Playstation 2 Boot Discs

[LoneCynic]

Okay, I am trying to get into the Playstation 2 import scene. I also have some questions about HD Advance. Let me give you a quick rundown of my situation and equipment, and then I will follow that with my questions. For reference, because many people here are from different regions, I live in the United States, and am using NTSC North American stuff.

I have a launch PS2 system. One of the original model "fat" consoles. Got it a couple weeks after they first hit the states. I have the network adaptor and HDD for the system. I have used HD Advance 2.0 with it, and had moderately decent results playing a handful of my PS2 games from the HDD.

I want to play import PS2 games from Japan. So I ordered a Swap Magic 3.6 set of discs, and the V4 part kit that goes with it. I have also ordered a new white USA model Slimline PS2 for this purpose. (I understand these are from the newest batch of PS2 consoles). In theory, I will be able to use the part kit and Swap Magic discs to boot imports, much like the DC-X allowed me to do with Dreamcast imports, and my Action Replay + Spring insert allowed me to do with Playstation 1 imports in the past. Hopefully this is the case, has anyone had experience with the Slimline PS2 + Swap Magic discs and could share some info with me about it before my stuff arrives in the mail?

Now, my other questions, which relate to playing PS1 imports on the Slimline PS2, and a few questions about HD Advance. When I was searching for an online shop to buy the Swap Magic discs from, I came across a disc called a PS2 Breaker Pro. The description claimed that the Breaker Pro boot disc allowed PS1 imports to be loaded on a PSOne or Slimline PS2 console. If this is true, that would also be something I would like to purchase, as I would no longer need to keep out a PS1 console + Action replay to play my old imports with. Has anyone had experience with this particular disc, and can give some insight on it?

Last but not least, my HD Advance questions. Again, while searching for the Swap Magic discs, I saw a lot of places had a set of discs labeled "HD Advance 3.0". My first question is, how much better are these as opposed to the 2.0 set I currently have? If purchased, would these newer discs allow a broader range of games to play from HDD on my old PS2, or is the difference negligable? Reading through some other topics on this forum, I have learned that the HD Advance Xtreme set is a waste, as the USB notion does not work as claimed. So, I have figured that much out for myself thus far. I appreciate the warnings there, as that DID sound almost too good to be true. My last question on this topic is in regards to a claim made in the description of the HD Advance 3.0 discs. It says you can boot your domestic and import games from HDD. Is there any validity to this statement? Is it theoretically possible that these new discs allow for such a thing? I would surely love it if it were true, but again it sounds a bit far fetched and throws up red flags on my "BS radar".

In closing, I would like to thank you all in advance for any information you are able to provide on these questions I have. I read through as many topics as I could before posting specifically about these things, but couldn't find all the answers I was seeking. I appologize in advance if these are common questions that you have answered many times already. It is surely not my intention to agitate anyone here. I knew the membership roster here seems to be many like-minded retro gamers like myself, and you've all made me feel quite welcomed thus far. I figured if anyone could or would help me find some solid answers, if would be here on Racketboy forums. Thanks again.

[ubelaffe]

in theory, the swap magic and hd advance pair should have you loading bootlegs/imports to your hdd. Swap magic should have no problem with your new slimline. If it's the 3rd model, it might be different. I just haven't heard anyone get the newest one.

I thought I remembered ps1 games being loadable to the hdd with hd advance. Never cared to try, but you never know.

As far as a new version of hd advance, it might have a little more ease in loading the games, but it's probably not worth another $40 in software.

[Niode]

HD advance is not worth any money whatsoever, do not pay for that shit. It's an old binary of HDloader that has compatibility issues. HD loader is freely available on the internet.

Swap magic isn't worth much really seeing as the tools to softmod your ps2 are freely available online also, but if the convenience is worth the money then go for it. Just don't pay for HDadvance. The people who developed HDloader received nothing in return for their time and effort, yet this company is making money from them. It's disgusting.