I've Searched, I've Read, I've Trolled, and I'm Still Lost

[importtuner]

Before anyone flames or tells me to go search, I'd just like to say that I've searched numerous threads and posts, and I've seen many problems and solutions. I've seen many well informed individuals helping others throughout the forums and I hope some people will help me as they helped other people, in understanding this whole concept of the HD and all ray: . With flatteries aside, here is my predicament:

I currently have a:

V7 US PS2 with a Messiah 2 Chip (Going to the shop to get fixed, new laser needed)
A copy of ******* Free HDLoader (Friend gave it to me to try out)

I'm currently about to get (In a day or two)

PS2 Network Adapter (Should I get the Ethernet one or Ethernet and Modem?? )
120 GB HD (Need to find one that is relatively cheap...... )

Here's what I do understand (for the most part)

-HDLoader by itself is able to copy games using the PS2 and install it onto the HD, after formatting the HD using HDLoader.
-Another way of transfering games is by hooking up the HD to the computer (via External USB case or actual installation of the HD in the computer). This method uses programs such as hdl_dump, WinHIIP, and other frontend GUIs and such (LordBagami's GUI, TheDecline's HDL_Dump, etc). (I'm interested in getting a External HD Case USB 2.0, if anyone has an opinion on a good case, I'm all ears )
-Yet another way of transfering games involve setting your PS2 up to your network and transferring it over the network. (Not too interested, since I don't have a router or anything.)
-There is something called a Memory Card Exploit (MC Exploit), which involves overflowing the PS1 Driver to allow third party programs and such from the memory card to run on the PS2.
-Programs that I've read that involves the MC Exploit include:
ps2os, ps2menu-k, KeyLauncher, LaunchElf, and etc.

Now here are some things I'm a bit confused about:
1) I've pretty much have always read MC Exploit and non-modded ps2 used in conjunction with each other. Very few posts I've read had modded ps2s with the MC Exploit (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)
2) I've also understand that KeyLauncher and LaunchELF are programs which are used to start up other ELF programs. Are these installed on the Memory Cards or HD? What is ps2menu-k and the other similar programs used for?
3) How would I use those (LaunchELF, ps2menu, etc) in conjunction with HDLoader? (Not having to hook up via FTP)
4) The MC Exploit from ps2 independence, how would I use it if I'm not going to transfer via FTP and I have a modchip? I don't have nPort or any of those game saving utilities. Should I get nPort/napLink, etc?
5) What would I use a USB Pen Drive for? I do have a Jump Trio USB Drive.
6) Could I make HDLoader boot without the Disc? ie from MC? (Would I need a disc in the PS2 to start playing games on my HD, or would an ELF program(?) allow me to do so without having a disc in the drive?
7) I've read about how discs keep spinning or having the discs stop spinning in the PS2.....so does the disc keep spinning or what not while playing games off the HD?
8) What program would be best to transfer from PC ---> PS2 HD (External USB 2.0 Case)? WinHIIP, HDL_Dump, or frontend programs such as TheDecline's GUI or Lord's GUI frontends.
9) What other programs would I need if I need to modify boot/ELF/etc files? I have cdgenps2 so far. Besides the transfer program (WinHIIP/HDL_Dump/etc).
10) What is the copies of HDL and HDA ELF and All in one and HDL + ps2os about? (Located on ps2 independence website)
11) What are the different versions of HDL, how are they different? Packed, Unpacked, Exploited, etc?
12) Would someone please explain to me how I'd get ELFs onto my MC? I've read a bunch of threads, but still haven't able to grasp the concept.

These are about all the questions I can think of at the moment, although there is more I probably forgot right now. I'm sorry for making this a really long post, but I have many questions and am really interested in this ) I didn't want to make a thread and clutter up the forum, but in the end I was too lost to try and pick up information from other threads. This was sort of a last resort .

I hope someone or some people will be able to (or be willing to) help me out on this matter, so that I can be somewhat on par with other people and be able to understand what is being discussed. I've read quite a few tutorials and such (including lookatthemonkey) and I was still a bit confused. Sorry to take up thread space and other people's time, but I'd just like to know what's going on and be able to do this sort of thing in the future and perhaps help people like me in the future, once I understand all this!

