Crystal Chip and HDD, a little help please.

[mdgil]

I too finally got the setup that I wanted to work... well almost.
I can auto load HDL8b and even made my own HDL8b with the settings/options I wanted (lock down HDL menu for children/others). The only problems that I see now is to configure the APPINFO.PBT to load it from the CC 2.0 SLE. (If that is needed) and secondly when I do run HDL it ask me to choose from three 'modes' for it to run in. That is the problem. I want it to autorun from BM ...which it does(from MC right now)... but I still need to select a HDL 'mode' and that defeats the autoload into HDL with no user intervention that I am looking for. Could it be the settings that I chose when I built my custom version of HDL?

[mdgil]

Also as a side note.... I think that I would like to try my hand at writing a tutorial on this very subject. [How do I get a HDD or anything running with the Crystal Chip?]. The reason is because the Wiki was down and some good information is/was not available. I spent three days (one from 8pm to 6am) searching tutorials and post. I did come along but it was like using duct take to fix a hole in an airplane. The information is very much out there but it is so fragmented that I had to jot down bits and pieces of important information (ex. Crystal partition needs to be Crystal and even needs to exist, file must be in CAPS, there needs to be a BM directory on the root of USB disk or media. and so on) Ha ha these three examples took me days to track down and figure out. Some tutorials told me to just launch ULE then do this.... but I was stuck at how to launch ULF hahahaa. Good information came from you guys when we did ask for help.

I am not complaining but am offering a solution to probably a lot of repeated request for the same information. Since I am very much a newbie I hope I can write one from a newbie’s’ eyes. One that assumes that a person reading it has no clue about anything. Actually... that was me! I had the CC2.0 put in and ran the firmware and BM disk ... I then sat back and said..."now what?"
For everyone’s who helped ... THANK YOU. This was actually the deciding factor for me to get a CC because of the active support. I just hope that I can give something back to some poor SOB that was in my shoes.

[Jones23]

so I made my HDD crystal partition 100% of the HDD. now thoug using HDloader from the disk it trying to read/write direct to the HDD main parition. is there a way to load HDLoader to the crystal partition and read /write to that partition (im testing out by trying ot backup one of my games to the hdd.

The Crystal partition can only be used for Apps, so it's pretty useless to make it bigger than 128MB. If you make the complete drive the Crystal partition you can't install any games, cause they need free space on the HDD. Each game is installed to a single partition and HDL needs a partition for it's settings. Make the Crystal partition as small as possible to maximize the space for games and other things.

I too finally got the setup that I wanted to work... well almost.
I can auto load HDL8b and even made my own HDL8b with the settings/options I wanted (lock down HDL menu for children/others). The only problems that I see now is to configure the APPINFO.PBT to load it from the CC 2.0 SLE. (If that is needed) and secondly when I do run HDL it ask me to choose from three 'modes' for it to run in. That is the problem. I want it to autorun from BM ...which it does(from MC right now)... but I still need to select a HDL 'mode' and that defeats the autoload into HDL with no user intervention that I am looking for. Could it be the settings that I chose when I built my custom version of HDL?

You're using the advanced APPINFO.PBT script from Yoc which let's you choose the "runmode". Just use the standard :RUN section in your APPINFO.PBT.

Change all of this:

:RUN
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ with SHUTDOWN" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ with the SHUTDOWN Option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "1"
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ with autoload of drivers ON" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ with the AUTOLOAD_FSD_EN option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "2"
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ without any option" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ without any option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "0"
	RETURN 0

:RUN_WITH_OPTION
	ECHO "$ARG2$"
	SWITCH "$ARG2$"
		CASE 1
		#SHUTDOWN
			ECHO "SHUTDOWN"
			SHUTDOWN "MM"
			BREAK
		CASE 2
		#DRIVERS
			ECHO "DRIVERS"
			SET "BM.AUTOLOAD_FSD_EN" "0"
			BREAK
		CASE 0
			DEFAULT
			ECHO "NONE"
			BREAK
	ENDS
	
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/HDL.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

to this:

:RUN
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/HDL.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

to get rid of the "runmodes".

best regards Jones23

[oz-]

Thanks again Jones.

I re setup the HDD i used 512MB by mistake but i really don't think its going to hurt anything. I still have about 36.5 gig left after the CC partition and mbr . Now I jsut need ot get a few apps on the system.

HDLoader and SNES Station (just the app, the roms can stay on DVD)

hopefully oneday we figure out a way to make apps write ot the HDD as files not partitions so the entire drive can run from crystal chip BM and access games apps and the lot it would open up a whole new list of possabilities.

