Boot Linux from MC

[Wolfman]

Is there a possibilty to boot linux from the MC without the RTE Disc????

[EugeneWE3RD]

It can't be done unless someone would write an free replacement to the RTE but this hasn't been done yet. W/out the RTE disc, Linux won't run.

[Wolfman]

KO i see but what is with the HDLoader can i rip the rte disc to the hdloader and boot it from the HDD my question is "CAN HDLOADER Partions and Linux Partions run on one HDD" cause hddloader sucks and want to format the whole disc and i dont know if the hdloader writes something to the MBR??? any sugguestions?

[b081]

There are reports, that PS2 Linux and HD Loader can coexist on a same HDD. But which one should be the first and whether that is important, I don't remember.

[Wolfman]

mmm can u remember where u read this?

[theskillster]

****

[Wolfman]

? can u PM me

[zabolyx]

how about setting up linux... for running off of MC, using newly compiled code... and the posability to run an PSX emulator as well that suports reading PSX games from the HDD.... I still play my games (got 300 of them) and hate having to search though my CD rack for a game.... OF COURSE I"D BE SEARCHING THROUGH A LIST... but it would be alphabetical...

[Kamilion]

Yes, it's possible. First, you want to install linux. Pop the disc out of your PS2, and into a PC. Back it up if you've got anything on there. Then, throw in knoppix or another liveCD, and partition the PS2 drive. Hypothetical:
You want PS2Gentoo, on a 30GB harddrive, using 5GB and the rest left to any PFS ps2 filesystem.

Create a PC-style MBR on the drive with cfdisk /dev/hdX
Create a 5GB partition. Save it to disk.
Create a linux filesystem (reiserfs3/ext2) in that 5GB using /dev/hdX1 and mkreiserfs or mkfs.ext2
Mount it, copy over then gentoo/blackrhino tar.bz2 and properly extract it.
sync
unmount the partition.
Boot up linux with the RTE, make sure it's set up and works.
Next, use DMS formatter. do NOT overwrite if it asks.
Create a new partition. call it Apps or whatever you want.
Reboot the PS2. boot linux. If it still works, then reboot, and use execftps or something to copy a couple elfs over to +APPS or whatever you named it.
Make sure they run.
Then reboot linux again, and if all is still well there, fire up hdloader and dump a game.
test the game. If it works, reboot, check linux.
if it works, then copy over the RTE disk image using faplink or hdld_svr.elf

Also, to avoid having the RTE stick at INSTALL -- use EXECFTPS to create a folder named BWLINUX
Then create the following empty text files within:
p2lboot.cnf
p2lboot.opt
penguin.ico
icon.sys

Edit p2lboot.cnf and add this line:
"RedBoot" redboot.elf "" 203 /dev/hda1 "" RedBoot

Edit p2lboot.opt and add these lines:
timeout=10
display=ntsc
prevent=RedBoot%mc0:/BWLINUX/redboot.elf%

And copy the attached redboot.elf into the directory as well. (Redboot is completely freely downloadable.)

You'll have to obtain the linux RTE somewhere. Sorry, can't help you there.
Once you have it, however, my instructions should get it to work for you.

The linux directory WILL show up in the browser as Corrupted Data, because you don't have a proper icon file or icon.sys, but the RTE boot will still work.

Cheers.

Edit: here's the link to redboot's site.
http://ps2hacking.sourceforge.net/
http://ps2hacking.sourceforge.net/dists/ecos/
http://ps2hacking.sourceforge.net/dists/ecos/00README

[theskillster]

thanks for the down to earth version
--------------
Im assuming it goes like this
ps2 hdd inside pc, use a live linux cd,
then format with linux
install ps2 linux,
create dms partition
install hddloader
install RTE into hdloader?
install those empty files and boot thingy to memcard or the hdloader RTE partition??

Sorry im abit useless when it comes to linux.
You mentioned Geento, whats that?
if this is possible is it also possible to use a original sony hdd to use like a normal ps2 hdd with games etc? by creating the appropriate paritions?

Sorry if i ask too many questions :P