FMCB v1.9 series release thread

[SP193]

EDIT 2019/04/13: FMCB v1.966 re-released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1219344 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2019/01/07: FMCB v1.966 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218988 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/12/08: FMCB 1.965 re-released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218770 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/10/28: FMCB 1.965 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218505 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/07/21: FMCB v1.964 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218111 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/07/03: FMCB v1.963 re-released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218030 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/07/03: FMCB v1.963 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1218020 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/06/19: FMCB v1.961 re-released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1217903 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/06/18: FMCB v1.961 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1217883 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/06/12: FMCB v1.96 re-released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1217845 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2018/06/08: FMCB v1.96 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1217813 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2016/12/15: FMCB v1.953 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1210710 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2016/06/18: FMCB v1.952 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1205791 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2016/06/10: FMCBInstaller v0.972 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1205621 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2016/05/21: FMCB v1.951 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1205096 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2016/01/04: FMCB v1.95 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1200460 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2014/06/29: FMCB v1.94 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1137028 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2013/10/13: FMCB v1.93 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1091993 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2013/08/24: Added the MBR checker diagnostic tool, for troubleshooting purposes.
EDIT 2013/08/22: FMCB v1.92 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1079992 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)
EDIT 2013/08/19: FMCB v1.91 released - http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/fmc...ml#post1079170 (FMCB v1.9 series release thread)

As the thread title suggests, I thought of splitting off the discussion of FMCB-related content from the installer's (Which is quite lengthy).

***

FMCB v1.96 has been released!

It's intended to be the next-generation version of FMCB, since it now supports the HDD unit (with FHDB, the HDD-enabled version of FMCB). FMCB v1.8C is to become the stable version of FMCB, until the v1.9 series has been tested and proven to become stable.

What is FMCB?

Free Memory Card Boot (FMCB) is a homebrew software which is designed to setup your PlayStation 2 console and provide you with a means of launching homebrew software, without the need for any extra hardware, modifications to your console or dangerous tricks like the legendary swap trick.

FMCB was originally developed by Neme and Jimmikaelkael, but they have been kind enough to provide me with access to its source code, for me to make some improvements to it.

What is FHDB?

Free Harddisk Drive Boot (FHDB) is basically FMCB that gets installed onto the PlayStation 2 console's HDD unit. It does everything like FMCB does, but is meant to be used with the Sony HDDOSD (Browser update v2.00).

Patched/modified copies of the HDDOSD may not work, although non-Sony disks are supported by FHDB itself.
***Whether the hacked HDD OSD supports non-Sony disks or not depends on whether it was modified to support non-Sony disks.***

Modifying or getting a pre-modified copy of the HDDOSD is not under this project, which is why that topic will not be discussed here.

What does FMCB v1.9 offer?

For mere humans:

1. Smaller, faster and more stable. :P
2. The HDD unit is now supported.
3. The "Early Japanese"/PCMCIA units (SCPH-10000, SCPH-15000 and SCPH-18000) are fully supported.
4. Chinese consoles are now supported (e.g. SCPH-50009).
5. Support for the PSX DVR (Currently dysfunctional).
6. When you leave the CD/DVD tray ejected, FMCB/FHDB will not stall.
7. Your play history will now be updated (The towers in the background of the "Sony computer entertainment" screen should continue to grow taller and greater in numbers)
8. A new shutdown function, for shutting down the PS2 with the appropriate process for some (2.5") HDDs.

Technical changes:

