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Making a PS2 Utility Disc
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wiredbojo
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27. August 2006 @ 01:33 |
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PS2 Utility disc walkthrough
Why?
Many people store .ELF files and other things on their memory cards or hard drives. Many .ELF programs are simple and as such can run like this. However too many .ELF files take up lots of room on Memory cards, and kill the space for saved games (8mb is very small). This was an attempt to make a self-contained disc, that minimized space on the memory card, and could run on any ps2 regardless of what is previously installed.
Who?
This is aimed at people who have a modchip . I cannot see how Exploit users will benefit from this guide, as they are stuck with their mem cards anyway. It could be possible that this guide may work with Hdadvance/Loader, but it is unlikely. However, anyone can benefit from reading it, as it will help show you how to burn a DVD (cd?) that will work on the ps2, and how to setup that cd to run multiple .ELFs.
What you will need?
1)A playstation 2 (modded)
2)Nero burning rom (any dvd burning program should suffice, though it needs the ability to make your own discs)
3)uLaunchelf (there are many different versions of this program, google it)
Optional
1)hard drive and network adapter (not required but i will add how to use these in)
2)hdavance/hdloader
3)HDL_dump server
4)various other applications you will like eg. I used
1.DMS format utility
2.PS2 reality media player pro
3.SnesEmu (HDD edition)
4.ExecFTP (not needed at all however, ulaunch does it aswell)
5.Pgen (hdd edition?, mine isnt but u should get that one if you have a hdd)
6.Roms/Movies to run on Pgen Snes and media player.
Making the Disc
1)Download all the programs you will use
2)Extract these into an easy to access place (eg, C:\PS2disc\)
3)Create a Apps directory (eg. C:\PS2disc\Apps\)
4)Put the programs .elf files and other things in the Apps directory *
5)Put the ulaunch.elf file in the root of the ps2disc directory ( i prefer to rename it to BOOT.ELF as well) *
6)Create extra directories for ROMS and MOVIES if applicable (not required)
7)Create a SYSTEM.CNF file in the root directory (eg. C:\PS2disc\SYSTEM.CNF)
1.This SYSTEM.CNF file is what the ps2 reads when it boots the disc.
2.To make it, create a new text document in notepad.
3.It should contain;
BOOT2= cdrom0:\BOOT.ELF;1
VER= 1.00
VMODE= PAL
NOTE: BOOT.ELF is the name of ulaunch.elf ( i just always rename it)
VER= 1.00 seems to have little use, just copy what i have
VMODE=PAL should match your TV, from my experience NTSC and PAL settings dont change here, but that may be from my modchip changing it
4.Make sure it is saved as SYSTEM.CNF and is in that root directory
: Some programs may not like running from a /Apps/ directory, for these programs, placing it
root of the disc is fine, Apps just makes things neater, and easier to select through a filebrowser
Setting up ulaunchelf
1)In the root directory, make sure u have ULAUNCH.CNF (it should have come with ulaunchelf)
2)Setting it up is pretty self-explanitory.
1.cdfs:/Apps/HDadvance.elf is the path to launch Hdadvance.elf from the Apps directory mentioned earlier.
2.Mc0:/Sys-conf/Hdadvance.elf launches it from mem card 1, folder sys-conf
3.mass0:/ is usb flash drive.
4. Hdd0:/ is the hdd, though i cant provide in depth usage of it.
3)Remember to correctly set the resolution for your TV, with PAL or NTSC and interlace settings(Failure to do so can result in parts of ulaunch missing)
4)Init_CDVD_Check = 1 (Make sure this is set to one, if it isn't, your ulaunch settings will not be read of the dvd, though you can still have ones setup on the Mem Card)
5)Make sure this is saved in the root directory
Burning the CD/DVD
In this case i burnt a dvd. I did this for 2 reasons, 1) My ps2 does not like reading burnt cds, while it has no problems with dvds 2) I had lots of data 4gb+. I would advise getting lots of junk to put on and the elfs to read it. Though a cd should just work.
