I have a D2B chipset ntscwii with the legs cut but 'pad 3' is still connected. I grinded the chip myself and attempted to solder but just wasn't getting anywhere with it so I had a local modder finish the job for me. When I got it back I did a continuity test with my multimeter and everything checked out fine however I could not get it to read ANY backups at all. It was at version 3.0 and the modder claimed he used a sonydvd-r backup game to test. I'm not sure if he used SMG or not though. He's supposedly out of town and won't be back for a while so it will be another week or 2 before I can find out.
media used: sony, verbatim, and tdk (at 1x, 2x, 4x with ImgBurn) on a Pioneer DVR-111D and a Pioneer DVR-108. I've tried numerous games, config 1.2, config 1.3, GCOS 1.3, 1.9b update, 1.9b, recovery, you name it, I've burned it (over 25 dvd-r's sitting around now). NOTHING reads at all. I decided to upgrade to 3.1U just to see if it would change anything, but same results.
So there's a couple scenarios here, either the modder is sketchy and lying that his disc ever worked, or the wii got rattled in shipping (however continuity shows everything is connected fine) OR I am in the same boat as these guys? - http://wiikey19g.wordpress.com
It's the only wiikey I have and I'm assuming it's legit since it came with the hologram. Could this be a dead modchip? I'm not sure what else to do other than to keep trying to reinstall it? thanks
I installed my WiiKey with no wires (or the short wire method). No backups would read (unable to read disk). I had to de-solder the chip and install it via the long wire method. This was suggested by the company I bought the WiiKey from, and it worked like a charm. I was completely skeptical when he first mentioned it due to the fact that testing with a multi-meter showed zero connection problems. You might want to give this a shot once your modder gets back.