1. Initialization code has been cut down.
2. Some IRX modules (init.irx and chkesr.irx) have been removed (superceded by code that runs from the EE, like their Sony originals).
3. DVD player selection code has been replaced with one similar to the one used by Sony.
4. The console initialization code has been replaced with a Sony-like version.
5. CNF parsing code has been optimized.
6. The memory map has been adjusted slightly, so everything now fits below Sony's idea of "user memory" (below 0x00100000).
7. Support for the Protokernel and all HDD OSDs have been added.
8. (For the HDDOSD version of FMCB only) ELFs can be booted from any partition on the HDD. The format of the path is <partition>:<full path to file on pfs:/>. (e.g. hdd0:__sysconf:pfs:/FMCB/FMCB_configurator.elf).
   This can be easily set using the included FMCB/FHDB configurator.
9. The CD/DVD drive will now be stopped if a normal ELF is started (Under the assumption that most homebrew ELFs probably won't ever use the drive).
10. The user's history file (the file which affects the towers within the "Sony Computer Entertainment" startup screen) will now be updated whenever Playstation/Playstation 2 game/software discs are launched, as well as DVD video discs.
11. Reloading the OSD from within the OSD triggers a full reload of FMCB, because I felt that it'll be cleaner.
12. The location of ESR will now be checked only when ESR is requested to be loaded.
13. The embedded EELOAD module has been cleaned up, and loads at 0x00082000 instead (Like rom0:EELOAD does).
14. FMCB has been split into two. The part of FMCB which remains resident will be copied into its place during runtime, allowing the initialization part of it to have the entire PlayStation 2 for initialization and drawing something nice on the screen (Not done at the moment as it makes FMCB quite a fair bit larger).
15. Full support for the SCPH-10000 and SCPH-15000. Not only will it patch up the SCPH-10000 and SCPH-15000 kernels fully (Applies OSD argument-passing patch), it also includes its own HDD support modules and can act as a replacement for the Sony system driver update.
16. Partial support for the PSX. Its OSD is not supported, meaning that there will be no hacked OSD for the PSX.
17. Supports non-Sony HDD units (Support for non-Sony HDD units within the HDD OSD/browser v2.00 update depends on the HDD OSD itself).
18. New FMCB configurator program which supports the HDD unit.
19. Added support for the Chinese consoles (Magicgate region 09, folder letter C. e.g. SCPH-50009).
20. Added support for DebugStation consoles that can boot FMCB (DTL-H101xx, DTL-H301xx and later).

Unsupported consoles:
Please refer to this thread: http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/pla...bility-155567/ (PlayStation 2 model compatibility)

Please read the included README file for information regarding limitations/known issues and other important notes!

Before posting/asking questions, please read this question and answer article which I spent a little time writing up: FMCB v1.9 series release question and answer section

Downloads/links:
FMCB & FMCB installer project homepage: https://sites.google.com/view/ysai18...jects/fmcbfhdb
Sister thread on psx-place: http://www.psx-place.com/threads/fmc...e-thread.13413

Additional Resources:
HDDChecker (HDD Maintenance tool): http://psx-scene.com/forums/f98/play...er-115984-new/
Sister thread on psx-place: http://www.psx-place.com/threads/fmc...-thread.13413/

***
Note: If you have problems getting FHDB to boot (No FMCB logo), then you might have a problem with your HDD. Please download and run HDDChecker to determine what's wrong: https://sites.google.com/view/ysai18...cts/hddchecker
If necessary, the legacy MBRChecker tool can be obtained here: [130822]MBRChecker_bin

All checks must pass, including the S.M.A.R.T. status.
Disks that fail the S.M.A.R.T. test are about to fail, and should be replaced.

If the partition bad sector check fails, it means that your disk has been marked as having bad sectors by a filesystem driver. Using WinHIIP's scan and repair function should solve that, assuming that the bad sector(s) was remapped by the drive successfully. Alternatively, a format with WinHIIP or uLaunchELF should solve it too, at the expense of all unbacked-up data.

[Suguru]

:O Is it real? I got mine 1.8b, is it advisable to update to this?

[SP193]

:O Is it real? I got mine 1.8b, is it advisable to update to this?

It's up to you to decide on whether you want to believe me or not. Look at my post count, and wait for reviews... and let's see. =3

If you have only one memory card, you may want to just wait until it's proven to be stable. The worst that could happen would be that you lose FMCB totally and can't launch any homebrew anymore. D:

Or you could try FHDB out, since it's tapping onto a new region of homebrew development (HDD booting, without a MC).

