USBUtil by ISEKO

[eustolio]

Tutorial USBUtil 1.1 version : part 1 (USBUtil by ISEKO) part 2 (USBUtil by ISEKO)
Tutorial USBUtil 2.0 version is attached in htm format.

English and Spanish USBUtil by ISEKO is Attached .

[Bootlegninja]

I hope you don't mind, but I copied your post to here and made it a sticky so people can find your app easier.

[eustolio]

Ok Bootle........here first part of the USButil tutorial by ISEKO.

Tutorial/ faq USBUtil free version
Author: Israel Ravelo hernández (P.R., Cuba)
Traslator: DrVonTennla


This software can be used and distributed free always making reference to the author.

What is USBUtil?

- USButil is a tool to create and manipulate games which can be played with USBExtreme or USBAdvance on Playstation 2.



How and Where you can use USBUtil?

- This software runs on Windows and can be executed from any folder or root, flash memory or external hard-drive. The already concerted games can be copied or saved in any destination with enough capacity. You can also create games for any platform using ISOs or game backups (this option concerns the possibility of keeping the biggest amount of compatibility, due to with USBExtreme directly from disc some games are imposible to run but they from ISO they do, that option will make us to save the time we spent converting the game two times). USBUtils allows to convert several ISO(s) into games at consecutively, and next options as well: Copy, Move, Convert into ISO and Erase can be used on several games.

What does USBUtil need to work?

The software needs to work the game files already created with the configuration file( ul.cfg), or the creation of a new one across the ISO(s) or backup of our game cd/dvds .

OPTIONS MENU

File Options

-While opening the Menu in File, the FIRST option is Open Games, this option allows to open a game configuration ( ul.cfg), in which all the game information is contained installed inside the selected root or directory, shown in the same USButil window. For details check imagens 1 and 3.

-The SECOND option is Open ISO to Create game, it allows several ISO(s) at the same time, the games will be created from an origin to a destination, inside that destination can already exist games or not, if they already exist, the new games will be added to the list; if not, they will be created; if the list where the already created or copied games is being used (Memory) it will be updated automatically. Inside destination window there are two important indicators, one is Games, which can be Yes/No depending on the existence of games inside destination.. The other indicator is Destination Space which indicates the availabity of space inside destination, USBUtil indicates automatically the availabity of space inside destination, if there is not enough space the user will be informed. The old option of choosing Way is now automated and is realized across the size, if the size is 700 mb or lower it will be treated as CD, if it is more than 700mb, DVD; in fact this option is not important to execute a game, it can be variated as you wish, USBUtil detects if it will be indicated as CD, creating a mark with the symbol * in the Indicated Media. For details check image 2 and forward

Image 1 (Open Games option), we just search for the ul.cfg file, select it and press Load button



Note: in every directory window a button with the Act letter exists, same is used to upgrade the units, directories and files, without exit the software.


Imagen 2 (Open ISO option to Create Game): check the mentioned indicators, after search and select an ISO file press create.




-The THIRD option is Close ul.cfg, to close and free the memory list, with this option you can reset all the software buttons and in the menu only the next options can be used: Open (Open Game, Open ISO to create game and Exit), in Tools (Recover game), Help (all options).


-FOURTH and last option Exit, it allows to exit USBUtil, inside this option and the precedent one there is no need to save any change, just because the software automatically upgrades all the changes made in ul.cfg y ul-old.cfg, in the moment the action is done.

Image 3 (Screen of USBUtil with a game list already loaded in memory), check also all the information given for each game, this version was completed with extra fast information, which is shown clicking on the name of the game of the list.



Tools Options

- The FIRST and only free action for Tools at the beginning is Recover games, due to the importance of it we will explain all the useful points.

Image 4 (Game Recovering window). Check the indicator.



When clicking on it a window will pop up (check image 4), in which the unit and directory are shown to pick for the recovery action, a Yes/No indicator will tell if a game can be recover or not.

If the indicator says Yes, next step for recovery will be accessible, all this process runs fast, but the analysis inside it is a little bit more complicated. We will explain some cases to have an idea of the obtained result.

Something about the file format for USBExtreme.

- You have to know that each game (all its pieces) is encoded with the name of it and a unique CRC code is generated, which is located in each separated piece of the game, each piece has the size of 1 Gb, also the name of the region and the piece is added to the CFC (example SLUS_202.38), plus the number or ul.19CD2568.SLUS_202.38.00, depending on the number of pieces and the size of the game.

