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PS2 - Booting/Backups/HDD/MC/USB/ELF's
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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5. December 2006 @ 20:48 |
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Hey Guys (and gals?),
First of all let me just say: With all the various sites out there with info on these topics, I have gained the most concise knowledge thru these forums. So no matter what happens with this thread, and no matter if the answers I seek can not be found by me starting this thread, I just want those who frequent these forums to know how much they have helped and that it IS appreciated. At least by me. Thanks.
Now to the good stuff!
I have (over the last 2 weeks) been driving myself crazy with all this backup nonsense. I have searched every site I can find (SKS APPS, HERE, PS2HDD, ETC.......) for various info regarding this topic. But I keep seeming to hit a wall at the moment of truth. So I am looking to save myself some agony.
Now let me say that YES - I have searched the forums many a time for the answer to the question(s) I am about to ask. But never do I seem to get a concise answer to exactly what I am looking for. It always seems to be 70% of what I am looking to learn. Or seems to answer a portion of my question but then the thread and it's replies seem to veer off on a tangent sort of. So I figured maybe if I just ask instead of doing all this searching, maybe I can stop from confusing myself!
What I want to do should be obvious - I want to play backed up copies of my originals. With the problems related to even playing games on this screwed up system that I for some reason love so much, it would save me alot of time, agony, frustration and most of all MONEY if I could accomplish this. I have had many a disc ruined by the PS2 and want to find a solution. If even a partial one. Here is what I have:
- PS2 model 3001 ver 1 (Yes, the original very first to come out) bought it 3 days after the PS2 release. And surprisingly it still works! :)
- Network Adapter
- 10gb HDD (installed via NA)
- 128mb USB memory stick that came with MAX DRIVE (NOT AR version, just the one that is based on transfer of save games, not cheats and codes. Yes, I know it is the wrong one or at least not the IDEAL one for this task)
- Plextor 716-A DVD burner which used to read PS2 discs (CD and DVD) but now for some reason will not read a PS2 disc of any kind. But I do hve access to a friends Burner which DOES read them, so I CAN at least make the backups.
- Exploit has been INSTALLED already along with a couple other various ELF's. This is another of my small issues. There are so many different apps out there that I am quickly getting confused as to what does what and what I need for my purposes here. Maybe some pointed help as to the essential apps I need would be nice.
- Front cover of PS2 disc tray removed to allow penetration of SLIDE CARD.
- Homemade SLIDE CARD cut out to exact specs from an old soft plastic store gift card. Works great for awapping discs - if only swapping actually did anything for my situation. LOL
So. What can I do? Can I, with the above items, somehow accomplish playing a backup without any further purchases? Can I maybe put a certain app onto the HD or MC and boot a backup that way utilizing the SWAP? Or can I put a copy of SWAP MAGIC on the HD and use it that way? What about CDLOADER or DVDLOADER (I have tried CDLOADER and got it to work all the way up to having it read the backup only to have it tell me the disc was not a valid PS2 disc.) Will this method work - you know, using a large TOC game with CD or DVD LOADER? Somehow?
Any help/advice would be just great! If with everything I have it is just purely impossible unless I BUY SM or something, then please tell me so. But if there IS a way to do it with what I have or by maybe downloading/installing something I have not mentioned... please advise accordingly.
Thanks in advance for any assistance provided. I am sincerely grateful!
ssjTiamat - The confused and lost one!
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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6. December 2006 @ 16:41 |
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C'mon guys! I find it hard to believe that nobody has an opinion on this one.
How about this. I can copy games to my HDD and play them that way. I have done this with Battlefield 2 so I know it works. Is it then possible to just burn a PS2 disc to a DVD and then copy that to the HDD and have it run off the HDD? So basically what I'm sayin is lets say that I buy a game. Avatar for example. I then make a backup DVD of the game and put the original away for safe keeping. So at this point if there is absolutely NO way to boot the bckup with the items I listed in my above thread starting post, could I just copy it to the HDD FROM the backup and then play the game off the HDD with HDLOADER? Just as I have done with Battlefield 2,
Eagerly await your response. And thank you tons in advance!!
ssjTiamat
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Xplaya
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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7. December 2006 @ 00:00 |
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What elf programs do you have on your memory card?
And you can use hdloader to copy games onto the hdd.
Just load hdloader, goto install. Insert game then hit continue.
Or you can install the onto you hardrive via pc.
Just download WINHIIP and use that.
Back up your games onto the pc, then use WINHIIP to transfer the games to you hardrive.
But honestly 10gigs aint gonna hold shi*t. Needa bigger HDD
PS2 Silver Simline & Swap Tool Pro v2
Swap Magic 3.6+, Games, Games and more Games...
***
Old Fat PS2 & Slide Card Pro
A whole lot of Elfs, Mp3's and Videos via HDD.
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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8. December 2006 @ 04:55 |
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Thanks for the reply.
