindle.

I’ll include this because someone is sure to ask: modchips?
There is one available at this time (I’m not going to link to it, don’t ask me to). It is available and does appear to allow…questionable activities. Two caveats: 1) You’ll definitely void your warranty by opening the system and messing with its innards. 2) It cannot play Wii Imports or run Wii Homebrew. Most would argue this is the entire reason for a modchip, and thus makes the current one available fairly useless. Granted, other activities appear to be possible. I won’t make a case for or against modchips here – that’s up to you as a user, but I did want to at least have some sort of acknowledgement.


Speaking of the sensor bar, its cord is too short!
This is bothering lots of people with projection screens, and while it is a very legitimate complaint, the best option is to move things as close as possible. In the near future, third parties are supposed to release extension cords, and supposedly a fully wireless bar (battery powered) is in the works as well. You can also rig up a homemade bar yourself using two TV remotes as seen which do an okay job. The bar is just a transmitter.
New information shows that you can even use two candles.

I AM TOO IMPATIENT FOR THIS. AND I AM MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY INCLINED. AND I DON’T LIVE ON MARS, SO I HAVE A RADIOSHACK NEAR ME!
First – shut up, you. Nerd.
You can make your own. While I could just tell you to not be lazy and Google it yourself, I’ll be nice and point you here. Note that there are other options as well, including both battery-operated and wall outlet options. Some are also pretty. Some look like scary space blob monsters.

What interferes with the sensor bar?
It is well known that too much direct sunlight can cause issues. Daroga also showed that – ‘tis the season – white Christmas lights can cause problems as well. Because the sensor bar is just an IR transmitter, anything sending out IR waves can be interpreted by the Wiimote as additional sensor bar sources. Therefore, it is best to play in a room that is moderately light. You’re all little basement dwelling gremlins anyway, so you’re used to it.

Is there lag with the Wiimote?
In my personal experience, there is little to no lag at all. Super Monkey Ball is especially adept at proving this. Others have said there is lag with games like Wii Tennis, and some tech gurus have even explained exactly why 1:1 immediate response on-screen can never be fully achieved. While this sounds scary, understand that the lag is hardly noticeable.

What the. Wrist straps? I NEED NO SUCH THING HURRRRRRRRRRR!
At the expense of fellow Ugamer_X, yes you do.

Ok now I fear for my life. Also other people fear for theirs.
It's ok. It's good to know that the only thing that will get hurt in a head on Wiimote + object collision is the other object. Reggie said he was gonna kick our asses, and I believe this is what he meant. Joking aside, it should be easy to hold onto the Wiimote directly, and you shouldn't mistake the wrist strap as a viable means to swing around the Wiimote like some kind of cousin-of-the-iPod weapon. More than likely, third party straps will help alleviate this issue, but because it first demands you be doing something you shouldn't be trying to intentionally do to begin with, you should be able to avoid this.

Why doesn't the Wiimote have rechargeable batteries built-in!?!?
Probably to keep cost down. It's better to get some AA rechargeables yourself. The cheapest place I know of online is batteryspace.com. You can get a bundle shipped quite cheap. There's several reasons to use your own instead of a built-in, namely as it keeps cost down on manufacturing and allows you to replace a potentially faulty/loses-charge-over-time battery.

But I still want rechargeable packs!
It is speculated that third parties will provide these. Joytech appears to be at work on one, and it might plug into the USB ports of the Wii in order to charge.
Concerns have been raised over a few issues, namely if these work with Wii Gloves on the Wiimotes, and how well the packs will last on a single charge and over time. Additionally, if the recharging station plugs into the Wii’s USB ports in the back as opposed to a wall socket, controllers will not recharge when the system is off or in standby, which is a huge oversight in my opinion.
Updated: Nyko has created a charging station as seen here. Joystiq reports that this will be through the USB port.
Penguin United has also released their own model, which charges one Wiimote via the USB.
Joytech is readying their own recharging station, and it looks to release within two weeks. I have not determined if this works through the USB or on AC power. Engadget suspects it will be USB as well. It is worth noting this one is showing to be roughly $40, putting it well out of my CAG-dar.
C’mon you rogue manufacturers. Use some common sense and give me station based on AC power. More will be added as they appear.

