PS2 Game Swap Trick - List Submissions

[pelago]

It is often a waste of time looking for a file with the type extension ".elf" or ".ELF", since they frequently masquerade as other file types too.

The primary method of identifying elf files as such is to identify the elf header data in the first four bytes of the file, which should be visible in a hex editor as the following four hex values '7F 45 4C 46', which corresponds to the three letter word "ELF" precededed by the ascii DEL character.

However, this is the valid elf header not only for normal PS2 program elf files to be executed by the EE processor, but also for the PS2 device driver elf files to be executed by the IOP processor and normally known as IRX files. The elf header tags for both processors are identical, so some care may be needed. But usually device drivers are identified either by the IRX type extension or by being stored inside some folder with a characteristic name (like "DRIVERS" or "IRX" or "IOP" etc.)

Best regards: dlanor

I've been going through my game collection to see if I can find more games that are vulnerable to this ELF-swapping exploit. Using a Linux machine, a good way to find candidate ELFs is to run the following, while in the folder containing the files on the disc:

find * -exec file {} \; | grep "ELF 32-bit LSB executable, MIPS, MIPS-III"

The "MIPS-III" thing means that it doesn't show the device drivers, which are "MIPS-I" I believe.

[PermaNull]

I just now made this account just to contribute this little tid bit of information/hassle I've had during the past 5-6 hours of my life,

So lets start by me telling you what PS2 this was all on,
Region: NTSC
Model: SPCH-70012
Version: Slim

With the above in mind all games were NTSC as well of course...
Now it's not that I don't have experience in the field but rather that I never really did the disc swapping this way on PS2 where it had to be timed to an exact moment,
I've used swapmagic, I've modchipped old PS2(s) however the swapmagic discs were lost by my fiance years ago when I let her borrow my ps2 when we first started dating and the modchip one eventually disappeared.

So I'm randomly trolling the internet out of boredom and say you know what I'm gonna go on craiglist and buy a PS2...

Get one get a few games with it decide I'm gonna mod it seeing exploits I saw oh so long ago....

So I'm set with the list of games I have it's the middle of the night and game stores are all closed
So I go down the route of trying already confirmed working games.


Need For Speed Underground 2 - ( My version was part of a set with other games in it, this could be why it wouldn't work ). - Doesn't work for me after about 15 tries 3 different copies burned I said screw it and gave up ).

Madden 05 - I probably gave this one over 30-40 tries burned literally 5-6 different copies to give it more and more shots (Replaced the NFL Street Demo ).


Ratchet Deadlocked - I probably gave it about 10-15 tries, burned 2 copies Doesn't work ).

To clarify on what I mean by it doesn't work
Each try I used different timing I watched the laser I predicted, I damaged the hell out of maden thing I wasn't swapping fast enough so I eventually went faster and faster.

I was getting red screens about 1% of the time at the end after I had it pretty much down, 99% of the time when I tried loading ulaunch elf I was getting a black screen ( Keep in mind I tired uLE 4.11, 4.32, 4.30....

Which finally brings me to the end and happiest moment of my endeavors,

And untested game Medal of Honor Frontline...
While digging through this random collection of games figuring out exactly which ones had ELF files on them this one had one laying right in the root directory, I figure well it's for the title screen why not.

So I use apache I replace it with uLE 4.12, then I continue by loading it in PCSX2 to my surprise the first thing you see is a not too shabby Loading... screen then right after such you get jumped right into uLE.

So, after screwing up maden I pretty much perfected swapping right after the ps2 logo because maden would no longer load on it's own due to the scratches, keeping my little method in mind with that I popped in medal of honor allied assault I saw the ps2 logo ( I listened/watched for the disk to slightly slow/spin down a bit, I waited probably 1-3 seconds after the disk spun back up to full speed and swapped it for my copy with uLE 4.12 ) SUCCESS!, We've got uLE going then I continue to luanch free mcboot and haven't even installed it yet because I figured I'd write this post.

