diff --git a/out/bins/ext_booter.bin b/out/bins/ext_booter.bin
index 8377de74..3df3a7fe 100644
Binary files a/out/bins/ext_booter.bin and b/out/bins/ext_booter.bin differ
diff --git a/out/boot.dol b/out/boot.dol
index d1781302..75f277b6 100644
Binary files a/out/boot.dol and b/out/boot.dol differ
diff --git a/source/channel/nand.cpp b/source/channel/nand.cpp
index 61cca9a6..48f83d95 100644
--- a/source/channel/nand.cpp
+++ b/source/channel/nand.cpp
@@ -77,15 +77,6 @@ void Nand::Init()
 	isfs_inited = false;
 }
 
-bool Nand::LoadDefaultIOS(void)
-{
-	Patch_AHB();//apply a patch so the new IOS will also have AHBPROT disabled
-	s32 ret = IOS_ReloadIOS(IOS_GetPreferredVersion());// reload to preferred IOS. not sure what wiiflows preferred IOS is.
-	loadIOS(IOS_GetVersion(), false);// this basically does nothing (well very little). definetly doesn't load a IOS or shutdown anything.
-	Init_ISFS();
-	return (ret == 0);
-}
-
 void Nand::SetNANDEmu(u32 partition)
 {
 	EmuDevice = partition == 0 ? EMU_SD : EMU_USB;
diff --git a/source/channel/nand.hpp b/source/channel/nand.hpp
index 1a5deb21..e31d5cdb 100644
--- a/source/channel/nand.hpp
+++ b/source/channel/nand.hpp
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ class Nand
 {
 public:
 	void Init();
-	bool LoadDefaultIOS(void);
 
 	/* Prototypes */
 	void SetNANDEmu(u32 partition);
diff --git a/source/defines.h b/source/defines.h
index dcb95ab5..a7d46bee 100644
--- a/source/defines.h
+++ b/source/defines.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 #define APP_NAME				"WiiFlow WFL"
-#define APP_VERSION				"5.4.4"
+#define APP_VERSION				"5.4.5"
 
 #define APP_DATA_DIR			"wiiflow"
 #define APPS_DIR				"apps/wiiflow"
diff --git a/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.cpp b/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.cpp
index adeafcd1..5ca29bd2 100644
--- a/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.cpp
+++ b/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.cpp
@@ -149,9 +149,10 @@ bool DeviceHandler::MountAllUSB()
 		return false;
 		
 	/* Kill possible USB thread */
-	KillUSBKeepAliveThread();
-	/* Wait for our slowass HDD */
-	WaitForDevice(GetUSBInterface());
+	//KillUSBKeepAliveThread();
+	/* usb spinup - Wait for our slowass HDD */
+	if(WaitForDevice(GetUSBInterface()) == false)
+		return false;
 	/* Get Partitions and Mount them */
 	if(!usb.IsInserted() || !usb.IsMounted(0))
 		usb.SetDevice(GetUSBInterface());
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ bool DeviceHandler::MountAllUSB()
 		if(MountUSB(i))
 			result = true;
 	}
+	// why force FAT? why not just return result?
 	if(!result)
 		result = usb.Mount(0, DeviceName[USB1], true); /* Force FAT */
 	//if(result && usb_libogc_mode)
@@ -260,17 +262,19 @@ s32 DeviceHandler::OpenWBFS(int dev)
 	return WBFS_Init(GetWbfsHandle(dev), part_fs, part_idx, part_lba, partition);
 }
 
-void DeviceHandler::WaitForDevice(const DISC_INTERFACE *Handle)
+/* usb spinup wait for 20 seconds */
+bool DeviceHandler::WaitForDevice(const DISC_INTERFACE *Handle)
 {
-	if(Handle == NULL)
-		return;
+	if(Handle == NULL)// apparently this never happens
+		return false;
 	time_t timeout = time(NULL);
 	while(time(NULL) - timeout < 20)
 	{
 		if(Handle->startup() && Handle->isInserted())
-			break;
+			return true;
 		usleep(50000);
 	}
+	return false;
 }
 
