Got FF X Int. to install on my Linux Kit HDD :)

[sparc]

Originally posted by 2 Tru CReW
Tell me how the hell that was flaming and where I have flamed in your other posts?
bs

I was aiming at the replies saying things like (no quote) 'what's new, should have checked other threads". Let's put it this way, maybe I'll run into a wall... I could also get things to work (nearly) completely on a USA/PAL PS2. Why discourage somebody who tries to make something work in a field that only few have bothered to do so ? For FF X Int I already have a solution that doesn't require PS2 Linux or the HDD Utility disc.. I'm working on seeying what I can do for other games and if I can get the BB Navigator to boot (and work) on PAL/USA consoles (still waiting for my original disc to arrive from Hong Kong). Admitted, the use of the HDD is still limited for games but when USA games with HDD support would come out it might only require somenbody to get an ethernet adapter, plug in a spare HDD and play away..

Grtzzz Roel..

[precisionmods]

So does this mean you can put in a larger HDD?? If you were able to get a non-partitioned HDD to run on it, a blank HDD is also non-partitioned, get it??

[sparc]

Originally posted by precisionmods
So does this mean you can put in a larger HDD?? If you were able to get a non-partitioned HDD to run on it, a blank HDD is also non-partitioned, get it??

The type of HDD doesn't matter for PS2 Linux.. Currently I have the PS2 Linux Kit HDD in the machine but I don't think it'll matter for games either.. The drive does need to be partitioned but you won't need the utility disc to do so.. Currently only FF X Int. is working (it's about the only game I have with HDD support). Xenosaga isn't. It detects the HDD when it's not partitioned, but after it's partitioned it doesn't anymore. I think this is because it saves only 'save games' on the HDD and thus isn't taking it's own partition but depends on the HDD driver. I'm still awaiting my BB Navigator disc which I think I'll get to work... The drivers probably won't install though unless somebody hacks the Magic Gate encryption. Basically reading the unencrypted data isn't hard since this de-crypting is done once the memory card is accessed. Point is that the PS2 (to my knowledge) can only auto-boot encrypted programs on the memory card.. Basically these programs can be started anyway (working around it by executing them from a program) but for drivers this is a different story.

Anyhow FF X Int. is working.. I think I still have an old 30 gig HDD lying around somewhere (unused).. Once I get the BB Navigator disc I'll present my final findings and I'll provide you guys with a method which will at least run FF X Int (and probably Kingdom Hearts, uh or whatever that other square game is called) from HDD with only the Ethernet adapter and with some luck a random IDE HDD. My method will require the need to connect the HDD to the PC for a few minutes though since I won't spread any illegal software (basically up till now you need disc one of the linux kit + ps2fdisk which can be downloaded from the internet). Anyhow again, please await the final results before rushing to the shops and become dissapointed.

[l_oliveira]

The Sony software (BB Navi .20) REFUSES to format anything but a Sony HDD. I've seen Seagate and Maxtor drives so far. And Maxtor ones are the most common ones, btw
I've seen kits equipped with :
Seagate ST340823A (U Series 5 40823)
Maxtor 4D040H2 (DiamondMax D540X)

You might have luck using a standard retail unit for a replacement, but I'm allmost sure the Sony ones have "watermaks" either in firmware or in the medium, making the BB Navigator and the PS2 linux FDISK being able to detect it as a Sony sold drive.

I did testing with a 60 gig model from same series as my Maxtor PS2 drive and the BB Navi refused to format it. It did query the drive then show a red screen claiming the drive was faulty.
The drive were properly set up and zero-filled, as just the original drive when you get the kit.

I wish you luck on this, sparc.

[bungiefan]

Originally posted by sparc
Thanks though for telling me.. I thought it was able to install fully on HDD.

Only FFXI fully installs to the HDD, but other games partially install to the HDD. Xenosaga can partially install to the HDD. I have it installed to my HDD. If you have a properly formatted HDD installed then Xenosaga will have an Install option underneath the Load Game/Continue option on the title screen. It even says on the back of the Xenosaga case that it installs to the HDD and how much HDD space that it uses.

[sparc]

Originally posted by l_oliveira
The Sony software (BB Navi .20) REFUSES to format anything but a Sony HDD. I've seen Seagate and Maxtor drives so far. And Maxtor ones are the most common ones, btw
I've seen kits equipped with :
Seagate ST340823A (U Series 5 40823)
Maxtor 4D040H2 (DiamondMax D540X)

You might have luck using a standard retail unit for a replacement, but I'm allmost sure the Sony ones have "watermaks" either in firmware or in the medium, making the BB Navigator and the PS2 linux FDISK being able to detect it as a Sony sold drive.

I did testing with a 60 gig model from same series as my Maxtor PS2 drive and the BB Navi refused to format it. It did query the drive then show a red screen claiming the drive was faulty.
The drive were properly set up and zero-filled, as just the original drive when you get the kit.

I wish you luck on this, sparc.

Hmm.. I've lowlevel formatted my HDD so if it installs on my HDD it would be a confirmation that the 'check' is firmware based. If it doesn't install there was a 'mark' somewhere on the disc, which is unlikely. PS2 Linux 'fdisk' can detect/work on any IDE HDD. I've had a 30 and 80 gig HDD in my PS2 for several months without problems. If there indeed is a check in both of them they'll only check the manufacturer since the 80 gig was a Maxtor HDD. I've even had two HDDs connected (and a HDD + CDROM drive) to my PS2 by using an IDE cable so I'm pretty sure that there isn't a real check in PS2 Linux.

