Need help with dumping games to PS2 HDD over network (2015)

[Ziggy]

I started off using HDAdvance 3.0 and HDL Dumb 0.8.1 with a crossover cable between my PS2 and PC. Then, I switched to OPL 0.8. It took some fooling around to get it to work. I was only able to get it to work using HDL Dumb version 0.8.6, and I think I was connected through my router.

Fast forward to today. I haven't dumped games to my PS2 HDD in a while, but I've gone on a small PS2 game buying binge, so I wanna get this working again. I finally upgraded to OPL 0.9.2. So last night I tried dumping a game to the HDD, but couldn't get it to work. Currently, my PS2 is connected to my router. I'm using HDL Dumb 0.8.6 just like before. When I put OPL in server mode, I can connect to it using HDL Dumb without a problem. I click on 'browse/delete games' and I can see all my games on there. But, there's a problem when I try to transfer a game to the HDD. The transfer starts off normal, and it looks like it's working, but then before it can complete a window pops up that says "completed successful" (or something like that) but it didn't actually finish. It failed, and the game that I was trying to transfer does not appear on my PS2 HDD. I tried it a second time and it failed almost right away. So I tried transferring a different game, it transferred maybe a third of the way and then failed just as before.

So what's the deal? I really don't feel like trying a million different things until I stumble on something that works. I was thinking, since it seems to mostly work but fails in the middle of transferring a game, maybe there's a router problem? I'm thinking about trying to connect my PS2 to the PC directly with a crossover cable again and see if that works. Or, load up OPL 0.8 so I'd have my same exact set up as the last time I had it working.

So, here's a few questions...

1) What's the difference between HDL Dump, HDL Dumb, and HDL Dumx? I assume that they're open source so they're all just forks of the original utility. Still, what's the difference between them? Which one do I want to be using and why?

2) What's the deal with the server mode in OPL? I read on a forum that the OPL 0.8 sever mode only works with HDL Dumb 0.8.6, which would explain why I was able to get that combo to work (lucky for me I stumbled upon it). Is that still true with OPL 0.9.2? I also read somewhere that the server mode in OPL is buggy/unreliable. Is that right? So...

3) Should I be using HDLD Server instead of the server mode in OPL? Does it work better? I never used it before.

4) What is the current best combo? There's a million different versions of everything, and forums are outdated. It's really hard to find the best, most recent answer. What is the current best setup to transfer games to a PS2 over a network?

[Ziggy]

So after some reading, I think I found the difference between HDL Dump and Dumb: HDL Dump is the original command line program. HDL Dumb is a GUI version for Windows. I still have no clue what HDL Dumx is, or any of my other questions.

edit: I FINALLY got a game to transfer successfully.

I just couldn't get it to work using the server mode in OPL 0.9.2. I switched to a crossover cable connected directly to my PC (and adjusted all the settings correctly on both the PS2 and PC) but I got the same results: A game would start to install but then fail less than halfway through.

From my experience, the server mode included in OPL is buggy as hell. At least in version 0.9.2 (I had it working in version 0.8 before I upgraded). But yeah, my transfers would fail, nothing I tried worked. And half the time OPL would freeze after stopping server mode, I'd have to hard power off my console.

So I used HDL Server 0.8.5 on the PS2 side and HDL Dumb 0.8.6 on the PC side and I finally got a game to transfer successfully. What a pain in the ass though! HDL Server is a bare bones app. It has a display resolution of 240, luckily I have no issues with that over component on my HDTV (I know a lot of TVs do). It has no settings. You have to have an IP config file is a specific location for it to read. Once you launch the elf, it reads the config files and runs. That's it. You can't even exit, you have to hard power off the console when you're done. But hey, it's the only thing that I've been able to get to work, so I guess I can't complain.

Another question though: HDL Dumb reported my transfer speed was 2MBps, and it took about a half hour to transfer a ~4GB game image. Are there any apps that can achieve higher speeds?

[Ziggy]

So I think I answered all my own questions...

1) What's the difference between HDL Dump, HDL Dumb, and HDL Dumx? Dump is the original command line program. Dumb is a Windows GUI version. Dumx (as far as I can tell) is a matching release of Dump, Dumb and HDL Server.

