HD Combo for PS2 Slim ~ SwapMagic to load ELF HDLoader?

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:12 pm

I've been using a v12 SCPH-70012 slim PS2 with Swap Magic 3.8 discs. These discs can load ELF files from USB thumb drives. ELF files are like EXE files for PS2.

I'm considering buying this to play games off the HDD:

http://www.hdcombo.com/cgi-bin/hdcombo/ ... page=specs

Now all the info I've found on it say you need a mod chip in order to load the software disc (which you can burn) or to load the software off your memory card, by using known exploits to get it there in the first place I guess. I can't actually find the supposed "HD-OS", but I've seen posts showing that people use HD Combo with the popular HDLoader software.

Now I've confirmed that the final version of HDLoader boots off my thumb drive with the swap magic discs. Of course it says there's no hard drive attached, which is true. The issue is I can't find anyone who has ever used SwapMagic to boot HDLoader for their HD Combo unit. Chances seem likely that it would work fine, but I have this worry about mod chips still being required in some way, else the hard drives are never truly accessible. I remember hearing something about dev1 and dev2 modes or something. It's been a long time.

So will this work, or not?

Post by **diehllane** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:32 pm

I'm not positive... but it sounds like it should work in theory. I run HDLoader off my memory card in my PS2 currently (I have a fat PS2).

I own the discs for HD Advance which is what I used to initiate the Independence Exploit to put the HDLoader ELF onto my memory card. It sounds to me like it would be set up more or less the same way I have mine set up, except my hard drive is internal and connected to the Network Adapter.

What I do is use an original PSX game in my PS2 to boot up the harddrive.

What it sounds like you want to do is use your Swap Magic disc to load the file.

It sounds to me like it should work perfectly fine.

Also, if you need the HDL ELF file, PM me your e-mail address. I believe I have it on one of these PCs here.

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:33 pm

I've got HDL .8c ready to go, which I guess is the final version. I also have an 80GB maxtor, which will work with the ps2 according to a chart I just checked, and its already formatted for use on ps2. I also have HDL_Dumb and WinHIIP ready to go, both final versions. I remember using both of these on the fat modded ps2 I used to have.

Post by **diehllane** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:36 pm

Yea. You should be good to go then. Pretty much any IDE hard drive should work with that HD Combo though. The only time you run into problems is when you're trying to get a harddrive that fits the network adapter perfectly. Otherwise, any drive shouldn't have an issue.

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:40 pm

Well I'm going to order it. I'm so glad mod-chip is selling it. They're like the newegg of mod chip stores.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/mod_chip

Post by **diehllane** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:43 pm

It seems kind of expensive to me. It does look nice at least. But I would rather have a fatty with a network adapter and HDD. The fatty and network adapter is about the same price as the HD Combo.

But I do hope it works out for you. Be sure to let everyone know the results you get out of it.

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:49 pm

diehllane wrote:It seems kind of expensive to me. It does look nice at least. But I would rather have a fatty with a network adapter and HDD. The fatty and network adapter is about the same price as the HD Combo.

But I do hope it works out for you. Be sure to let everyone know the results you get out of it.

A fat PS2 with a network adaptor costs $70....where exactly?

Anyways, $70 to play most of my games off the HDD with fast load times is worth it to me. I miss that feature so much.

I have another question. Does HDL .8c support hard drives above 128GB right off the bat or does it require some kind of custom patching, or worse yet, custom individual game patching? If .8c just automatically supports them just fine, I plan on getting a 500GB drive and store the majority of my collection on it.

Post by **diehllane** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:57 pm

Where I'm at fat PS2s are about 40-50 on Craigs List and network adapters are 20 or so here at GameCrazy if they happen to have any in stock. I saw one on Craigs List for 20 the other day, too.

HDL will support hard drives that large, it just depends on whether the program you use to install the games will support a hard drive that large.

I believe it's HDL Dumb that only supports up to 128 GB. If you pull the harddrive out and connect it to the PC and use WinHIIP rather than HDL Dumb, you should be able to install more. I know if I install originals to the harddrive from within HDL's menu, it can go past 128 (I have a 160 GB HDD in mine) but if I use HDL Dumb, I can't get past there.

Post by **philipofmacedon** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:25 pm

Yesterday I picked up a network adapter for 21 even from a local pawn shop. Now I just need a fat PS2 and swap magic. It's a shame it's gotten harder to buy it along with mod chips.

I've had the hardest time finding a reliable place to get swap magic 3.6 plus. Consolesource.com won't ship a lot of stuff to the US and modchip-com and Divineo don't seem to sell chips anymore.

http://www.modchip.ca is supposed to be good but their swap magics are on backorder. Anyone ever order from

http://www.nerditup.com or
http://www.gocybershopping.com/

Sorry in advance if I'm rambling or I've hijacked this thread.

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:34 pm

Unfortunately, I can't help ya. I got my PS2 and swap magic discs from someone here on the forums. I forget who.