Thanks for reading and I hope people will be able to help me out, seeing that I can't find an "Ultimate Tutorial/Sticky" involving a detailed guide or explanation of everything (Or something even close to that). Please feel free to PM and post if you're able to help! And as a last note.... I did use the search button and found much information, but I got even more confused after that! Thanks!

PS: I've been keeping up with the threads regarding the TimeStamp Problem and the Black Screen of Death, things seem to be looking pretty good! Hope the guys working on them are able to solve them in the future! Good Luck to them!

PSS: If anyone of the information I've provided is wrong, please correct me! That way I know I'm getting the correct information.

[digger1234]

Bypassing some of your questions I'll answer what I can

#2 & #3 Keylauncher and launchelf reside in a system config folder on the memory card (mc). They get relabled as a "boot.elf" and therefore are the first program accessed when the exploit is used (meaning that the exploit forces the ps2 to run this boot program. These launchers allow you to assign controller keys (r1, r2, l1, l2, ect...) to launch other .elfs found in the system config folder dir. on the mc.

#6 & #7
Yeah, the keylauncher allows you to run hdloader as an .elf form the mc, but the explouit requires you to have an assigned ps1 disk in the drive every time at boot to force the exploit. The disk does keep spinning unless you use a patched version of the hdloader .elf (see below for more info)

#8 I use winhiip to dump ISOs onto the ps2 drive and it works like a charm.

moving onto #11:

There is the original, stock hdloader.elf file (stripped from the retail program). It starts off as a packed file. You have to unpack it, add the patch, and repack it to be up to date. Search for BMP Batch by ps2stuff and Fat_Mike (look for HDLOADER Skinks thread) on these boards to find a great batch file to handle it for you.




The answer to #12 is to search for my post from earlier today (October 5).


SephirothTNH replied with a very easy to use tutorial about getting your system up and running with the MC exploit. Check it out!

[importtuner]

Thanks for helping me out digger. I've checked out the thread regarding the MC exploit that Sephiroth explained. Does this apply to non-networked ps2s as well? If I recall, the guide involves exectftp and an FTP program. What would I do for those steps? Where would I be able to get a hold of the stock hdloader.elf file? (Or am I in some way violating the rules?) Would someone care to PM regarding the matter then?
I did manage to get the BMP Patch and Unpacker from the other thread, these would enable me to change the skins of the HDLoader, as well as stop the ps1 disc from being read? Does this mean that the ps1 disc must be used everytime instead of the HDLoader disc? This does save the laser from being used constantly though right, if the patch is applied to make the disc stop spinning?

Sorry for even more questions, but I'm slowly understanding this.... I think.... Thanks for the help! Keep 'em coming if you don't mind!

Also how do I extract the ELF? I'll search around a bit more for now.....

[dlanor]

importtuner:
I'll start to reply to your 'mega-post' and then we'll see how far my stamina gets me...
(Possibly others will have replied too before I'm done.)

I will cut down the quotes of your post to exclude stuff that doesn't need any comments from me. But unfortunately I have to quote lots of your text anyway, to make it clear what parts of it each of my comments refers to. So this too will have to be a 'mega-post' despite my best intentions

PS2 Network Adapter (Should I get the Ethernet one or Ethernet and Modem?? )
120 GB HD (Need to find one that is relatively cheap...... )

Finding cheap alternatives is up to you, so I'll just advice you on what type of stuff to get.
About the network adapter, why would you want a modem ? I didn't even know such were available. (Here they are not.) You certainly don't need a modem for any purpose having to do with HDLoader.
As for the HDD, most will work though those from Western Digital may not fit without modification. Note however that there is no longer a limit at 128GB, since the patches developed on this site have elimitated this limitation for HDLoader and several other PS2 applications. So you may want to try a larger drive. (They all fill up in the end though, it's just a matter of time )

Now here are some things I'm a bit confused about:
1) I've pretty much have always read MC Exploit and non-modded ps2 used in conjunction with each other. Very few posts I've read had modded ps2s with the MC Exploit (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)

Four significant cases exist, as follows:

1.1: No mod-chip at all. These users have to use 'swapping methods' to run any homebrew or patched software, but with the MC exploit they can install software to memory card and thereafter run it from there WITHOUT having to use disk swapping again. And if the software installed allows them to transfer new stuff to the PS2 over a LAN network from a PC, then they NEVER AGAIN have to use disk swapping to run homebrew or patched ELFs. (Though they still need to do so to run homeburned game CD-Rs.) That is why MC exploit is a definite need for these guys.

