Reader Matt tipped me off to an interesting hack that enables you to install the Netflix Wii disc as a channel. I'd love to test this out, but my kids would kill me if I broke the Wii, so I'm going to link to the places you can learn more about this project: ClubMyCE and GBATemp.
Please understand that this type of project, while fun and useful, can damage your Wii, so do so at your own risk.
Somewhere, someone ripped the Wii Netflix disk to a USB stick. I haven't done it, but simpler than what these sites suggest, less risk, and still offers that least bit of parent protection (taking it away).
Posted by: George | April 16, 2010 at 09:25 AM
No Thanks!! I paid good money for my console and don't want to risk it being bricked for a minor inconvenience of sticking in a disc.
Posted by: Eric Rosario | April 16, 2010 at 09:58 AM
It's really easy to install the Homebrew channel.
We need a guide on how to rip it and run the Netflix disc on an SD card in the Homebrew channel.
That is safer than using a Wad program that tampers with the Wii menu itself.
Maybe someone will write a guide up & post it here.
Posted by: Wii want to know! | April 16, 2010 at 04:39 PM
The guides linked to in this post seemed to require a lot of prior knowledge about Wii hacking-- not exactly friendly for the beginner.
Instead, I used this guide from Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com/5518518/how-to-back-up-and-play-your-wii-games-from-an-external-hard-drive
You can use the exact same method to rip a copy of the Netflix disc to a USB drive and run it just as you would a game. And unlike a game, the Netflix app is tiny; you can run it off a 256 MB USB stick if you have one lying around.
I used a 4GB stick so that I could also install EA Sport Active to run without the disc, meaning that I don't have to switch discs to play a game after my lady friend is done using it to exercise. Convenient!
Posted by: Hbi2k | April 16, 2010 at 11:03 PM
The USB loading part will run from the homebrew Channel the Farwarder requires a Wad install which is the same as loading a Wiiware game to the Wii .
As for Modding your Wii ,in most cases, its safer than an official System update from Nintendo that can brick your Wii if the power goes off or any other problem .If you back up your system memory with BootMii which is always recommended when installing Homebrew at least you have protection against bricking which isn't the case when Nintendo asks you to do an official update .
Posted by: Matt | April 18, 2010 at 01:24 PM
I haven't received my disk yet, where can i download it?
Posted by: Mike | April 19, 2010 at 02:53 AM
Can't download it. I don't think Wii can even read DVD-R (or +R).
Posted by: Br.Bill | April 23, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Br.Bill you can download the Iso i8f you want to look in the usual places and the Wii can read DVD-R disks if its modified the right way ;) .You can also rip backups to a USB Harddrive ir Flash Memory .
Posted by: Matt | April 25, 2010 at 10:25 AM
You can use the exact same method to rip a copy of the Netflix disc to a USB drive and run it just as you would a game. And unlike a game, the Netflix app is tiny; you can run it off a 256 MB USB stick if you have one lying around.
Posted by: tiffany1837co | May 04, 2010 at 10:18 PM
When I signed up, I downloaded the disc first and ran it from USB. That way, I didn't have to wait two days for my disc to arrive.
Posted by: Jim Vincent | June 03, 2010 at 11:51 AM
you can now download it from the wii shop channel for free
Posted by: anonymous | October 21, 2010 at 03:02 AM
Eric Rosario, you probably don't change the oil or tires on your car either... because you paid good money for it.
Posted by: Larry Henry | October 23, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Am i late for the news?
Posted by: Portable External Hard Drives | March 07, 2011 at 01:16 AM
my wii has been hacked and has the hombrew channel now netflix does not use a disk and I can not get the update to get the wii channel what can I do?
Posted by: Kira | March 09, 2011 at 08:27 PM