Installing Nintendo Wii Wi-Fi Board

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Replacing the Wi-Fi card in the Wii.

  • Author: iDeleted
  • Time required: 45 minutes
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Add Note x

The steps in this guide outline the procedure to remove the Wi-Fi board in the Wii. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna cables both attach to this board, so this guide can also be used to replace them.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Outer Case  ¶ 

  • Loosen Phillips screw on bottom of Wii to remove battery case.

  • The screw is captive to the battery case and will not come out; leave the two connected.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • On the bottom side of the Wii, use metal spudger to remove the following:

    • One rubber foot

    • Three plastic stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 8.1 mm silver tri-wing screws, one under battery case and one under bottom right sticker.

    • Two 5.0 mm silver Phillips screws, under top center and top right stickers.

    • One 5.8 mm black Phillips screw, under top left foot.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • On the right side of the Wii, use the metal spudger to remove the following:

    • Two rubber feet.

    • Two plastic stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 8.2 mm silver tri-wing screws, under top left and bottom left feet.

    • Two 8.2 mm black tri-wing screws, under top right and bottom right stickers.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Remove the two doors on top of the Wii by opening them, then applying pressure behind the hinges. The hinges should pop out without much resistance.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws from the top of the Wii:

    • One 5.9 mm black Phillips screw, closest to front of Wii.

    • Two 4.0 mm black Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Remove the black plastic shield from the top of the Wii. Slide it away from the front of the Wii to free the covered end.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws from under the black plastic shield:

    • Two 8.2 mm silver tri-wing screws.

    • Two 5.0 mm silver Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • The faceplate is now loose, but is still connected to the body by the faceplate LED power cable.

  • Open faceplate and disconnect cable from the connector. Using tweezers may make this easier. Set faceplate aside.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Set the Wii on its right side, with the ATI label in the upper left corner.

  • The plastic outer case is now loose. Pull it straight up and off the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • The inner metal shield is now loose as well. Lift it straight up and off the Wii; this may require some wiggling.

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Add Note Edit Step 13 — Fan  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 11.2 mm silver Phillips screws securing the fan to the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the cooling fan power cable.

  • Pull directly up on the cable to avoid damaging the cable connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Remove the fan.

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Add Note Edit Step 16 — Optical Drive  ¶ 

  • Remove the four 9.2 mm silver screws mounting the optical drive to the Wii.

  • A magnetic screwdriver or pair of tweezers is very helpful to ensure the recessed screws make it all the way out.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • The optical drive is loose, but is still connected by a power cable and a data cable.

  • With the Wii aligned as pictured, rotate the near end up to reveal the connections underneath.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the 12-pin white power cable connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Flip up the tab on the optical drive data cable's ZIF connector on the board on the underside of the drive.

  • Remove the optical drive data cable from the drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Remove the optical drive from the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 21 — Wi-Fi Board  ¶ 

  • Remove the nine 10.0 mm black Phillips screws securing the black plastic mounting brackets to the Wii.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Free the Bluetooth antenna by undoing the tape binding the black antenna cable to the Wii.

  • The Bluetooth antenna cable is still connected to the Wii; set the antenna aside nearby.

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Add Note Edit Step 23  ¶ 

  • Lift the mounting bracket off the heat sink.

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Add Note Edit Step 24  ¶ 

  • Carefully remove the Wi-Fi antenna from the mounting bracket by spreading the two small tabs that hold the antenna board in place and pulling the board straight out.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Remove the small metal bracket from below the fan mount.

  • Remove the metal heat sink shield.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 7.25 mm silver Phillips screws from the holes marked "□".

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Add Note Edit Step 27  ¶ 

  • Remove the mounting bracket that holds the Bluetooth antenna cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • There is a small silver nut loosely contained by the left black plastic bracket; be careful not to lose it.

  • Lift the left black plastic bracket off the Wii, being aware of the silver nut. Pull the bracket's tab toward you where the antenna wires protrude to remove it.

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Add Note Edit Step 29  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws:

    • Two 11.3 mm silver Phillips screws from holes marked "Δ".

    • 11 7.25 mm silver Phillips screws from holes marked "↓".

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Add Note Edit Step 30  ¶ 

  • Lift the main EMI shield off the Wii's motherboard.

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Add Note Edit Step 31  ¶ 

  • The Wi-Fi board is connected to the motherboard by a connector and some adhesive. Pull firmly upward on the board and it will pop off the motherboard.

  • The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas are connected to the bottom of the Wi-Fi board, and are easily removed by using a spudger to lift them off their respective sockets.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the Nintendo Wii device page.

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