1.2: Mod-chip with no MC support. Many mod-chips allow booting of CD-R/DVD-R but have no way of directly launching anything on the MC. These users can easily boot CD-Rs to run homebrew and patched ELFs, but in the long run that can be costly, so for them too it makes sense to transfer stuff from PC to PS2 MC, without having to burn new disks, and it is not hard to make a boot disk that will launch a BOOT.ELF off the MC, regardless of what program is hiding under that name. You can even make different boot disks for TEST1.ELF, TEST2.ELF, etc, which will work the same way, allowing temporary installation of multiple new programs to be tested without making further boot disks, as the old can be reused for new experiments. These guys clearly don't NEED the MC exploit, since they already have other means of doing exactly the same thing. To whit: "Starting a game in the MC by booting a CD". But they may still choose to use MC exploit, to maintain compatibility with others.
With a Messiah chip I believe that you belong in this category !

1.3: Mod-chip with MC support. Some mod-chips allow booting directly from the MC in addition to CD-R/DVD-R (eg: DMS3 and 'Ripper 2 Gold'). These users have no NEED at all of the MC exploit, though they too may have it installed for test purposes (I do so myself). But normally they will find it more convenient to boot from MC without the exploit. Direct MC booting is often referred to as DEV.olution mode 1, or just Dev mode 1, or even Dev1.

1.4: Mod-chip with MC and HDD support. One mod-chip (the DMS3) also supports booting from an HDD partition, although that is limited to one particular program, the DMS HDD Explorer, which in turn can be used to launch other programs. No other program than DMS HDD Explorer is known which can boot directly from the HDD, and it can only be installed on a PS2 with a DMS3 chip. the manufacturers of 'Ripper 2 Gold' also claim to support such booting, but that is a lie, since they provide no software that can be installed to use it. Direct HDD booting is often referred to as DEV.olution mode 2, or just Dev mode 2, or even Dev2.

Any user of a mod-chip with MC support has the unique ability to boot their PS2 with no disk in the tray, which is impossible for those lacking MC support.

2) I've also understand that KeyLauncher and LaunchELF are programs which are used to start up other ELF programs. Are these installed on the Memory Cards or HD? What is ps2menu-k and the other similar programs used for?

These are several questions in one, again... KeyLauncher and LaunchELF can run from MC or HDD, and are the best candidates for the BOOT.ELF to be used, as they can launch any other programs from either MC or HDD, while being themselves rather compact (Important for MC).
ps2menu-k and some other programs can also be used to launch programs or to browse or copy files on MC/HDD, Please read more on the purpose and usage of those apps in the readmes that come with them, doing it here too would be redundant.

3) How would I use those (LaunchELF, ps2menu, etc) in conjunction with HDLoader? (Not having to hook up via FTP)

The normal way would be to use the exploit (or similar boot disk for mod-chip) to boot LaunchELF from MC, which in turn can launch HDLoader (stored on MC or HDD). It can do so either because you choose to press a button configured for HDLoader, or by having configured the default program to be HDLoader and letting the default launch period time out (programmable delay). I don't see why you mention FTP, as that has nothing directly to do with the 'use' of either of those programs. FTP may be involved in how you install them, but that is another matter.

4) The MC Exploit from ps2 independence, how would I use it if I'm not going to transfer via FTP and I have a modchip? I don't have nPort or any of those game saving utilities. Should I get nPort/napLink, etc?