So the recharge stations suck? Is that it?
It’s not that I think they suck, it’s that I think they aren’t thought through fully. If you’re going to go through the trouble of making a product, you need to think of it from the consumer’s standpoint, and this doesn’t look like the case. I’m sure it’s cheaper to draw power from the USB port, but that doesn’t work well if you can only charge when the Wii is on. Give me AC power, and account for possible Wii gloves. On top of that, match the Wii’s aesthetic and figure out how to move wrist straps out of the way. This isn’t hard stuff – it just requires a little thinking and planning.
The best bet is to get rechargeable batteries and keep a charger near your system. Some can charge batteries within an hour, and will supply you with a few hours of gameplay. At that point, you can just let a set charge fully overnight.

Anyway I can prolong battery usage?
Well, that depends on whether or not you use foreplay.
By which I mean you can turn the Wiimote’s speaker lower or off, and that will definitely increase battery life, allowing for longer love making and a more satisfied partner(s) (insert multiplayer joke here).
I don’t think games allow you to turn off rumble, but that would be another way.
Keep in mind that draining will depend on how the game is designed – if it rumbles all the time and uses the nunchuk, it’s going to drain a lot faster than a comparable game.

But I want to make sure I'm playing well!
Then be smart about how you are playing - stand four to six feet away from the Wii and make sure you are not in direct sunlight. It might also help to level the TV more to your arm's outstretched level, as this might make it a bit easier to do on-screen motions. Of course, experimenting works wonders. Also, try both above/below the TV positions for the sensor bar.

How do I turn off a Wiimote? My friend left me because I kicked his ass at Wii Baseball because he totally sucks.
The easiest way is to just leave it be, and it will shut off automatically after a few minutes. lilboo adds that it might help to not have it near/in front of the sensor bar, as that will quicken the process. abilyk gives a more in-depth solution: "Hit the home button, click on the Wii Remote bar on the bottom of the screen, and then hit the Reconnect (or something like that) button. It will turn off all controllers, and you can reconnect them in the order you want. Of course, you don't have to reconnect those you want to leave off."

The Wiimote's internal speaker is too loud/quiet! How can I fix this?
From joystiq.com: "If you don't believe in the use of instruction manuals -- and lord knows we don't -- than you too may have been confused on how to change the volume on your Wii-mote. Yes, it actually can be lowered to avoid that tinny noise that is driving gamers mad ... especially during Zelda. To change the volume, hit the home button on your Wii-mote and then select the controller you are using from the lower-third of the screen. Voila! A volume screen is clearly displayed so you can adjust that shrieking banshee noise to your heart's content."
It is helpful to note you can also check battery power through this.

I just HAVE to know something useless about the packaging of controllers! TELL ME NOW, EARTHWORM!
Okay. Wiimotes and VC controllers will have small plastic adhesives to remove if you buy them seperately. Inside the Wii box, they will not have these! Huzzah! Thank you exRounder, Oops! I did it again., Kirra, and abilyk for this!

I want to learn fun things about the nunchuk!
Then have I got a surprise in store for you. MJRx9000 might be part of the Xmen and has noticed things no mere mortal would dare observe: "The tag that instructs you how to hook the remote's strap into the nunchuk hook on retail nunchuks is GLUED to the cord, whereas nunchuks included in Wii boxes have tags that are LOOSE, a little bigger, and the print is not as bold. Also "Nintendo" is branded onto the boxy plastic part of the connector piece facing up and there are various things on the bottom such as "C E," "Made in China," and a "do not dispose" sign, whereas on retail nunchuks, the top is plain and only "Made in China" and "Nintendo" is branded on the back."

Syncing and Multiplayer

How do I add more Wiimotes, such as when friends come over? Are they permanently synced with my Wii?
Shecky says that you can hold the 1 and 2 buttons down at the same time to sync a Wiimote temporary, such as when a friend is over. For permanent results, use the sync buttons (either on the front of the Wii under the flap/slot, or under the battery cover of the Wiimotes themselves). This should be used for your own personal Wiimotes.

My Wiimote won't resync! I was using this 5 minutes ago! I hate you Nintendo!
Seems that this happens to a few people occassionally, and apparently the sync buttons won't solve the issue. Powering down the Wii to a red light (not the orange "still connected to the 'Net" light), turning it back on, and synching up appears to solve it. A full power down (i.e., removing the power completely) might be required in extreme cases. Thank you sixersballernum3 for bringing this issue up, and the numerous CAGs who helped out from this thread, including Robobandit, hohez, Oops! I did it again., smellytim, and lilboo.

