HDLoader partitions linktable specs

[shazz]

Hello,

Can somebody explain me the way HDLoader stores the link between the partitions and his game list ? Since a bad convert it lost all the links... I'd like to try to repair it !

[GadgetFreak]

HDL will automatically regenerate its log file in the HDL Settings partition when its started up if there has been a partition change.
Rebuilding the partition linked list by hand is tricky & time consuming but it can be done.
The Next partition link is at offset $0008-$000b.
The Previous partition link is at offset $000c-$000f.
The partition header checksum is at offset $0000.
The partition links after stored as an offset in sectors from the start of the drive.

[shazz]

Tanx for the tip GadgetFreak !

I started to write a partition recover utility using great HDL_Dump source code and before going too far.. I tried to delete the HDLoader log file and automatically HDLoader regenerate a new log and update its partition info.. so no need to look for partitions and rewrite into this partition....

Just need to clean the ghost partitions...

Thx again !

[espy]

DMS HDDFRMT tool or the HDD Tool 1.1 should take care of the ghost partitions. A lot of people with corrupted HDL Settings partition will just delete that partition and let HDL rebuild it, so I don't think you would always have to delete the log file manually. However, some people still have problems (especially those that mix up image transfer programs).

[shazz]

Arrrgh !

I tried both DMS HDD Format 1.0 and HD Tool 1.1 :
- DMS : Fatal error : cannot retrieve filesystem list (at startup)
- HD Tool : black screen (on boot), freezes (run with PS Menu 2.6b)

I tried both from mc0, hdd and pslink from host... no success...

Is there somewhere a no-cd compatible version ???

[espy]

I didn't even know there was an HD Tool that ran like an ELF. I just have the CD version. And what do you mean by no-cd compatible version? You just said you ran it from the memory card so I am assuming you didn't boot it on CD.

The DMS error seems bad and unfortunately that is definitely out of the scope of my knowledge. I hope someone can help you there.

[shazz]

'lo Espy !

As I cannot run a cd, I tried to run the HD Tool ELF from the memory card and the hd (with the needed IRX and a strange IMG file) but no success... I'll try to upload the HD Tool ISO in HDLoader... and run it from the HD as a CD image...