UlaunchELF cant run MCBoot's ELF

**korhan** · 08-22-2010,07:11 PM

Hello,

I'm an owner of 30004 (Eu) modeled PS2 (fat and I think it's the first version) My lens has begun to worn out so I'm trying to use McBoot solution to play games from my backups. I have already a modchip installed, so I didnt need any of those AR or other cheating equipment stuff to run uLe. I just burned it on a cd (followed a tut for that) had no problems with it when running it.

When I try to run Free_McBoot.elf the program gives an error "This isn't an elf." well....

I tried the 2 versions (last one and the one in tuts) but still doesnt work. I believe this is not my fault not to read an ELF file.

I also tried to put the uLe in flashdisk and tried to run mcboot from flashdisk again and same result.

Actually I really dont know if it's uLe's or free_McBoot's fault.

thanks for the upcoming solutions

ps. yes I DO have a 8mb mem card. -_-

**JNABK** · 08-22-2010,07:25 PM

When I try to run Free_McBoot.elf the program gives an error "This isn't an elf."

Its possible during the download or uncompressing the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF became corrupt, so you should try re-downloading it and unrar'ing it again, just to see if thats the case.

If you tried several uLE versions with the same results, i doubt its anything to fault uLE with. Thats a typical error message when you try running a file uLE doesnt recognise as a legitmate ELF file.

**korhan** · 08-22-2010,07:40 PM

Originally Posted by JNABK

Its possible during the download or uncompressing the FREE_MCBOOT.ELF became corrupt, so you should try re-downloading it and unrar'ing it again, just to see if thats the case.

Tried now. size were same but also I've tried the new ELF file still no luck :/

I might also post the same thread on Free_McBoot's forums. maybe it's because my console is really old.

**JNABK** · 08-22-2010,07:47 PM

It might also be your USB device as the cause, but if uLE can read it, it should be compatible, but some USB brands act very funny on a PS2.

Have you tried to burn a FMCB Installer CD, and run it direct without uLE?

http://freemcboot.info/disc.php

**dlanor** · 08-23-2010,08:16 AM

Originally Posted by korhan

Tried now. size were same but also I've tried the new ELF file still no luck :/

But does the same method, and same USB drive allow uLE to launch other elfs from it ?
If other elfs fail to start in the same way, this is a clear indication that something is wrong with the content of that USB drive.

This might be due to incorrect formatting or other problems somehow corrupting the file before or during its copying to the USB drive.

Are you 100% sure that the format of this USB drive is normal FAT32, as required for all PS2 homebrews ? Neither NTFS nor FAT nor FAT16 is acceptable. It must be FAT32, and it must be completely free of all commercial protection methods, such as the idiotic "u3" software, which messes up a USB drive's partitioning system.

I might also post the same thread on Free_McBoot's forums.

FMCB is also involved, but I think you will reach the same people here too.

Most of the knowledgeable members here would read any new posts in either of these two forums. And making an identical post in two places is considered 'double posting' and is forbidden by the site rules. (You could make a similar one though, if you refocus it more on FMCB-specific aspects.)

maybe it's because my console is really old.

No chance (or risk rather

).
There are lots of other users with similar models having no such problems.

The error message you get is one that uLE will display either when it is asked to launch a file that can not be read at all, or if the file read does not have a valid ELF header. So it might not be a problem with the content of the file, but something making it impossible for uLE to read it at all.

This can be tested also with other non-executable files, such as placing small normal text files on that USB drive, and then checking if you can load those texts into uLE's "MISC/TextEditor", or by placing JPG files (not too high rez though) on the USB drive and trying to view them with uLE's "MISC/JpgViewer".

If there is a basic problem with the USB drive format and/or the readability of files on it, then this should affect both of those tests too.

Edit:
Come to think of it, we can't rule out the risk that the the modchip is messing up the elf launch.
What modchip is it ?

Best regards: dlanor

**korhan** · 08-23-2010,03:26 PM

Originally Posted by JNABK

Have you tried to burn a FMCB Installer CD, and run it direct without uLE?

