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The simplest way to get Homebrew onto your PS2 (if model 5000x and lower, see picture above) is with a FHDB "Noobie Package", which is basically just a RAW IMAGE (think snapshot picture of your Hard Drive at any given moment) you copy onto the beginning of your Hard Drive.
With this method you will get all that you need to begin your homebrew fantasies on the PS2.
Requirements:
- PC
- Hard drive (IDE)
- Network Adaptor (attaches to HDD and back of PS2)
- RAW IMAGE "Noobie Package"
-or-
- if you prefer a SATA HDD over IDE, then you will ALSO need an IDE-to-SATA Converter (which usually means using a laptop 2.5" HDD, or else it wont fit inside with the Converter taking up space)
Once this is done and you boot your new IMAGE in your PS2, you will be able to make a FMCB Memory Card, which will open up even more doors for you... Including features such as, cross-model support, cross-regional support, enabling homebrew on other PS2s while away from home, making more FMCB memory cards, which serve many different purposes (see 2 examples below).
Examples:
- Direct Booting to an App/Emulator/Homebrew.
- A backup of your Tools in case anything ever happens to your HDD.
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Apps of Note:
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OpenPS2Loader (OPL) Allows a central frontend for launching all your apps from one location, as well as it will play 95% of PS2 game images directly from a HDD or USB device (note: some games require compatibility modes to be set). It also allows for Virtual Memory Cards (VMC) which will save you tons of space on those tiny 8MB memory cards you are probably using now. There are only a handful of games which are not compatible with this feature (Resident Evil 4 and the Phantasy Star Universe series are the two biggest names I know of). Different menus for APPS/HDD/USB/ETH(SMB) for easy sorting and referencing.
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POPstarter (PS1) Allows playing of PS1 games directly from OPL with a HDD or USB device.
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Simple Media System (SMS) Allows playback of Avi/DivX/Xvid/Mp3 and the viewing of pictures of many formats. It has excellent compatibility and all the features you would expect from a digital VCP, including remembering where you left off on any video you play, or ALL the videos you play (quit after 5 minutes of 100 different tv shows or movies, and come back anytime in the future (yes even years), click on the show you left, and you are right back where you left off). Supports multiple USB devices and Internal HDD standard (although with some settings tweaking you can stream through RJ-45 Ethernet cable as well direct from a NAS or PC).
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uLaunchElf (uLE) Allows the manipulation of filesystems, partitioning, formatting of HDD, filebrowsing, and is a basic ELF launcher (Elf is to a PS2 what an EXE is to a PC). This one will be your best friend in many MANY adventures... and also how you will move most of your files around to suit your specific needs or liking.
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WinHIIP (1.7.5 or 1.7.6) Allows for transferring your PS2 images directly to your HDD while connected to your PC for the fastest transfer speeds available (Mine stays at just under 50MB/s). Other features include formatting of HDD, automatically creating all necessary system partitions, installing each PS2 game into its own partition for faster loading times than youve ever experienced before (loading screens pffffft lol). And also a scan/repair feature in case anything happens to your filesystem.
All the Apps above are invaluable, and if you dont use them, you are not getting the most out of your PS2... Get them! Trust me... Ive been doing this for over a decade now, you NEED these.
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Types of exploits for the PlayStation 2 (PS2)
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Free Memory Card Boot (FMCB) - The take-it-with-you homebrew activator.
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Free Hard Drive Boot (FHDB) - The most wanted feature for anyone with a PS2.
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Swap Trick (SWAP) - Ancient method to get FMCB onto a memory card.
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RAW HDD IMAGE (HDD Guru / Macrium Reflect) - Simplest way to get what youre here for.
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Modchip (Hard Mod) - Basically a thing of the past in this scene.
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===== Layman Definitions of Some Things You Should Know =====
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SYSTEM.CNF = Tells OPL where/what ELF to load
- (and what display to default to, NTSC or PAL)
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SJPCM = Sjeep's Sound Module for low CPU cost
- (when producing analog output audio from a digitally stored source)
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IRX = Modules usually specific to a single task
- (support for several different features on the PS2)
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ABCD_123.45 = Sony style ID format we rename our ELFs to -
- (to make OPL think its booting an actual PS2 game) EXAMPLE: SLUS_123.45
- ROMS (folder) = Where you store all your game images in one folder for ease of access
- UltraISO = PC program to manage the contents of ISOs
- CDgenPS2 = PC program to create bootable PS2 ISOs
- WinHIIP = PC program to transfer ISOs to locally connected IHDs - (also used to format, scan, and repair IHDs)
- HDLDumb = PC program to transfer ISOs over FTP
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Auslogics Disk Defrag = PC program to keep your USB drives fragment-free, as most fragged items will not boot in OPL
- (definitely use after deleting files and then adding more) NOTE: Try out its Optimize feature, youll love it
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Can I use homebrew without a hard/soft Mod to my PS2?
- No, this is the only way for homebrew on a PlayStation 2
Do I need a network adapter and internal HDD?
- Not if you have a FMCB memory card
Can all PS2s be soft-modded with FMCB...
- No, only models upto 9000x with a datecode earlier than 8b (which I believe is the last, or second to last PS2 to be released).
Do you know the BEST place to find all the wonderful Apps, Emulators, Homebrew, and Tools for the PS2?..
If you have a question, reply in the comments and someone from the community or our staff will try their best to help.
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