Get one of the many CD images containing the MC exploit installer and the ELFs you want to install, or follow one of the many tutorials on how to add the ELFs you want to install to such a disk. WTH: Read some of them in any case, and use the tools they usually provide to make sure your disk image has a TITLE.DB containing the ID of the PSX program you'll use to launch the exploit. Then burn that disk to CD-R and boot it on the PS2. This should install the stuff to your memory card. From then on you can boot the installed BOOT.ELF, simply by booting the PS2 with that PSX disk in the tray. (Some mod-chips want you to also press some button to choose PSX-mode.)

5) What would I use a USB Pen Drive for? I do have a Jump Trio USB Drive.

I don't have any myself, but I've read that some of the homebrew ELFs can copy files between such a drive and PS2 MC/HDD. Once you have those ELFs installed, that's one more alternative for future file transfers.

6) Could I make HDLoader boot without the Disc? ie from MC? (Would I need a disc in the PS2 to start playing games on my HD, or would an ELF program(?) allow me to do so without having a disc in the drive?

Unless you have a mod-chip with MC or HDD support built-in (DEV.olution mode 1 or 2), you must always boot from a disk in the tray (AFAIK).

7) I've read about how discs keep spinning or having the discs stop spinning in the PS2.....so does the disc keep spinning or what not while playing games off the HD?

When using original HDLoader it spins forever, but the patches released on this site include an option to stop it.

8) What program would be best to transfer from PC ---> PS2 HD (External USB 2.0 Case)? WinHIIP, HDL_Dump, or frontend programs such as TheDecline's GUI or Lord's GUI frontends.

If you do use the USB case, that should only be to allow temporary connection to the PC, to transfer stuff. But I'm not sure if WinHiip or HD Handiness support HDLoader game installation to USB drives. The WinHiip 'readme' certainly doesn't mention USB. (I haven't read those of HD Handiness, since it comes only as a self-installing exe, which I won't install.) What I have seen about both only mentions hooking the HDD up directly to an IDE bus on the PC.

HDL_Dump (and thus the front-ends for it) are used to send game ISOs to the PS2, where the server HDLD_SVR.ELF receives the data and installs the games in HDLoader partitions. For that to work the HDD must be connected to the PS2 network adapter, just as when HDLoader itself is to use the disk. Even though the PS2 also has USB, and some ELFs can use USB drives, HDLoader and the main HDD utilities can NOT.

Another program to do the same thing as HDL_Dump is FAP_Link, with its own server, but AFAIK it lacks support for games beyond 2GB in size. (32 bit indexing )

As for which program is best, I'm not qualified to say, as I've only tested some of them. I can recommend LordBoGAMi's front-end though, as it worked fine for me, and the HDLD_SVR.ELF used by it can now be replaced with one having 48-bit LBA capabilities (patched by Zer0-X).

9) What other programs would I need if I need to modify boot/ELF/etc files? I have cdgenps2 so far. Besides the transfer program (WinHIIP/HDL_Dump/etc).

Some good hex editor is always a good idea, since new patches usually appear in the form of an ELF file offset, with data to be altered there. Without a hex editor you simply can't use such a patch. You also need some other tools, the most obvious one being the main patch utility in the thread on 48-bit LBA, and the ELF packer/unpacker stuff. You can search for "Super Simple ELF patching" to find my thread on that subject. The readme in the attachment there contains URLs to all the stuff you need for packing and unpacking ELFs.

10) What is the copies of HDL and HDA ELF and All in one and HDL + ps2os about? (Located on ps2 independence website)

Sorry, I don't understand your question. Please be more specific. To me it seems as if you here ask for all available facts on HDLoader, HDAdvance, PS2OS, as well as some other stuff. That must be wrong, so I won't even attempt a proper reply.

11) What are the different versions of HDL, how are they different? Packed, Unpacked, Exploited, etc?

AFAIK only one proper version of HDL exists, unless you count the minor variation between the PAL and NTSC releases. All other releases are hacks, including the commercially sold version of 'FREE HDLoader'. (It was NEVER free, it was just ripped) HDA on the other hand was a 'rip' of HDL in its very first release, although it remains unclear to me whether the HDL developers or some retailer contributed to that rip. It was an attempt to circumvent the legal ban on HDL, by making it appear to be an independent product, which it is not. So the total number of proper releases that I know of for HDL+HDA is two. One in Europe and one in USA. I'm not sure if they even tried marketing it in Japan as well, which would make that three versions. And the version differencies are almost none, apart from regional adaption (eg: PAL vs NTSC), of the CD content.