So looking for an easy game to use, easier then 007 Agent Under Fire, In my opinion Medal Of honor FrontLine is your game, and it has no additional security checks like the other games mentioned so it's pretty much a perfect fit with the way 007 Agent Under fire works.

Medal Of Honor Front Line NTSC - SLUS_20368
- Replace MOH2RDVD with uLE 4.12, swap right after "Playstation 2" logo, and right as disc drive spins back up from a slow down ( About 1-3 seconds after ), if you get RSOD(Red Screen of Death) rinse repeat and you'll get it down quick.

This game has no additional security checks like others it's a single swap, just like agent under fire.

[phil2500]

Socom 2, SCUSNGUI .ELF [from the main menu, swap in your backup, select "LAN", select "EDIT NETWORK CONFIGURATIONS", ulaunchelf will start.] did not work for me

[Asurey]

Confirmed using Dance Dance Supernova [At the main menu select Online Mode, swap discs and enter the menu to create a network data file. uLaunchELF will boot.
I was succesful doing this many times.
Hope this helps.

[HadiExtreme]

Hey guys, I need some help booting ulaunchelf on my PS2. It's a fat, blue SCPH-50004 PAL. I don't have a way to boot .ELFs so I have been trying to do the game swap trick method. Unfortunately, I keep getting a red screen after going to the part where ulaunchelf is supposed to boot.

I tried the following games:
Ratchet Gladiator. Replaced NTGUI. ELF with ulaunch 4.30. Red screen after I select network settings in the online play mode.
Ratchet and Clank 3. Replaced NTGUI. ELF and SLY2. ELF with ulaunch 4.30. Red screen after the "congratulations, you have launched the Sly 2 demo" screen, and after I select network settings. Sometimes it just exits to the file browser.
Killzone. Replaced LOADER. ELF with ulaunch 4.42a. Red screen after I select online play.

The games themselves work fine after swapping but I always get a red screen (insert PlayStation 2 format disc) when I try to launch ulaunchelf by going to the multiplayer settings/launching Sly2 demo. I don't want to order AUF simply because I don't want to wait a couple more weeks for it to arrive. I inserted the Ratchet and Clank 3 disc that I burned with ulaunchelf and booted it with PCSX2 and launched the Sly 2 demo and uLaunchELF booted. It said "Failed to load LAUNCHELF. CNF on top of the box with the file browser, but otherwise I can browse the files like I'm supposed to.

I'm pretty sure I did everything correctly. When editing the size in Apache 1.1, I wrote the size of the version of ulaunchelf that I had (I checked it in the properties and wrote the exact same number without commas. Didn't touch the TOC).

When I try to swap, I have the PS2 open by the way.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong? I think it might be a second disc check but I read somewhere that a guy made it work on both Ratchet games. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

[Asurey]

Hey guys, I need some help booting ulaunchelf on my PS2. It's a fat, blue SCPH-50004 PAL. I don't have a way to boot .ELFs so I have been trying to do the game swap trick method. Unfortunately, I keep getting a red screen after going to the part where ulaunchelf is supposed to boot.

I tried the following games:
Ratchet Gladiator. Replaced NTGUI. ELF with ulaunch 4.30. Red screen after I select network settings in the online play mode.
Ratchet and Clank 3. Replaced NTGUI. ELF and SLY2. ELF with ulaunch 4.30. Red screen after the "congratulations, you have launched the Sly 2 demo" screen, and after I select network settings. Sometimes it just exits to the file browser.
Killzone. Replaced LOADER. ELF with ulaunch 4.42a. Red screen after I select online play.

The games themselves work fine after swapping but I always get a red screen (insert PlayStation 2 format disc) when I try to launch ulaunchelf by going to the multiplayer settings/launching Sly2 demo. I don't want to order AUF simply because I don't want to wait a couple more weeks for it to arrive. I inserted the Ratchet and Clank 3 disc that I burned with ulaunchelf and booted it with PCSX2 and launched the Sly 2 demo and uLaunchELF booted. It said "Failed to load LAUNCHELF. CNF on top of the box with the file browser, but otherwise I can browse the files like I'm supposed to.

