Free MC Boot for SPCH-9xxxx consoles?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BandoleroTag

I'm sorry, but I still did not understand there is at least a small opportunity to run FMCB on the SCPH-90000 (later than 2008c) console or is it totally impossible? Can we hope for it? It would be very helpful.

---

On such console models FMCB can be run from another homebrew only (such as uLaunchELF).
But it can never be used to boot homebrews. There's absolutely no chance of that ever happening.
(The bios bootup code which looks for bootable files on MC is no longer present in the new bios versions.)

So for booting a homebrew at power on or reset on such a console you need to use either a modchip, or a boot disc intended for that purpose, such as "SwapMagic".

You could also use some old methods of swapping between original game discs and a burned homebrew disc, but those methods are very destructive, and likely to kill your CDVD drive long before its natural death.

Best regards: dlanor

Thanks for the info dlanor.
Yes, the only way to run FreeMCboot on your SCPH-9000x console is using a modchip. A Matrix Infinity with firmwar versions 1.99 or 2.00 will work. Just shut down the console, insert the USB Pen Drive or Memory Card and hold the R1 joystick button while launching the PS2. Maybe there are some other chip models that will work with (for example I've heard about Modbo 5), but it'll be up to you to find it out.

About SwapMagic, I've never used it and by what I've heard about, it's not the best method, so I prefer using a good old-fashioned modchip (it's pretty easy to me cos I've an electronics repair workshop)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Denisk

[B]About SwapMagic, I've never used it and by what I've heard about, it's not the best method,

---

I agree that the original purpose of SwapMagic, to physically swap between a boot disc and backup game discs, is not a very good idea.

But use of the SwapMagic boot discs is an excellent method for simply booting a homebrew elf from either a USB drive or a PS2 MC, almost as with FMCB.

I use this method myself for booting uLaunchELF on my newest PSTwo console (SCPH-90004 dated 9C), but then I use OPL or ESR for the backup games, just as with FMCB.

Quote:

---

so I prefer using a good old-fashioned modchip (it's pretty easy to me cos I've an electronics repair workshop)

---

Yes, but for most people it's not that easy to do, and they might not have a trusted modder nearby.
So for them it may be simpler to just order the SwapMagic discs, and for use of uLE, OPL and most other homebrews, the result is quite similar.

It is only the use of physical discs which is a little awkward as a SwapMagic disc must be reinserted in order to reboot homebrews again, unlike a console with modchip. But since I run all backup games via OPL nowdays, this isn't really a problem. I just leave a SwapMagic disc in the tray of that console all the time.

Best regards: dlanor

AFAIK, SwapMagic is safe even to physically swap discs if you install a flip-top case (or in the case of the slims, blocking the sensors) as you're not physically forcing the drive to stop spinning or to open when it's not supposed to (since SwapMagic stops the disc from spinning). I used this method on a 75001 with no lasting ill effects before FMCB came out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LocalH

AFAIK, SwapMagic is safe even to physically swap discs if you install a flip-top case (or in the case of the slims, blocking the sensors) as you're not physically forcing the drive to stop spinning or to open when it's not supposed to (since SwapMagic stops the disc from spinning). I used this method on a 75001 with no lasting ill effects before FMCB came out.

---

Even so, it's still a bad idea to constantly switch discs back and forth, even if the drive is stopped while doing it.

That only protects the drive from abnormal damage, but such swapping still constitutes abnormal wear and tear for the disc always involved in that swapping, such as the SwapMagic discs have to be, regardless of what game you are playing. Even though I've tried to minimize disc switching, and never use the disc-swap method for booting games, both of my SwapMagic boot discs have minor damage in the hub area, caused by necessary disc switching in various disc-related experiments. And since those discs are my only way of booting homebrews on that console, I've now had to restrict myself to using other consoles for all such experiments, as those poor boot discs can't take much more abuse before breaking completely.

This kind of thing is one of the major arguments in favor of OPL, which makes disc switching for normal gameplay unnecessary. :)

Best regards: dlanor

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dlanor

Even so, it's still a bad idea to constantly switch discs back and forth, even if the drive is stopped while doing it.

That only protects the drive from abnormal damage, but such swapping still constitutes abnormal wear and tear for the disc always involved in that swapping, such as the SwapMagic discs have to be, regardless of what game you are playing. Even though I've tried to minimize disc switching, and never use the disc-swap method for booting games, both of my SwapMagic boot discs have minor damage in the hub area, caused by necessary disc switching in various disc-related experiments. And since those discs are my only way of booting homebrews on that console, I've now had to restrict myself to using other consoles for all such experiments, as those poor boot discs can't take much more abuse before breaking completely.

This kind of thing is one of the major arguments in favor of OPL, which makes disc switching for normal gameplay unnecessary. :)

Best regards: dlanor

---

I'm sure that you already know this, but it's for those who haven't owned a set of SM discs: The Swapmagic discs are just cheaply made and the coating/printing material is cheap. None of my PS2 game discs have damage in the same area.

The surfaces of both discs can probably last if you take good care of them. It's just the printing on the disc that isn't too good. :(
(But...! If the silver surface under the plastic deteriorates on it's own, you are just out of luck....)

PS: Glad to see you back here again. :)
I hope that you have been well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SP193

I'm sure that you already know this, but it's for those who haven't owned a set of SM discs: The Swapmagic discs are just cheaply made and the coating/printing material is cheap. None of my PS2 game discs have damage in the same area.

---

You're right about the cheap quality of the SM discs, but that is not the only reason.

Each game disc is only involved in the swapping each time you play that particular game.
But the SM disc is involved in the swapping every time, regardless of which game you play.
So if you spend time evenly on 20 different games, the SM discs take 20 times more wear and tear than each of those game discs.
And that simple fact is reason enough never to do any disc-swapping (except as a one-time thing if someone needs it to install FMCB).

Quote:

---

The surfaces of both discs can probably last if you take good care of them. It's just the printing on the disc that isn't too good. :(
(But...! If the silver surface under the plastic deteriorates on it's own, you are just out of luck....)

---

I never really worried about the surface, as the effective disc read time for each such boot is very short.
My worry is entirely centred on the wear and tear on the plastic immediately surrounding the hub hole.
It has started to crack, with tiny pieces of one layer coming loose entirely. And that has happened to both the CD and the DVD disc.

Quote:

---

PS: Glad to see you back here again. :)
I hope that you have been well.

---

Reasonably well anyway... Things could be a lot worse. ;)

Best regards: dlanor

there are many types of free mcboot. for me i have all types and use them. i use free mcboot 1.8c to hack ps2 slim this FMCB 1.8c works on some new ps2 slim. i used it on ps2 slim PAL SCPH 9xxxx and NTFSC UC SCPH 90001 and NTFSC J 90006 all code date 8c. try to download free mcboot 1.8c and use it. but there is new project by BERION for new FMCB 1.9 GUI but nemme and jimmikaelkael didn't reply him. but i think this new project will work in all new ps2 slim.

add me on facebook for more infor. christopher robert henshaw