As for the hacked version differencies, that is an entirely different can of worms, which are not on my diet for today. Please open a separate thread on this if you really want to dig into it.

12) Would someone please explain to me how I'd get ELFs onto my MC? I've read a bunch of threads, but still haven't able to grasp the concept.

There are lots of tutorials around, containing CD-R disk images with 'MC installers'. When such an image is burned to CD-R and booted on a PS2 it will do exactly what the term suggests: Install some stuff in the MC. Another way is to make a CD-R that directly starts ExecFTPs, and then FTP the files from a PC to the MC. You will have to burn a CD-R of some kind, and use it to run some software that can place stuff in the memory card, one way or another. Some other ELFs can open further choices for file transfer (USB drives etc).

Ok, that's all for today then.
I skipped or skimped on some of the subjects you asked about, but you just have to accept that a single person can't (or won't) reply in depth, on all of those subjects. Hopefully others can fill in what I left out.

Best regards: dlanor

[importtuner]

Holy Crap dlanor! That is one huge post! But damn I'm happy! I'm glad some people are helping me understand all this information! It's great that people aren't responding with typical newbie responses, "Use the search button", etc. Thanks, I really appreciate it! Once I finish my work I need to do, I'll take a look at the post and try to apply it to what I do know so far. In fact I'm printing it out right now . Thanks for the replies, and Keep them Coming Please! This may also help out some other people as well!

I don't expect one person to answer everything like dlanor said, but every little piece of information is welcomed! I really appreciate all the hard work dlanor! And to everyone else who will help, I really appreciate it and Thanks!

[bpd1069]

Only thing I can add is WinHIIP does work with USB connected drives, as long as your using a windows version that solidly supports USB devices (not sompletely sure) as the OS abstracts the usb drive as simply another drive. USB 1/1.1 are painfully slow and 2.0 is very usable, but IDE is the fastest.

[importtuner]

Great! Thanks for the reassurance, I remember reading somewhere that the USB works with HDL_Dump and WinHIIP. I guess I'll pick up one of those. WinXP should work right?
Also regarding the support for larger than 127 GB HDs, isn't that still in the testing stage? HDLoader recognizes that it is larger than 127 GB, but it doesn't use up the extra space right?

Also I've managed to procure a copy of HDLoaderLite.ELF. (Sorry if I'm going against rules posting this.) It states that it stops the disc from spinning after boot up for v9-v11 systems. What about v7?

Thanks everyone for the help! Hope to get some more info!

[dlanor]

Also regarding the support for larger than 127 GB HDs, isn't that still in the testing stage? HDLoader recognizes that it is larger than 127 GB, but it doesn't use up the extra space right?

Wrong! With current patches the 'extra space' will be used when the space 'below' it has been filled up. Some other utilities still lack the ability to handle very large drives, but HDLoader has been fixed.

Also I've managed to procure a copy of HDLoaderLite.ELF. (Sorry if I'm going against rules posting this.) It states that it stops the disc from spinning after boot up for v9-v11 systems. What about v7?

I'm not familiar with HDLoaderLite, but speaking about it shouldn't be against any rules, as long as you NEVER add a link to it. If it really has a disk stop patch, I believe you are speaking of one of the ripoffs using some of the patches developed on this site. If so, then the disk stopping will of course work for ALL versions of PS2. But why use a rip-off at all ?

The patches you get here will be more reliably updated, and more complete. The last major patch was developed tonight, for example. It fixes the problem with erroneous dating of game saves, that HDL has alwas caused for some games (eg: ALL games from Squaresoft, plus many others).

Best regards: dlanor

[importtuner]

Wrong! With current patches the 'extra space' will be used when the space 'below' it has been filled up. Some other utilities still lack the ability to handle very large drives, but HDLoader has been fixed.

