Epicnoob dazed and confused due to massive number of different tuts and techniques...

My PS2: Slim model, SPCH-70012, PS driver 1.11.
Memory Cards: 8MB Sony, 16MB MaxMemory
Controllers: 2 (1 without vibration motors)
Games:
-San Andreas
-Smuggler's Run
-NFS Underground
-Driver (PS1)
-Freedom Fighters (passes protection check but fails to load)
Damage: Nothing but small scratches here and there. Relatively clean.

So far I've tried to disk-swap like this:
[Startup with Disk X] ---> [Recommended FMCB disk]
Where Disk X is any game from that list, and the recommended disk is the one provided by the result of the Noobie Package found on the FMCB website. I've tried a CD-R and a DVD-R so far, using the tape-the-switches method, but the PS2 notices that the disk inserted doesn't match the game it was just playing at all. I'm ready to try any method that doesn't involve soldering or buying moar stuff (but I'm willing to ship my 16MB to Neptune1988 if I have to), but I'm broke at the moment and can't really afford another game.