ps2 Free McBoot/HD Loader questions

[jay_red]

I think I finally want to install a Hard Drive on my ps2, hoping to cut down on load times and keep my collection safe. I already have a Free McBoot memory card created, but have some questions.

I made the memory card a while ago, while trying to get ps1 backups playing and never succeeded, but have pretty much forgot the process and what programs are on there, so is there a noob guide to get it all up and running?

Once I get the HD loader program going, how do you get your games onto it? Can the ps2 rip the games from the disc directly like the Xbox can? Or do you need to set up like an FTP and transfer an ISO?

[CRTGAMER]

Either of three methods, PS2 Hard Drive Guide at my signature link.

[LentFilms]

Once I get the HD loader program going, how do you get your games onto it? Can the ps2 rip the games from the disc directly like the Xbox can? Or do you need to set up like an FTP and transfer an ISO?

HD Loader can rip games directly from the disk to the hard drive, but HD Loader is not the best loader out there. Open PS2 Loader is the new definitive loader and is better than HDL in every way, though it does not have the option to rip games directly from the disk to the HDD. Instead you have to rip them on your PC and transfer them via crossover connection, or you can use HDL to rip the games and then go to OPL to play them.

[Majors]

I made the memory card a while ago, while trying to get ps1 backups playing and never succeeded

And you will not. The HD Loader app prevents the PS2 from playing PS1 games. PS2 uses emulation to run the older PS games. I do not recall that McBoot will allow playing burns at all, or at least my version does not (you can play your burned copied ISO's...see below)

Once I get the HD loader program going, how do you get your games onto it? Can the ps2 rip the games from the disc directly like the Xbox can? Or do you need to set up like an FTP and transfer an ISO?

On my HD Loader/McBoot PS2, you can rip original PS2 CD/DVD striaght to the HD but not burns/bootleg/HK copies. You can connect the PS2 to your network and run a .elf file(forget the name) to turn the PS2 into a FTP-like server then use a program on your PC to send disc/ISO's over (I want to say winHIIP or HDL-something). You can also use the same program to dump directly to the PS2 HD if you install it in your PC. Good for when you dumping a shit ton of games since ethernet is slower than direct access IDE.

It's been a while since I messed with it, so sorry for the vague response.

I need to look into that Open PS2 Loader, but to tell the truth, my PS2 setup works peachy for me. If it an't broke, don't fix it. I got a 500GB in there with all the fighters and shooters(that are supported, of course). For PS1 burns, I have a old chipmod PS1 that I hook up with the PS2 cords with.

[Ziggy]

Personally, I don't care that OPL can't rip games from a disc. The main reason I use the hard drive in the PS2 is to keep wear and tear off the optical drive. If I'm using the optical drive to rip the games, that's kinda counter productive.

The easiest way to rip the games is to use HDL Dumb or whatever it's called. If you have a router close enough to your PS2, just connect the PS2 to the router using a regular (not crossover) ethernet cable. If your router isn't close enough, or you don't have one, if you have a desktop close by with a free LAN port, just buy a crossover cable to connect your PS2 to your computer. If your desktop doesn't have a free LAN port, you have few options. You can just buy a NIC PCI card for like $15 and install that in your computer. Or, if your computer is hard wired to a router (as oppose to wireless) then you can buy a network switch. A switch will cost a little more (maybe $10 more) than a NIC card, but you wont have to use a crossover cable (just a regular ethernet cable) and you'll also be able to connect other things to your network using the switch. For example, in my bedroom I have a switch that my computer is connected to, then my PS2, PS3 and Wii are also connected to it.

Anyways, I'm rambling. Connect your PS2 to your computer, either directly to your computer with a crossover cable, or connect the PS2 to a router or a network switch with a regular ethernet cable.

If you don't have a computer near by, you can also use a laptop or netbook if you have one. They'll have a LAN port on them that you can use, use a crossover cable.

After the PS2 is connected to your network or directly to a computer, use the program called HDL Dumb to transfer the game images from your computer to the PS2's hard drive. You'll just have to punch in some addresses to get it to connect, but it isn't too hard. I believe CRT's guide has all the info you need on that IIRC.

The other option is to connect the PS2 hard drive directly to your PC (either internally or use an external enclosure) and use WinHiip or HDL Dumb to transfer the games. This is easier to setup if you know nothing of networking, but it's also a pain in the ass. The transfer speeds are greater, but you have to take the time to remove the hard drive from the PS2, hook it up to your computer, then when you're done you have to reinstall the hard drive in your PS2. The networking option ends up being easier, once you set it up and get it working then you can just leave everything alone. Games will take a little longer to transfer, but I don't mind. I'd rather browse Racketboy or walk away and do something for 15 minutes rather than having to constantly remove the hard drive.

If it an't broke, don't fix it.

But it IS broke. OPL (Open PS2 Loader) has much better support than HD Loader. It also has more features overall. It would be wise to upgrade. It's not like you will have to redo your hard drive, I'm pretty sure everything will work fine. I originally used HD Advanced as a hard drive loader, then I upgraded to OPL. The games I already had installed on the hard drive all worked fine with OPL, I didn't have to do anything. I might have turned some compatibility modes off because they were no longer needed.

[gtmtnbiker]

After the PS2 is connected to your network or directly to a computer, use the program called HDL Dumb to transfer the game images from your computer to the PS2's hard drive.

Where are you getting these game images? I don't think the PC can read/rip a PS2 disc, right?

[Ziggy]

After the PS2 is connected to your network or directly to a computer, use the program called HDL Dumb to transfer the game images from your computer to the PS2's hard drive.

Where are you getting these game images? I don't think the PC can read/rip a PS2 disc, right?

It can! It's just that they're encrypted. You need a little something called DVD Decypter.

DVD Decrypter will rip a PS2 disc to an ISO for you, then you use HDL Dumb to transfer the ISO onto your PS2 hard drive. It's really simple. Of course, you can always ::cough:: download your game image, but that's really annoying when you wanna make a legal backup of a game you actually own.

So as it turns out, PS2 DVDs aren't encrypted as some sources claim. That being the case, using a PC to backup a PS2 disc is easy as pie. You can back it up as easily as a (for example) Saturn disc. Just use ImgBurn and read the disc to an ISO image. Then use WinHiip or HDL Dumb to transfer the ISO to the PS2 hard drive. Cake.

[LentFilms]

It can! It's just that they're encrypted. You need a little something called DVD Decypter.

There encrypted? I've never had problems ripping or reading PS2 disks on my PC and windows explorer can even read the contents of all my PS2 disks just fine.

I always use ImgBurn to rip my games and then transfer them over LAN. It keeps the drive healthy, wealthy and wise

[Ziggy]

They're not encrypted? Hmm, I guess I just assumed they were.

No matter, just use ImgBurn to rip the PS2 games to ISO then.

edit: If you Google, there's multiple sources saying that PS2 DVDs are encrypted. I'm too lazy to pop in a few of my PS2 games and see if they actually are or not.

[LentFilms]

edit: If you Google, there's multiple sources saying that PS2 DVDs are encrypted. I'm too lazy to pop in a few of my PS2 games and see if they actually are or not.

If they are encrypted then it's pretty crappy encryption. I've been backing up my PS2 games for a couple of years now and it's been just as hassle free as PS1 games.