Problem loading uLaunchELF with Messiah mod-chip

[indomgl]

Hi,
I have SCPH-30004 of PAL system with Messiah mod-chip. However I'm not sure which version, see at the bottom of the post for the pic.

I wanted to load uLaunchELF on it, but it can't load up.
I burned the ISO file to CD-RW disc with Nero Burning ROM 8.

Here's the link to the ISO file
http://sksapps.com/launchers/uLaunchELF_v4.16_CD.rar

Is there something wrong what I've done?
Maybe it won't work with CD-RW disc? Should be on DVD or???

Please help and thanks in advance for any comment or advice.

[Popstation 2]

I wouldn't recomend cd-rw or dvd-rw on ps2 since the drive on alot of ps2s can't even read them properly so stick with launching elf files from Usb/Hd/Memory card.

[indomgl]

Ohh forgot to mention that I don't have HDD on my PS2. Usually I use backup DVDs to play games, and got no problem loading whatsoever.
And my intention to load up uLaunchELF is just to back up my memory card game saves to USB Flash Drive.

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by indomgl

Ohh forgot to mention that I don't have HDD on my PS2. Usually I use backup DVDs to play games, and got no problem loading whatsoever.
And my intention to load up uLaunchELF is just to back up my memory card game saves to USB Flash Drive.

Very few PS2 consoles are able to boot RW media (this applies both to CD-RW and DVD-RW), and even when it does work it is highly inadvisable. (Shortens the laser lifetime.)

Since the ISO you downloaded was made for CD, you need to burn it to a CD-R disc. It is also possible to compose a DVD ISO and burn this to a DVD-R disc, but you have not mentioned any experience at doings such things, so perhaps it's best not to complicate matters. The ISO you have will probably work when burned to a proper CD-R disc.

Best regards: dlanor

[indomgl]

Thanks for the reply
I burned the ISO with CD-R disc. But still doesn't work.
However with CD-R disc on Browser, I can see blue PS2 Disc. (Previously with CD-RW didn't show anything).
When I select the blue PS2 disc on Browser, then it loads but shortly after that it says "Unable to read disc".

Do you know what's wrong with this?
Do I need to modify some file in the ISO like SYSTEM.CNF?
I RE-confirmed that I still could play backup DVD games after I tried this.
Any more help or suggestion? :S

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by indomgl

Thanks for the reply
I burned the ISO with CD-R disc. But still doesn't work.
However with CD-R disc on Browser, I can see blue PS2 Disc. (Previously with CD-RW didn't show anything).

This proves that your previous problem was due to your console being unable to read your CD-RW (very few can do that reliably).

When I select the blue PS2 disc on Browser, then it loads but shortly after that it says "Unable to read disc".

Do you know what's wrong with this?

Without hands-on testing it's hard to be really certain, but this certainly sounds like a case of worn-out/dying CD laser, unless you're using bad CD discs.

Disc quality is quite important, so never buy 'bargain deals' for use with your console, as that usually turns out a bad deal in the end. For my own use I buy only Verbatim discs, 52x types for CD and 16x types for DVD.

Do I need to modify some file in the ISO like SYSTEM.CNF?

Since I haven't seen that ISO myself I can't say for sure, but I don't think so. But you can easily check that yourself. SYSTEM.CNF is a normal text file, and for a PS2 disc it should always contain a BOOT2 directive, with the name of the PS2 file to be booted to the right of the equals sign in that directive line, followed by a ";1" string. So the typical appearance of that directive line (as used in a disc of my own) should be something like this:
BOOT2 = cdrom0:\U_LNELF.ELF;1

Here the pure filename is "U_LNELF.ELF", but it can be anything really. Not even the ".ELF" extension is mandatory, and normal games simply use a form of the game ID code as filename. Whatever the name might be, it should lead to an uLE elf file renamed to that name, and having a size of either 369940 bytes (compressed elf) or 877804 bytes (uncompressed elf), for a genuine release of uLE v4.16 (Btw: current version is v4.27).

I RE-confirmed that I still could play backup DVD games after I tried this.

That's good to know, as it means that you should be able to run a DVD boot disc for uLE, even if your CD laser is too unreliable to boot it from CD.

Btw: I have seen a lot of posts lately naming your particular PS2 model (the v4) as having failing lasers, so it is apparent that the type of laser used for these models has a limited life span which has now been exceeded.

