PS2 Installation of Bootable OPL on PSBBN (When Everything Else Fails)

[nowskowski]

This guide details the process of installing and running OPL (Open PS2 Loader) via PSBBN. I have used both @vitas155 and @CosmicScale PSBBN projects. However, in my case the version provided by Vitas never successfully launched a pre-installed OPL or games installed for direct booting through the PSBBN Game Channel. CosmicScale's version lacks any pre-installed OPL.

The method described below is unconventional but has been the only one that allowed me to install and launch OPL and run games from the PSBBN Game Channel successfully.

Requirements

1. HDL Dumb rev. 47
2. PFS BatchKit Manager v1.1.8 (Note: Version 1.1.9 has caused issues in my experience and is not recommended.)
3. Any game ISO (Preferably a small game, ideally one from a CD, to save space on the hard drive.)
4. Any version of OPL (I use the latest official Beta 1.2.0.)

If you are using CosmicScale, you must first install wLaunchELF. Vitas' version already includes this program. Below is a standard OPL installation on the hard drive, which has been described extensively elsewhere. I am including it here for completeness, but it must be done.

Installing wLaunchELF and creating +OPL partition

1. Using PFS BatchKit Manager, install wLaunchELF:
   a) Place the wLaunchELF folder in the APPS directory:
   [APPS/WLaunchElf/wLaunchElf.elf]
   b) In PFS BatchKit Manager, navigate to:
   (10) Advanced Menu -> (7) FHDB/HDD-OSD/PSBBN/XMB -> (3) Partitions Management -> (2) Transfer Or Update APP. Follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Prepare the hard drive for OPL installation as usual:
   a) Launch wLaunchELF and go to:
   FileBrowser -> MISC -> HDDManager -> R1 -> Create. Name the partition +OPL, and allocate space (I used 512MB).
   b) Return to FileBrowser and copy the OPNP2LD.ELF file (your chosen version of OPL) to the newly created partition:
   hdd0:/+OPL.
   c) On the __common partition, create a folder named OPL (if it doesn't exist already). Inside the OPL folder, create a file called conf_hdd.cfg and add the line:
   hdd_partition=+OPL.
   d) Launch OPNP2LD.ELF (preferably without memory cards or USB drives connected). Adjust some settings and save. Ensure the settings are stored in pfs0:/.
   e) Verify that the system folders for OPL were created on the +OPL partition.

Installing OPL in the Game Channel

1. Connect the hard drive via USB.
2. Use HDL Dumb rev. 47 to install any game ISO.
3. Open PFS BatchKit Manager v1.1.8 and go to:
   (10) Advanced Menu -> (7) FHDB/HDD-OSD/PSBBN/XMB -> (3) Partitions Management -> (7) Convert HDL Partition for PSBBN & XMB Menu. Select the game installed via HDL Dumb rev. 47 and follow the instructions.
4. Launch PSBBN -> Game Channel and select the installed game.
5. Instead of the game, OPL should launch.
6. To change the name, cover art, or logo displayed in the Game Channel:
   • Edit the info.sys/man.xml files for the name.
   • Replace jkt_001.png/jkt_cp.png for the cover art and logo.
   • The easiest way is to copy these files to a USB drive, edit them on a PC, and copy them back to the HDD using wLaunchELF.

Game installed using the above method can still be launched from OPL, but not from Game Channel.

If you also want the option to launch this game directly from the Game Channel, you need to use PFS BatchKit Manager v1.1.9 and navigate to:
[8] OSD/XMB Management -> [3] Partitions Management -> [9] Update Partition Resources Header. Follow the instructions provided.

This should create another game partition, and this time it should launch the game.

However, I encountered other issues with PFS BatchKit Manager v1.1.9, which caused problems with PSBBN functionality, so I chose to avoid this option.