Unofficial FMCB v1.8C installer

[SP193]

Ok, nice. I've just installed multi-install and it works just fine. Only thing is that I added my own apps (open ps2 loader and ps2esdl) and replaced the config file, but they don't show up in the browser.

Apps that I want to appear in the browser, should I put them in the boot folder? I might have done something wrong though.

Items that appear in the browser (Not the OSDSYS menu!) are actually folders on the memory card.

If you want to add an item, you have to create a folder, it's data file and icon.

But I don't remember that you could launch stuff from the browser.

---
If you don't see your new menu options appearing in the hacked OSDSYS menu after you tweaked the config file, something is wrong. If I remember correctly, the config file should be placed in the SYS-CONF folder.

At one point I thought the program froze. But as it turned out I was using controller 2, which is ok for browser and ulaunch, but not for the fmbc installer gui :o.

Point taken. Since I've built the installer with my poor GUI-designing and construction skills leftover from my first advanture with PS2 programming (With PS2ESDL), I didn't really get multi-pad control done right (And forgot about that in time).

Since my skills have since improved, I don't see why I should not give that a second try.

[dsgamer]

"RandQalan: what I did was backup my config file on another MC or just copy to USB or PC and restore it your config for FMCB was reset during installation
or you could just FMCB config and make changes manually"

I have a backup indeed on my computer. The problem is with FCMB config, is that I can't change the OSDSYS menu, I can only change what's in that list with the install if I'm correct.

at SP193, I think I confused OSDSYS menu with browser. I will have to try it tomorrow, don't have time now unfortunately. What I want is open ps2 loader to appear in the OSDSYS menu. It doesn't now so I have to look at what I did wrong.

About the second controller, it was merely clumsiness on my side :s.
So that means 2nd controller support would be great for clumsy people I guess.

[dsgamer]

"RandQalan: what I did was backup my config file on another MC or just copy to USB or PC and restore it your config for FMCB was reset during installation
or you could just FMCB config and make changes manually"

I have a backup indeed on my computer with my own altered FREEMCB.'CNF file. The problem with FCMB config is that I can't change the OSDSYS menu. I can only change what's in that list with the install if I'm correct.

at SP193, I think I confused OSDSYS menu with browser. I will to try it tomorrow again and report back. What I want is open ps2 loader to appear in the OSDSYS menu. It doesn't now so I have to look at what I did wrong.

About the second controller, it was merely clumsiness on my side :s.
So that means 2nd controller support would be great for clumsy people I guess.

[dsgamer]

Sorry for double-posting. I've tried to get openps2loader and ps2esdl to get in osdsys-menu, but unfortunately I can't get to work. The elfs are not installed and
are not visible in the osdsys-menu.


- I put this edited FREEMCB.C NF is in the SYS-CNF folder, replacing the original one.
- I put the elfs (OPL, PS2ESDL, HDL) at root. But they're not installed.
Then I tried installing when they are in the BOOT folder. also doesn't work. I also tried installing while both are at Root and in BOOT folder

Only see ulaunchelf unfortunately. Anyone knows what I can do?

[RandQalan]

After you put your ELF on MC then go to FMCB config and added them then save to MC0 or MC1 your conf is probably why you don't see them you must save to something what you changed or will default to original settings

[SP193]

Sorry for double-posting. I've tried to get openps2loader and ps2esdl to get in osdsys-menu, but unfortunately I can't get to work. The elfs are not installed and
are not visible in the osdsys-menu.


- I put this edited FREEMCB.C NF is in the SYS-CNF folder, replacing the original one.
- I put the elfs (OPL, PS2ESDL, HDL) at root. But they're not installed.
Then I tried installing when they are in the BOOT folder. also doesn't work. I also tried installing while both are at Root and in BOOT folder

Only see ulaunchelf unfortunately. Anyone knows what I can do?

Other than what RandQalan mentioned in his latest post, here are some other important facts you have to bear in mind about this new FMCB installer:

1. Placing additional programs into any of the installation folders will not cause the additional programs to get installed. You have to copy the programs over by yourself after installing FMCB.
2. Since I am not the developer who built FMCB v1.8C and it is a closed-source project, I do not know of any bugs and limitations that it has.

Regarding point #1: Maybe I'll add support for the APPS folder in the future. Meanwhile, that should be treated as a missing feature.

EDIT: That reminds me: You mentioned that you placed the edited CNF file into the SYS-CONF folder. So you edited the file by yourself, without the FMCB configurator?

