Setting up a PS2 (Playstation) HDD ?

[dougal]

The guide i posted above... I tried it on my PAL PS2.

I set the files, burned the CD and booted.

It said INSTALLATION COMPLETE ok

When i rebooted, it started getting those lines of text with the correct PSX disc in and then boom!!

Could not execute file mc0:/BADATA-SYSTEM/HDLOADERELITE.ELF

Now my system is PAL and it does not have BADATA-etc... etc.. but rather BEDATA-etc... etc..

I did an extra bit and renamed NTSC in system.cnf to PAL and tried another CD but same thing.

I'm tired now and wasted about 4 cd-r's.... I'm about to give up unless someone cane help.

 

[TheCorfiot]

If you are booting from your mcboot memory card you don't need any cd in the drive.
Mcboot has hdloader all ready there for you to select and run.

TC

 

[dougal]

If you are booting from your mcboot memory card you don't need any cd in the drive.
Mcboot has hdloader all ready there for you to select and run.

TC

I am booting from my Mcboot mem card. When the main screen comes it says that it is in Free mcboot V1.8 and I have a choice of stuff but there is no Hdloader.

 

[everblue]

Hmm I am trying to follow this thread but I'm a bit confused. I would like to get a fat PS2 and set up an internal HDD to play games from.

- Do games have to be patched in some way?
- Do all games work or only some?
- Do I have to install a modchip?
- Will any .iso (DVD/CD) work?

Thanks!

 

[slk486]

You probably did a package without HDLoader, then Did you put hdloader.elf in the install folder?

@everblue:
1. No patching required
2. Not all games, it's easy enough to find a known compatibility list.
3. No, but you need some way of executing elf's on your ps2. An Action Replay for example.
4. Use your retail games.

Have a look at the Free McBoot support site
http://freemcboot.info/index.html

 

[dougal]

I did the noobie package. I can load hdloader from cd and my hd games work but I want it set up so it won't require the optical drive at all.

Can you point me to a package with everything I need including hdloader please ? A USB capable file manager would be nice too but extra.

I can format my men card if need be.

 

[everblue]

What about the Memor32? Is this something completely different? Thanks!
Also, HD Advance 3 seems pretty interesting too.

 

[dougal]

Ok this is from a readme in the mcboot Install folder:


4 ELFS files can be placed in this folder (/INSTALL) :
BOOT.ELF (uLaunchELF, Press R1 at boot to launch it)
ESR.ELF (Press R2)
HDLOADER.ELF (Press L1)
SMS.ELF (Press L2)
Press Start to run FMCB Configurator.

They will be copied to "mc0:/BOOT" folder by installer, and linked
in browser menu.
Additional elf files in INSTALL folder will be copied to "mc0:/BOOT"
APPS folder can be filled with files, they will be copied to "mc0:/APPS

Now... If i do that, copy ulaunchelf as boot.elf, hdloader.elf etc... to the install directory and then setup the CD and re-install free mcboot I should get HDloader in the menu right ?

 

[everblue]

Dougal does McBoot need a modchip to run the .elf files? Thanks!

 

[slk486]

Dougal does McBoot need a modchip to run the .elf files? Thanks!

I just answered that, mate :huh:
Take a look at the installation menu/tab on the page:
http://freemcboot.info/index.html
It has a whole list of non-chipmodded options - and yes, memor32 is an option.

---------- Post added at 06:35 ---------- Previous post was at 06:34 ----------

Now... If i do that, copy ulaunchelf as boot.elf, hdloader.elf etc... to the install directory and then setup the CD and re-install free mcboot I should get HDloader in the menu right ?

Yes, you it should. Did you follow this guide http://freemcboot.info/advanced.html ?

 

[everblue]

Dougal does McBoot need a modchip to run the .elf files? Thanks!

I just answered that, mate :huh:
Take a look at the installation menu/tab on the page:
http://freemcboot.info/index.html
It has a whole list of non-chipmodded options - and yes, memor32 is an option.

---------- Post added at 06:35 ---------- Previous post was at 06:34 ----------

Now... If i do that, copy ulaunchelf as boot.elf, hdloader.elf etc... to the install directory and then setup the CD and re-install free mcboot I should get HDloader in the menu right ?

Yes, you it should. Did you follow this guide http://freemcboot.info/advanced.html ?

Thanks SLK, and sorry I'm a bit slow in the morning

 

[slk486]

's all good

 

[dougal]

I put the elf files in the install folder and made sure they were case sensitive but it keeps saying it can't find the boot.elf in install folder and it can't find the USB irx files. They are all there and I tried burning another 3 CDs for nothing. I am lost. Please help

---------- Post added at 13:16 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

I dont know what Modchip i have but does this make sense ?

"I'm afraid this is typical of the matrix chip, which has a tendency to go into sleep mode whenever it has booted a homebrew program from the CDVD drive. This means that the program is started but has no access to the burned disc, as the modchip has gone to sleep".

And possible sollution:

Why don't you try this approach,

Put the : FREE_MCBOOT.ELF, and the INSTALL folder (with noobie package in it) on a USB thumb drive.

Burn this to a DVD : This is ULe ( Ulaunch 4.38 .ISO )
http://psx-scene.com/forums/attachme...6&d=1232649924

Or burn this to a CD:
http://psx-scene.com/forums/attachme...5&d=1232649902

Start up this CD or DVD disk, it should auto load Ulaunch, and then you need to browse to your USB and run the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF.

It should install this way, with all apps, that were in the INSTALL folder...


Makes sense??

 

[slk486]

So you haven't gotten the McBoot install on a memory card yet - only on a usb thumbdrive?

 

[dougal]

So you haven't gotten the McBoot install on a memory card yet - only on a usb thumbdrive?

No no, it installs Mcboot to the memory card and it does work but it whilst installing it comes up with the error that it did not find certain usb files (irx files) in the modules directory and then that it cant find boot.elf in the install directory. AFter that it installs. It works but there wont be ulauncher or hdloader etc...

I tried about 15,301 times and burned that many discs. Made sure files where correct but nothing.

If you look above at my last comment you can see that it could be the modchip putting the disc to sleep.

So the other solution could be that what i posted above that i burn and boot ulaucnher cd/dvd and then from there run mcboot install from USB.

 

[slk486]

Ah, now I get what you were saying

If you have the Modbo 760, then it does indeed go to sleep after boot.

 

[dougal]

Ah, now I get what you were saying

If you have the Modbo 760, then it does indeed go to sleep after boot.

No idea what mod chip i have. I have two PS2's (the other one no longer reads discs) and both have mod chips but i bought both of them second hand.

---------- Post added at 14:13 ---------- Previous post was at 14:05 ----------

Though i can still hear the disc spinning.. But i've burned way too many cds and thrown them away to try the cd installing method again.

I'll try that method using ulauncher cd/dvd booted and then installing the mcboot from a USB pen drive.

 

[slk486]

As an alternative you can save yourself any further trouble and get a preinstalled one

 

[dougal]

Worked! PS2 no longer needs optical drive for anything )

 

[dougal]

Tomorrow I get my hands on a slim ps2 with a broken laser. Ill try and mod it, maybe get it to load games of external drive. It might even be mod chipped.