Quote:
But honestly 10gigs aint gonna hold shi*t. Needa bigger HDD
Yea I know. When I put that HDD in the PS2 I wasn't expecting to have to use that as my primary "backup-booting/playing" device. I just wanted the HDD in there just to have it. But You're right. If I am gonna do it that way then I will have to get a bigger HDD.
And Yea.. I could just store the games for backup and play on the HD but I ws hoping to be able to use discs and just play the burned backups. So is that in any way possible by using CDloader or DVDloader and A game with a large TOC? Or will I absolutely need to purchase SM (or something similar) in order to make that work?
It's looking like the HDD is it. As far as what ELFs I have on the MC, pretty much anything I can find online I have been downloading just so I have it, but at this current moment I have HDloader, USBadvance, and CDloader loaded to the MC.
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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8. December 2006 @ 05:52 |
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Ok.. new question. Check this scenario and tell me what you think. I know I could probably get the answer by searching thru the threads, but for some reason I feel better if I get a direct answer to a thread I post. Well here goes, what do you think?
-I make an .ISO of one of my games (original of course).
-Then using winhiip or HDLdump (or some similar app. copy the game to my HDD.
-Then I use HDloader (or again, a similar app.) to play the game.
That's it. Would that work seemlessly? If it did, then that would solve all my problems. Now I know that this pretty much is a repeat of every method talked about in this thread. But I wanted to outline it again using the app. names basically to allow for anyone who replies to maybe list some alternatives to the apps. I have chosen. Like, what other apps can be used to accomplish what I am trying to do above? And also, if I store the game in ISO format on the HDD, will HDloader be able to read them or will it just read a fully unpacked ISO?
One more thing. I just yesterday used DVD Decrypter to make a copy of my Call of Duty 3. But when I put the game into the drive to copy to the HD using HDloader I get an "invalid PS2 Disc" error. What can I be doing wrong?
Thanks again for all the help anyone provides.
ssjtiamat
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Member
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9. December 2006 @ 03:23 |
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Do you use any instant messaging programs such as AIM/MSN/Yahoo/IRC? I would be willing to walk you through getting backups to work on your PS2 if you are still having trouble.
I don't have experience with playing backups using HDLoader so I can't help you with that, however I do I have experience with the exploit + swap method. You stated that you have the exploit running on your PS2, so I assume you are using uLaunchELF or a similar file manager and executable launcher. You will need to get CogSwap Loader and CDLoader ELF files which are available at http://www.exploitstation.com/index.php?page=elfs these programs will stop the disc from spinning and allow you to swap in your backup disc.
In order to play a backup disc, do the following:
1) Run CogSwap Loader, by executing the ELF file
2) Hit the eject button
3) Insert an original PS2 game with a high TOC (check http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/182717 for a list of TOC sizes, general rule of thumb is that you want your original PS2 game to be larger than the backup you are swapping it with)
4) When the screen text changes, to ?psx cdrom?, ?ps2 cdrom? or ?ps2 dvdrom?, depending on what you inserted, press X if you inserted a DVD and O if you inserted a CD.
5) After a few seconds, the screen will say 'Use cogswap'. Now use your homemade swap tool to release the tray and swap the disc. Remember to pull the pin back to place after. Then press X.
NOTE: Occasionally games will not work with one loader, so you must try using others such as CDLoader or Swap Magic (if you look around in the forums at SKSapps you can find an ELF version of SM). The swapping procedures outlined above are exactly the same when using these other loaders. Sometimes you may find games will not load with any loader, should that happen I would try rebuilding the .ISO with Gnie's ExPERT v1.05. You will also need to convert any DVD9 (dual-layer) games to DVD5 (standard DVD capacity), look for search for RipKits for the specified game at ps3news.com and/or check out alkohol's guide on rebuilding DVD9 games to DVD5 (http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/5/275350)
Good Luck!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. December 2006 @ 03:44
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mikesho
Newbie
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9. December 2006 @ 15:45 |
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I feel we are in the same boat. Ive searched forever on this subject only to find its just not working.
Ive got a few hd's , winhiip and have loaded in the hd loader bios or whatever the heck winhiip does to my multiple hd's.
I turn on my ps2 and nothing. I check browse , dont see anything and so on. What should I be loading or doing.
I have the network adapter , ps2 v1 just like you and just cant find the info to get me going. I dont want to spend anymore money either since im tight on funds and would like to do this as free as possible.
What do we do. I have aim. SuperHondav2000 , aim me.
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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10. December 2006 @ 20:41 |
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Originally posted by orthogonl:
In order to play a backup disc, do the following:
1) Run CogSwap Loader, by executing the ELF file
2) Hit the eject button
3) Insert an original PS2 game with a high TOC (check http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/182717 for a list of TOC sizes, general rule of thumb is that you want your original PS2 game to be larger than the backup you are swapping it with)
4) When the screen text changes, to ?psx cdrom?, ?ps2 cdrom? or ?ps2 dvdrom?, depending on what you inserted, press X if you inserted a DVD and O if you inserted a CD.
