Confused about HdL/HdA and DMS HdD Explorer???

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10-25-2004, 02:22 PM
FarenHeit

Confused about HdL/HdA and DMS HdD Explorer???

Hi,

I was hoping that some knowledgable member on here could clear up a few things for me.
In no particular order:

1) Whats the difference between HdL, HdA and DMS HdD Explorer???

2) Can I install DMS HDD explorer and use either PS2 Handiness or WinHiip on my PC to transfer Images and so forth?

2a) If not then whats the best solution?

3) Is it possible to squeeze the data on a Datel Mega 16 mc without using the mem manager?

4) Is there any application available to edit an ELF file?

5) Is there any external linnk to a site where i can learn how to store my saves on a HDD?

and finally

6) Is there any way i can add an icon to a corrupt file on my mem card? I.E ps2 Rplyr installed using dms explorer.

Thankyou

Kind Regards

FH
10-25-2004, 02:39 PM
Stefy2

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarenHeit

Hi,

I was hoping that some knowledgable member on here could clear up a few things for me.
In no particular order:

1) Whats the difference between HdL, HdA and DMS HdD Explorer???

2) Can I install DMS HDD explorer and use either PS2 Handiness or WinHiip on my PC to transfer Images and so forth?

2a) If not then whats the best solution?

3) Is it possible to squeeze the data on a Datel Mega 16 mc without using the mem manager?

4) Is there any application available to edit an ELF file?

5) Is there any external linnk to a site where i can learn how to store my saves on a HDD?

and finally

6) Is there any way i can add an icon to a corrupt file on my mem card? I.E ps2 Rplyr installed using dms explorer.

Thankyou

Kind Regards

FH

1 hdl/hda are thought to load games from hd. dms hdd explorer (only for dms owners) load application from hd (hdloader included) and can be loaded at the bootime without any cd or mc
2 no you should have dms3. if you install it (obviusly having a dms3) you can load all via ftp with applist.dat modifier
3- erase? i think you can use the standard mc format but you need a mod to activate mm16 on the fly to do so or you have to load the memory manager in any case
4-what you mean for "edit"? for hdl/hda , dms mc explorer there is the patches from zerox for the other you should compile your modified source code (if they are opensource apps) or you can use an hex editor
5-use the corrected dms explorer with the correct slashes and then you can make an icon with the tools avaible from ps2dev and a icon.sys to make the console know about the icon you precedently created (with ps2savebuilder i suggest so you can try the working) and then upload in the boot folder the two files
10-25-2004, 03:06 PM
FarenHeit

Whoa! lol.. Some of that just flew past me.

1. Point Noted. Thankyou.
2. Not sure what you mean: "you can load all via ftp with applist.dat modifier"
I'm not really clued up with that, i guess what im trying to say here is if i format the drive with DMS HDD Format and then use HDD Handiness or winhiip to transfer images will they 1) show up on HDD Explorer and 2) Will they work? (assuming its compatible.)
3. I know how to use the Mega Mem card, it works fine but im aware that theres a way of squeezing the data ultimately increasing the size of the MC.
4. What im trying to say is would it be possible to edit say: ps2rmp ELF file? Like open it up and modify it?
5+6. Not with you here?

Thanks for the speedy response.

Kind Regards

FH
10-25-2004, 06:06 PM
EugeneWE3RD

HdL/HdA enables you to copy commerical games from the CD/DVD drive to your HDD, it also allows you to play the commerical games from your HDD after they have been installed.

I'm not sure about what DMS HDD Explorer is since I don't have a DMS3 chip, I own an unmodified PS2.

HDL/HDA really have nothing to do with PS2 Deving/Homebrew. HDL/HDA are also warez software. Since DMS HDD Explorer can play homebrew, it's allowed in this forum but HDL/HDA is not.
10-26-2004, 07:09 AM
Stefy2

2- no it work in a similar manner of keylaucher but load directly from hd so keep in mind it's similar the only thing is that you need to modify a file (Applist.dat) if you want to install from the network or you can use cds with an install script (you can make it with ps2tools from ps2world.it)
3-you mean compressing it? if so only action replay and the mega memory software can do it
4-you should open it with an hex editor and edit it but you should have knowledge of asm (and also using a decompiler) to make profound modify at the elf (like the one did from zero x )
5-in the dms forum in the dev forum there is a post with all t he infos about this problem
10-26-2004, 11:19 AM
dlanor

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarenHeit

Whoa! lol.. Some of that just flew past me.

The guys evidently assumed you were familiar with some stuff new to you. It happens all the time here, because we can't know all the limits of each other. Especially as most of us are trying to move those limits forward...

Quote:

1. Point Noted. Thankyou.
2. Not sure what you mean: "you can load all via ftp with applist.dat modifier"
I'm not really clued up with that, i guess what im trying to say here is if i format the drive with DMS HDD Format and then use HDD Handiness or winhiip to transfer images will they 1) show up on HDD Explorer and 2) Will they work? (assuming its compatible.)

Major misunderstandings here...