That night I tried to do that with the lastest FMCB and still no luck. I'm being extra careful when following steps but I think it's because of my drive. (tried 2 diffirent medias) But I was to sleepy to reply that it was an another fail attempt of me

Originally Posted by dlanor

But does the same method, and same USB drive allow uLE to launch other elfs from it ?
If other elfs fail to start in the same way, this is a clear indication that something is wrong with the content of that USB drive.

This might be due to incorrect formatting or other problems somehow corrupting the file before or during its copying to the USB drive.

Are you 100% sure that the format of this USB drive is normal FAT32

I'm going to try older versions of FCBM right now. And I'll report in this post with editing if they work or not. Also yes, I'm perfectly sure about the fat32 format. Because when I failed at the first time that was the first thing that I have checked. Did try to format also. If other elf's doesnt work I'll try with another 1gig crappy flashdisk.

The modchip was hooked up by another person. Since I wasnt the buyer of the chip I'm not exactly sure what brand is it. But I believe it's messiahII or some clone of it (Matrix maybe?) The guy couldnt solder DMS modchip in those days, and his reason was; my motherboard didnt have a compability with the DMS chip. I believe it was around the times when DMS modchips were out for 1-1,5 years. I could open the case and look for it, if it's that important.

**korhan** · 08-24-2010,03:04 PM

ok, this really weird and embarrassing. I tried a generic 1 gig flashd. and the mcboot worked like a charm. I really cant believe crappy generic flash disk works better then a SanDisk.. way to go sandisk.

Thank you all for your help and support.

**SP193** · 08-24-2010,11:42 PM

ok, this really weird and embarrassing. I tried a generic 1 gig flashd. and the mcboot worked like a charm. I really cant believe crappy generic flash disk works better then a SanDisk.. way to go sandisk.

Wait... is your SanDisk USB disk one of those SanDisk drives with that horrible U3 software installed on it?

It hasn't happened to me yet - but it's been reported (by some) that the U3 software may cause PS2 homebrew that accesses the USB device to malfunction.

If you have that U3 software on your Sandisk? If you do, try wiping it with SanDisk's U3 remover (Make sure that it's meant for your model!!).

**korhan** · 08-31-2010,06:13 AM

Originally Posted by SP193

Wait... is your SanDisk USB disk one of those SanDisk drives with that horrible U3 software installed on it?

It hasn't happened to me yet - but it's been reported (by some) that the U3 software may cause PS2 homebrew that accesses the USB device to malfunction.

If you have that U3 software on your Sandisk? If you do, try wiping it with SanDisk's U3 remover (Make sure that it's meant for your model!!).

No, I format it the day I bought it. I never use those programs. also I even tried to low level format but still didnt work. I think it's because of the size of the flashdisk. it was 8 gigs.

edit: format type was fat32

**dlanor** · 08-31-2010,06:33 AM

Originally Posted by korhan

No, I format it the day I bought it.

Normal formatting can never remove a U3 partition. It is installed as a special type of partition separate from anything you can format. The only way to get rid of it is to use a special removal tool from the drive manufacturer's home page (in this case for SanDisk).

It is also important to get the correct removal tool, as a removal tool downloaded earlier for an older SanDisk drive can malfunction on a newer drive, which happened to me once totally corrupting the drive (not just a partition), making its total storage capacity shrink...

Fortunately I was able to repair it with a newer U3 tool, and then remove that crap correctly, but it was a nervous moment there when I wondered if I had 'bricked' it.

I never use those programs.

Good, but if present they will mess up the access on a PS2, even if you never used the stuff.

also I even tried to low level format but still didnt work.

If the U3 stuff is present no format command can remove it. Like I said before, the only way to remove it is to use a dedicated removal tool.

I think it's because of the size of the flashdisk. it was 8 gigs.

I've used SanDisk drives of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB and never had any problems except before U3 removal. Once these drives are 'cleaned' of U3, they all work perfectly.

edit: format type was fat32

Good. Then that is not the cause of any error.

Best regards: dlanor

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