Advice required for better compatibility with Ps3Hen (Xpad, Webman, HDD)

[Frank.Bullitt]

Hey all,

Forgive me for asking potentially long winded and easy to answer questions, I'm finding it hard to get the correct information from reputable sources in the PS3 scene since theres a lot of (probably outdated) guides and misinformation on Reddit.

My current setup is a PS3 super slim with a 1TB WD Blue internal HDD, and a 2TB external WD Elements HDD used to store my personally backed up ISOs. The right USB port is reserved only for the external HDD, the left USB port has a USB hub attached with switches for each USB device, I use this for USB controllers (such as my Dualshock 4) as well as the PS Move camera.
I have the latest versions (as of 05/06/2021) of Xpad, WebmanMOD and PS3HEN installed.

My main goal is to minimise the amount of hard freezes that I experience, as my internal HDD was quite recently installed and has already got some corrupted data, and I've had to reinstall all my DLC due to none of it being recognised in game.
My other goal is to improve compatibility with the Dualshock 4, as I want to use this as my main controller now since it has inbuilt axis functionality which some games do require.

I installed Xpad and a lot of games work great, I can even use the axis functionality of the controller in games I've tested such as Flower and PAIN (this confused me as the guide on reddit suggests that I needed to use debug eboots of each game to enable this function, and it doesn't confirm if this will work with HEN either). Some games don't work at all and I've tried changing Xpad to compatibility mode with no luck (I desperately want to play Afro Samurai for example ).
None of the games I've tested with the Dualshock4 have had any vibration compatibility.

I'm hoping there's a way that you guys can reccomend that will give me full support for my Dualshock 4 for all games, including axis and forced feedback, is this where resigning EBOOTS comes in? And is there any downside to doing this?

I'll be upgrading my Internal HDD to a WD Black 7200rpm 1TB drive which should be delivered at some point this weekend, when upgrading my HDD is there a way to save my PS Profile so that I don't have to log into PSN to reactivate it for my PSN games and DLC? Can I just transfer the file with the profile number to my PC and re install it in the new HDD? (I've had bad experiences with ReactPSN in the past, so this unfortunately won't be an option).

My Ps3 mainly crashes when loading ISO's from XMB using Webman MOD, when I accidentally hit a button combo that triggers a game menu in the XMB (can I disable this combo in Webman MOD settings?), and occasionally when loading some homebrew. I did used to get a hard freeze almost every time I used the PrepISO tool, but this tool seems to have disappeared in the latest Webman MOD version, and I now get no crashes when scanning for games in the Webman MOD options .
Would it be worth upgrading the external HDD to something faster? I'm wondering if this will minimise the crashes when loading ISOs and speed up in-game loading, perhaps an external enclosure with a 7200rpm drive will help, or an enclosure that is powered via a mains plug?
I realise that theres a limit to the speeds that the PS3 can utilise due to the USB port, but I'm not really an expert and I'd like the best compatibility and functionality possible.

Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions and support

 

[Berion]

is this where resigning EBOOTS comes in? And is there any downside to doing this?

No. Signing EBOOT is needed if You modified it. If there is no needs to modify game executable (which eboots are), then there is no needs to resigning it. If You using games copied from original discs, there is no need to touching them. Pirates EBOOTs are different story but we don't talking about fight club.

is there a way to save my PS Profile so that I don't have to log into PSN to reactivate it for my PSN games and DLC? Can I just transfer the file with the profile number to my PC and re install it in the new HDD?

Not enough. Read the Ultimate User Data Backup guide in tutorial section.

perhaps an external enclosure with a 7200rpm drive will help

Target interface is USB, so whatever You will use, cannot be faster than USB (in theory ~60MiB/s, in reality maximum ~20, depend of controller etc.). :P

 

[Frank.Bullitt]

No. Signing EBOOT is needed if You modified it. If there is no needs to modify game executable (which eboots are), then there is no needs to resigning it. If You using games copied from original discs, there is no need to touching them. Pirates EBOOTs are different story but we don't talking about fight club.



Not enough. Read the Ultimate User Data Backup guide in tutorial section.



Target interface is USB, so whatever You will use, cannot be faster than USB (in theory ~60MiB/s, in reality maximum ~20, depend of controller etc.). :P

Thanks for this, I'll take a look at the guide soon

Any thoughts on the controller compatibility?
What external HDD do you use if I may ask?

Also, this is going to sound incredibly nooby I'm sure, but I've just put the new HDD into the PS3, turned it on to see the XMB load up has the HEN egg, and my username is still there with what looks to be an activated account.

I'm guessing the XMB has been patched directly into the console, but what gives with my user profile?

 

[Berion]

I don't. I'm internal type of player. Less junk which someone could rip out passing through, the better.

Why You are using HEN in the first place while You have NAND model (judging by Your description, You never mentioned about it)? Accounts, settings, licenses etc. are stored on flash for models with NAND memory; models with NOR using for it HDD and they are forced to put also firmware package on USB during i.e HDD changing and need to set users from scratch. HEN is for peoples which cannot install CFW (CECH-25xx with new bootldr and all CECH-3xxx/4xxx). Those who can install CFW have CECHyxx, CECH-2xxx and CECH-25xx with old boot loader. You have made Your life harder and limiting himself. ;]

 

[Frank.Bullitt]

I was honestly under the impression that CFW cant be installed in super slims.

My model does have the internal flash memory, but it's not in use when a HDD is installed (as far as I'm aware), I had to change the memory settings in the factory service mode when I installed my HDD.

 

[Berion]

So now I don't understand. You said that after You have change HDD, all profiles stayed. That's why I thinking You have NAND model. But if You saying You have "Super Slim", then maybe those with eMMC. Maybe then they also don't force user to prepare update on USB and creating accounts from scratch. This is what happen when user doesn't write which exactly model he have by model number instead of some marketing names... :P

CECH-3xxx/4xxx aren't CFW compatible, it will end with perm brick if You force them to do it.

Factory Service Mode it is not Service Mode (Recovery Menu). If You would enter into FSM, You will stay there forever (or until needed keys leaked which is rather not possible).

 

[Frank.Bullitt]

Okay I ended up buying a cheap usb converter that works great, it even has Bluetooth functionality. The sixaxis and vibration all work perfectly.
I'm glad I didn't have to shell out for one of those expensive macro controller converters.

Does anyone know if the WD Black HDD 2tb game drive will be any faster than the WD 2tb Elements drive?
It looks to me that both drives are SMR from what information I can find, but I can't find much info on what drive is inside the enclosure.
The reason I ask is that I'm struggling to find a 2TB 2.5 inch HDD of good quality for me to put in an enclosure, and I'm skeptical of buying a Seagate as I've had drives made by them previously that failed.