How many Wiimotes can be used at once? I.e., could we have 12 player games in the future?
Athrun Zala is on it: no more than 7 wiimotes could be used at the same time, so 8 players simultaneous can't be done (that is a Bluetooth limitation, so it isn't up to Nintendo to fix). He speculates that clever programming could work around this.
JonLeung speculates the following: The light indicators could do the following: 1+4=5P, 2+4=6P, 3+4=7P, 1+2+4=8P, 2+3+4=9P, 1+2+3+4=10P.
Speaking personally, I heard once that another way around this would be to have an external Bluetooth receiver, which could then have Wiimotes attached to it, creating a wireless daisy-chaining of Wiimotes. Meaning, you could have 4 working, then a receiver as the fifth unit with four more on it, making for an eight player game. (Need more information on this.)


Do I need any special adapter to use Gamecube controllers?
No.

Can I use Wavebirds with the Wii? That slot looks like it would cut off the receiver.
Yes. The recievers fit just fine, as they point in the direction opposite of the slot's door.

But the Wii looks ugly with the slots open for those!
I guess that's to personal taste. I have four Wavebirds and a memory card in mine right now, and I think it looks kinda funny and comical, like the Wii is tipping an odd shiny thin white top hat to you. I like to imagine it has a rough Scottish accent, not unlike Mike Myers's "WE HOV THREH SIZES - WII, NOT-SO-WII, AN' FRIGGEN HUUUUUUUGE!" voice from SNL. Unclebob adds that you can remove these doors pretty easily (they snap on/off), which might be more to your personal preference.
UncleBob adds that you can easily snap off the doors, which might be to your liking.

You know, it would have been really awesome if Nintendo had let you plug in your NES and SNES controllers to play those games…
While Nintendo isn’t officially doing it, you can find cords that will allow you to do this at RetroUSB, which will essentially be adapter cords to plug in those controllers through the Gamecube controller ports.


Will Japanese A/V accessories work?
Yes. Gameboy415 assures me that play-asia.com confirmed this.

What’s a D-Terminal cord? Looks like a VGA cord…
This is the Japanese equivalent to component cables, and will not allow you to connect to a VGA monitor. Again, thanks Gameboy415!

I need an RF adapter. Shut up. I really do.
While an actual adapter probably won't appear, DT778 has got you covered: "just get an rf modulator. here's a link to one from CircuitCity but you can get cheaper ones at Walmart. RF Modulator.

Can I use VGA or DVI monitors with the Wii?
The short answer is yes. Check this thread.. When I don't have 6 days to catch up on for this FAQ, I'll cull the information more specifically, but I think that link will let you know more than you'd ever need to know for that question.

WHERE ARE COMPONENT CABLES?
You can get them at nintendo.com's store, but they are currently out. The next option are third party branded React cables at Best Buy, which are $25. Combined with a GGC, it takes it down to $20, which is not a bad deal. There is concern it might not match the first party for quality, but that is most likely negligible. More info will be provided as needed.
Updated:At this point, component cables should be everywhere, 1st and 3rd parties included. There’s a myriad of options online, ranging in price from less than ten bucks to more than fifty. The general consensus is that you’ll get the same output from all the cables. I personally picked up the React ones from Best Buy, and they do indeed make everything sharper. I will try to find some sort of all-encompassing review that compares the various brands, but you should be good with any cable at this point.

I’m sneaky, so can I use the Gamecube's component cables witht he Wii?
Sadly, no. FOILED AGAIN! The connector on the Wii's back is different. This also makes composite cables - the same since the SNES - unusable with the Wii.

Wt. I’m using component and now it looks all jaggy!
This seems to be normal, unfortunately. Component cables will make the video signal sharper – they will not bring about anti-aliasing or increase the resolution. This is up to the game developers to accommodate, if my understanding is correct.
As a bonus, I am going to throw in the following from KaneRobot, which is applicable to the situation at hand:
This is getting into off-topic stuff, but LCD displays, depending on the quality of the upscaler in the set, can make standard definition stuff look worse than a CRT-based HDTV. LCDs are absolutely sharper when getting stuff coming in at the native resolution (or even closer to the native resolution), but if you're bumping a standard TV signal up to 720p or 1080p, you're going to notice some loss in quality. There are often ways to help this problem out (check avsforum.com and look for your model in the LCD forums, people post their optimal settings sometimes), but it's usually going to come down to the quality of your hardware. If you have a Sony, Sharp, or Samsung, it doesn't look too bad. If you have a Schmrrzz or SuperRES brand (yes, I made those up), it's going to look a bit worse.