Assuming one has say the HDLoader 8b CD how does one make it install to the HDD thru BM so i can use BM to boot up HDLoader?

[Hoyt]

Download one of the CC packs you see listed in the stickies. You can load it from a USB key or just burn it to a CD. Tell BM you want to install an app FROM whatever drive or device the pack is on TO the HDD.

I think keeping a small partition for BM is fine because HDLoader can then take care of the game launching and UlaunchElf can be the file manager. After you play with it a while it will make more sense to you.

[oz-]

aye mate I think I understand it now, but.. i have the essential pack which doesn't include the HDLoader, but has it set up for the HDLoader i add the HDLoader 8b elf to the setup renaming it HDLOADER.ELF but it still isnt seen.

[Jones23]

HD Loader should be displayed in BM, no matter if there's an ELF or not. BM only needs the APPINFO.PBT to display Apps in the App Browser, it dosn't check if there's an ELF present. There must be something else wrong with the way you set it up. Check the paths again and make sure everything is in capitol letters.

best regards Jones23

[oz-]

hmm, yeah everything looks right... I even opend the PBT and checked that out, it seems right (im using the exact setup fro mthe essential pack by YOC with the HDLOADER.ELF from the hdloader 8b cd.. (named HDLAODER.ELF of course. but yeah...

on a side note where about in germany are you jone? Never been there but always wanted to someday.

[mdgil]

Bingo... thank you... I will try that tonight. I am just starting to look over how to use/program those APPINFO.PBT files and you just saved me hours I am sure.

You're using the advanced APPINFO.PBT script from Yoc which let's you choose the "runmode". Just use the standard :RUN section in your APPINFO.PBT.

Change all of this:

:RUN
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ with SHUTDOWN" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ with the SHUTDOWN Option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "1"
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ with autoload of drivers ON" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ with the AUTOLOAD_FSD_EN option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "2"
	ADDWIDGET "CALL" "$TITLE$ without any option" "Launch the APP $TITLE$ without any option" "$ARG0$" "RUN_WITH_OPTION" "0"
	RETURN 0

:RUN_WITH_OPTION
	ECHO "$ARG2$"
	SWITCH "$ARG2$"
		CASE 1
		#SHUTDOWN
			ECHO "SHUTDOWN"
			SHUTDOWN "MM"
			BREAK
		CASE 2
		#DRIVERS
			ECHO "DRIVERS"
			SET "BM.AUTOLOAD_FSD_EN" "0"
			BREAK
		CASE 0
			DEFAULT
			ECHO "NONE"
			BREAK
	ENDS
	
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/HDL.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

to this:

:RUN
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/HDL.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

to get rid of the "runmodes".

best regards Jones23

[Jones23]

hmm, yeah everything looks right... I even opend the PBT and checked that out, it seems right (im using the exact setup fro mthe essential pack by YOC with the HDLOADER.ELF from the hdloader 8b cd.. (named HDLAODER.ELF of course. but yeah...

on a side note where about in germany are you jone? Never been there but always wanted to someday.

The folder structure must be BM/APPS/HDLOADER in the root of the device you wish to install from (e.g.: mass:/BM/APPS/HDLOADER).

I'm living in the Saarland, it's in the south-west next to France and Luxembourg.

Bingo... thank you... I will try that tonight. I am just starting to look over how to use/program those APPINFO.PBT files and you just saved me hours I am sure.

Every Texteditor can do it, the standard windows notepad is just fine. If you want to adjust an APPINFO.PBT for use with an other ELF you have to change the following sections:

SET "TITLE" "PS2Link"
SET "VERSION" "1.52"
SET "AUTHOR" "PS2DEV.org"
SET "DESC" "Run applications and transfer files over network."
SET "MEDIAS" ""

:INSTALL
    IF FAIL COPY "$PWD$" "$ARG2$:/BM/APPS/PS2LINK"
        MESSAGE "Failed installing $TITLE$!"
        RRM "$ARG2$:/BM/APPS/PS2LINK"
        RETURN -1
    ENDIF
    EXIT 0

:RUN
    REDIRFILE "$PWD$/IPCONFIG.DAT" "$BM.BM_PATH$/CONFIG/IPCONFIG.DAT"
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/PS2LINK.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

The REDIRFILE can be cut, some apps (e.g. uLE and SMS) require the SHUTDOWN "MM" like this:

:RUN
    SHUTDOWN "MM"
    LOADEXEC "PBAT" "$BM.SCRIPTS$/LOADEXEC.PBT" "$PWD$/SMS.ELF"
    EXIT "0"

best regards Jones23