HDD Explorer can never run any normal PS2 games. It can only run application program files (ELF files) stored on the HDD. These are stored on the HDD as normal files in normal folders just as on a PC, except that the partitions used for it are NOT compatible with those of a normal PC. It is common practice to use an FTP server (ExecFTPs.ELF) to store such applications on the HDD. This is how I install homebrew applications, though I can't use HDD Explorer (No DMS chip), so I use LaunchELF to run them instead.

Winhiip and HDD Handiness are some of the tools used to install normal PS2 games, for use by HDLoader and/or HDAdvance. These games are NOT stored as normal files, but as special partitions (one partition per CD/DVD). Some people also install homebrew app CDs this way, as if they were game disks, but this is not recommended as the minimum space cost is 128 MB, and also because HDL/HDA have poor compatibility with homebrew apps, being optimized for commercial games.

Quote:

3. I know how to use the Mega Mem card, it works fine but im aware that theres a way of squeezing the data ultimately increasing the size of the MC.

Sorry, I don't have any, so I can't try it.

Quote:

4. What im trying to say is would it be possible to edit say: ps2rmp ELF file? Like open it up and modify it?

Yes, of course it is possible, but that doesn't mean it is easy. Usually ELFs are packed and need to be unpacked before modification, and you must also know exactly how to modify them, using hex editor or some patch program.

Quote:

5+6. Not with you here?

That's because he skipped question 5 and replied to question 6, but indexed it as '5'.

He referred to the fact that there is a bug in DMS Explorer, causing all programs installed by it to appear as several corrupt memory blocks, when inspecting that memory card in the PS2 browser. The only way to eliminate that problem entirely is to replace the DMS Explorer program with a patched version, and make sure that each application has valid PS2 icon data in its save folder.

Your question 5 was about how to transfer MC saves to HDD, and for this there are lots of solutions. (eg: PS2Menu, PS2Menu-K, PS2OS) But my own favourite way of backing up saves is via the FTP server. This way I get the backups on a different system (my main PC), meaning that they are safe no matter what happens to the PS2.

Best regards: dlanor
10-26-2004, 12:57 PM
FarenHeit

Great stuff.
Thankyou that has cleared up alot.
But i do have a couple of more questions that need clearing up pls:

1. So going back to DMS xplorer, would it be possible to install HDL in its browser there by launching it from within that? I.E without the use of the CD? or is it tied to the cd?

2. Where would it be possible to find information or tutorials on packing/unpacking elf's?

and

3. I have a patched version of DMS explorer that has a DMS icon on the MC but its like 500 odd k in size, i guess i need to pack it but id prefer to pack the elf on the MC rather than have to go thru 101 cd's (which i have been lately).
Im intrigued by this ftp, im assuming i need to connect my pc up with my ps2 via cat 5 cable? Will this eliminate the need to burn cd's everytime i want install an app on my mem card?

And finally ive read a thread on using pen drives as mc's is this now concrete?

Thanx for a great in depth reply.

Kind Regards

FH

P.S

Does anyone know why i have to keep logging in everytime i click on a thread?? So damn annoying!

Ta.
10-26-2004, 07:42 PM
dlanor

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarenHeit

Great stuff.
Thankyou that has cleared up alot.
But i do have a couple of more questions that need clearing up pls:

1. So going back to DMS xplorer, would it be possible to install HDL in its browser there by launching it from within that? I.E without the use of the CD? or is it tied to the cd?

It is not tied to the CD, and there are tons of different ways to launch it, but this is the wrong forum for a detailed discussion of that. You'll have to wait until the HDD forum is reopened for new posts, I'm afraid.

Quote:

2. Where would it be possible to find information or tutorials on packing/unpacking elf's?

I wrote a thread on "Super Simple ELF Patching" in the HDD forum earlier. That's not really a tutorial, but it will probably give you what you need. Just search for that string and you will find it. Fortunately the HDD forum remains open for reading though it was closed for new posts.

Quote:

3. I have a patched version of DMS explorer that has a DMS icon on the MC but its like 500 odd k in size, i guess i need to pack it but id prefer to pack the elf on the MC rather than have to go thru 101 cd's (which i have been lately).

To save room on the MC you might want to consider using some other ELF launcher than the DMS Explorer. My favourite is LaunchELF, as it allows very simple launching of APPs residing on HDD, as well as those residing on MC. LaunchELF is smaller than 92KB...

Quote:

Im intrigued by this ftp, im assuming i need to connect my pc up with my ps2 via cat 5 cable?

Yes. You can use a cross-connecting Cat-5 cable between PC and PS2 NetworkAdapter, or 2 straight cables connected to a hub or router.

Quote:

Will this eliminate the need to burn cd's everytime i want install an app on my mem card?

Yes.

Quote:

And finally ive read a thread on using pen drives as mc's is this now concrete?

Lots of people report success with this, but I can't describe it in detail, as I don't have such a drive myself. Of course, you will not be able to see such drives in the PS2 Browser in any case, but only in homebrew APPs.

Quote:

Does anyone know why i have to keep logging in everytime i click on a thread?? So damn annoying!

You may have disabled browser 'cookies', which the forum software relies on to recognize users.

Best regards: dlanor