2) What's the deal with the server mode in OPL? I did not confirm this anywhere, but from my own experience, it's just buggy.

3) Should I be using HDLD Server instead of the server mode in OPL? Apparently yes, but that's the only thing I was able to get working.

4) What is the current best combo? I would assume it's the highest number version of HDL Dumx I can find. Unless there's some other apps floating around out there I don't yet know about.

Is all that right?




I'd still like to break the 2Mbps transfer speed if possible. I read that later versions improved it a little. I tried a newer version of HDL Dumx but it didn't work, so I had to switch back to Server 0.8.5 and Dumb 0.8.6. That's the only combo I've been able to get working, and I got sick of going back and forth between the PC and PS2 trying to get something working.

[Exhuminator]

That's the only combo I've been able to get working, and I got sick of going back and forth between the PC and PS2 trying to get something working.

Did you give the crossover cable a try?

[Ziggy]

Did you give the crossover cable a try?

Yes. I switched to the crossover cable when I was still trying to use the server mode in OPL 0.9.2. Everything I tried after that has been with the crossover cable.

[tomi]

Last month I had exact the same situation as you described ("completed successful") with my console (connected in LAN trought router) but no files were ever transfered.
I had to learn trought experience same as you did, and I agree with most of the things that you wrote.

Regarding your questions:

- in my opinion OPL integrated HDL sedver is better combination because of easier handling and it can be switched off normally (good tutorial is available on http://opl.sksapps.com/index.php?opl=hdlsvr.html).
Important: when PC to PS2 (HDD) FTP connection is established you have to make sure not to interrupt PC anytime during transfer (open applications, editing of any kind, etc).
From time to time I have problems with HDL Dumb to stop transfering (rarely but still..) even with simple lid closing on the lap-top which also leads to "completed sucessfull" pop-up window..
But if you start HDL Server trought OPL and start HDL Dumb on PC side (versions you mentioned before, e.g. OPL v.0.9.2 & HDL Dumb 0.8.6) and you don't interupt PC by any means as I mentioned earlier, you're going to sucess in transfering..
Now I just close lid and open it after some aproximate time (or check on router when file is completly transfered (LED stop flashing on router used LAN port);

- standalone HDL server.elf on PS2 side is a complication because of things you wrote;

- I have no experience with HDL Dump. Application simply fail to open (either from Windows7 or WindowsXP laptop) and don't want to start?

- I suggest to transfer trought FTP (router or crossover cable) only occasionally, after you setup all the files on HDD trought adequate HDD enclosure attached directly to PC (if your PS2 if fat model).
For this you have to use WinHiip application (tutorial available at http://sksapps.com/index.php?page=winhiip_tutorial.html)
Remember that repeated installing/uninstalling of Network Adapter and HDD (fat model of console) can break of misalign contacts either on HDD or NA;

- there is also alternative applications to transfer ISO's via FTP (router or crossover cable connection method) like Faplink, Handiness, etc. but they don't support all file sizes or cause hardware issues, so I think it's better to stick with HD Dumb/Dump;

- transfer speeds that I achieved are 2.12 mB/s in FTP connection (via CAT5 cable), and around 15 mB/s (around 3-5 min. per 3-4 GB) in direct connection from attached IDE (PATA) HDD enclosure with 320GB Maxtor HDD (via 2.0 USB cable).
Both of these transfer rates are more than OK for me.

[d123456]

Thanks for this thread. Might come in handy in the future.

[Zandengoff]

Just wanted to point out that HDL Dumx works across the 128GB barrier where the original HDL Dump does not.

[andwan0]

Yes I had headache too, of failed freezing transfers.

Wouldn't it be easier to submit bugs/issues to HDL Server, HDL dump, HDL dumb developers?
I want to be able to use my PC but yes, if I switch apps a lot, then all of a sudden HDL dumb just crashes.
Also, my router overheats and automatically resets itselfs. This will ruin the PS2 transfer.
Same goes for wifi dropped connections, etc.
All these issues could be programmed and handled.