Every time USBUtil has to recover a game, it must generate a name and its CRC, it must be also unique inside the file directory where the game will be recovered.

We have to make this clear because the software sometimes skip the sequence of recovered games GAME1, GAME2,Â…, GAME$, GAME5 and we cant figure out why this happens, its only with the GAME3 name, it was already encoded and it exist already inside the directory.

This game name will be renamed lately with other name, staying this name free for a new game, which lately in the next recovery will appear for sure.

What does USBUtil do when the configuration files ul.cfg y ul-old.cfg get lost?

USBUtil will recover all the games entirely, but these games must be completed 100%, (no pieces missing). The incomplete games will not be recovered and in order to obtain them a re-installation will be required. Keep an eye on the games the software mark as in bad conditions, and status, region and/or code appear inside the brackets [] some points, this is indicating the user that the game can not be recovered and the point is saying which part is missing. For sure you can restore the space or just erase it. The recovered games be run by Playstation, to recognize their real names, but the easiest way is to reinstall them all again.

On the opposite, if an ul-olg.cfg exist while the recovering moment everything changes, because across it all the ul.cfg can be recovered, or at least a part of itself, and these recovered games will have their old names.

[eustolio]

Second part of the USButil tutorial by ISEKO

USBUtil Rule

USBUtil requires to generate a name to search inside each ul.cfg, ul-old.cfg, existing configuration, due to it needs to assure thta if the name of the game already exists, it has firstly be recovered in order to create a new one.

Thats why is so important the ul-old.cfg or its copy, it allows us to recover the real name or the old one, it is kind of a reservation; so to keep it must be a priority for each them and for USBUtil as well., so from this version and so on the ul-old.cfg will be a hiden file and a prtected read only file.

Some other recovery cases which require atention:

Inside the ul.cfg there is all the games information, each game has its own field, if it is altered the game will not work anymore.
How can we solve this issue?
In most of the cases it can be solve with USBUtil easily, across any realised operation which requires the modification of the field inside the ul.cfg, like Rename, Order os Recover, in most of this cases USBUtil detects what is wrong, but keep an eye on this: This will be indicated inside the [ ] of all the completed parts; for example [123], there are no dots so we know that the field for this game was altered inside its ul.cfg, with the exception of the field's name, because since it is encoded, if it is altered for all the programs, the game pieces will not exist anymore and USBUtil will generate a new name when it has to recovere it again.

When the procces ends the recovery, the user will be asked if he wants to load the list on whcih the recovery was made, you can use this option if it is your will.

Trick to recover

Remember the rule for USBUtil when recovering, never generate a new name without finding before the real one, we can take this in our advantage if our configuration files (ul.cfg y ul-old.cfg), have been erased, before recovering them we can check if we have some missing ul.cfg or ul-old.cfg somewhere, not necessary the same we had befor, any of those two will be useful, also some friend who have share a game and can give us a copy will be useful, because we will keep a lot of time without the necessity of changing the names; USBUtil will take information it needs about those files to recover (if the games keep the names we had before).
When all the names have been recovered qe can proceed to erase the rest, if it was a ul.cfg it will be marked as in bad condition, if it was the ul-old.cfg it will not apear anymore.

Well at this point you should know how the software works, begginers should and understand the new applications to work with USBUtil.

- The SECOND option for Tools is the Copy record, it is very simple, you only need to press Clear when the record is opened automatically and the operation of Copy/Move or Create was cancelled, the other options is to be able to see how the process ended and in which direction it was made; I have also add the option of mark and erase everythiong you want, if you are not sure just follow the recomendations. For more deatils check image 5.

- The THIRD and last option for Tools is General Information, which gives information about the games in memory and the hard-drive unit in use. It was alse added a list with all the regions or zones used in the games. For more details check image 6.

Image 5 (Copy recor view), note thaa <MARKED> indicates which contents will be erased.



Image 6 (General Information View), detail about the games and hard-disc capacity used.



Help Options

The help options are: Help, About the Software and List of some games, the only which I will make some comments is the last one due to its importance for the work with USBUtil.

The last help option, List of some games is very important, here ayou will know which games will run and which not and also you can keep a record about your own results, thta will be useful to keep working time in the future.
Here you have a record with all the games tested untill now, this list was upgraded thank to EUSTOLIO from www.scenespain.net, USBUtil with this option creates a new way to work easily with the compatibility list of games for USBExtreme or USBAdvance, because from this software game names van be added and modified´and also a search otion for sentence, word or character has be implemented as well which will make it faster.

