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PS2 PSUja 2025-12-01

Berion

Developer
The PSUja project is a collection of *.psu packages to facilitate console exploitation. All you need to do is run any version of the unofficial LaunchELF program, in any way you like, and from "mass:/" (USB), copy (R1 >> Copy) the selected PSU files by circle button, and paste them on the "mc0:/" memory card (R1 >> psuPaste).

Note: PSUja does not install either Free McBoot or PlayStation 2 Basic Bootloader as an application launched via the OSD Update function present in firmware up to and including 2.20 (MMCE is an exception, as it uses the same MC ID). FMCB/PS2BBL/OSDM are only launched in this case using modchip or exploits: OpenTuna or ProtoPwn.

If you have an original PlayStation 2 Memory Card with Magic Gate and console firmware older than 2.30, then PSUja is not for you. Use a "normal installation" by running Free McBoot Installer (installs FMCB) or KELFBinder (installs PS2BBL).

XEB+ and XMB-OSD

Both FMCB and PS2BBL are configured to look for the XEB+ or XMB-OSD dashboards on the USB when the console starts. If they can't find either of these, the normal modified console menu (FMCB or OSDM) starts up.

VMC

VMC versions are intended exclusively for SD2PSX (the entire family, i.e. SD2PSX, SD2psx, PSxMemCard Gen2 and MemCard PRO2. These are 8MiB cards with *.psu files already installed, appropriate for the type of exploit.

Select VMC, rename the file from "<exploit>.bin" to the appropriate name for your MMCE and copy it to the SD card:

PathMMCE
mmce0:/MemoryCards/PS2/BOOT/BootCard-1.mcdSD2PSX
mmce0:/PS2/MemoryCard1/MemoryCard1-1.mc2MCP2
Dev.olution Mode 1

Many modchips have a DEV1 function that allows the program to be started from the PlayStation 2 Memory Card (either at console start-up or on demand). Most modchips expect you to press and hold the R1 button on the joypad for a while while the console starts, but there are some where it is a triangle.

The standard path to the bootable "elf" is "mc0:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF" – and this is the one used by PSUja (for Matrix Infinity, DMS 4, Ghost 2 etc.). I came across a rather exotic case once (Ripper 2 Gold) where the path was "mc0:/\BOOT\BOOT.ELF" (yes, a file with such a bizarre name) – in this case PSUja is not suitable.

If you want install FMCB then I recommend version 1.8c, as 1.966 won't work properly on most modchips (although 1.8c won't work with SCPH-10000/15000 models). Not all modchips will like FMCB at all, so I suggest installing the PS2BBL variant straight away.

installation:
  • System Apps (<loader>).psu
  • System Configuration.psu
OpenTuna

OpenTuna is an exploit for people with firmware 2.30 (late SCPH-9xxxx, the first ones had 2.20) or 2.50 (KDL), possibly for those who cannot use ProtoPwn or do not have the original PlayStation 2 Memory Card with Magic Gate.

Using OpenTuna for a firmware other than the one you have may result in corruption of the MCFS file system on the memory card (in which case the card will need to be formatted). Therefore, be careful with your choice of PSU:

ModelFirmware
SCPH-18xxx / 3xxxx1.10 – 160
SCPH-50xxx (some)1.70
SCPH-50xxx / 7xxxx / 9xxxx and KDL1.90 – 2.50
installation:
  • OpenTuna (for firmware <fw version>).psu
  • System Apps (<loader>).psu
  • System Configuration.psu

ProtoPwn

ProtoPwn is an exploit for people with models: SCPH-10000, SCPH-15000, DTL-H10000, DTL-H10100 or DTL-H10000S.

installation:
  • ProtoPwn.psu
  • System Apps (<loader>).psu
  • System Configuration.psu

Multipurpose Memory Card Emulator

MMCEs are memory card emulators. All MCP2 and the entire SD2PSX family use the same MC ID. Therefore, PSU packages can be prepared with an environment that will boot with OSD Update (the generated digital signature will be compatible for all SD2PSX or all MCP2). Of course, still the console firmware must not be newer than 2.20 (OSD Update no longer works on newer ones).

installation:

Create a new VMC using MMCE and paste the packages from the list below into it. After unpacking the *.psu from System Apps you can delete the file: "mc?:/BOOT/BOOT.ELF".
  • System Update (<MMCE>) (<loader>) (<all regions>).psu
  • System Apps (<loader>).psu
  • System Configuration.psu
Eventually, start "BIN-to-MMCE.ps1/sh" script which will make virtual cards for both MMCE families on desktop (Windows) or in home dir (Linux). ;)

Special thanks:
  • Nuno6573, Rubén Perales and Yornn for QA tests
 
Berion updated PSUja with a new update entry:

PSUja (2025-12-01)

  • Added VMCs logo (sd2psXtd only, MCP2 not supporting this feature).
  • Fixed boot on DESr models: "System Update (SD2PSX) (PS2BBL 2025-06-28) (Japan).psu".
  • Fixed boot on DESr models: "System Update (SD2PSX) (PS2BBL 2025-06-28 & OSDM v1.0.0).bin".
  • Fixed small mistake in folder name for SD2PSX cards.
  • Updated OSDMenu from v1.0.0 RC2 to OSDM v1.0.0.
  • Updated "OSDMenu.CNF".

Read the rest of this update entry...
 
OSD-XMB will work alone from memory card without a USB stick/drive, but you'll have to copy the OSD files to memory card using MCA as a full raw card image because the .psu format doesn't understand more than one folder & long file names.

I created a installable iso / bin here for the ps3 since you can only access cdfs as an external media, if you press L2 or R2 in MCA it'll remove the filemask in the Saves folder so you can restore the .bin backup of the memory card to a mounted 8MB ps3 virtual save, I deleted the blank.vmc so it'd fit on the card with around 300-400kb left.

http://filebin.net/b93wvrixh2in1zct

Edit: I knew I should of tested it on real hardware :sleeping:, uLE v4.43a black screens after PS2Logo, uLE v4.42d works but it resets the ps3 when trying to launch the OSD-XMB.ELF from the memory card, you have to use PS2CheatDevice to launch ELF instead it's kinda slow to bootup but it works, i'll upload another fixed iso later today.

SAS Apps installed to memory card 1 or 2 seem to launch fine from the OSD-XMB :) so i'm using it as my main PS2 ELF launcher now, the Disc tray setting causes it to hang & the network has no effect, idk if hacking the Mechacon nvm will unlock Ethernet & Host or not.

Updated version using uLE v4.42d instead & CheatEngine : http://filebin.net/d0hok2z8iyk9xmkm
 

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