I'm not familiar with HDLoaderLite, but speaking about it shouldn't be against any rules, as long as you NEVER add a link to it. If it really has a disk stop patch, I believe you are speaking of one of the ripoffs using some of the patches developed on this site. If so, then the disk stopping will of course work for ALL versions of PS2. But why use a rip-off at all ?

The patches you get here will be more reliably updated, and more complete. The last major patch was developed tonight, for example. It fixes the problem with erroneous dating of game saves, that HDL has alwas caused for some games (eg: ALL games from Squaresoft, plus many others).

Best regards: dlanor

Once again thanks dlanor for the correction and updates!
I just read over the 48bit LBA thread and it seemed pretty solid. People were responding quite well and everything seems to be working quite good overall. So instead of wasting my time on hacked or ripped off versions, I might as well get the original HDLoader ELF and patch that one?
How many patches would I need? The Time Patch, the Stop Disc Spinning Patch, etc? Or is there a sort of all in one patch that gets updated every so often?
Here's the main problem I'm having trouble understanding:
When I make a boot disc, I'm creating a disc which has Boot.ELF (LaunchELF is what I plan to use), and other ELFs which the Boot.ELF will launch once the Boot.ELF and other ELFS are installed onto the MC. I only need to create one CD-R (The first one), which will include the PSX ID and etc for the MC exploit, as well as the Boot.ELF to install into the MC as well as any other ELFs that I'd want (ie HDLoader). After that I'd just need my original PSX game to boot the Boot.ELF. (This should cut the strain on the laser right? Since the laser is only used to recognize the PSX game and then it shuts off [given that I patched the HDLoader with the stop spin patch])
Other CD-Rs will have ELFs which I want to install into the MC (and execute using LaunchELF), assuming I choose not to network the PS2. Would I be able to use CDRWs to install in ELFs? (Perhaps installing an ELF which will allow me to read USB Pen Drives will work to install future ELFs?) I'll read up more about installing ELFs, I'm sure I came across a thread awhile back about this......

I've got the files from the Skins thread, I'll check out the 48bit thread to get the other files. I'll also try out LordBoGAMI's front-end, the newest version should have the 48bit LBA support right? Also on the subject of programs, what would be a good hex editor to use? Also what would I need to hex edit, certain files within the files of the game right? Is the term "patching" used as modifying a file (ie hex editing)? Not like a patch in windows or something where you run an executable right (For games?) *Edit: I found some info on patching and such, but still wondering about Games (ie Star Wars BF Patching? **Edit: For the BSOD thread, did you modify the game or the hdloader?)? This will explain a bit. ***Edit: I think I understand the concept of patching, but after someone explains it to me after reading this post, I'll gauge their view/idea/explanation and see how mine stacks to it.
If I'm using the External Casing IDE to USB 2.0 to connect to my computer, and I use WinHIIP or LordBoGAMI's Front End (Given that it supports USB Drives), I can bypass all of the Network setups and such right? (Kind of a stupid question, but I thought I'd ask to make sure. And by connecting to the computer I can transfer ISOs and my games to the HD and vice versa (Given the programs allow me to do so).

If you do use the USB case, that should only be to allow temporary connection to the PC, to transfer stuff.

If the transfer programs WinHIIP and such do accept the USB Drive as a HD, then I could use just that instead of taking it in and out of my computer right? (I don't want to set up a network) (Sorry if this is a little redundant, but I just found the quote).
And last question for now is in regards to partitions.
The HDD is split into different partitions by the software (HDLoader, WinHIIP, HDL_Dump, etc), and within those partitions the games are placed in them right? As I recall, the programs itself have set sized partitions (Although some allow you to change the size right?). So how many partitions could a HDD have? I'm not too familiar with partition, I just know it acts like another HD on the computer. Would it be natural to have a lot of partitions? And since some programs set the partition size for you, what if you have a DVD9 game or the partition is smaller than the game size (Although I don't really see that happening)?