Maybe you made a mistake when modifying the CNF file.
Does the file work with FMCB v1.8B? If it does and the file was indeed placed into the correct folder, it seems more likely that it's a bug in FMCB v1.8C.

EDIT 2: By the way, do you have any USB devices or other memory cards plugged into your console? You might want to only keep the memory card that contains FMCB plugged into your console as you switch the console on.

If FMCB loads another CNF file without those new menu options from another device (Either another memory card or USB device), that CNF file will be used instead (And hence why you don't seem to be able to modify the OSDSYS menu options).

[SP193]

I've successfully FMCB v1.8C on one of my compatible 64MB cards.
It boots up fine too. Except, maybe it takes a little longer for the PS2 to decrypt the FMCB KELF from the card because the card is a little slower.

Maybe someone else who owns compatible cards could try installing FMCB v1.8C to see whether card compatibility is better with this installer?

I think that the problem with the installer freezing after creating the uninstall file is indeed a problem. On my SCPH-39006 (v8 with BIOS v1.60) console, the installer will freeze in the same place (After creating the uninstall file), every time.

On a whole, the installer appears to not cause corruption. Other than the freezing bug and the lack of support for the APPS folder, it seems fine so far.

[dsgamer]

RandQalan thanks for your answer. It is clear to me that I have to copy the elfs after the freemcboot installation.

Other than what RandQalan mentioned in his latest post, here are some other important facts you have to bear in mind about this new FMCB installer:

1. Placing additional programs into any of the installation folders will not cause the additional programs to get installed. You have to copy the programs over by yourself after installing FMCB.
2. Since I am not the developer who built FMCB v1.8C and it is a closed-source project, I do not know of any bugs and limitations that it has..

I knew it wasn't yours, however, I didn't know it was closed-source. Perhaps Jimmikaelkael could tell you more? I don;t know how it works wih licenses, but is there a chance you could get the sources and improve the program, if that would be of interest to you?

Regarding point #1: Maybe I'll add support for the APPS folder in the future. Meanwhile, that should be treated as a missing feature.

That would be nice.

EDIT: That reminds me: You mentioned that you placed the edited CNF file into the SYS-CONF folder. So you edited the file by yourself, without the FMCB configurator?

Maybe you made a mistake when modifying the CNF file.
Does the file work with FMCB v1.8B? If it does and the file was indeed placed into the correct folder, it seems more likely that it's a bug in FMCB v1.8C.

That is correct. I edited the file with notepad, so that the paths etc were correct. It did work properly for 1.8b. Also I didn't copy the file after 1.8b installation, but I installed it with it.I also did this, and I don;t know if it matters, because I believe I read somewhere that the list of items in the OSDSYS-menu cannot be changed after the installation.

EDIT 2: By the way, do you have any USB devices or other memory cards plugged into your console? You might want to only keep the memory card that contains FMCB plugged into your console as you switch the console on.

If FMCB loads another CNF file without those new menu options from another device (Either another memory card or USB device), that CNF file will be used instead (And hence why you don't seem to be able to modify the OSDSYS menu options).

Besides the Memory card in slot 1 (8mb, official sony mc) and the usb-stick with the installer on it, I had another 8mb sony mc card in slot 2. The both contain freemcboot. the first 1.8c the second 1.8b. The funny thing was is that besides ulaunchelf, HDLoader was also in the OSDSYS-menu. I found out that's because HDLoader was on MC1 (slot 2). When I pulled it out and rebooted, HDLoader was gone from the OSDSYS-menu.

I will now try to manually install the apps and 'install' the cnf file.

I will also try to do a multi-install on the my other memory card. It didn't work with 1.8b, however it is an offical japan made memory card. Let's see if it works out.

Edit: I put the apps in the bootfolder and copied my edited CNF file in SYS-CONF. I then rebooted and the OSDSYS-menu is now update with the apps, and it works perfect so far.
Edit2: I installed Multi-Install on my second memory card, and it works! I've tested if the memory card worked and it boots up freemcboot w/o problems. I made sure other memory card and usb stick were not connected. I was not able to do this with 1.8b. It said ccouldn't write dummy files or sth like that. I posted that in another thread on this forum.

[yoshi314]

the only issue i have with the installer is that it apparently erases current fmcb config file off memcard.

fortunately i'm doing backups

[dsgamer]

at yoshi314, I haven't experienced that yet.

What exactly does happen? It erases your edited config file?
And when does it happen? After a reboot, or more randomly?