I'm pretty sure I did everything correctly. When editing the size in Apache 1.1, I wrote the size of the version of ulaunchelf that I had (I checked it in the properties and wrote the exact same number without commas. Didn't touch the TOC).

When I try to swap, I have the PS2 open by the way.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong? I think it might be a second disc check but I read somewhere that a guy made it work on both Ratchet games. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Here are some things you can check to see of that's the problem:
1) The region of your game discs. (Region lock maybe?)
2) Did you rename the uLaunchELF to NTGUI? Usually the network settings is the one that works, try replacing one per burned disc.
3) What disc brand and speed did you use to burn it?
4) Swap method. This is one of the most important IMO. You will get "Red Screen" if you're doing the swap wrong. (Although you say your game works after swap, may be something to do with the uLE...)
- Hope any of this helps you find a solution to your problem.

[HadiExtreme]

Here are some things you can check to see of that's the problem:
1) The region of your game discs. (Region lock maybe?)
2) Did you rename the uLaunchELF to NTGUI? Usually the network settings is the one that works, try replacing one per burned disc.
3) What disc brand and speed did you use to burn it?
4) Swap method. This is one of the most important IMO. You will get "Red Screen" if you're doing the swap wrong. (Although you say your game works after swap, may be something to do with the uLE...)
- Hope any of this helps you find a solution to your problem.

1. All games are PAL, the same as my PS2. They are the platinum editions, if that matters.
2. Yes, I renamed uLaunchELF to NTGUI before I replaced the NTGUI, and I renamed it to SLY2 before replacing SLY2. I only replaced two .ELFs in the R&C3.
3. I used a xerox DVD-R 16x 4.7GB for R7C3, and a Silver Line Extreme DVD-R 16x 4.7GB for both Killzone and Ratchet Gladiator. Burn speed was x4.
4. I think I might've been a bit too slow doing the swap (musics hangs for a second). Maybe I should've tried a different version of uLE for Ratchet Gladiator since someone got it to work maybe it was an earlier version/the latest one? I only selected 4.30 because there was a game compatibility list somewhere that said ulaunch 4.30 will now launch next to the game after swapping. Also, should I try to double swap? I don't know...

Thanks for your help

Also apparently a cousin of mine has a PS2 slim with a modchip. Unfortunately it has a bad laser (disc read error). I don't know what brand the chip is, but do you know if modchips in general have USB support? I might try burning a CD as the DRE probably only occurs on DVDs but I'm not sure, so I want to bring it on a USB as well.

[Caige Spade]

Was using Ratchet Deadlocked and had to keep swapping disks between security checks but I did get it working. The uLaunchELF menu showed up.

The only problem is that when I went to install the MC_BOOT software, my ps2 just froze up.

EDIT: Nevermind, I got it working!

[deathgrape]

Tried Ratchet and Clank: Deadlocked with NTGUI, didn't work.

[sailzboatz]

Confirmed. I used Madden 03 NTSC. I had been trying by following the directions(and I am good at following directions that are clear) and I was getting nowhere but under a pile of burnt dvds. I was having a lot of trouble with swaps and I saw a youtube video and the guy mentioned an application called memento which I hadn't heard of in the noob directions. I looked here for information about memento and found info about ESR Patcher. That was the key. I just took my existing ISO and patched it with that app and my ancient fat ps2 SCPH-30001 burnt that sucker right onto that MC. FMCB works on one of the slims(SCPH-70001) I have as well. I will have to try the game swap with that one now.
This is what I did with Madden 03:
Run the original game, game mode, select online, new/edit, swap discs, and I selected no. FMCB!

I think the instructions will help a lot of people if ESR Patcher is mentioned, especially for noobs(which I am one, at least with modding).
I also made a little tool to jam the sensor on the slim PS2 so you don't have to get sticky stuff all over your macheen, but thats another story.