5) After a few seconds, the screen will say 'Use cogswap'. Now use your homemade swap tool to release the tray and swap the disc. Remember to pull the pin back to place after. Then press X.
WOW! Thanks. First of all, thanks for the willingness to walk me thru it via IM. Very cool of ya! Secondly, the step by step you outline here is very helpful. Sure I have seen similar stuff in some FAQ's and TUT's here and there. But when it is laid out specifically tailored to my situation it is alot more helpful and easier to grasp.
I WILL try your method using CogSwap! I hope it works. I will also get a SW .elf - I wasn't aware that using an ELF version of SW would work. Thought you needed the 'pressed' disc. Oh well... that's even better! I will update you on my progress as I will make this attempt tomorrow.
The info and time you put into the reply is greatly appreciated. And looks to be the case for not just me, but for mikesho as well. Thanks again and I will be sure to post a result of my attempts as soon as possible.
ssjTiamat
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--------------------------UPDATE-------------------------------------
*********************************************************************
IT WORKED!! Holy S#$@t!!
I can't believe it! Thank you. I'm just amazed because of all the damn work I put into this little "project" and all the working "theories" I had and read and tried, that after all that - your simple 5 step procedure worked without a hitch! All I can say is THANK YOU! And I am glad that this is a forum that does not flame or degrade. But rather quite the contrary!
Thank You orthogonl!! Your "Da Bomb!"
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 10. December 2006 @ 22:32
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Member
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11. December 2006 @ 01:10 |
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Your welcome. Far too many times, I will write out a lengthy, comphrensive response for others, only to not know whether they were able to succesfully solve their problem. I'm glad to hear you've got it working now! :)
If you demonstrate that you have given some thought before posting, we're more than willing to help when you ask the right way. Trust us, we will be able to tell from your questions how much reading and thinking you did, and we will be more willing to help if you come prepared. I could tell from your post you were not a lazy sponge and wasting people's time. I enjoy answering questions for people who have demonstrated they can learn from the answers.
I primarily use CogSwap Loader when loading my backup discs, because it loads almost instantly in comparison to Swap Magic 3.8 coder which has a splash screen (call me impatient but I don't like waiting an extra 1-3 seconds if I don't have to). For the few games that don't work with CogSwap, I will resort to trying CDLoader/Swap Magic.
It's true you can't run a backup of Swap Magic on an unmodified console, however the exploit allows you to run homebrew software and thus the Swap Magic ELF (an ELF file is basically PS2's file format for executables) can be run. Technically, with the exploit you would be able to run a backup of a Swap Magic disc now using CogSwap Loader, however that would involve more swaps--which is why I am suggesting you to use the respective ELF versions of these applications.
If you have any future problems with backups check out the PS2 DVD Backup forum, myself among others will gladly try to help if you have any problems.
In regards to playing games off the HD using HDLoader, maybe reading this will help: http://forum.somethingawful.com/showthre...hreadid=1883489 (you can skip beginning, most of it covers running the exploit, which you have done already). Again, I can't help you much in this area because I haven't done it before... I've been meaning to try it, but I don't have an extra hard drive laying around :'(
Good Luck!
EDIT: You might want to check out http://www.blackcats-games.net later, it's a good private site for torrents and stuff (tracker & website is currently down though, it should be back up soon). Registrations are open until January. It has a nice amount of PS2-related content, meaning you just won't just find the latest releases there but older stuff too. Just remember to SEED back what you have taken or you will be promptly banned :) Also I noticed in one of your previous posts, you mentioned that you played BF2. From time to time I still play the demo version of the game (I don't own the retail version), maybe we can play sometime, I'm a mean chopper pilot on Gulf of Oman I swear :P
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. December 2006 @ 02:55
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ssjtiamat
Newbie
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11. December 2006 @ 12:40 |
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Hey, Thanks. I always appreciate honest to goodness work myself vs. anything that is a cheap shortcut. Don't get me wrong - shortcuts are in essence what we are all trying to accomplish. But taking a shortcut without first fully understanding the full path is why a few "rotten apples" can always ruin a good thing for the rest of us. So I completely agree with you.
Thanks again for the assistance. I am the type of person to return the favor to the community should the need arise. And now that these forumjs have become usefull, there is no reason for me to not stick around. So I'm sure I will see ya in the forums from time to time.
Yea.. playing BF2 with my son actually. If only the guys he plays with on the server knew he was 7 they would have a heart attack, "WTF! He's 7!! There's no way he is that good - must be hackin!!" LOL I love watching him play. But yea.. I go by the same alias that I use in these forums. Use it for everything. Had it since I was 12 - I'm now 32! So safe to say that if you see ssjTiamat anywhere on the net, it be me :D
Thanks again. Really appreciate the help! Take care! I'll lookout for ya!
ssj out!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. December 2006 @ 12:46
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