I am looking into modding my PS2, but do have a few questions and thought I should get as much knowledge as I could before I spend any money.
First I will start with some information about my PS2. It is a slim model, specifically SCPH-75001. It is just a normal PS2, nothing special done to it at all.
I was looking at Swap Magic with the flip top and was pretty much just about to buy it, but then I wandered across FMCB. From what I have read about it FMCB seems like it is better, but I do have some questions about it.
Will I be able to play backed-up PS1 games with it using ESR? And can I use DVD-R or will have I to get CD's for PS1 games? (And if so, CD-R or a different format?)
With the PS2 Slim can I run games off of my 500gb external hard drive (USB) somehow, or will I just need to stick with discs?
Also; I was wondering if there is any way that I can get FMCB on my PS2 memory card without having to buy anything, and if I do have to buy anything, what method do you think is the easiest/cheapest to get FMCB on my memory card.
Just one more question about memory cards; is there any way that I can use a flash drive or external hard drive to make game saves.. or is there any reliable PS2 memory card bigger than 8MB?
I appreciate any help that I get; thanks in advance.
I love these type of questions, because I have been in your shoes, and I have done tutorials (both videos and text) to tackle the issues you are trying to solve right now.
1) PSX games - You need to load them using PSXLauncher. Read the guide below. The problem is I am using free mcboot, so you need to install free mcboot. However, you cannot install free mcboot without having a third party tool. In certain cases, there are websites where if you send in your memory card and pay the shipping both ways, the user will format your MC card for free. I have done a few myself, but only for domestic USA customers.
Seems shady I suppose, but if you have faith then its a great system. See my PSX backup guide on a Slim here:
3) To install free mcboot, you have to have a 3rd party tool. Either you buy swap magic 3.6 online, or you find someone to mod your memory card free of charge and you pay shipping both ways. There are people at psx-scene.net that run this service as an example.
4) You can use memory cards larger than 8MB if you desire. When I run out of space, I just move my save game files from memory card to a usb thumb drive as a backup.
I hope this helps. Exploiting the PS2 is easy once you know how everything works.
