New Noob says Hi PSX-Scene

[Reepi]

Hi PSX Scene,

Originally I had a PS2 w/ a HDD for FFXI and I propped it up beside my bed with a pillow.... So after I got the burnt motherboard spell out of my room. I ordered a fatty ps2 off ebay and a new HDD....

I have recently quit FFXI and am left with a second-hand non-warrenty ps2 that clicks when trying to read a disc and only plays discs if the back end of the ps2 is propped up by 1-2 game cases (atm my trusty FFXII Collectors Tin). I know this is not a very good fix :P So I wanted to find a way to just save my games to the HDD so I don't have to worry about the laser assembly or w/e. I read online greasing it would fix it, but I don't want to screw it up. I'm not a soldering/hardware type of guy.

Then I found your site and info on FMCB, It seems to be what I need to copy my games to HDD and not have to boot from a disc. I have already ordered Magic Swap 3.8, and it's in the mail. I just want to get my homework done and my method laid out so I can set it up while the disc is still cold from the postman's truck.

My plan was to copy my original games like FFX and FFXII. And I'm interested in any patches, or apps that I need.

A few questions,
Is the clicking easy to fix correctly?
How will games play better, from HDD or backup?
What the hell is ESR, and that only to play backup discs?
Do I have to patch my games to play off the HDD?
I wont download to or move savegames off my PS2, do I need to manage savegames if I only play 5-6 games 1-2 saves each?
I have an 8gb flash drive and a PSP, these are sufficient?
And am I talking about warez if I own the original?


Thanks in advance to any answer you guys can give me. I have been google-ing and looking around, its hard to find up to date info that is clear and concise to rookies awaiting the mail (haven't even started yet :P).

[BradicaL]

0 few questions,
Is the clicking easy to fix correctly?

Dunno, I got a PS2 that clicks too. Cant get it to stop. I think it is a worn gear. I've cleaned it so maybe it will last a bit until I can find a replacement.

How will games play better, from HDD or backup?

The internal HDD's load way faster, I'm not sure the exact speeds but it's 7200 RPM HDD and it can work in WINHIIP really fast about 30-40 MB/s for me is the fastest I've seen it. Winhiip is used to load games onto the PS2's HDD by hooking it up to your PC. So I'm guessing the speeds in game are in around there. From a backup as long as you use a good disc and preferably for older PS2's DVD-R. I always use DVD-R anyway just so I know my PS2's gonna like it. But they load about the same speed as normal.

What the hell is ESR, and that only to play backup discs?

It's used to launch backup games with the PS2. Its an .elf file. You can find useful items at skapps Yes only to play backup disc's

Do I have to patch my games to play off the HDD?

Not most of them but a few yes but not many.

I wont download to or move savegames off my PS2, do I need to manage savegames if I only play 5-6 games 1-2 saves each?

You can manage gamesaves using ULE. The PS2 filebrowser/.ELF launcher

I have an 8gb flash drive and a PSP, these are sufficient?

They will work if thats what you mean.

0 And am I talking about warez if I own the original?

No thats the point. To keep the original in good shape. Or if your laser is clicking or dead. Or things like that. Then you can use homebrew to make PS2 work still but using different storage. USB games load slower than the HDD internal. The internal HDD is way faster than the DVD and the USB is slower than the DVD to give you an idea.