[jknee00]

i supported you sir sp193, ive been following your thread ever since, and waiting for what to come next...and now here it is..a new freemcboot, but about the FHDB i think it is only for console that supports hdd like those with network adapter right....it might be possible to come up with something like fmcb on usb....i bet it would be rude for me to ask something might i think too heavy or complex to do...
and about the freemcboot 1.9 is there a cross region installer on it like the one you did with 1.8c...

thank you very much!!!

[Suguru]

It's up to you to decide on whether you want to believe me or not. Look at my post count, and wait for reviews... and let's see. =3

If you have only one memory card, you may want to just wait until it's proven to be stable. The worst that could happen would be that you lose FMCB totally and can't launch any homebrew anymore. D:

Or you could try FHDB out, since it's tapping onto a new region of homebrew development (HDD booting, without a MC).

Maaaaan, that's not what I meant I just thought that the project was abandoned, and I decided to update my OPL today, so I accidently saw that there's a new FMCB! No hard feelings!

And of course thanks for the update!

[SP193]

Maaaaan, that's not what I meant I just thought that the project was abandoned, and I decided to update my OPL today, so I accidently saw that there's a new FMCB! No hard feelings!

And of course thanks for the update!

Sure, no problem.

i supported you sir sp193, ive been following your thread ever since, and waiting for what to come next...and now here it is..a new freemcboot, but about the FHDB i think it is only for console that supports hdd like those with network adapter right....it might be possible to come up with something like fmcb on usb....i bet it would be rude for me to ask something might i think too heavy or complex to do...
and about the freemcboot 1.9 is there a cross region installer on it like the one you did with 1.8c...

thank you very much!!!

Hi,

Yes, FHDB is only for consoles that can have a HDD unit. I'm not sure whether the SCPH-70000 series will check for HDD updates, so I can't say that it'll support FHDB despite having an ATA inteface.

It's not possible to get FHDB to support a USB device because the console doesn't support booting from such a device.

[Mel0dy12]

I'm not sure whether the SCPH-70000 series will check for HDD updates, so I can't say that it'll support FHDB despite having an ATA inteface.

Actually,v12 consoles can still find a HDD if they have HDCombo and FMCB installed. Can't really confirm but Sony might have still used the 5000x BIOS but adapted it to work for the 7000x,thus being able to install HDCombo. V12 still works,but I don't know it HDCombo still works on v13.

[SP193]

Actually,v12 consoles can still find a HDD if they have HDCombo and FMCB installed. Can't really confirm but Sony might have still used the 5000x BIOS but adapted it to work for the 7000x,thus being able to install HDCombo. V12 still works,but I don't know it HDCombo still works on v13.

I just checked, and no, it doesn't have ATA support modules. It's incapable of supporting FHDB then.

It makes sense anyway, since slimline consoles have a slightly different boot ROM from fat PS2s. They seemed to have changed the way they produced localized consoles, to using software to control that requirement on universal hardware (instead of releasing hardware that was made to fit each region).

HDCombo works for a different reason: It works because the hardware from the SCPH-50000 series was used. They haven't integrated the SSBUSC into the IOP back then, and so the SPEED device had the ATA lines present and available for tapping onto.

Hence why I wrote in the Q&A that the boot ROM isn't really a BIOS because it doesn't really provide basic I/O (The loaded program does nearly everything). I got that notion from one remark by a PCSX2 developer (Florin?), and I have to agree with that after exploring how the (software running on the) consoles work.

[dsgamer]

v1.90 Installed succesfully with 94H installer. Certainly boots faster. Dumping my memory card didn't work though, get an error at 12%.

[Mel0dy12]

Yes,but with the help of a chip and HDCombo(Matrix Infinity would be the best)that is set to boot DEV2 we could boot FHDB,right? Also,you might be able to get FHDB on a USB device to boot (even though it would be a little weird)using a Thunder Pro 2 chip,because it's capable of DEV9.
Here's a translation from the manual:
"Start + R1: execute a program from a Pendrive or USB from the path: /boot/boot .elf"
Otherwise,other than TP-II only Modbo 5 can boot from USB.