Add Option: Shows a window where you can write 50 characters, you can start with the name of the game and the add some extra info, for the comentary you want to add; you can add also if the game works or not, if some DNAS were changed, you only need the number of them to know which ones they were.

On the lower side there are three options to click, they show the adds fotr the mentioned issues before. You can only select one of them, the first selection wil tell if the game works with USBExtreme/USBAdvance, the second one, the DNAS which have to been modified in order to make the game work, and the third one will indicate if the game was tested and doesnt work. For more detail check image 7.

Image 7 (To add a game you just have to wite its name/information, click on the status of it and select Add).



The names of the games will be added by alphabetical order and automatically copied to the disc.
Modification option follows the same way, but it allows to modificate the existing content, and about Erase and Close, one allows to erase a name from the game list (for this option) and the other close and exit to the main menu.

Use Buttons (Main Menu)

There are 8 Use Buttons in the Main Menu: Cop./Mov., Select, Order, Rename, Eliminate, Rest. Spc., ISO Conv. and Reload, all of them allows to work directly with the list of games already loaded in memory.

Important for all uses:
The following options Copy/Move/Create have something in common, and to avoid this TUTORIAL to be too long and boring I will explain here how to use them:

- In destination there will be always an space indicator and a
game existance indicato, if the option carries it. Also you need to know
that if there is no space no operation will be allowed.

- When a Copy/Move or Create action to destination a window will pop up,
indicating re-write or skip if the content already exists.

- Bad conditions games will not allow these options, not even
to re-name.

- When some file is skipped in any of these operations, it will be
un-selected from list, staying marked only teh ones which were really used.

Next step is to explain which use has each button:

Button Copy/Move: Allows to Copy/Move the archive/s selected from memory to destination, in the Copy/Move window you can create a new directory if needed. For more detail check image 8.

Image 8 (check here all the current indicators)



Button Select: Allows to make a selection between games in memor, to be processed, there are 4 predefined ways to select:

- Select all the games in status GOOD.
- Select all the games in status BAD.
- Select the oposite of the current selection.
- Select all.

Button Order: Allows to organize the gamne list in memory and in disc, the configuration files ul.cfg and ul-old.cfg are upgraded automatically.

Button Rename. Allows to rename the game under the selection bar, this option as well as the one before upgrades automatically the configuration files.

Button Eliminate: Alllows to erase the file/s from the memory and/or disc. Note thta after using this option the games can not be recovered.

Button Sp. Rest.: Allows to restore missing spaces due to incomplete games, games whcih stayed keeping space after being erased (so common with USBExtreme) or parts of the games which couldnt be recovered. USBUtil intends that your work should be as clean as posible, and this option is a cleaning complement for anything which can remain in disc, no fear in using it but be careful, never write .ul at the begining of any PC file name or in any game directory, looks silly but there is always someone who makes that mistake.

Myself the author is not responsible of any mistake commited (keep an eye on this) after using this option no game can be recovered, also I make clear thta this option has no efect on any game in GOOD condition. Check image 9 for more details.

Image 9 (In order to restore space, some game garbage must exist, on the opposite if there us not such contentthis option will not be available).



Button Iso. Conv.: Allow the game inside the list to be converted back into ISOs, it is the inverse process to create a game for USBAdvvance or USBExtreme, this option is useful if you wish to burn a game in a CD/DVD, you just have to use this option and after thta use an utility such as Nero, UltraISO, ISOBuster or Alcohol 120.
For more details check image 10.

Image 10 (Check all the indicators and keep in mind the precaution ptotocol given before).



Button Reload: Allows to reload or refresh the game list in memory, taking it from disc.

Here you are all the options available for USBUtil ver 1.01. If you have some doubts please check the Help option attached to the software.

Comments about USBUtil (The Author)

- USBUtil ver 1.01 was created for personal purposes, to improve the workfor create and manipulating games for USBAdvance and USBExtreme.

- USBUtil ver 1.01 is created like an utility to be donated to www.scenespain.net and for help everyone who needs this tool can free access to it. In this version a new method for treatment of the game compatibility list for USBAdvance/USBExtreme, whcih thanks to our friend EUSTOLIO from the web could be completed on time.

USBUtil Future

- In next version 2.0 new options will be implemented which will allow the user to work with more options and chances, at the moment we will keep what we publicite at the end of this TUTORIAL, in my opinion surprises are nice.

