Xploder & HDloader

[wizzofozz]

Hi,

yesterday I bought HDLoader but my PS2 did not recognize it as an
playstation disk ('please insert a ps or ps2 format disk').
To check whether my PS2 could actually still read CD's I inserted
the Xploder cheat disk into my PS2. It loaded fine (with the 'scotch tape
trick'). When it prompted me to insert a game I inserted the HDloader disk
and it loaded fine (with some noise). I tried it a few more times and my
conclusion is;
if I insert HDLoader directly into the PS2 the PS2 does not recognize it.
If I insert HDLoader through XPloder cheat system it loads fine !

Could anyone explain this behaviour ? Does the Xploder software use an
alternative way to load CD's as oposed to the PS2 firmware (?) ?
Moreover, does this behaviour help in diagnosing the problem which I have
using the HDLoader CD directly (I mean, the lens should be fine, otherwise it wouldn't load through Xploder also, right ?)?

Thanx for any suggestions

[Unfinity]

Are you using an NTSC version on a PAL PS2 without a modchip? If so, it's not going to boot on it's own due to regional protection.

[wizzofozz]

Are you using an NTSC version on a PAL PS2 without a modchip? If so, it's not going to boot on it's own due to regional protection.

I checked the label and it says PAL, so that should be allright.
However, is there a way I can check this by reading raw data of the
disk directly (I mean, I can create an image and have a look with
a hexeditor but then I need some kind of description of the filesystem,
I suppose ...) ?