Booting PSX imports off HDD

[hieronon]

I use my PS2 almost exclusively to play PSX imports, but so far I've relied on hot swapping discs and my machine is starting to get pretty tired. I've got several patched iso's, but I'm pretty reluctant to play burned discs when the motor's sputtering as it is.

I can grab the latest Swap Magic CD alone for about $10, which I could use to play discs directly, but could I also use it to install FMCB and other applications from a usb drive? If so, is there a way that I could play my PSX iso's from a hard drive?

And I don't need the Swap Magic DVD to softmod for PS2 backups, right? It would be great if I could stop using the disc reader altogether.

I have an American slimline (v15), so most of the software here should work.

[dlanor]

I use my PS2 almost exclusively to play PSX imports, but so far I've relied on hot swapping discs and my machine is starting to get pretty tired. I've got several patched iso's, but I'm pretty reluctant to play burned discs when the motor's sputtering as it is.

Unfortunately disc-swap or modchip are the only methods available for playing PS1 import and backup discs. And unlike PS2 games there are no satisfactory methods for playing PS1 games from other media.

I can grab the latest Swap Magic CD alone for about $10, which I could use to play discs directly, but could I also use it to install FMCB and other applications from a usb drive? If so, is there a way that I could play my PSX iso's from a hard drive?

Not yet.

The only way to run PS1 games from HDD, USB or LAN is through the use of a PS1 emulator named PS2PSXe by ffgriever (the same guy who created ESR). But that emulator is still in an early beta stage, and has been so for quite some time now.

Using it is quite difficult, as it is a command-line program requiring script-based launch methods using either PS2Link+Ps2Client or RadShell, and the end result is still far from satisfactory. (eg: There is as yet no SPU implementation, so there is no sound at all.)

And I don't need the Swap Magic DVD to softmod for PS2 backups, right?

Not if your PS2 is old enough to permit FMCB to boot.

It would be great if I could stop using the disc reader altogether.

That is how I and many others use our PS2 consoles nowdays.
Some load all their games from PS2 HDD or USB drives, but I prefer to use LAN instead.
This way I can use a single game collection on one of my PCs for all my PS2 consoles.

I have an American slimline (v15), so most of the software here should work.

Most homebrew software works fine regardless of region.

Best regards: dlanor

[hieronon]

Hey, thanks for the answers! I'm probably going for a low-level mod chip after what I've seen. I can figure out FMCB from there, and if my motor dies I'll just thrift a PSOne or something...

As for PS2PSXe, I'll keep my eye on it, but I'm no whiz with command line applications, and it seems silly to struggle with emulation when the hardware has a perfectly fine (if impervious) emulator already. Huge respect to ffgriever though.

BTW, your LAN setup sounds sick. Does it require an ethernet cable and an HDD to work?

[dlanor]

Hey, thanks for the answers! I'm probably going for a low-level mod chip after what I've seen. I can figure out FMCB from there, and if my motor dies I'll just thrift a PSOne or something...

As for PS2PSXe, I'll keep my eye on it, but I'm no whiz with command line applications, and it seems silly to struggle with emulation when the hardware has a perfectly fine (if impervious) emulator already. Huge respect to ffgriever though.

BTW, your LAN setup sounds sick. Does it require an ethernet cable and an HDD to work?

I use a 100% wired LAN, so each PS2 needs an ethernet cable to connect to the router or a switch (I have the router for 3 PCs and 2 PS2s in one room, and a switch with a PS2+PS3+media_player(roxcore) connected in another room, and a single ethernet cable connecting that switch to the router.

This way all the consoles can reach all the computers (as can the media player too) and vice versa, and all network members can also reach the internet through the router. (Except that I have a firewall filter blocking the PS3 until the next custom firmware breakthrough.)

Of the PS2 consoles only one has IDE HDD, while one slim PSTwo has a USB HDD, and my other slim PSTwo has to make do with USB sticks. But that doesn't really matter since all gameplay and VMC access is done over LAN, using one of my PCs as game server (among other things).

I know that others use wireless networks to similar effect, but I prefer a wired network for several reasons. One of those is that the cheap wireless solutions would give lower speed than a standard 100 mbps wired LAN. Another reason is that neighbour hijacking of my wired LAN (or just interference with it) is strictly impossible...

Best regards: dlanor

[jackycola]

you can buy those motors at chinese shops for like 5 bucks. just need to be handy in changing it...
just in case yours dies in the future.


after all i use network boot with opl as others suggested. not every game works but its really great if you go on customizing games like homemade singstar versions and whatever. would be a great waste of dvd-r testing every song.

[hieronon]

Good call on the motor, I had actually ordered one along with my mod chip. Figured as long as I was gutting my machine I might as well give her something to thank me for.

But that doesn't really matter since all gameplay and VMC access is done over LAN, using one of my PCs as game server (among other things).

Holy shit, does this mean you can stream games directly to your PS2 without added storage??! If so, how would I go about setting this up?

[hieronon]

Also,

homemade singstar versions

lol.

So this is how hackers blow off steam...

[spud42]

Good call on the motor, I had actually ordered one along with my mod chip. Figured as long as I was gutting my machine I might as well give her something to thank me for.



Holy shit, does this mean you can stream games directly to your PS2 without added storage??! If so, how would I go about setting this up?

need a network adaptor on a fat or the network port on a slim, OPL and set up a share on your PC. details are in the OPL forum.

[hieronon]

Wow, that's surprisingly simple to set up. Thanks, all of you, I think I've got my new setup underway for now.