Greetings

First of all to SceneSpain, because across this web the software will reach you all.

To all the friends from the web forum:, YAKO, eustolio and DrVonTennla (traslator to english TUTORIAL), they will publicite the news about this software.

Friends from my country:

Thanks to: Alejandro, Leonardo, Amaury, Pedro and the rest, their opinions and commenta have been really useful.

************************************************** *********************************

[dlanor]

Second part of the USButil tutorial by ISEKO

USBUtil Rule

USBUtil requires to generate a name to search inside each ul.cfg, ul-old.cfg, existing configuration, due to it needs to assure thta if the name of the game already exists, it has firstly be recovered in order to create a new one.

I agree, but this only applies to the ongoing installation job (or job batch if/when that is implemented).

Edit: Earlier I raised another question too here, but disregard that (if you saw it), as it was just a misunderstanding.

Thats why is so important the ul-old.cfg or its copy, it allows us to recover the real name or the old one, it is kind of a reservation; so to keep it must be a priority for each them and for USBUtil as well., so from this version and so on the ul-old.cfg will be a hiden file and a prtected read only file.

Here I must protest.
Protecting the file may seem called for, if you really choose not to trust the users...

But hiding a file is NEVER called for, and will cause me to never use those versions of the program. The only programs I and many others would expect to 'hide' some files are the operating system core utilities and viruses, and since your program is not an operating system part we'd have to treat it like the other kind...

It's nothing against you or your program, but I and many others simply will not tolerate programs that hide filesystem objects from the user. It's that simple.

Also, I really can't agree with the reasoning !

The file "ul.cfg" itself completely defines the existing setup at any given time, except during an ongoing installation session, so the only time when "ul-old.cfg" serves any purpose at all is during such an ongoing session. Once the session is over that file is no longer relevant, since the "ul.cfg" file then again is reliably holding the complete and stable state of the game installation. In fact "ul-old.cfg" really should be a temporary file, created at the start of an installation job/batch, and deleted again when that job/batch is completed, as the "ul.cfg" content is then again complete and stable.

Yet, if that "ul-old.cfg" really was so permanently important as stated, then it would be all the more important not to hide it, because if it is hidden then it will not be included when/if the user copies an entire setup from one drive to another (using normal Explorer commands).

Summing up:
The 'hidden' file status should never be used by USBUtil (nor any other decent program)

Edit:
Protecting the file may be done if you wish, but I see no useful purpose to it.
The user should realize that he is not to interfere with files appearing during an installation,
and if a user still removes it during an installation session, then he only has himself to blame.

Btw:
If you feel that this post stands in the way of more tutorials, just let us know and I (or another moderator) will remove it.

Best regards: dlanor

[eustolio]

Ok dlanor, will contact with ISEKO for this question (it has limitations of network in its country).

He is working in version 2.0 and is a good moment to solve bugs and to add new functionsÂ….

Thanks.

[Scooter]

Great Tut. Eusto..

Keep up the great work..
Looking forward to new releases to keep the scene alive..

Later,
Scooter

[JoeTorres]

What's new
==========

ISO/GAMES Options
-------------------
- Extract ISO images form CD/DVD with more compatibility.
- DNAS/IOPRP patch.
- Edit/Read ul.cfg (game configurator)
- New ul.cfg recovering method, no need to use ul-old.cfg.
- AUTO/MANUAL settings (enable, disable, match) for video files and others. Video formats:
MPC, MPG, M2V, PS2, PSS, PSV, SFD, NFX this will improve the speed in some USB games, also it has the ability of real-time ISO/GAME modifications, no need to recompile and the ability to restore the game to its original state.
- Set file asociations inside the ISO/GAME for editing, playing back and other modifications, then integrate the files to ISO/GAME.
- Checking ISO/GAME structure option to detect errors.
- Inject files to ISO/GAME option, no need to recompile.
- Extract any file from ISO/GAME to a specified directory.
- Ripping GAMES option (according to a applied configuration)
- Some other options.

Original changelog by ISEKO team, translation by JoeTorres AKA eArThWoRm

[vampiricbunny]

can sombody give me a dirtect link to the new one that comes out in march i only get to use computer 1 time every 3 weeks if i get lucky so need some help when i get new computer i will upload tons of stuff free if u help me out thanks

( only english products ) can only read english

[amp2006]

check the first page thats the latest version till now