I'm not even expecting the BB Navigator to even boot on my system.. Since this program is Linux based I'm pretty confident I'll be able to do a manual installation (a tar-ball is supposed to be on the disc). If I can get it to boot afterwards using disc 1 of the PS2 Linux disc set I'll probably be able to make addititional gaming partitions.

For FF X Int and other games that don't need the driver it's easily possible to make a small 'HDD image' which can be written to the disc from the PC. I expect that when first 'zero-filling' a HDD before partitioning it that the downloadable size of the image will be below 10 MB (realise that the PC won't recognise the partition type and thus a 'full' hdd image of 40 gig will be made that should minimally need 10 MB to compress I fear. Oh well we'll see.. The problem will be that I can't distribute the BB Navigator 'installed' image since it's copyrighted. I'll solve this by requiring people to have the original TAR ball that's on the CD and let them run a 'patch' I'll make to create a working HDD image file. It's a bit working around it but at least I won't be breaking the copyrights. If after this, asuming it will be successfull somebody else re-packages this 'patch' in a full HDD image, so be it.

Btw.. If you could give me a small list of all games you know of to support the HDD I'd appreciate it since I might have some of them without realising they have HDD support. This would help testing a lot.

In my next post are some screenshots I made before and after putting a PS2 Game partition on the HDD.

Grtzzzz Roel........

[sparc]

Hi,

Below are some pictures I took from FF X Int / Xenosaga during my HDD experiment.


HDD is detected in Xenosaga, but it isn't partitioned. Same happens when only a Linux partition exists.


Next screen after selecting the HDD thingy in Xenosaga.. Probably stating there is a driver missing or the HDD isn't properly formatted.


Again a HDD related item in the menu of Xenosaga.

After the HDD is partitioned with a PS2 Game partition Xenosage no longer detects the HDd.


FF X Int always detects the HDD


You get an error when the HDD isn't partitioned


After partitioning you get the following screen..


And it's possible to install to the HDD now....


... and play from HDD.

The above was achieved without the HDD utility disc or any other driver on the memory card..... It's not too impressive yet I guess but I'll update my report after I've tried to get BB Navigator to work on my PAL PS2.

Grtzzzz Roel..

[fooniman]

Kingdom Hearts JAP
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
Wild Arms 3
Unlimited Saga
Final Fantasy X JAP
that's all i know and HAVE Tested (Apart From FFX JAP Which I Know Someone Who Tested)
I'm Also into this HDD Testing Stuff, i have a SAMSUNG 1.6 GB HDD yes! 1.6 GB (Enough To Fit KH or FFX) And Am Finding Ways To Get It To Work, So Far It INITIALIZES, on Kingdom Hearts JAP, When it's not properly formatted it gives me all the options, etc. except it fails to install, i'm finding a linux distro for my comp (back in Kuwait) to install FDISK on, but blah, i can't do anything right know, keep up with the good work, Some People (Such As 2 Tru Crew) Will Discourage You From Finishing This Project, But Others (Such As Fat_Mike) Will Let You Go On With It, And Wish You Luck, Just Don't Lose Faith.
Share Your Findings With Us, Once I Get Home I'll Test It All Out.

[sparc]

Originally posted by fooniman
Kingdom Hearts JAP
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
Wild Arms 3
Unlimited Saga
Final Fantasy X JAP
that's all i know and HAVE Tested (Apart From FFX JAP Which I Know Someone Who Tested)
I'm Also into this HDD Testing Stuff, i have a SAMSUNG 1.6 GB HDD yes! 1.6 GB (Enough To Fit KH or FFX) And Am Finding Ways To Get It To Work, So Far It INITIALIZES, on Kingdom Hearts JAP, When it's not properly formatted it gives me all the options, etc. except it fails to install, i'm finding a linux distro for my comp (back in Kuwait) to install FDISK on, but blah, i can't do anything right know, keep up with the good work, Some People (Such As 2 Tru Crew) Will Discourage You From Finishing This Project, But Others (Such As Fat_Mike) Will Let You Go On With It, And Wish You Luck, Just Don't Lose Faith.
Share Your Findings With Us, Once I Get Home I'll Test It All Out.

I only have FF X Int from this list.. I borrowed Kingdom Hearts (JAP) from a friend some months ago.. It would be interresting to see if it works, if only for testing if Square games now need the HDD browser driver. I'm currently busy working on my final presentation for finishing university.. Shortly after the weekend I'll try to put together a small package (containing no commercial/illegal software of course) to at least install FF X Int after I've tested it on one of my spare HDD IDE drives.

One more thing.. You say inititalizes.. Do you mean it spins up or do you mean it works ?

Grtzzzzzz Roel..

[sparc]

Hi,

I fear I have some bad news for some of you... There indeed seems to be a HDD firmware or size check in the games. I just partitioned a 30 gig Maxtor disc in my PS2 (Using Linux booting from a memory card in combination with PS2 Linux Kit disc 1). After that I inserted FF X Int. and it wouldn't allow me to install. The HDD spinned up but no installation option appeared.. I don't have any other spare discs I can test with at the moment but currently it looks like it'll only work with the original Sony HDD if you want to play games.. Bummer eh ?

Grtzzzz Roel...