Hello World!

[NixZero]

Hey everyone, I just joined the forum and would like to say hello! I've had some experience with modding and homebrew on other consoles (DS, Wii, Xbox...), but I just recently acquired a modded PS2 Phat to replace my slimline. I'm just browsing the forum to learn the ropes, it all seems fairly straightforward. I have a (supposedly) PS2 compatible hard drive that I want to eventually install, but I may have to get creative. I was told it was modded with an Infinity chip, and it does indeed say "Infinity 1.2" upon booting. But... the PS2 must have a clone chip because I can't access the config menu when holding triangle + circle when turning it on. So, right now I'm researching various ways I might be able to run HDLoader.

[RandQalan]

Well welcome to the SCENE and good luck

A bit of advice you might want to try OPL it is a USB HD internal HD and SMB share of operating system game loader

here is a link to it http://psx-scene.com/forums/f150/ope...-v0-8-a-62141/

[NixZero]

I checked out OPL, but that brings me to my major roadblock: How do I run ELF files? I'm assuming some kind of boot disc like uLaunchELF is needed? Most tutorials I can find are using completely different exploits than what I have in mind. I just want to be able to run games from the hard drive, and I would be happy using ethernet to transfer games, I'm OK with the slow speed, I want the drive to be permanently installed.

[RandQalan]

Well if you can find what button presses on you modded PS2 make DEV1 work you could install FMCB or use uLE to launch OPL or even rename OPL

that would be put on MC to MC:/boot/boot.elf for anything you want to boot but I recommend uLE it is browser launcher and whole lost more

Like I said try to find out what boot DEV1 with that mod chip and you would be set.

[Spilzmann666]

As far as I now (I don't use modchip) the last firmware version for Matrix Infinity was 1.93

November 24, 2006
Firmware V1.93 Released.

Released today V1.93 Firmware for the Infinity Modchip.

New Features and additions:
- Taiwanese V14+ fix

I've been reading a little and it looks like you should look for 3 apps:
- Firmware 1.93 - 244Kbps
- Dev2Install v1.1 - 152Kbps
- Infinity Manager v1.36 - 140Kbps

I hope it was helpful. The official webpage is closed, but Google is a friend

[amp2006]

all those apps can be found on our download section .and instead of - Infinity Manager use uLaunchELF

[Strizay]

Welcome to history. You've joined at an excellent time. Some of the geniuses responsible for allowing us to be able to use our systems for more than what they were intended for, are right here on this very site. You have the guys that are opening new doors answering even the most noob questions that we can ask, with no sarcasm or making you feel like you are an idiot. Bitsbubba, tthousand, Deank and a bunch more I can't remember right off hand, sorry. Thanks guys.

[NixZero]

You're right, Strizay, this is probably the most noob friendly forum I've joined; Thanks to your suggestions, I successfully got my HD installed last night! I made a uLE boot disc to install FMCB off of a USB stick, using the "Noobie Package" on SKS Apps. I then overwrote the HDLoader ELF file with a 48bit patched version I created from v.8c, using the HDL Patch GUI (I'm using a 250GB Maxtor HD). I connected my drive to my PC, used WinHIIP to format the drive and install some games, and HDL detected it perfectly! I'm not sure if it's the most elegant solution, but I can play games without wearing out the optical drive, not to mention I don't have to get off my butt to find/insert discs.

I was a bit disappointed to find that PS1 games can't be run from the HD, but they're easy enough to burn. One thing I am seeing, however, is some games won't work over a component connection, I have to use the AV cord. This is true for all PS1 games (retail copies or backups), and it's also the case for Tourist Trophy running on HDL. Luckily, I'm using a universal video cable that has both connections, so I just split the audio to both inputs and switch my TV mode accordingly. Is there a way to "fix" that?


For the record, I tried OPL v.08, but it freezes during loading. I'm OK with HDL for now, but if there's a trick to get it running, I would love to try it out!

I also noticed that FMCB will lock up on loading from time to time, maybe every 3rd boot... Is this normal?

Lastly, as I understand it, booting from DEV1 or DEV2 are considered the "best practice" boot methods, at least over FMCB. Do they have any advantages to FMCB other than saving a bit of load time and freeing up a memory card slot? I'm a little nervous about updating the firmware without inspecting my chip first, the firmware update tutorial on SKS Apps has more than a few warnings about clone chips not working after updates. Call me a wuss, but I bricked my old Xbox when trying to update XBMC, so I'm not taking any chances (yet!). I want to do this right, but at the same time I can't help thinking "if it aint broke, dont fix it"...

[RandQalan]

Neither FMCB or OPL should lockup but if you have a mod chip they could be colliding so if you disable your mod chip it should boot better for both

and a fix for some games video well you may want to try this with some games you can even bump it up

http://psx-scene.com/forums/f19/gs-m...eedback-61808/

[NixZero]

You're a genius! GSM is exactly what I needed, thanks! Tourist Trophy looks amazing on my LCD TV, and I no longer have to switch video modes on the TV (hitting the button is easy, but finding the remote on the other hand...). A My other games are playable now, too. In short, GSM ROCKS!! Not to mention all of these other apps... There's a lot of talent in this scene!

So... I can pretty much do everything i ever wanted with my PS2! I'll get into the guts of the system down the road so I can figure out how to boot from DEV1/DEV2 and disable the chip, and update the firmware. In the meantime, FMCB, HDL, and GSM are working! Thanks again for the tip