Installing without a working drive

[21q]

I have a slim ps2 v12, so as you could have guessed the drive has gone bad. I decided to make a project out of it. I'm going to install an internal 2.5hdd sata drive by using a compact sata-usb adapter and soldering the correct usb wires onto the physical board. Not something that would be an issue with me.

I understand I need free mcboot and hdloader v.8c i believe. I've read a lot of stuff and it all seems overwhelming. So far the only solution I see is the memor32 card. I'm hoping there is a cheaper option.

I saw the sticky uptop saying they will install fmcb onto a ps2 memory card. I have an extra lying around too. Would having that done allow me to install/use the usb hdd without the need of any disk what-so-ever? Could I use the ps3 usb memory card adapter some how?
Thanks for any answer.



And just asking to see if anyone might know, which usb solder points associate with the colored usb wires?

[spud42]

I have a slim ps2 v12, so as you could have guessed the drive has gone bad. I decided to make a project out of it. I'm going to install an internal 2.5hdd sata drive by using a compact sata-usb adapter and soldering the correct usb wires onto the physical board. Not something that would be an issue with me.

I understand I need free mcboot and hdloader v.8c i believe. I've read a lot of stuff and it all seems overwhelming. So far the only solution I see is the memor32 card. I'm hoping there is a cheaper option.

I saw the sticky uptop saying they will install fmcb onto a ps2 memory card. I have an extra lying around too. Would having that done allow me to install/use the usb hdd without the need of any disk what-so-ever? Could I use the ps3 usb memory card adapter some how?
Thanks for any answer.



And just asking to see if anyone might know, which usb solder points associate with the colored usb wires?

using one of the installers is the best way .
You would need to use OPL and not HDLoader for a USB drive.
USB pinout is standard so google the pinout....its only 4 wires power ground data+ and data-

to install games the best way wuld be a usb enclosure or cable to your drive. drive needs to be formatted in FAT32.
then you can copy the ISO's to the HDD. games larger than 4Gig will need to be installed by USBUTIL ther are lots of posts covering this in the OPL thread.

[21q]

Thanks so much for the reply. I guess I'll be contacting one of the installers. With that I would be able to just put in the memory card and hack the ps2? and is there a gb limitation on the drive used?

Since I know it possible I'll start work on the body until the memory card is done. Ill post progress somewhere on the forum.

[spud42]

Thanks so much for the reply. I guess I'll be contacting one of the installers. With that I would be able to just put in the memory card and hack the ps2? and is there a gb limitation on the drive used?

Since I know it possible I'll start work on the body until the memory card is done. Ill post progress somewhere on the forum.

the installer will either use the noobie package which has SMS,ESR,OPL and uLE these are all you need to play movies/mp3's play backups (though in your case with a blown drive that wont be possible) play fron either a USB HDD, internal IDE HDD with a Network Adaptor( no good for a slim) and with uLE copy and move files and game saves as well as launch homebrew like emulators....
so after you get a FMCB installed card you dont need to "hack"
i am not sure what the limit for a USB connected HDD is ... its around 1Tb for a IDE ( if you can find any that is) .
i am doing a similar mod with a slim a USB adaptor cable and a 80Gb 2.5"HDD and FMCB. i am portabilising it so i can put it in the car with a LCD screen so the kids can play or watch a movie on the long drive when i pick them up every fortnight.
add a couple of wireless controllers and that should do the trick.....
still looking for a case to build it into... might have to make my own.....

[TnA]

I saw the sticky uptop saying they will install fmcb onto a ps2 memory card. I have an extra lying around too. Would having that done allow me to install/use the usb hdd without the need of any disk what-so-ever?

Yes!

Could I use the ps3 usb memory card adapter some how?

Yes, you can!
It's a quite new method!

Look at here:

http://psx-scene.com/forums/f153/new...ll-fmcb-88649/

[21q]

@spud42 thanks for the info! Very helpful. As for your project, I would suggest just getting a 3rd party lcd. If you can keep the ps2 slim looking stock, then using the screen shouldn't be an issue. It seems like the dip for the cd in the top half of the casing gets in the way of a hdd, so I'm cutting that away and keeping the lid closed shut.

@TnA Thank you! Will the ps3 adapter method work for ps2? From what I read on the read it seems like it only works on ps3? And lastly the memory card has some corrupted data I can't delete; is there a way to format it with this?
Sorry for all the questions! I haven't had a need to mod a system without the use of a cd drive before aha

[TnA]

@TnA Thank you! Will the ps3 adapter method work for ps2?

Yes!
FMCB is an exploit/softmod for the PS2 and has no real relation to the PS3.

From what I read on the read it seems like it only works on ps3?

Then you read it wrong, since this app currently only runs on a PC and you can install&use FMCB only on a PS2!

And lastly the memory card has some corrupted data I can't delete; is there a way to format it with this?

Yes you can!
You can even dump a binary image, before formatting it.

Sorry for all the questions! I haven't had a need to mod a system without the use of a cd drive before aha

Heh,... No problem.


Btw.: @spud: I suggest you to use a NAS with an SSD inside.
Nearly no chance to corrupt the HDD, if your kids play while you drive.

[spud42]

Btw.: @spud: I suggest you to use a NAS with an SSD inside.
Nearly no chance to corrupt the HDD, if your kids play while you drive.

lol... wouldnt make it very portable would it. . . .
i had thought of using a CF to IDE card an a big CF card... cheaper than a SSD and smaller than a NAS.

i am going to gut this thing... rip out the board no laser and builr a small case for it.
i have a small screen that i got a while ago it is one of those that fits on the back of the fat PS2. going to strip it out and make a small PS2 laptop type thing. strip all excess plastic away...
solder the MC in to the board etc.....loose the slots as a size saving thing... but i might cut one down as small as possible to see if i can still use it... wont matter cause i can solder a USB stick to one of the usb headers and use uLE to transfer saves on and off, or reinstall FMCB..... will have it direct boot into OPL no need for ESR as no laser.....

only hold up is i have to get my house ready for sale over the next two months so i wont have time for a while......

might have to start a thread in the PS2 MODS section and post a few pics as i get the time.....

SORRY TO OP FOR THREAD HIJACK...

[21q]

Thanks for all the verification! I got my usb-sata adapter today and man it's tiny. Couldn't ask for something more perfect. Now the last piece is getting the memory card hacked. I've had 0 luck finding a ps3 memory card adapter in stores around here, and NYC is just over the river. And I keep losing online bids. So I guess I'll try for the installers.

I wish the hardware mod section here wasn't so dead, or I'd post progress there.

*EDIT:

I got the part in today. I soldered on the piece but I don't seem to be getting any data access. I posted in the hardware section if you want to take a look.

[21q]

I got my official ps3 memory card adapter in the mail today. Used it on my memory card and it works great!

Now if I could just get this ****ing drive working I'd be done!