PS2 and Hard Drives

[7800fan]

I have a PS2 Slim, silver model 77001 date code 7A I don't think the firmware was ever touched since factory. Can anyone point me to a guide for this? The guide I keep finding refers to using hard drive and network adapter, but this has built in network and no hard drive support.

[Tempest]

The OPL not seeing my games problem was because I didn't set the HDD options in the menu. I couldn't get OPL to load through the menu from the HDD but it does work from the memory card. I'm good with that since I have to have a memory card in the system for game saves anyway.

[Tempest]

Is it possible to transfer ISO images using Winhiip over the ethernet cable? It would be easier than having to take out the hard drive and connect it directly to my computer.

[Greg2600]

Unfortunately I don't have a FAT PS2 to test putting FMCB on the HDD. I think it should work completely; however the installing is probably meant for the memory card. As for transfer over ethernet, though I've never done it, I've been told it is excruciatingly SLOW! Unlike the Xbox, which could run at 100 mbps, the PS2 is only 10 I believe.

[+Mitch]

The OPL not seeing my games problem was because I didn't set the HDD options in the menu. I couldn't get OPL to load through the menu from the HDD but it does work from the memory card. I'm good with that since I have to have a memory card in the system for game saves anyway.

 

Do you happen to remember what setting? Also, I thought OPL was able to use virtual memory cards so that you don't need an actual memory card plugged in.

 

Mitch

[Tempest]

It can, but not all games like the vmu so I don't use it.

 

There were two settings. One was something like Scan HDD on Start (set this to auto) and there was another like Display HDD Games (also set to auto). I can look for the exact settings when I get home.

[+Mitch]

It can, but not all games like the vmu so I don't use it.

 

There were two settings. One was something like Scan HDD on Start (set this to auto) and there was another like Display HDD Games (also set to auto). I can look for the exact settings when I get home.

 

Excellent! That worked for me.

 

Thanks,

Mitch

[78001987]

Yeah that's the only thing, you have to keep removing the HDD from the PS2 to install images. At least with Xbox you can FTP in no time. I'd advise getting a cheap IDE drive dock.

not any more. There is a new version of OPL (open ps2 loader) that let's you run games from a normal smb share on your computer.

[Greg2600]

not any more. There is a new version of OPL (open ps2 loader) that let's you run games from a normal smb share on your computer.

 

Run them, yes, he meant copying ISO's to his PS2 HDD from his PC. OPL I don't believe can do that?

[Master Phruby]

Why not just use the hard drive image I posted a few pages back? You don't need a memory card for that.

[Tempest]

Why not just use the hard drive image I posted a few pages back? You don't need a memory card for that.

But that image doesn't have the menu entries for launching OPL. To launch it I had to go to the HDD itself and find the executable.

[78001987]

 

Run them, yes, he meant copying ISO's to his PS2 HDD from his PC. OPL I don't believe can do that?

yeah, I don't know of a way to copy them across the LAN, but there's no need to. They can stay in your PC hard drive and you can play them across the LAN. It works great.

[Tempest]

Can you toss an ISO on the USB key and then copy it to the hard drive? Or does Winhiip do something special when copies things over?

[Greg2600]

yeah, I don't know of a way to copy them across the LAN, but there's no need to. They can stay in your PC hard drive and you can play them across the LAN. It works great.

 

For a slim PS2, but for a fat PS2 better off just copying the game to the HDD, play off there. Then you don't have to worry about having it on the LAN.

 

But that image doesn't have the menu entries for launching OPL. To launch it I had to go to the HDD itself and find the executable.

 

You can still add entries to the menu. Any FMCB install should have had the configurator and ulaunchELF applications installed. With the uLaunchELF you can copy the OPL ELF file to your HDD from the memory card. With configurator, you can add the OPL app to the menu.

 

Can you toss an ISO on the USB key and then copy it to the hard drive? Or does Winhiip do something special when copies things over?