Any more help or suggestion? :S

I guess I really should prepare some ISOs myself, for the main uLE release thread, so that those who need it can pick them up in a form which I can guarantee as usable.

Check in later today, and I should have something for you in that thread, which you can burn to a DVD to get started. But I'd advice you to then use that setup to install FMCB to a memory card, so you can boot homebrew stuff independently of any discs.

Best regards: dlanor

[indomgl]

Holy smokes!!!
Thanks a lot dude for your reply!!!

Originally Posted by dlanor

Without hands-on testing it's hard to be really certain, but this certainly sounds like a case of worn-out/dying CD laser, unless you're using bad CD discs.

Really? I never know that READ laser could go bad. READ&WRITE laser make more sense to me that it could be bad. Anyway, I learned something new today

Originally Posted by dlanor

Since I haven't seen that ISO myself I can't say for sure, but I don't think so. But you can easily check that yourself. SYSTEM.CNF is a normal text file, and for a PS2 disc it should always contain a BOOT2 directive, with the name of the PS2 file to be booted to the right of the equals sign in that directive line, followed by a ";1" string. So the typical appearance of that directive line (as used in a disc of my own) should be something like this:
BOOT2 = cdrom0:\U_LNELF.ELF;1

Mine read like:
BOOT2 = cdrom0:\BOOT.ELF;1
VER = 1.0
VMODE = NTSC

The VMODE there is NTSC where my PS2 is PAL system. Could this be the problem? My guess is not though.

The ELF file is BOOT.ELF 369,940 bytes.

Originally Posted by dlanor

Check in later today, and I should have something for you in that thread, which you can burn to a DVD to get started. But I'd advice you to then use that setup to install FMCB to a memory card, so you can boot homebrew stuff independently of any discs.

Sweet dude. I'll wait for it.

Again, thanks so much for your help

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by indomgl

Holy smokes!!!
Thanks a lot dude for your reply!!!

You're quite welcome.

Really? I never know that READ laser could go bad. READ&WRITE laser make more sense to me that it could be bad. Anyway, I learned something new today

These game consoles obviously only have read lasers, but that doesn't mean they can live forever. Different media types require different laser intensities for reliable reading, and the higher intensities will shorten the laser lifetime (higher total energy causes greater energy losses, and those normally come out as heat which hurts the laser over time).

That is also why one should always avoid using CD-RW or DVD-RW media, even on the few consoles where they will work at all, because they demand worse laser intensity than normal CD-R and DVD-R discs.

Mine read like:
BOOT2 = cdrom0:\BOOT.ELF;1
VER = 1.0
VMODE = NTSC

The VMODE there is NTSC where my PS2 is PAL system. Could this be the problem? My guess is not though.

The ELF file is BOOT.ELF 369,940 bytes.

That all seems perfectly normal to me, and the file size is correct for uLE v4.16 .

Sweet dude. I'll wait for it.

New ZIPs are now available with CD and DVD ISOs for booting the latest uLE version, which is now v4.28 since I found a bug that needed fixing. But you should also download the normal release package "uLE v4.28.zip", as the boot discs are minimal versions lacking all the documents of the main release.

Again, thanks so much for your help

I'm glad I could help you. That is after all what these forums are all about. Helping each other to get the most fun out of our consoles.

Best regards: dlanor

[indomgl]

Hi,

Sorry for the late update.
I tried the DVD Boot ISO that you mentioned uLaunchELF v4.28, but still it won't boot.

After it failed to boot up, the next thing I did was trying to confirm booting with all PS & PS2 games (both original and back-up). All of them works.

Method of booting:
1. Originals: put the CD/DVD and boot straight up.
2. Backups:
-PS (switched on, open the tray, put the CD, press reset 2x)
-PS2 (put the DVD and boot straight up)

This is how I boot the DVD uLaunchELF v4.28, I switched on, opened the tray, load the DVD, and press reset to close the tray and leave it (didn't press any button).
It just stays on the startup screen (where there's selection to go to Browser or System Configuration) even after 5 mins.
Then, when I went into Browser, it says "Disc Read Error"

I also tried to load it up with Action Replay 2 V2.
I tried both Disc 1 (for PS2) and Disc 2 (for PS) without any codes, but still no luck.

FYI, the DVD-R that I used to burn the ISO is PRINCO 8X GT-PRO from DTJapan.
I used this DVD for backups and didn't have any problem.

Do you know why it doesn't want to load?

Thanks in advance.