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Loading from HDD on PS2

The instructions here set up HDD loading using either HD Loader or OPL game launching software and are the recommended way to load since the game's built-in HDD option is restrictive. See more info in Understanding the HDD modes. Both methods can co-exist with each other so you are not limited to one or the other.

If you want to use the official in-game option, see game HDD method.

I. What you need

A. Hardware

  • "Fat" PS2. Slim PS2s cannot use a hard drive
  • Ps2 Broadband adapter
  • HDD. Either the official SONY HDD, or any IDE HDD, or a SATA drive with a IDE to SATA adapter for the broadband adapter. Warning: If not using the official SONY drive, you will need to format the drive, so if you have any files on it you'd like to keep, make a backup before using with PS2! The official SONY drive is likely already formatted correctly.
    • If not using the official SONY HDD and wanting to use the official in-game install, you will need a way to play backup discs as you will need to patch your ISO to accept non-SONY HDDs.
  • Required HDD space
    • HDL/OPL Method
      • 4.6GB each for File 1 and File 2
    • Official Install
      • 1024 MB for file 1
      • 1152 MB for file 2
  • For using the HDL/OPL method, you need to have a way to launch homebrew software, either through using a mod chip or using a software exploit like FreeMcBoot.
  • USB thumb drive, formatted as FAT32 (optional). Easy way to transfer to and run software from your PS2, such as the HDL/OPL software.

B. Software

  • An exploit installed on your PS2 that allows you to launch homebrew, whether it be a mod chip or a software exploit like FreeMcBoot. FreeMcBoot does not require any hardware modifications and some places sell memory cards with FreeMcBoot preinstalled. One guide that appears to be comprehensive, if old, is courtesy of user Jay-Jay at ps2-home.
    • There is also a more recent exploit method that only requires burning a DVD, FreeDVDBoot. With FreeDVDBoot, you can run the DVD once to get your system into uLaunchELF. From there, you can run the FreeMcBoot installer by Jay-Jay and install FreeMcBoot to your memory card so that you will not have to boot from DVD.
  • A way to launch .elf files, which are PlayStation 2 executable files. wLaunchELF, formerly uLaunchELF, should come pre-installed with FreeMcBoot and is available from your main PS2 boot menu. It is, among other things, a file manager and .elf launcher. If you have a mod chip, configure its menu or check documentation on how to start wLaunchElf.
  • Software to transfer games onto the HDD. There are different ways to do this.
    • One is to use HDLoader v. 0.8c and rip the game from the DVD, but depending on your region PS2, you will need to first insert an original game from your region with a big enough file table (US Outbreak File 1 is a good candidate), and when you reach the "title selection" screen, insert the backup/original copy of Japanese Outbreak. You would need a flip top or some method that allows changing discs without using the "eject" button, in order to change discs after HD Loader scans your original game.
    • Another is to use network transfer software such as HDL Dump/dumb. This involves running hdl_svr_093.elf on the PS2, and then opening hdl_dumb application on Windows in order to transfer the ISO over the network.
  • Open PS2 Loader ("OPL") (optional), newer HD loading software. Recommended to use this as the code is newer and it will allow you to access the Network Settings application in the Outbreak game. HDLoader won't load that, so you would need to go back to ISO to setup the network if you don't use OPL.

II. Install


A. Formatting the HDD

  1. Format your USB drive as FAT32 if it is not formatted that way already. Warning: formatting deletes any files currently present on the USB drive. Back up your files first.
  2. Move the .ELF files for HDLoader onto the USB stick. You'll also want to move over any network transfer ELFs such as HDL_svr_093 or HDLInstaller.elf, and OPL if you will be using it. Note: make sure to also copy over the lang folder for HDLInstaller.elf.
  3. Safely eject the drive in Windows, remove the stick from your PC, and insert it into the PS2 front USB slot, either one should be fine.
  4. Turn on the PS2 and start up uLaunchELF/wLaunchELF. If you installed FreeMcBoot this should be an option in your main PS2 menu.
  5. In uLaunchELF, press O to enter FileBrowser, navigate to MISC,then HddManager.

