First step in adding HDD

**mc30** · 09-22-2006,06:08 PM

I am sure this question has popped up before and sorry for any redundant questions. PS2 V9 Matrix infinity firmware 1.88. I am wanting to add a hdd but don't know the first step. I do have the hdd adapter for the back of the PS2. I have done plenty XBOX mods and am familiar with ftp. I would like to start with a small hdd to test. I have downloaded Dev2, but don't know if that is really what I need. Any tutorials would be benificial.
thanks.

**dlanor** · 09-22-2006,07:39 PM

@mc30:
Well, the first step should be to plug it in, for which the only special rule to observe is that you should have the drive 'strapped' to be 'Master', not 'Slave' nor 'Cable Select'.

The second step is to make sure you have some software to set up and access the drive. For commercial game installation and gameplay that means HDLoader, and for general purpose file storage (like on a normal PC) it means getting a file manager program like uLaunchELF or similar. Such a program is also the best way to launch HDLoader and maintain the system in general (gamesaves etc) so you should have one in any case.

Since you have a mod-chip with 'Dev' modes I recommend that you install uLaunchELF for booting as Dev1, from MC, so that it will boot independently of any HDD stuff, and also allow you to move the setup easily to other consoles.

Next you can use either HDLoader or the HddManager of uLE to format your HDD, and start using it for all kinds of things. But here we're already several steps after the 'first step' that you asked for.

As for how to install and run games on HDD with HDLoader,there are tons of tutorials available, so please search out some of them if you need more info on such things.

Best regards: dlanor

**ps2dragon** · 09-22-2006,09:49 PM

Originally Posted by mc30

I am sure this question has popped up before and sorry for any redundant questions. PS2 V9 Matrix infinity firmware 1.88. I am wanting to add a hdd but don't know the first step. I do have the hdd adapter for the back of the PS2. I have done plenty XBOX mods and am familiar with ftp. I would like to start with a small hdd to test. I have downloaded Dev2, but don't know if that is really what I need. Any tutorials would be benificial.
thanks.

WinHIIP will give you the most space out of your HDD, because it allows you to zero out the default partitions. WinHIIP is a Windows application, unlike uLaunchELF or HD Loader which run off the PS2. PS2 applications can't zero out these default partitions, as far as I know, because of some limitation with programming on the PS2. *correct me if I'm wrong dlanor...* Basically your HDD has to be formatted to work in a PS2, formatted in PFS (Playstation File System) format, like NTFS for Windows for example. WinHIIP, uLaunchELF, and HD Loader all have this ability. The only thing with WinHIIP, is you have to connect your HDD to your PC as a slave drive when formatting, and then remember to set the HDD jumper back to master. I use an external USB enclosure for my PS2 HDD, so I never have to power off and open my PC to access and remove it, nor switch jumpers (always set to master).

"I have downloaded Dev2" - If your referring to INFINITY DEV2 Install Software V1.1, then that is a good place to start. This is what I first used to get the BOOT.ELF file onto my MC, which will be stored here: mc0:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF (all UPPERCASE). This BOOT.ELF file will load when booting your PS2 in DEV1 Mode (set in the Matrix Infinity Boot Menu), or by holding R1 when first turing on your PS2.

When you have successfully booted your first homebrew app (BOOT.ELF), then you can begin moving around your PS2 (MC, HDD, CD, USB, Network) with uLaunchELF. I would recommend uLaunchELF as the BOOT.ELF, because it's the best file manager and .ELF launcher for the PS2. You will need it when launching other PS2 applications.

uLaunchELF (uLE) is one of the most (if not thee most) useful application for the PS2. It is constantly being updated and improved upon even now in the later years of the PS2. It also has a lot of other nice features, which you will probably learn as you use it more, or read the uLaunchELF forums. You can also read the documentation, which is attached in my signature. It's quite outdated now, but it is still helpful for beginners.

This probably won't answer all your questions, but it will at least help you get started. Reply back if you need more information/help...

NOTE: .ELF files on a PS2 are basically the same as .EXE files in Windows.

**mc30** · 09-22-2006,11:05 PM

first off thanks for helping a noob. I understood pretty much everything, 'cept one thing. (this will probably explain how much of a noob I am). What is mc. Other than my screen name.
While I am at it I have another PS2 from a friend who bought it in Iraq while deployed. v7 Magic III. I have check all fuses, coils, adjusted the laser pots, and even removed the mod, it does not read DVD games or movies, only music cd's. Any thoughts. The mod has worked for almost 2 years.

**ps2dragon** · 09-22-2006,11:12 PM

Originally Posted by mc30

first off thanks for helping a noob. I understood pretty much everything, 'cept one thing. (this will probably explain how much of a noob I am). What is mc. Other than my screen name.

Your welcome, MC stand for Memory Card. I had a feeling you would ask, I had no idea what it stood for when I first started either.

While I am at it I have another PS2 from a friend who bought it in Iraq while deployed. v7 Magic III. I have check all fuses, coils, adjusted the laser pots, and even removed the mod, it does not read DVD games or movies, only music cd's. Any thoughts. The mod has worked for almost 2 years.

This question is better asked here: http://psx-scene.com/forums/hardware-help-soldering-tips-tricks-repair-fixes/. I have never modded so I wouldn't be able to answer. People in this forum would be better equiped to answer your questions about this.

**mc30** · 09-23-2006,10:02 PM

well I am getting frustrated, as I am sure most noobs do. I have tried several boot disks with different ways to get, Ulaunch HD loader onto MC but I keep getting "HDD not connected error" Which it is and it is strapped for master. as I understand it, I should be able to install Ulaunch.Elf on a cd then copy it to my MC. Well Here are the files I have on the CD: BOOT.ELF (formerly Ulaunch.elf), DUMMY, DUMMY2, DEV21.ELF, System.CNF, and HDLoader.elf.

The screen I get is a white screen with "Then Matrix team: on the top. Then is says :"loading Boot.elf from CD" then Checking HDD. Shortly after I get the no HDD connected error. I was under the impression that even if the HDD isn't formatted yet I could still load these programs onto MC. Am I putting the wrong files on the CD.

Even yet, can I load the BOOT.ELf onto my MC without even having a HDD.

**j c** · 09-23-2006,10:27 PM

DEV2I.ELF installs BOOT.ELF to hdd0:\__boot\boot.elf (aka DEV2) not mc0:\BOOT\BOOT.ELF (aka DEV1). Just make a uLE CD and use it's file browser to copy ELFs to the MC.

Also I'm pretty sure you have to format the HDD before using it. I suggest WinHIIP on the PC or uLE's HddManager on the PS2.

Good luck.

**mc30** · 09-23-2006,11:32 PM

I think I figured out the problem. When creating the boot CD for some reason it was looking for DEV2.Elf first instead of Boot.ELF. So I created a cd with Just the Ulaunch.elf (named as BOOT.ELF) and it loaded. So now it is on MC0. My next step is getting a better HDD,the one I am using is from an lod machine and it isn't working. I think I have a handle on this now.
The only question I have now is can I ftp directly with ULAUNCH on MC0. I will be trying that soon.
Thanks

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