1)Start Nero
2)UDF/ISO project keep settings as defaults
3)Add SYSTEM.CNF first
4)Add ULAUNCH.CNF next
5)Add BOOT.ELF (or what your ulaunch is called)
6)Add the other folders etc.*
7)Burn the DVD
:If a App contains many folders etc (Not just an .elf) I would add all the folders and the elf itself at this point in time. Also i add an IPCONFIG.DAT file in as well. Most networking programs require one specifying the ip addresses and Gateways. In notepad the format is
IP SUBNET GATEWAY (eg. 192.168.0.60 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1)
What you have accomplished
You now have a disc that has multiple utilities on it. Ulaunchelf also has a few awesome features about it. It can;
launch .ELF files
Read USB devices (flash drives)
Run a FTP server on your ps2
Read your hdd partitions (not games)
Browse through hdd cd and mem cards
and it can read files off your pc usint host:/ (Download Rad Host Client, google it :D)
This disc is extremely useful, as it will save you space on your memory card, or limit you to one disc. I have been using different variations for years (cdloader/dvdloader etc), but now uLaunchelf is advanced enough to simplify it all so that is why i made this guide.
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theridges
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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8. September 2006 @ 23:44 |
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Very Nice Tutorial but i would recommend putting pics for some visual help because even though you and I understand what we are reading most people dont but either way its a good Tutorial :)
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wiredbojo
Member
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9. September 2006 @ 02:55 |
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mm i thort no one realli cared about this and it kinda died off into the back pages of afterdawn
i was going to do pics, but i had alreadi nutted it all out for myself, and havent gone through the steps again. so it is a possibilty
you are of course, welcome to rewrite it with your own pics, and ill put them in the first post.
if i do, do pics, i will rewrite the games--->ps2 via ethernet again, the current one is dated and upon making this one, i relized there is a much simpler way of doing it
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Renatou
Newbie
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11. September 2006 @ 01:53 |
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hey guys I got a problem here:
All I wanted was store and input new Save Games in my MC, using my Pen/Mp3, but it doesnt work, I've tried Codebreaker but it doesnt show my Pen as active, then tried the Util Disc, it still doesnt recognize my pen, I wanna know if theres a way to "force" the ps2 to read the usb, or if theres a way to make the ps2 read the pen as a cd, I mean with a boot.elf into it, tried some CD-RW's but my ps2 refuses to read it, it works if I burn a cd/dvd-r but I dont wanna burn a cd-r everytime I want to put a new save game (from the web)
I know, need to try another brand Pen (cuz it might work) but I have none left here..
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wiredbojo
Member
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11. September 2006 @ 02:37 |
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i would just try a new pen.
if its deteceted as generic under windows it possibly will work with my disc and the AR one.
however if its not being seen, (plug it in then select usb on ulaunch)
then it must be the pen :(
sorri
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Renatou
Newbie
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11. September 2006 @ 05:29 |
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Jooooooooooo Man! I knew I could trust in my ol pen/mp3! after creating a disc with uLaunchELF 3.94 and going to mass/: it fuckin' finally worked, jeez I'm so happy, hours and hours of trying and cd-burning give me some results
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wiredbojo
Member
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11. September 2006 @ 06:06 |
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lol so i helped then?
and good i hope my disc helped :D
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MCEscher
Newbie
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13. September 2006 @ 20:48 |
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Thank you wiredbojo for such a great tutorial. I followed the instructions and made a CD. However, how do you save the settings you made for the next time you restart uLaunch? (The settings are reset when I restart it.)
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wiredbojo
Member
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14. September 2006 @ 00:15 |
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edit launchelf.CNF on your pc. thats where you store you settings. as it is read of the disc.
alternatively,
if u DO NOT INCLUDE launchelf.cnf on the disc, all your settings will be saved onto the memory card (REQUIRES SETUP on the ps2). file is small, only 10kb or so, and useful if u update other things lots.
hope that helps
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MCEscher
Newbie
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14. September 2006 @ 09:16 |
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Thank you very much for your help wiredbojo. Your comments definitely help. I understand what to do now.
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wiredbojo
Member
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15. September 2006 @ 03:40 |
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no worries.
i WILL rewrite the ps2 FTP stuff, for people without modchips. ill make lil piccies to etc.
ive just been rather busy, work, exams, i just spent an hour working on my car etc.
so the more demand for it, the more u guys will push me into it, so the quicker it will get done.
ps. im always here to help, i know how frustrating this stuff is.
Noobies, always feel free to PM
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