Unofficial FHDB 1.93 "Noobie Package" OBT

[LocalH]

NOTE: This is only for use with a fat PS2 with network adapter and HDD. This will not work with virtually all slims (unsure if it will work on the earliest slims when soldering an IDE header to the motherboard, as with "HD Combo" etc, feel free to try if you have such a setup).

Hi,

As you may remember, I stated that I was going to be working on an FHDB 1.93 "Noobie Package" to make it easier for people to get a full-featured PS2 HDD setup running. I now have a preliminary image ready for testing. Link at the bottom of the post.

Note: This image will overwrite the first 7.5GB of the HDD you write it to. Make sure you back up any data in the first 7.5GB of the HDD you write it to before you apply this image. Neither I, nor the developers of any included software, are responsible for any damage resulting from use of this image.

This image includes:

• FHDB 1.93
• OPL 0.9.2, both GSM and non-GSM builds, with VMC
• ESR r9b (non-GUI version, for hands-free ESR disc booting, as well as mcard version)
• HDLDump Server (I'm away from my PS2 for the moment so I forget the exact version, also requires an MC if your PS2's IP is not the default)
• uLE 4.42_HDD wip6 (with a small bonus - I included the custom font I made, a 1:1 pixel copy of the Amiga system font, both versions included in __sysconf/FMCB)
• Small ELF to power off the console, used from the OSD
• Latest version of SMS, works best with MC for settings
• 2GB +FCEUMM with .ELF (not the most recent version with the better scaling, but one that I know works well in an MC-less setup, plenty of room to add your own ROMs and store savestates)
• 2GB +OPL partition (plenty of room for cover art and VMC images)
• Both GSM 0.23x and GSM 0.36 standalone builds
• MC Annihilator 2.0 (with lang.lng in __sysconf/FMCB, let me know if it boots up in a language other than English, as it may be better to run this from USB)
• Copies of WinHIIP, ESRPatchJava, ESRPatcherPro, and the unmodified distributions of ESR, OPL 0.9.2, and OPLGSM 0.9.2, in __sysconf/misc
• Preset .CNF entry for patched CodeBreaker 9.2, copy of OPL 0.9.2 as __boot/CB_launch.elf, pre-made empty PP.SLUS-20202.1108.PCB partition of 512MB, CB ELF not included
• Preset FHDB launch keys - L1 launches uLE, R1 powers console off, L2 launches OPL, R2 launches CodeBreaker (if present)

I chose CB9.2 as my preferred version, as I've never gotten 9.3 to load homemade CBC files, and I've never personally tried CB10. I set the CNF up to look for __sysconf/FMCB/cb92.elf, so if you put the patched ELF in that location, it will appear on the OSD.

Once initial testing has been done and the idea is workable, I will take suggestions as to other homebrew to include, as well as adding CNF entries for CB9.3 and 10 (and possibly any other such commercial software like HDL, if anyone would want to have it easily usable). As well, it would be nice to have suggestions for other supplementary PC software to include in the __sysconf/misc directory, for those who are new to PS2 softmodding it might make things a little easier on them for installing games, working with ESR patching, etc.

You can use any tool that supports writing raw HDD images to "install" this. On Windows, I recommend HDD Raw Copy Tool (many of you here are familiar with this tool). On Linux or Mac OS X, the standard dd command will work fine, just make sure that the block size and count multiply together to equal the filesize exactly. Also make absolutely sure you set the output file to the right disk, once again I am not responsible if you write this to the wrong HDD and mangle your OS. If you're hesitant because you're worried you might do so, ask for help in this thread.

After the initial testing reports come in, I will write up a README file to go along with the "1.0" image and do a formal release.

Questions or constructive criticism, feel free to post here and I'll respond when I can.

Download the FHDB 1.93 "Noobie Package" OBT v1 here. 9.5MB compressed, 7.25GB uncompressed. This distribution package currently contains no README, just the image file.

Please do not spread this around just yet, wait until testing is done and the image is formally released before doing so.

This image file is 100% legal. No commercial software is included.

If you attempt to use this image with your PS2, please report back here whether you were successful or not, and any issues you may have when installing it or using any of the pre-installed software.

[spud42]

What size drives does this image support? i gather at least 8Gb but max size? is it 28 bit or 48 bit?

[RandQalan]

I the image has been made from 48bit as I think it is should work up to max the PS2 can support internally
if it is 28bit you know already it is less then 128G limit to be safe

The only down side I see if it is 48bit then OPL will be a little slower because of the major fix SP193 did for 28bit loading and running of games

[LocalH]

Is there a difference in the underlying APA format that would matter? I used a 40GB drive to build the image, and initially formatted it with WinHIIP as HDL 28-bit, however all the software involved supports 48-bit. I have no large disks to test with other than my main 250GB which I'm not keen on using as I have it pretty much full in terms of partitioning, but I did successfully write the image to another 40GB drive.

If necessary I'll remake the image by formatting as HDL 48-bit, but I'll still be using my 40GB drives to build the image. In the meantime I'm still interested in test results from regions outside the US, to test the cross-region compatibility.

[spud42]

i asked because all i have are 2 160Gb HDD's to test with.................

[LocalH]

I'm going to suggest you try it anyway - I didn't format the drive as ToxicOS which I know uses a slightly extended APA format. Maybe test the included homebrew with some stuff above the 28-bit barrier to see if it works with this image? I would think it would work, but I'd need to for sure so I can know whether I need to build two images depending on drive size.

[spud42]

I'm going to suggest you try it anyway - I didn't format the drive as ToxicOS which I know uses a slightly extended APA format. Maybe test the included homebrew with some stuff above the 28-bit barrier to see if it works with this image? I would think it would work, but I'd need to for sure so I can know whether I need to build two images depending on drive size.

ok will try to test over this weekend.....

[LocalH]

Just wondering if anyone has tested this image yet. As useful as it would be for people, I'm not that interested in working on it further if there isn't much interest.

[Malcharias25]

Hello, I'll be testing this in the next day or two - I'll let you know my results!

I'm hoping that this works out of the box, as I've been looking for a simple way to get FCMB installed on my system without buying any additional tools.

[LocalH]

Be aware that this is only useful for a fat PS2 with network adapter and internal HDD (image works fine on my PS2 when transferred between drives). This is useless for slim consoles.