 bool DeviceHandler::MountDevolution()
diff --git a/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.hpp b/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.hpp
index 32b54a06..15a23403 100644
--- a/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.hpp
+++ b/source/devicemounter/DeviceHandler.hpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public:
 	bool USB_Inserted() { return usb.IsInserted(); }
 	bool UsablePartitionMounted();
 	bool PartitionUsableForNandEmu(int Partition);
-	void WaitForDevice(const DISC_INTERFACE *Handle);
+	bool WaitForDevice(const DISC_INTERFACE *Handle);
 
 	void UnMountSD() { sd.UnMountAll(); }
 	void UnMountUSB(int pos);
diff --git a/source/loader/alt_ios.cpp b/source/loader/alt_ios.cpp
index 12359198..3f7cd3ce 100644
--- a/source/loader/alt_ios.cpp
+++ b/source/loader/alt_ios.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "dip_plugin_249.h"
 #include "mload_modules.h"
 
-static int load_ehc_module_ex(void)
+void load_ehc_module_ex(void)
 {
 	u8 *ehc_cfg = search_for_ehcmodule_cfg((u8 *)ehcmodule_5, size_ehcmodule_5);
 	if(ehc_cfg)
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ static int load_ehc_module_ex(void)
 		DCFlushRange((void *) (((u32)ehc_cfg[0]) & ~31), 32);
 	}
 	load_ehc_module();
-	return 0;
 }
 
 void load_dip_249()
diff --git a/source/loader/alt_ios.h b/source/loader/alt_ios.h
index eb8c32bf..9205ed5f 100644
--- a/source/loader/alt_ios.h
+++ b/source/loader/alt_ios.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 bool loadIOS(int ios, bool MountDevices);
+void load_ehc_module_ex(void);
+void load_dip_249();
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/source/main.cpp b/source/main.cpp
index 4352ff8a..be1831bb 100644
--- a/source/main.cpp
+++ b/source/main.cpp
@@ -160,23 +160,33 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		NandHandle.LoadDefaultIOS(); /* safe reload to preferred IOS */
-	
+		NandHandle.Init_ISFS();
+		
 		/* load and check wiiflow save for possible new IOS and Port settings */
 		if(InternalSave.CheckSave())
 			InternalSave.LoadSettings();
 			
 		/* Handle (c)IOS Loading */
-		if(useMainIOS && CustomIOS(IOS_GetType(mainIOS))) /* Requested */
-			iosOK = loadIOS(mainIOS, false) && CustomIOS(CurrentIOS.Type);// reload to cIOS (249 by default)
+		if(useMainIOS && CustomIOS(IOS_GetType(mainIOS)))// load cios
+		{
+			NandHandle.DeInit_ISFS();
+			NandHandle.Patch_AHB();
+			iosOK = IOS_ReloadIOS(mainIOS) == 0;
+			gprintf("AHBPROT disabled after IOS Reload: %s\n", AHBPROT_Patched() ? "yes" : "no");
+			NandHandle.Init_ISFS();
+		}
 		else
 			gprintf("Using IOS58\n");// stay on IOS58. no reload to cIOS
+		
+		IOS_GetCurrentIOSInfo();
+		if(CurrentIOS.Type == IOS_TYPE_HERMES)
+			load_ehc_module_ex();
+		else if(CurrentIOS.Type == IOS_TYPE_WANIN && CurrentIOS.Revision >= 18)
+			load_dip_249();
+		DeviceHandle.SetModes();
+		WDVD_Init();
 	}
 		
-	/* sys inits */
-	Sys_Init();// set reset and power button callbacks
-	Sys_ExitTo(EXIT_TO_HBC);// set exit to in case of failed launch
-
 	/* mount SD */
 	DeviceHandle.MountSD();// mount SD before calling isUsingUSB() duh!	
 