How can I take my Wii online?
The easiest way is to get the Nintendo WiFi USB adapter, which is a small thumb-drive sized device that plugs into a nearby computer connected with a broadband ethernet connection. It creates a "soft AP," or "soft access point," and essentially allows the Wii (as well as the Nintendo DS) to connect to the Internet via the computer's hard wired connection.

But that thing is expensive! Can't I use something else that is wireless?
This is true, and it doesn't do anything special. Therefore you can get online with a regular wireless router. It is suggested that you go with a name brand, and make sure that it is a B or G router, as A routers won't work (this can all be checked with the router's documentation well before hand, but in most cases, you'll find G routers everywhere in retail stores). I personally have a Linksys WRTG54, which is one of the standard models around. Note that you must have it broadcasting in what is normally called "Mixed Mode," or "Mixed B/G Mode," meaning the router can accept connections from both B and G devices. Because the Nintendo DS only operates on a B signal, there is good chance the Wii will only as well (though I'm not sure). Most routers come configured this way by default. Also, BiLdItUp1 suggests that if you continue to have problems, change your router to channel 1 or 11. I heard this from a few other users, and after doing it myself, I can confirm channel 1 resolved an issue with my Linksys. He also says you can try adding your SSID manually, which is the name of your network, as opposed to searching for it.
For more information, hit this post by lebowsky. I might add this later.

Screw wireless! I wanna go online through wires! I am a caveman and/or worried about security!
While the Wii does support WPA encryption standards for its wireless communications, there is always a risk of security breaches from outside, unauthorized sources (hackers, nosey neighbors, Powdered Toast Man, etc). That would suggest that you want to plug in directly to a router with a standard ethernet Cat5 cord. For the time being, you cannot do this, but Nintendo is going to release a USB Ethernet adapter that will plug into the USB ports on the back of the machine, thereby letting you do this. Kind of crappy, but that's all your going to get. Others have reported that third party peripherals are incompatible at this time. It is hoped maybe a firwmare update will solve this, but unfortunately all signs are pointing to "buy the official Nintendo one." DonSeer elaborates: "The reason is each and every usb device has a VID/PID pair (vendor id/product id) and these are used for identification and the loading of the correct drivers)." BiLdItUp1 thinks hacking the OS might be a work around.
Note: USB to Ethernet adapters will also not work, particularly because the USB ports are currently not functional, as indicated by botticus.
Note: The USB adapter won't be around until January 2007. Sorry guys. lebowsky wants to add that you can check page 51 of the Wii Operations Manual - Channel and Settings for more information.

So does this mean I can surf the 'net on the Wii?
Nintendo has partnered with Opera to allow their browser to be downloaded and installed onto Wii systems. It was first speculated that this would be at cost to the consumer, but then Nintendo reps stated it would be downloadable for free in the first six months of the Wii's life. This has yet to happen, and as such you cannot get online at this time (barring the messaging capabilities). It is thought that Nintendo is still readying servers for such things. Until then, the software will become available on the Wii Shop channel. Certain sites are even preparing for inevitable Wii surfmanship, such as WiiCade, which will be a small collection of Flash games that the Wiimote should be able to play easily. (Note: You can play these with your mouse in the meantime.)

Notable Websites

Can I stream music to my Wii from an online source?
The good folks over at Orb have got you covered on this. I have not tried it out myself, but it comes recommended from coltcannon.


Do accessories from one country work for another country’s Wii?
Disregarding non-mechanical accessories like carrying cases, accessories are not region specific and thus will work around the world. If you bought a Wiimote in Japan and brought it to the USA, it would work with an American Wii console. This goes for component cables as well.

Can you recommend me a good case?
Brother, you don’t know how well I can.

What are considered the must have accessories?
Rechargeable batteries. Those are indispensable.
People also report that they like the controller gloves as well. I haven’t tried these out for myself, but considering the benefits – protection, identification of Wiimotes, and better grip – they do seem desirable.
Obviously I still recommend a carrying case, especially the one above.
I imagine when I find a charging station I actually like that it too will be considered must have.

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