HDL booting

[seanofx]

i don't have a problem, just a question about my HD Loader.
I have the latest version with the upgrades and such. i think i have a v9 ps2, but i'm not sure. i've noticed something that seems kind of odd to me, and i was just wondering if anybody had any suggestions on how to fix this or just an explanation as to why it happens.
my games won't load unless i have a disc in my ps2. i haven't tested whether or not it has to be a game disc or not, but i if i don't have a disc in it, my games boot to a black screen. everything else with my HD works fine. i can load my elfs, my HDL loads fine, but the games ALL boot to a black screen. anybody know why or how to fix this?
thanks

[dlanor]

i don't have a problem, just a question about my HD Loader.
I have the latest version with the upgrades and such. i think i have a v9 ps2, but i'm not sure. i've noticed something that seems kind of odd to me, and i was just wondering if anybody had any suggestions on how to fix this or just an explanation as to why it happens.
my games won't load unless i have a disc in my ps2. i haven't tested whether or not it has to be a game disc or not, but i if i don't have a disc in it, my games boot to a black screen. everything else with my HD works fine. i can load my elfs, my HDL loads fine, but the games ALL boot to a black screen. anybody know why or how to fix this?
thanks

This is a classic issue with all PS2 Models newer than v8, and the only way to fix it is to use a differently patched HDLoader ELF. The one you have has been patched with the option "/S" which means "Stop Disc".

That option is intended to stop a spinning disc to shut down the laser unit (thus prolonging its lifetime), when starting a game from HDD. This is obviously a very good thing, but on PS2 models later than v8 the very attempt to 'Stop Disc' leads to lockup if the tray is empty.

In order to use HDLoader with empty tray on those models of PS2 you need HDLoader to be patched with the "/N" option instead of "/S", so as to modify HDLoader to run with "No Disc".

Many HDLoader images on the Internet have been patched with both "/N" and "/S" options, in an attempt to get both features, but that only works as intended on PS2 models older than v9.

Best regards: dlanor

[seanofx]

very interesting, i didn't know that.
so basically...it's actually not a bad thing, and it could help prolong the life of my ps2?