Bad flash for MI Clones

**k0k0daimon** · 06-10-2005,03:42 PM

I've been reading up on a lot of threads and I'm hoping if someone can clarify this for me:
1) MI firmware 1.45 and above do not work with clone chips. After flashing a clone, the chip is disabled due to bad firmware so the console behaves as an unmodded set?

2) UMCDR-enabled programs like launchelf can be run from unmodded consoles

3) Launchelf can flash the MI chip by copying the firmware elf and bin files in the same directory.

=>4) Thus, can we recover from a bad upgrade on a MI clone chip by creating a UMCDR disk containing launchelf and a previous working version of MI firmware (eg 1.39)?

Thanks!

**cubistproject** · 06-10-2005,04:56 PM

Hey nice thinking!

Unfortuanately, you once you flash an MI clone with firmware newer than 1.4B, or you edit the settings in the config menu, then you'll get a black screen. You can't get the chip to boot off (black screen). You can only go into the settings menu, as far as I know :-(

But I'm diging the idea... Maybe there would be a way to attach a switch to 3.3V for the chip, turn on the PS2 with the chip off, switch it on, and then upgrade the firmware from said method?

I'm assuming that it wouldn't work tho, but maybe some kidz will come with some speculation. I hope that we can develop some easy way to use these chips.

I also hope people don't start dropping 'don't use clones' into this thread. We've gone over that already. And I'm ready to do some research and hard work to get these working. If you don't support that, okay - I respect that. But the Canadian dollar is weak, so my customers are looking for a $15US option that works really really well.

:-P

**SlinkyDink** · 06-10-2005,10:01 PM

Try using a PS1 memory card exploit, and booting the 1.39 infinity flash disk off the memory card.
This should work to fix a bad flash.

**k0k0daimon** · 06-11-2005,02:18 AM

Originally Posted by cubistproject

Hey nice thinking!

Unfortuanately, you once you flash an MI clone with firmware newer than 1.4B, or you edit the settings in the config menu, then you'll get a black screen. You can't get the chip to boot off (black screen). You can only go into the settings menu, as far as I know :-(

But I'm diging the idea... Maybe there would be a way to attach a switch to 3.3V for the chip, turn on the PS2 with the chip off, switch it on, and then upgrade the firmware from said method?

I'm assuming that it wouldn't work tho, but maybe some kidz will come with some speculation. I hope that we can develop some easy way to use these chips.

I also hope people don't start dropping 'don't use clones' into this thread. We've gone over that already. And I'm ready to do some research and hard work to get these working. If you don't support that, okay - I respect that. But the Canadian dollar is weak, so my customers are looking for a $15US option that works really really well.

:-P

Ah... So flashing MI firmware 1.50 on clone chips not only disables the chip, but it cannot boot to the original PS2 browser too? That means original games cannot be played as well. I'm guessing turning off the chip via pressing start on Joypad 1 won't work since the chip is dead...

SlinkyDink: Has this method been successful? Problem is that I have a PSTwo and I've heard exploits don't work on it.

*Actually I'm still not sure whether my chip is a clone or original (as claimed by my modder) which is why I'm hesitant on upgrading and am exploring the possibilities in case my chip is a clone afterall. (it is able to save settings in the config menu unlike most clones, but the price I paid for it is much too low for an original...)

**dungbeetle46** · 06-11-2005,02:33 AM

if it saves settings then chances are it is original but the only 100% way to know is to open it or risk updating and see what happens, if not sure dont go past 1.4Beta

**SlinkyDink** · 06-11-2005,12:20 PM

Originally Posted by k0k0daimon

Ah... So flashing MI firmware 1.50 on clone chips not only disables the chip, but it cannot boot to the original PS2 browser too? That means original games cannot be played as well. I'm guessing turning off the chip via pressing start on Joypad 1 won't work since the chip is dead...

SlinkyDink: Has this method been successful? Problem is that I have a PSTwo and I've heard exploits don't work on it.

*Actually I'm still not sure whether my chip is a clone or original (as claimed by my modder) which is why I'm hesitant on upgrading and am exploring the possibilities in case my chip is a clone afterall. (it is able to save settings in the config menu unlike most clones, but the price I paid for it is much too low for an original...)

If the chip was flashed to 1.5 or highier, I believe you can still turn the chip off (just theory, I havent actually tried it), because from what others say the chip will try to boot a game but freezes at the infinity/ps2 splash screen.

The ps1 exploit method will not work on a PSTwo (v12) system, because Sony fixed the exploit on V12 systems. It should work on any other system. I haven't heard of anyone actually doing this, but I see absolutely no reason why it would not work. If I ever find an old PS1 game I'm going to try this method myself (even though my Infinity SE is working just fine), just to prove it can be done.

Ask you installer if changing the config screen settings would be 'ok', if they give you some strange answer or dodge the question you can be almost certain its a clone. If they say its ok, try changing the settings to see if its a clone (that way you have their word that your not doing anything wrong)

**cubistproject** · 06-11-2005,02:04 PM

I would gladly risk loosing a Matrix Infinity based clone.
And I'm modding consoles left right and center, so I have plenty of viable test machines available.

I have original PS1 games.

But I have read that you can't get it to boot from the browser with the disable button - apparently it just sits there on the black screen. I'd be willing to wire a switch up, tho, so that I could enable the chip after the console has booted.

Can anyone help me with this - I'm not too familiar with the exploits that you guys are talking about.

Please PM me and I'll shoot you my MSN acct email, and we can work on doing this together.

**SlinkyDink** · 06-11-2005,09:02 PM

Read around ps2-scene's own forum for ps1 exploit booting
http://psx-scene.com/forums/swapmod-nomod-exploit-discussion/
You need to make a special memory card save, based on whatever ps1 game you have. You'll need to get the save file onto the memory card using another system with a working modchip.

**dungbeetle46** · 06-11-2005,11:27 PM

I dont know if anyone can answer this or not, I know the chip needs power connected to boot but does it need power connected to flash, if not you could disconnect power wire on chip now your console should boot as an unmodded console, the exploit is for the purpose of running burnt discs and elf,s on unmodded consoles so if you run exploit,then load firmware disc, if chip will flash without power then you could flash chip back to 1.4b but if it doesnt flas without power then you could set power wire up to switch on outside of ps2 run exploit, then turn chip on and flash, just a thought.

**danwood76** · 06-12-2005,02:44 PM

Not trying to make you sound dumb but I would expect the chip needs power to flash!

When you flash the device it will need power to be able to change the code in its memory,
also you are not actually fully flashing the chip as it has a basic firmware on board that it will need to boot up to enable the 'flashing'.
(this is how you can boot the upgrade disk with a blank memory/chip)

I think your best bet is to either buy original or just not bother trying to upgrade in the first place!!

regards,
Danny

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