I am having trouble with the Matrix Infinity mod's 'recovery mode' mentioned (rather briefly) in the readme file included with the firmware.
I need to use this feature to reflash my firmware because I accidently set the PS2 screen fix to VGA in the configuration menu. The readme recommends this method to fix this problem.
I inserted the firmware disc which I had on a Verbatim CD-R (the original disc which I used to upgrade my firmware to 1.93 about a year ago) then followed the procedure to boot in recovery mode (since it is a PAL system I merely held down the power button once until the blue eject light also came on). It proceeded to load the 'Sony Computer Entertainment' screen which quickly faded and then I was left with a black screen and the sound of the laser frantically trying to recognise the disc.
I thought there might be something in its willingness to keep reading the disc so I tried burning the disc again onto a TDK CD-R80 and another which is either DOSS or DCSS CD-R. My PS2 has always been a bit moody about PSX discs in the past so I thought if I tried some different things (ALcohol120%, Nero, PowerISO, used different cd/dvd writers and, of course, burnt it at the lowest speed possible) but still it would not load any of the discs.
So my question is why wont the recovery mode boot correctly and what can I do to reflash the firmware if this method doesn't work?
Otherwise, if anyone can help me turn it back blindly that would be incredibly appreciated as I can't see a thing when I boot it up and I don't have a VGA adapter for it. I have tried to get back into the menu blindly many times with little success.
For this I would need a precise walkthrough of button commands to change the ps2 screen fix back from 'VGA' and to save the changes afterwards. My memory of the process is not quite enough it seems. :(
After a little more research I started to have doubts about reflashing my firmware in case I did not have a genuine matrix chip. After all there are many cases where very bad things have occurred when reflashing a fake chip.
I opened up my PS2 and lo and behold - a Modbo 750. I was a little surprised though since I had already updated the firmware to matrix infinity 1.93 a while ago and it hadn't had any of the side-effects which seem to go on with other fake chips. I must have been incredibly lucky without even knowing it. >_> The chip was installed by my brother (sadly no longer with us) a couple of years ago so I was completely ignorant until today.
So anyway, I decided no matter what that I would not be reflashing it just in case something terrible really did happen and kept trying to turn off VGA mode blindly.
After a dozen more tries SUCCESS!!
I almost died of relief when I saw the infinity logo. Ha~
So yes, if anyone ever has this problem in the future I would suggest disabling VGA blindly before reflashing.
The big mistake I had been making was assuming that the directional pad cycled through the presets in the config menu - it was actually pressing X which cycles through them. So all you need to do is turn the console on, press X and Y together a few times to bring up the menu (sometimes it will fail and there is no indication given that you are in the right menu because it is soundless, but you will know if you accidently go to browser because it will make noises) then press X once (once for OFF, twice for COLOUR and so on) and finally press start - wait a moment while the settings are saved then press restart.
It would have been nice if someone could have given me this info, but no worries. I am equally happy to share.
