How to use cheats with Action Replay Max or CodeBreaker?

[chessplayerj]

I know this question's been asked before; however, I've looked at all of those questions, and none of the answers fit with my problem, or didn't solve it. I've tried probably 100 different things; and not 1 worked Below is what I've tried, and my specs:

Slim PS2 SCPH-700012 USA Console
Has a Swap Magic Flip Top Cover
Swap Magic DVD and CD discs, v3.8 coder.
2 Memory Cards, one 32 mb (that is very good at not being recognized, but we'll get to that later) and one 8mb Sony with FMCB installed.
2 Flash/Thumb Drives, one Action Replay Max 15 mb, and one 8gb Sandisk, both work fine.
Action Replay Max, non-EVO edition, retail disc.
CodeBreaker.elf (9.2 I believe).
Whenever I say "eject" that means that I pressed the eject button, lifted up the flip top cover (the actual base, not the flip part at the top), and applied the actions that follow "eject".

Method 1: Booting from Action Replay Max, with codes, to Swap Magic, and then to my game. Didn't work (works fine if it's a straight boot from SM to the game). Basically what happens is I get an eternal black screen, and nothing ever happens.

Between Methods 1 and 2, I installed ESR, and I patched my game; works fine (without codes).

Method 2: Boot Action Replay Max, enter codes, but patched disc won't be recognized, so it won't launch; this leads to

Method 3: Boot ESR, load Action Replay Max (retail disc), load codes, boot game. This one actually "recognizes" or at least doesn't say it doesn't recognize the disc. However, once it gets to the "Launching disc..." screen, it stays there indefinitely.

Method 4: Boot Action Replay Max, load codes, "Launch Game" with ARMAX disc still in, when it gets to black loading screen, "eject", wait until FMCB loads, swap with ESR disc, boot with ESR, and the screen stays black.

Method 5: Boot ARMAX, load codes, "Launch Game", when it gets to "Launching disc" screen, I eject, wait, FMCB doesn't load, swap disc, "reload", and stays at launching disc screen.

The following methods are using CodeBreaker.elf.
NOTE: I need to be able to use Day 1; or at least be able to save my codes, otherwise I might as well forget the following steps. Sometimes when it says Day 1 below, it means that I made a save to the memory card with the Day 1 codes.

Method 6: Boot CodeBreaker.elf from flash drive, use Day 1 codes from flash drive, boot game; sticks at "please wait" which I will refer to as the PWOD (Please Wait of Death).

Method 7: Copy over to Memory Card with FMCB, and copy the CB_launch.elf (which will now be referred to as cb)to the boot folder on same memory card; Day 1, launch game, PWOD.

Method 8: Copy over to memory card with FMCB, and copy the cb to other memory card (which is in slot 1) to the boot folder. Day 1, launch game, PWOD.

Method 8B: The same as above, but remove memory card with FMCB and codebreaker.elf from ps2 console before it accesses any data (when it first boots the pelican screen).

Method 9: Copy codebreaker.elf to non-fmcb memory card, have cb in boot folder on same memory card. Day 1, launch, PWOD.

Method 10: Copy codebreaker.elf to non-fmcb memory card, have cb in boot folder of fmcb memory card. Day 1, launch, PWOD.

Method 10B: The same as above, but remove the memory card that initially boots the codebreaker.elf at first pelican screen. PWOD


I tried methods 6-10 , with and without USB stick, switching, deleting saves, and a whole bunch of things. I deleted the PCB (codebreaker) saves after I had it create them; seeing online that could make it malfunction, yet somebody on YouTube had 3 cards, and managed to make it work. No matter what I did, even if I didn't save, I simply used Day 1, imported cheats, activated them, didn't save, launched game; didn't work.


Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm sorry this was so long, but I tried so many different times; I looked around and around and never found anything that worked, and before I pull out my hair (which is really short)(and I've worked on this for like 8 hours today), I had to ask this. I've turned my PS2 on and off probably....50 times today. And it's already 7 years old. It works fine when I try to boot the games normally, but it never works when I try to do it with cheats. Also, I tried Swap Magic; it doesn't have USB keyboard support, and is extremely hard to use. Unless there's a way to import cheats through USB thumb drive, I won't be taking that approach; I have hundreds of codes I'd like to enter. Both codebreaker and action replay max support USB code files, and I like the easy customization with my computer

Thanks for any and all help,
James

P.S. If you need me to provide any other info, please ask. Whichever method above you think will work easier or faster, please don't hesitate to tell me and how I can fix the problem

[Jay-Jay]

This might help? http://psx-scene.com/forums/f40/dead...79/#post939408 (Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore naked code for the latest Action Replay Max.)

[chessplayerj]

Unfortunately, that uses v10, and I need any version that's 7+ and not 9.2, so I can use Day 1 with unofficial codes. Also, I don't know if this makes any difference of not, but the game I'm trying to launch is Japanese.

[Jay-Jay]

I think codebreaker only concentrates with US games. If you can get a lower version of Codebreaker, just follow my tutorial for the type of console you have (SLIM). At least you'll know it working correctly if you follow my guide.

[chessplayerj]

All right, I just tested it...it works fine on US games, but not on Japanese games...I need something that will work with the Japanese games Whether Action Replay Max, or Codebreaker, I don't care; as long as I can use Day 1, it can work with backups (preferably ESR) and also work with Japanese games.

When I say it doesn't work with Japanese games, all of the above is without putting in any discs; it's the codes or something that must cause that to happen.

I'm going to experiment a little more; I'll edit if I find something out.

[Jay-Jay]

If they exist, you need to find cheat apps that were for Japanese games. Codebreaker was only good for US games. UK games and others weren't supported--at least that is what I experienced. Was there a Japanese codebreaker version? Might be the way to go??

[chessplayerj]

I'm looking now; unfortunately I can't find anything.

[/toto67]

if you want to use cb on a pstwo alias slim you have to know there are some usb incompatibilities with usb drives.

one option is to find someone who make a day1 file and then a pcb directory which can be copied to your memory card

also you need the right raw codes and the right mastercode/enable code.

unfortunately i have not a ps2 anymore to help you.

best bet you ask at codemasters-project.net if someone there could help you.

there you have a good chance someone already has ported code for your jap game.

cmp really is the no.1 in cheatcode related questions.

[chessplayerj]

Nope, the USB works fine. I installed FreeMCBoot from it and all of my apps; and CodeBreaker works fine if I boot it from USB and try launching a game without Japanese codes.

[/toto67]

ok, it seems you have not the right codes. what japanese game you need code/day1 file for ?