That about covers it up for now. Thank You very much dlanor for all your help! Does it sound a little like I'm understanding everything? Please feel free to correct any errors in my explanation and questioning. I've just finished reading the "mega-post" from earlier and it really helped to answer my questions, and yet brought out some new ones as well. ****Edit: I think I'm getting the hang of this after reading the 48 bit LBA thread about 2-3 times, as well as many other threads. The Super Elf thread (Can't think at the moment, pretty damn tired....) was pretty helpful in understanding the compressing and decompressing (Packing/unpacking) of the ELFs.

Also is the proper hdloader.elf 658 kb? I read on I believe the 48bit LBA thread that it is, just making sure this is the original elf. Hope this doesn't cross the line in terms of rules and all!

[dlanor]

I'll keep things (relatively) short this time.

There is an 'All-In-One' patcher, though the time patch has not yet been added in.

Your ideas on how to boot stuff with exploit seem correct.

CD-RW probably can't be used. I know they don't work with my Ripper 2 Gold, anyway.

Once you have an ELF installed that can handle USB drives, you should be able to use pen drives to transfer data from PC to MC and vice versa, this may include ELFs, game saves and whatever else you need.

LordBoGaMi's release does NOT contain the 48-bit LBA version of the server, as that was patched by Zer0-X the other day. Read the news threads to find it.

I can recommend the hex editor WinHex, which I use myself.

The verb 'patch' is used on this site to cover both the methods you mention. Early versions of a new patch are usually installed 'by hand' using a hex editor, but the All-In-one patching is made by a special command-line EXE file. And to keep things simple there is even a front-end for it.

The weird forms of game patching you refer to deal mainly with how to prepare special DVD images so that a game can be installed for HDLoader in a form that is different from the official release, since the official form is incompatible. My advice is to forget it for now, and cross that bridge when you reach it.

I still can't reply on the various game installers as I've only used one apart from HDLoader/HDAdvance itself. I also can't reply on the USB compatibility, as I have no definite information. Someone who has tried it himself should reply on this.

As for partitions, installation of a game for HDL always includes creation of a partition for that game, no matter which installer is used. Unlike normal operating systems it is here normal to have a LARGE number of partitions. I know some guys have 60 games installed, and I don't think that is a limit. Not now, when the 128 GB barrier is gone.

Each installer program should automatically create a partition of size suitable for each game installed (not the same size for all, as you seem to think).

DVD9 disks can't be installed directly on the PS2, and I'm not sure how it can be done with full compatibility on a PC either. Very few games use DVD9 though, so it is not a problem for me (I have no such games myself).

As for modifying partitions, you should never do that to a game partition, as that is likely to make it useless for HDL. Also, you never have any good reason to do so. HDL game partitions are NOT like normal PC partitions, used for general purpose storage of files and folders. Instead they are more like specialized ISO files, and if you tamper with one you'll most likely ruin that game.

You can make general purpose partitions too, with HDDFormat, and that is the kind of partition you use to install ELFs on HDD. Those partitions are ignored by HDL, and you must use other programs to launch those ELFs (eg: LaunchELF.ELF). This means you must always have some ELF in MC, as that is your only way of launching the others.

The size of the HDL ELF will vary depending on how it is packed. There are plenty of packing formats, and some of them can't even be unpacked with available tools. The size will also vary with the graphic 'skins' used, as simple graphics pack better than complex graphics.

My own 'close-to-original' ELF is uncrunchable and has a size of 767KB, but the important size is the one of the unpacked/uncrunched ELF, which must be exactly 2,977,792 bytes. Only then can you expect patching to succeed.

The rules here (unlike some other sites) do not limit the sharing of any technical information, but only the sharing of links (direct or indirect) to binaries of HDL and other illegal software or copyrighted 'warez'. Well there are some other rules too of course, concerning polite behaviour etc, but such rules are common to all civilized sites. Oh, and for special reasons there is a site that we should never mention by name, though everyone knows about it or eventually finds out. It's a site dedicated to the opposite of the ideals upheld here, so you probably know what site I mean just from that statement.

Ok, that'll have to do for now, as I'm getting rather tired myself.

Best regards: dlanor

PS: Hmm, keep it short I said... Yeah Right!
--- I guess it just wasn't in the cards...
DS.