So, I decided what the heck, this many people can't be wrong, so I bought a Wii for myself for Christmas.  You just need to go where the economy is really bad to find them in stock, aka Detroit.

Last night I connected to the internet with the Wii to download Super Mario 3, but before I could do so I had to update my console.  Ever since then when I turn off the Wii, instead of the power LED turning red, it turns orange, and the bright blue lights around the DVD slot keep turning on then off again every few seconds.  Is this normal?  Or did I mess up one of the settings when I downloaded the update?  Or did I not turn it off properly? 

I apologize if it is a stupid question, but hopefully someone can share some insight.  Thanks.

everything is normal orange led meens standby but online the blue light from the slot meens u have an e-mail or the wii is reading the disc

It's absolutely normal. The red power light only appears when you unplugged the power. Normally it is orange when turned off and green/yellow when turned on.

The flashing disc drive means you have a mail (from Nintendo or Toad if you play Galaxy).

For the mail, check the mail section on your main menu. Here also your Wii usage is shown.

Hope this is of help.

The Blue light means you have a message.  The orange light means it's on standby.

Both can be turned off / changed in the Wii menu

Thanks, that clears things up.

@Benga--it's not only if you have mail from Nintendo, but if there's mail from anyone and also if someone sent you a Mii.

No questions is stupid ^^

If the LED is orange it means you have connect24 activated, meaning that the wii will update weather, news etc. while in standby and you will also receive letters from Nintendo. When the blue light flashes, it just means that there is an update, i.e. a letter or a system update. Just turn it on and off again and it should stop or maybe you forgot one update. To turn off connect24, just go to setting, I believe its second page named connect 24, there you can also adjust the blue flashing to go faster or turn it off. To read the letters just click on the calendar button in the start screen. Hope I could help you and hopefully you enjoy your wii a long time :)

edit: Oh great no other comments did show up for me two minutes ago but since they were all written a hour before I have to blame the site ;) and say sorry for posting to something solved :)

@ mrP: you're right, I didn't use the friend code stuff yet, so no email or mii's for me yet. I'll check my Wii-code soonest and share it with everyone on this site. I'll expect loads of mii's.