New and Confused

TheAlmightyOS · #1 09-21-2008, 10:20 PM

I am completely new to all this. Please forgive any stupid questions. I am attempting to keep them to a minimum.

I am looking around for a way to stream Video and Music from my PC to my PS2-slim or even play video and music from a usb flash drive. Divx/Xvid support is a must and I would prefer not to have to install a mod chip.

Now, in my research I came across SMS media player. Though it does not stream files, it does look like it could work for what I need. However, when I looked into it I found that I would have to use some sort of Exploit. In fact, I believe that anything I use is going to have to use some sort of Exploit.

However, when I looked into Exploits I read that the PS2-slim is unable to use exploits.

So, am I stuck? Can I still use the SMS player somehow? What options are available to me?

dangwoot · #2 09-21-2008, 10:36 PM

your gonna want to install fmcb onto your memory card it's fully compatible with the ps2 slim and you can also stream over the network using sms if you go into the freevast section of the forums you can find tutorials for installing fmcb onto your memory card and if you dont have the required tools you can always look under the free installer thread all we require is postage both from and back to you ^_^

suloku · #3 09-21-2008, 10:38 PM

SMS can stream, it even has samba implemented.

To run homebrew you need a method for that, there are the following.

Disc based:
Modchip
Cogswap

Exploit:
PSX exploit, won't work with your slim.

FMCB: it's not an exploit, but many people call it so.

If your ps2 has a modchip, you can just properly burn a disc with SMS, ulaunchelf and other tools, as you need to access your memory card (that's why I say ulaunchelf) to configure SMS network settings.

The same goes if you go for cogswap using swap magic for example, but swap magic 3.6 and 3.8 allow you to boot ELF files (ps2 homebrew) like SMS from a pendrive, so you won't need to burn any disc.

If you like softmod, you should go for fmcb, but you will still require a method to install it on your memory card. Maybe you have a friend who can help on that.

TheAlmightyOS · #4 09-23-2008, 10:03 PM

looks like I might be sending my card out to have FMCB installed.

Now a question comes to mind. How does FMCB boot from the memory card when you turn on the system? (with FMCB properly installed of course)

dangwoot · #5 09-23-2008, 10:14 PM

it should just goto the browser and at the least you should see the fmcb configurator on the list of options where you see system settings and browser.

TheAlmightyOS · #6 09-23-2008, 10:35 PM

I see. So no boot disks or anything. Just keep the memory card in the slot and turn on the console. That would work perfectly for what I want to do. Still don't understand the HOW though.

Maybe some homebrew developers could answer this one. What makes the PS2 read and then start a program located on the memory card? Is it something that is hardwired into the system? If so, for what purpose does it exist other then being taken advantage of for homebrew programs?

dangwoot · #7 09-23-2008, 11:00 PM

here ya go man give this thread a read it should clear some stuff up for ya ^_^
http://psx-scene.com/forums/freevast...continues.html

and i noticed you we're gonna send your card out to be modded may i suggest that i do it for you? i have a ton of free time so i have the smallest return time ( lol not to diss anyone else just sayin ^_^ )

dlanor · #8 09-24-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAlmightyOS

I see. So no boot disks or anything. Just keep the memory card in the slot and turn on the console. That would work perfectly for what I want to do. Still don't understand the HOW though.

Maybe some homebrew developers could answer this one. What makes the PS2 read and then start a program located on the memory card?

Sony themselves wanted this ability for some of their own stuff, and so they designed a way to do this sort of thing from the very first (a v1 PS2 can do it too). But it took this long for homebrewers to catch on to how this feature can be abused for our own purposes.

Quote:

Is it something that is hardwired into the system?

Yes, it is hard-coded into the PS2 bios. And that goes for all known models.
(Though they might change it for the next model, if they make any more.)

Quote:

If so, for what purpose does it exist other then being taken advantage of for homebrew programs?

The original purpose of Sony was to allow extension and improvement of the built-in firmware programs without replacing any hardware.

Known Sony uses of this method include the 'BB-Navi' internet software (Japan-only I believe), an improved Browser able to backup gamesaves to HDD (original Sony hdd only), and some DVD player upgrades. The installation of these 'signed' bootable files to MC was done by booting special upgrade discs produced by Sony.

You really should visit the FreeVAST forum like dangwoot suggested (with that link), as I'm sure you will find lots of interesting stuff there, including most of the history of FMCB development.

Best regards: dlanor

TheAlmightyOS · #9 09-30-2008, 12:06 AM

Thank you very much for the info dlanor! Don't know why I get geeked about this stuff but I do

And yes, that link was very informative. I have read though most of it. Very interesting.

And thank you for the offer to mod my card for me dangwoot. I would have taken you up on that offer if I had not managed to get it installed over the weekend. Had to use the ARMAX/FCEULTRA method to boot the installer, but after that it was smooth sailing. Now I am looking for more apps that might be useful to add to FMCB.

No longer "new and confused"