@@ -190,21 +200,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	/* init controllers for input */
 	Open_Inputs();// WPAD_SetVRes() is called later in mainMenu.init() during cursor init which gets the theme pointer images
+
+	/* sys inits */
+	Sys_Init();// set reset and power button callbacks
 	
+	bool startup_successful = false;
 	/* init configs, folders, coverflow, gui and more */
 	if(mainMenu.init(usb_mounted))
 	{
-		if(CurrentIOS.Version != mainIOS)
-		{
-			if(useMainIOS || !DeviceHandle.UsablePartitionMounted())// if useMainIOS or there's isn't a FAT or NTFS partition
-			{
-				useMainIOS = false;
-				mainMenu.TempLoadIOS();// switch to cIOS
-				iosOK = CustomIOS(CurrentIOS.Type);
-			}
-		}
-		if(CurrentIOS.Version == mainIOS)
-			useMainIOS = true; //Needed for later checks
 		if(!iosOK)
 			mainMenu.terror("errboot1", L"No cIOS found!\ncIOS d2x 249 base 56 and 250 base 57 are enough for all your games.");
 		else if(!DeviceHandle.UsablePartitionMounted())
@@ -213,6 +216,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			mainMenu.terror("errboot3", L"Could not initialize the DIP module!");
 		else // alls good lets start wiiflow
 		{
+			startup_successful = true;
 			if(!isWiiVC)
 				writeStub();// copy return stub to memory
 			if(gameid != NULL && strlen(gameid) == 6)// if argv game ID then launch it
@@ -224,6 +228,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		mainMenu.cleanup();// removes all sounds, fonts, images, coverflow, plugin stuff, source menu and clear memory
 	}
 	ShutdownBeforeExit();// unmount devices and close inputs
-	Sys_Exit();
+	if(startup_successful)// use wiiflow's exit choice otherwise just exit to loader (system menu or hbc)
+		Sys_Exit();
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/source/menu/menu.hpp b/source/menu/menu.hpp
index b731a273..e8689e6f 100644
--- a/source/menu/menu.hpp
+++ b/source/menu/menu.hpp
@@ -1109,6 +1109,7 @@ private:
 	bool _gameinfo(void);
 	void _gameSettings(const dir_discHdr *GameHdr, bool disc = false);
 	void _CoverBanner(void);
+	int _sfCacheCoversNeeded();
 	int _cacheCovers(void);
 	void _Explorer(void);
 	const char *_FolderExplorer(const char *startPath);
diff --git a/source/menu/menu_home.cpp b/source/menu/menu_home.cpp
index 6a169ab4..eecf875d 100644
--- a/source/menu/menu_home.cpp
+++ b/source/menu/menu_home.cpp
@@ -466,6 +466,57 @@ void CMenu::_textShutdown(void)
 }
 /*******************************************************************************/
 
+int CMenu::_sfCacheCoversNeeded()// for sourceflow
+{
+	CoverFlow.stopCoverLoader(true);
+	
+	string coverPath;
+	string wfcPath;
+	string cachePath = m_cacheDir + "/sourceflow/";
+	string gameNameOrID;
+
+	bool smallBox = m_cfg.getBool(SOURCEFLOW_DOMAIN, "smallbox", false);
+	int missing = 0;
+	
+	for(vector<dir_discHdr>::iterator hdr = m_gameList.begin(); hdr != m_gameList.end(); ++hdr)
+	{
+		/* get cover png path */
+		bool blankCover = false;
+		bool fullCover = true;
+		coverPath.assign(getBoxPath(&(*hdr)));
+		if(!fsop_FileExist(coverPath.c_str()) || smallBox)
+		{
+			fullCover = false;
+			coverPath.assign(getFrontPath(&(*hdr)));
+			if(!fsop_FileExist(coverPath.c_str()) && !smallBox)
+			{
+				fullCover = true;
+				coverPath.assign(getBlankCoverPath(&(*hdr)));
+				blankCover = true;
+				if(!fsop_FileExist(coverPath.c_str()))
+					continue;
+			}
+		}
+
+		/* get game name or ID */
+		if(!blankCover)
+			gameNameOrID.assign(CoverFlow.getFilenameId(&(*hdr)));
+		else
+			gameNameOrID.assign(coverPath.substr(coverPath.find_last_of("/") + 1));
+		
+		/* get cover wfc path */
+		if(smallBox)
+			wfcPath.assign(cachePath + gameNameOrID + "_small.wfc");
+		else
+			wfcPath.assign(cachePath + gameNameOrID);
+		
+		/* if wfc doesn't exist or is flat and have full cover */
+		if(!fsop_FileExist(wfcPath.c_str()) || (!CoverFlow.fullCoverCached(wfcPath.c_str()) && fullCover))
+			missing++;
+	}
+	return missing;
+}
+
 int CMenu::_cacheCovers()
 {
 	CoverFlow.stopCoverLoader(true);
diff --git a/source/menu/menu_input.cpp b/source/menu/menu_input.cpp
index d6e6a41e..ff3d057f 100644
--- a/source/menu/menu_input.cpp
+++ b/source/menu/menu_input.cpp
@@ -54,18 +54,6 @@ static int CalculateRepeatSpeed(float magnitude, int current_value)
 