 

Again, with something like uLaunchELF you can copy the ISO. It will be slow as all hell (USB 1.0), and I'm not sure if it will work. WinHiip may do some extra things.

[Tempest]

You can still add entries to the menu. Any FMCB install should have had the configurator and ulaunchELF applications installed. With the uLaunchELF you can copy the OPL ELF file to your HDD from the memory card. With configurator, you can add the OPL app to the menu.

 

I tried that, but it didn't seem to work for some reason. I added the entries, saved them, but they didn't show up. I think it was because it thinks the target .elf file isn't valid for some reason.

[78001987]

I guess we just see it differently. Hard disk space on the internal hd is limited to 120gb. I have a Tb drive holding games on the server. The compatibility is the same, just the initial loading of the game is a tiny bit slower.

[Greg2600]

 

I tried that, but it didn't seem to work for some reason. I added the entries, saved them, but they didn't show up. I think it was because it thinks the target .elf file isn't valid for some reason.

 

Wish I were more help, if I had a fat PS2 I'd try to troubleshoot.

 

I guess we just see it differently. Hard disk space on the internal hd is limited to 120gb. I have a Tb drive holding games on the server. The compatibility is the same, just the initial loading of the game is a tiny bit slower.

 

You can get past the 120gb limit. Many people have 300-500GB drives.

[Tempest]

Yeah I'm using a 300GB drive myself.

 

The .ELF files on that image that was linked to earlier aren't the same as the OPL .ELF files on the memory card. They're all EXECUTE.ELF files instead of OPL.ELF and things like that.

[Tempest]

So how do you use OPL to copy your retail games to the HDD? Or do you need to use WinHiip to do that? There doesn't appear to be an option to do it from the OPL menu on the PS2. If I have to keep popping out the drive every time I want to add a game this is going to become inconvenient.

[Master Phruby]

I always use WinHiip to copy retail games to the HDD. It is a litle annoying to pop the drive out each time. I wait until I have a certain number of games to move over before poping the drive again.

[Master Phruby]

it would be pretty cool to store my ps2 isos on my home server and then have the ps2 just grab them from there. All of my emulator roms and isos are there.

[Tempest]

I always use WinHiip to copy retail games to the HDD. It is a litle annoying to pop the drive out each time. I wait until I have a certain number of games to move over before poping the drive again.

Yeah I think that's the only way. HDLoader may offer a ripping option, but everyone says WinHiip is the way to go. I may just use the HDD for games I don't own and play the ones I do own on the regular discs. I never thought the load times were too long (Tales of the Abyss not withstanding). If I run into a game that takes forever to load then I'll add it to the HDD. As of right now there's not enough room on it for all my games anyway.

[Greg2600]

Yeah I think that's the only way. HDLoader may offer a ripping option, but everyone says WinHiip is the way to go. I may just use the HDD for games I don't own and play the ones I do own on the regular discs. I never thought the load times were too long (Tales of the Abyss not withstanding). If I run into a game that takes forever to load then I'll add it to the HDD. As of right now there's not enough room on it for all my games anyway.

 

From asking around the assemblergames forum, correct, the only reasonable way is to copy with WinHiip. However, you can use HDLoader to rip from game disc to PS2 HDD, that doesn't take that long.

 

it would be pretty cool to store my ps2 isos on my home server and then have the ps2 just grab them from there. All of my emulator roms and isos are there.

 

Isn't that what OPL is for though?

[Tempest]

I broke down and I'm dumping all the games I can to my HD. I can't get my entire collection on the HD, but I can get most of the games. I figure I might as well save wear and tear on the laser if I can. I really need to look at getting a 500GB HD for this thing (never thought I'd fill up the 300GB one!)

 

I'm using WinHiip, it's the only way.

[Tempest]

Anyone try Gradius III & IV with OPL? The compatibility list says it works but when I try it load it it hangs (orange screen). I dumped it to my HDD with Winhiip from my own disc so it can't be a bad iso.