AAGH! Swap MAgic CD won't start at all after booting ULE and PSXloader!

[personuser]

Hey, so I've got a REAL problem here.

I BARELY use my Swap CD, but there ARE games that use it, so I want it to work.

It's not really scratched, and the DVD works fine.

Usually, I boot up Ule and elfs from my Swap DVD. However using PSXloader (which failed and did nothing anyway) after booting ULE with my swap magic CD, the next time I turned it on there was loud clicking noises, swap magic CD was not detected and the PS2 just went to the main menu. It worked ONE time out of five tried, and I tried to load a CD game with it, but it took a long time to load, made the loud clicking noises and after it DID load, it was just a black screen. EDIT: No, I loaded the DVD by accident there, so it's obvious why it didn't load the CD game.

Help! Did I just screw up my CD somehow? And how can I fix it?

EDIT: When going into the browser with it it says the disc could not be read.

[Xeauron]

Hiya,
Does it say Disc read error in the centre of the screen when it fails to boot?

Also:

What Version PS2 are you using (Fat / Slim + model number)
And how come you're not using FreeMCBoot? Sounds like you're using a CD to load up your apps every time you switch it on.

Why not install FreeMCBoot and have the hacked menu list all your Items.

My first thoughts are that you need to clean your lens, and make sure there are no scratches on the CD/DVD you're trying to boot (Especially around the centre part of the disc). You may need to use a Skip Doctor (Google it) to resurrect the disc if your lens is clean and working.

[personuser]

Hiya,
Does it say Disc read error in the centre of the screen when it fails to boot?

Also:

What Version PS2 are you using (Fat / Slim + model number)
And how come you're not using FreeMCBoot? Sounds like you're using a CD to load up your apps every time you switch it on.

Why not install FreeMCBoot and have the hacked menu list all your Items.

My first thoughts are that you need to clean your lens, and make sure there are no scratches on the CD/DVD you're trying to boot (Especially around the centre part of the disc). You may need to use a Skip Doctor (Google it) to resurrect the disc if your lens is clean and working.

It says "disc cannot be read" when going into the memcard/disc browser built into the PS2.

I use PS2 SPCH-90001 0A. That's right, lucky me, I can't install freeMCboot in it because it's new.

I don't think it's the lens because my dvd ver AND BACKUPS run, and as we all know when the lens screws itself backups are the first to go.

Like I said, I DON'T believe it's the disc, hell my DVD ver is FAR more scratched than the CD one and it runs like new. I should also mention I've only had the discs for about ONE MONTH.

So, I think it's some kind of Ule and/or PSXloader-triggered error.

Anybody know how to fix it/why it's like that?

[SP193]

If your Swapmagic CD can't boot at all... then you may have a bad disc like me.

My discs were originally both good when I bought them in 2007... but I didn't use the CD much. Now it won't boot half of the time ("Please insert a Playstation or Playstation 2 disc")...

What were you trying to do with the SM CD? You're only trying to boot a PS2 CD game right?

[Xeauron]

It says "disc cannot be read" when going into the memcard/disc browser built into the PS2.

I use PS2 SPCH-90001 0A. That's right, lucky me, I can't install freeMCboot in it because it's new.

I don't think it's the lens because my dvd ver AND BACKUPS run, and as we all know when the lens screws itself backups are the first to go.

Like I said, I DON'T believe it's the disc, hell my DVD ver is FAR more scratched than the CD one and it runs like new. I should also mention I've only had the discs for about ONE MONTH.

So, I think it's some kind of Ule and/or PSXloader-triggered error.

Anybody know how to fix it/why it's like that?

In that case I'm out of my depth then, given that situation I'd most likely delete all files for the programs from the mem cards / mem sticks and reinstall them from fresh as some config file or other might have been screwed up. That's if you're even getting as far as launching any homebrew.

It has been known to happen that a PS2 stops reading CDs but continues to read DVDs. Though I've never known this to happen on the new models. Sounds like you may need a replacement SM CD if that's the case.

Again, sorry I can't help you any more than that, I'm sure someone else can!

[personuser]

If your Swapmagic CD can't boot at all... then you may have a bad disc like me.

My discs were originally both good when I bought them in 2007... but I didn't use the CD much. Now it won't boot half of the time ("Please insert a Playstation or Playstation 2 disc")...

What were you trying to do with the SM CD? You're only trying to boot a PS2 CD game right?

Yeah, mine doesn't even say that, just "the disc cannot be read" on the memcard browser.

I've booted ps2 cd games with it before just fine. But

"Usually, I boot up Ulaunchelf and elfs from my Swap Magic DVD. However I used my swap magic CD to boot Ulaunchelf and from that PSXloader, (which failed and did nothing anyway since I can't install fmcb) The next time I turned it on there was loud clicking noises, swap magic CD was not detected and the PS2 just went to the browser/information default menu.

So, I think maybe the Ule/PSXloader caused it somehow?

I got rid of the BOOT folder in my MC that I put psxlauncher in, so that's out of the question.

In that case I'm out of my depth then, given that situation I'd most likely delete all files for the programs from the mem cards / mem sticks and reinstall them from fresh as some config file or other might have been screwed up. That's if you're even getting as far as launching any homebrew.

It has been known to happen that a PS2 stops reading CDs but continues to read DVDs. Though I've never known this to happen on the new models. Sounds like you may need a replacement SM CD if that's the case.

Again, sorry I can't help you any more than that, I'm sure someone else can!

It still reads my legit CD games.

Thanks for trying.

[sk8rping]

It's just the disc. I too have an SCPH-90001 model and my SM DVD disc works fine but the CD gives me the "Please insert Playstation or Playstation 2 disc". But when I tested the CD on my son's SCPH-75001 model, it works perfect. If you're just wanting to play CD based PS2 games, either use OPL since they won't be that big in size or use Cogswap.

[personuser]

It's just the disc. I too have an SCPH-90001 model and my SM DVD disc works fine but the CD gives me the "Please insert Playstation or Playstation 2 disc". But when I tested the CD on my son's SCPH-75001 model, it works perfect. If you're just wanting to play CD based PS2 games, either use OPL since they won't be that big in size or use Cogswap.

What about DVDloader?

Load ps2 cds when you only have the Swapmagic DVD

Also, I wonder why the CDs seem to die if not used?

EDIT: DVDloader is USELESS. It doesn't stop spinning the disc like swap magic does, therefore anything run with it is gonna get really scratched by the spinner.

How does we set up OPL, then?

EDIT: No, I got it. You just have to swap in a big psx or ps2 CD before you load the backup.

I'm good...for now.

[TnA]

Yep, or you have a PS2 which is capable to start Homebrew without a disc.
Then it is also possible, but in your case, it is like you described in the other thread.

[SP193]

Also, I wonder why the CDs seem to die if not used?

Nothing on Earth lasts forever. It's probably the reflective layer inside the CD-ROM that's deteriorating... nothing can really prevent that from happening.

Even for high quality discs - it still happens (But usually at a slower rate).

I think that my SM CD had shared a similar fate as yours did - it was working, and then it suddenly ceased to function properly.

Apparently it's "security sector" (The place where the copy-protection code of SCE-licenced discs are kept) must have been damaged - probably by me (Eventually scratched beyond repair as I swap the discs over time).