 void CMenu::ScanInput()
 {
-	/*for(int chan = WPAD_MAX_WIIMOTES-1; chan >= 0; chan--)
-	{
-		wd[chan] = WPAD_Data(chan);
-		if(wd[chan]->err < 0)
-		{
-			Close_Inputs();
-			Open_Inputs();
-			for(int chn = WPAD_MAX_WIIMOTES-1; chn >= 0; chn--)
-				WPAD_SetVRes(chn, m_vid.width() + m_cursor[chn].width(), m_vid.height() + m_cursor[chn].height());
-			break;
-		}
-	}*/
 	m_show_zone_main = false;
 	m_show_zone_main2 = false;
 	m_show_zone_main3 = false;
diff --git a/source/menu/menu_main.cpp b/source/menu/menu_main.cpp
index cc27922b..e7b25c0a 100644
--- a/source/menu/menu_main.cpp
+++ b/source/menu/menu_main.cpp
@@ -240,31 +240,33 @@ void CMenu::_showCF(bool refreshList)
 		if(cacheCovers)
 		{
 			cacheCovers = false;
-			m_btnMgr.setProgress(m_wbfsPBar, 0.f, true);
-			m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblMessage, L"0%");
-			m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblDialog, L"");
-			m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsPBar);
-			m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsLblMessage);
-			m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsLblDialog);
-		
-			_start_pThread();
-			_cacheCovers();
-			_stop_pThread();
-			m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblDialog, _t("dlmsg14", L"Done."));
-			u8 pause = 150;
-			if(m_sourceflow)
-				pause = 1;
-			while(!m_exit)
+			if(!m_sourceflow || _sfCacheCoversNeeded() > 0)
 			{
-				_mainLoopCommon();
-				pause--;
-				if(pause == 0)
+				m_btnMgr.setProgress(m_wbfsPBar, 0.f, true);
+				m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblMessage, L"0%");
+				m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblDialog, L"");
+				m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsPBar);
+				m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsLblMessage);
+				m_btnMgr.show(m_wbfsLblDialog);
+			
+				_start_pThread();
+				_cacheCovers();
+				_stop_pThread();
+				m_btnMgr.setText(m_wbfsLblDialog, _t("dlmsg14", L"Done."));
+				u8 pause = 150;
+				if(m_sourceflow)
+					pause = 1;
+				do
 				{
-					m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsPBar);
-					m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsLblMessage);
-					m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsLblDialog);
-					break;
-				}
+					_mainLoopCommon();
+					pause--;
+					if(pause == 0)
+					{
+						m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsPBar);
+						m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsLblMessage);
+						m_btnMgr.hide(m_wbfsLblDialog);
+					}
+				}while(!m_exit && pause > 0);
 			}
 		}
 		/* setup categories and favorites for filtering the game list below */
@@ -416,9 +418,7 @@ int CMenu::main(void)
 		_setMainBg();
 		_showCF(true);
 	}
-	else
-		_hideWaitMessage();
-		
+
 	if(show_mem)
 	{
 		m_btnMgr.show(m_mem1FreeSize);
diff --git a/source/menu/menu_source.cpp b/source/menu/menu_source.cpp
index ddc4b8dc..d799fa2b 100644
--- a/source/menu/menu_source.cpp
+++ b/source/menu/menu_source.cpp
@@ -343,6 +343,7 @@ bool CMenu::_Source()
 	SetupInput();
 	_showSource();
 	_updateSourceBtns();
+	_hideWaitMessage();// needed for source menu on start
 
 	while(!m_exit)
 	{