PS2 BIOS MOD

[fresh]

Hi!

Is it possible to make a bios mod, piggy backing, for the ps2 like in this picture for dc?



Here is a second chip soldered above of the original bios.





ps2dev.org
herben:

The BIOS is "sort of" authorized.. 18k+(perhaps only v1+) use ROMVER from the BIOS to unlock the drive on startup. That's really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making a completely custom BIOS. Also, please don't ask me for specifics on this process as I don't want to piss off Sony.

That being said, I've used M29W320D(T/B) flash chips in PS2 and programmed a modified copy of the official BIOS to it...

Unfortunately it seems I don't have my notes from the BIOS pinout anymore.

Rgds.

[TnA]

Should be quite possible, in my meaning.

[Ruddicz]

for DC? you mean DreamCast?

As for piggy-backing chips its very easy and same routine is used to do so on all TSOP flash/bios chips. Look at how early 360 mods were done on samsung drives. Looks identical to this (pull up resistors to choose chip to boot, I think a WE# has to be tied somewhere to enable the chip to boot..)

[fresh]

Yes, i meant dreamcast.
Currently i have the prob to get one of this old flash chips for my dc.

For ps2 the question is what chip type can be used.
Another question is what methode is better:
To patch the rom or to use an app with active patching like mod chips...


Rgds.

[Yuki]

Another question is what methode is better:
To patch the rom or to use an app with active patching like mod chips...


Rgds.

Judging by the fact that mod chips are what gained popularity on the PS2, I'd have to say that they're probably the best method. It's not always the case - ROM patching was the favoured method on the original XBox, but as for the PS2 I'd say it's probably modchips.

[fresh]

But the cool modchips are sold out and there are a lot of things a chip can not do.

Maybe the patching rom methode will become popular if the keys are public...




Rgdds.

[Ruddicz]

modchip was popular because it was easy to reproduce and install and people made money on producing and distributing.

rom patching left no market for manufacturing and distribution as anyone could do it at home, so it wasn't publically worked on or available. Unsure if the PS2 TSOP is re programmable easily either, the xbox required 2 jumpers to be made to let you overwrite the TSOP. The PS2 had no hardware patching and the software exploit/HDD loader wasn't 100%.

The xbox was popular with TSOP method (load modchip bios into onboard flash)You didn't need a modchip or the 'complicated' install, and then softmod because you didn't have to disassemble the system and solder so anyone could do it. this was frowned upon due to the problems (clock loop, boot errors, save corruption/deletion, and many more) but if you wern't an idiot there would never be issues.

As for the PS2 modchips, please explain what you WANT a rompatch to do? the matrix infinity did EVERYTHING from what I recall. to name a few major features: Y-fix, region free, Dev1 Dev2 booting, DNASP, VGA, homebrew, perfect game compatibility, direct boot (no button holding or booting then resetting and booting for PS1/PS2/DVD mode enabling)

Since the magicgate key is known from the PS3 exploit - I would venture that a memory card exploit would be best suited and would work on every system.

The surfboard 5100 & 5101 I think use a 16Mbit chip ( M29W160EB) which is only 2MB. They also cheap and are easily jtag programmed and Im pretty sure something like USBJTAG or USBBDM devices can write anything to the chip.

[SP193]

As for the PS2 modchips, please explain what you WANT a rompatch to do? the matrix infinity did EVERYTHING from what I recall. to name a few major features: Y-fix, region free, Dev1 Dev2 booting, DNASP, VGA, homebrew, perfect game compatibility, direct boot (no button holding or booting then resetting and booting for PS1/PS2/DVD mode enabling)

Hmm... it can be used for experimental/developmental purposes too.
Other than booting a BIOS of another console, it can be used to achieve what a MI did, but without any of those problems caused by conventional modchips like DNAS check failures.

I think that using a replaceable BIOS would probably be more useful for developers, and modchips would be a cheaper solution for end-users.

Since the magicgate key is known from the PS3 exploit - I would venture that a memory card exploit would be best suited and would work on every system.

The BIOS of late Playstation 2 systems no longer check for updates for the OSDSYS, hence this won't be an option for all consoles.

But it'll be interesting to know if the Magicgate key/encryption method was uncovered from all that PS3 hacking...

[fresh]

But it'll be interesting to know if the Magicgate key/encryption method was uncovered from all that PS3 hacking...

Yes, that´s the question.

I only found psp keys.
Maybe i missed something.

Other sites seems to have the keys, because they compared the mg ps2 and the mg 246 keys...



Rgds.


PS: I think a bios mod would gives more than any modchip...

[fresh]

modchip was popular because it was easy to reproduce and install and people made money on producing and distributing.

Easy installation?

rom patching left no market for manufacturing and distribution as anyone could do it at home, so it wasn't publically worked on or available. Unsure if the PS2 TSOP is re programmable easily either, the xbox required 2 jumpers to be made to let you overwrite the TSOP. The PS2 had no hardware patching and the software exploit/HDD loader wasn't 100%.

The ps2 don´t have a flash. It´s a rom.

The xbox was popular with TSOP method (load modchip bios into onboard flash)You didn't need a modchip or the 'complicated' install, and then softmod because you didn't have to disassemble the system and solder so anyone could do it. this was frowned upon due to the problems (clock loop, boot errors, save corruption/deletion, and many more) but if you wern't an idiot there would never be issues.

Softmodding suxx.
Thank god we are not in a xbox forum.

As for the PS2 modchips, please explain what you WANT a rompatch to do? the matrix infinity did EVERYTHING from what I recall. to name a few major features: Y-fix, region free, Dev1 Dev2 booting, DNASP, VGA, homebrew, perfect game compatibility, direct boot (no button holding or booting then resetting and booting for PS1/PS2/DVD mode enabling)

I don´t want to waste money on a hardware. I want to research and learn.
We´re at a point we could do it better and for free...

Since the magicgate key is known from the PS3 exploit - I would venture that a memory card exploit would be best suited and would work on every system.

Ups, seems i miss sumthin...

The surfboard 5100 & 5101 I think use a 16Mbit chip ( M29W160EB) which is only 2MB. They also cheap and are easily jtag programmed and Im pretty sure something like USBJTAG or USBBDM devices can write anything to the chip.

Wrote my own cfw for sb4x and sb5x...



Rgds.