12
Enter  FileBrowserNavigate to Mass
3
Enter HddManager
  1. At the PS2 HDD MANAGER screen, press R1 to call up the menu. '''Final warning: The steps below will format the drive, deleting all of the data present. Do not do this unless you are confident that you have backed up any files on the drive that you need to keep.

12
Ps2 HDD Manager screenPress R1 to bring up menu
34
Select FormatDrive is now formatted

B. Deploying the games to the HDD

(i). Ripping DVD direct to HDD

Although using network transfer software is recommended, it is possible to rip either the original DVDs to the HDD using HD Loader, or rip from a DVD backup, including any changes such as the translation patch. You will need a flip top, or some other way to swap the DVD without pressing open drive/eject.

  1. In uLaunchELF/wLaunchELF, navigate to FileBrowser, then Mass:, then start HDL_V0.8C.ELF
  2. In HD Loader, select Install. Insert an original game from your region. If you are on a Japanese PS2 and are ripping original Biohazard Outbreak discs, you can simply insert the Outbreak disc now.

Select Install
Insert game
  1. HD Loader will prompt for a game name, and the DVD should stop spinning. At this point, swap out the original DVD from your region, if not ripping the original to a Japanese PS2, and swap in your backup disc or original Outbreak disc. Name it whatever you would like.

Name the game
  1. HD Loader will rip the DVD. This may take about 20-30 minutes or so, then you will receive a complete notification.

Name the game
Ripping complete
  1. If you are going to play the game straight from HD Loader, you will need to press Select button on the name of the ripped Outbreak game, and activate Kill HDL after launch.

Ripping complete
  1. The game is installed to the HDD and you are now ready to play. It is recommended that you use OPL to play games instead, though, because 1) HD Loader will not allow you to edit the network settings in Outbreak since launching the network application does not work when launched from HD Loader, and 2) OPL is newer and still maintained.

(ii). Using HDLoader Installer to transfer games over the network.

Using network transfer software like HDLoader Installer is more convenient because it doesn't involve swapping discs, the software is newer, and you can also manage your installs over the network.

  1. In uLaunchELF/wLaunchELF, navigate to mass: then select HDLGameInstaller.elf.
  2. The application will attempt to connect if you have previous set your network settings in uLaunchElf. If you have not, you can press Select and enter the options screen, where you can set your network manually or enable DHCP to automatically pull the network settings from your router or other DHCP device on your network.
  3. On your PC, open HDLGManClient program.
  4. In "Server IP address," enter the IP from the upper right corner of the HDL Game Installer app on your ps2.
  5. You should now see a list of games installed to your PS2, if any. Click "Install new game...". Set the options, including title, the way that you like, and install the game. When you are done installing any games you would like, click "Disconnect" at the top of the program, and then press O on your PS2 to exit from HD Loader Installer. Your game is now installed to the HDD.
  6. Optional: The naming convention that HDL Game Installer uses works with OPL but is incompatible with HD Loader. If you insist on using HD Loader to play the game, you will need to rename the partition that HDL Game Installer created. In order to do this:
    1. In uLaunchElf/wLaunchElf, navigate to misc:
    2. Select HddManager
    3. Move the cursor using the d-pad until your game partition is selected
    4. Press R1 to bring up the menu, and select rename
    5. Delete the portion of the partition that is the game ID, e.g. "SLUS," so that the partition name is "PP.HDL.<whatever_name_you_selected>"

III. Playing the games


  1. Start up OPL.
  • In uLaunchElf/wLaunchElf, enter FileBrowser and browse to mass:, then the ELF file for OPL.
  1. In OPL, open Settings by pressing X.

Open Settings with X
  1. Set HDD Device Start Mode to Auto.

HDD Device Start Mode to Auto
  1. Press D-pad down until you reach OK, and press X.
  2. Select Save Changes and press X.

Navigate to Save Changes and press X
  1. Press O to access the Games List.

Select game and press X
  1. Select the game, and press X to run.
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Page last modified on March 06, 2023, at 03:24 AM