esr wont boot certain dvds

[zrike]

Specs: Older fat PS2/mcboot 1.7/esr r9b

Problem: esr wont boot some backups

Details: I recently got some verbatim dvd-r 16x because I heard they were one of the better brands. I re-burned a few games, but some of them would not boot. I'll use 2 of my backups as examples.

undub Rogue Galaxy dvd5:
old cheap dvd+r =works
new verbatim =works

Okami:
old cheap dvd+r =works
new verbatim(esr patched) =fails
new verbatim(momento patched) =fails

I was confused, but I thought it might be the discs, so I tried different speeds, but got the same results. finally, I tried cogswap, and Okami booted and played fine. This means my PS2 can read the verbatims right? So why wont some of them boot with esr?

[evila]

Is could be that Okami is not compatible with current version of ESR yet. Have you check the compatibility list?

[jackryan]

Isn't Okami a DVD-9 disc? That would probably cause issues...

[zrike]

its not just okami, i was just using it as an example. MMX: CM, Metal Saga, and suikoden v all have the same problems(work with old dvds, fail with new ones, new ones work with cogswap)

[kevstah2004]

Try ESR gui test 2 with all the options turned off, I found it made 3 previously non working games work.

[zrike]

Originally Posted by kevstah2004

Try ESR gui test 2 with all the options turned off, I found it made 3 previously non working games work.

i just tried it, but it didnt work. when i put the new dvds in, the status bar would not go past detecting, and when i tried to boot anyway, they didnt boot(not even rogue galaxy). the old dvds were detected in a few seconds, and booted fine.

i'm starting to think my ps2 likes +R better. i'll have to buy some cheap +R's to test it. I wish the verbatims would work though, i spent $30 on them...oh well, i can use them to store the iso's, and for cogswap.

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by zrike

i just tried it, but it didnt work. when i put the new dvds in, the status bar would not go past detecting, and when i tried to boot anyway, they didnt boot(not even rogue galaxy).

What do you mean by "not even" ?
Do you think "Rogue Galaxy" is supposed to be extra simple to boot, or what ?
If so I'd have to disagree, especially considering that it's a DL game disc.

the old dvds were detected in a few seconds, and booted fine.

i'm starting to think my ps2 likes +R better.

That would be very strange indeed, as most users have better success with DVD-R.

i'll have to buy some cheap +R's to test it. I wish the verbatims would work though, i spent $30 on them...oh well, i can use them to store the iso's, and for cogswap.

I use Verbatim 16x DVD-R discs all the time myself (for years now), and they always work fine for me, so I rather suspect that it's some hardware problem. The real problem might not even occur in the PS2 at boot time, but rather in the DVD burner when making the backup disc, due to the burner nearing the end of its lifetime. (I had to replace a burner myself last month. They don' last forever...)

That would explain why old backups work fine, while the new ones fail.

On the other hand, it could also be that your burner has a 'dislike' for these Verbatim 16x DVD-R discs, either due to aging problems or due to not having the data of those discs in its internal database (also extra likely if the burner is old).

I find either one of those theories more likely than the one that your particular PS2, unlike most others, should have a preference for DVD+R.

If you can arrange it, try burning a backup onto one of those Verbatim discs using someone else's computer. One with a semi-modern NEC/Optiarc burner would be ideal, since that is what I use, so I know this works fine. The games burned this way boot fine with ESR both on my v7 PS2 and on my v15 PStwo.

I don't see which PS2 model you're using anywhere. If you're not sure, just state the product code marked on the console (like SCPH-39004 for my v7 PAL model). Someone here is sure to know what model that is (except for some models that use the same code).

Best regards: dlanor

[zrike]

lo again. I've figured out the problem, and its a bit strange. all the discs i burnt that would not read with esr, if i put my ps2 in the vertical position, they read! I'm elated that its working now, but why does the position of my ps2 matter?

Sidenote: My PS2 is a 35001

[jvhellraiser]

Originally Posted by zrike

lo again. I've figured out the problem, and its a bit strange. all the discs i burnt that would not read with esr, if i put my ps2 in the vertical position, they read! I'm elated that its working now, but why does the position of my ps2 matter?

Ok you remember when ps1 start having problems with reading cd's
and the only way to make them read was put your ps1 up sidedown
so this is the same way iam guesing your ps2 eye feels comfortable
in this position an is not forcing himself to read the ps2 game...

[CZroe]

I have tons of Verbatim 16x DVD+R and DVD-R discs and Okami was the first thing I backed up and burned off of my original disc to test ESR/FMCB. Before testing, I burned one to BOTH types of discs. I own and use an original launch PS3, so I tested using my friend's fat PS2 in the vertical position... I'm not sure the exact model but it has Firewire/IEEE1394 and less screws than an original USA launch version. Both DVD-R and DVD+R worked fine, but we did not test in a horizontal position. I first installed FMCB 1.6 but then used it to install 1.7 on his card before ever testing a game, so our experience is equal. My friend has been playing through my Okami backup ever since (the DVD+R one).

Now, I did not realize that Rogue Galaxy was a dual-layer game, but my friend decided to download it and try it out (the dirty pirate!). The NZB he used downloaded all the RARs and an extracted ISO that seemed identical to what was in the RARs (waste of bandwidth). Both were 4.33 GB (4,658,397,184 bytes). He extracted the compressed/RARed one, then patched and burned the ISO to a single layer DVD with ESR patcher/IMGburn. It did not work... just a blank screen after ESR's loading screen.

Hope this helps. I found this thread when checking to see if it was an ESR incompatibility. Is it possible that this is a hacked single-layer version?

Edit: OK, it looks like he accidentally patched the wrong ISO (not the one he extracted/burned, but the one that was downloaded already extracted). I'll report what he tells me next if he decides to try it.
Edit 2: It works. It is English. It is single-layer though Wikipedia says that the NA and EU versions were DVD-9 while only the original JPN release was DVD-5. He didn't test it horizontally though.

Originally Posted by evila

Is could be that Okami is not compatible with current version of ESR yet. Have you check the compatibility list?

It is perfectly compatible. It was the first ESR disc I made for r9b and my friend has been playing through it on that disc.

Originally Posted by jackryan

Isn't Okami a DVD-9 disc? That would probably cause issues...

No. It was ported to Wii and still fit on a DVD 5. I copied my actual PS2 disc and it fit easily. Okami uses real-time effects and that saves tons of space (vs. FMV). FWIW, the Wii version actually had more FMV (IIRC, some of the credits and such were modified FMV from the PS2 version or something).

[gyigyo]

I have a queston! Why not working the dvd9 games??? i tried the MGS2 SUb and XENOSAGA but not works i patched esr and i select dvd-rom booktype for my NEC huhh dvd9 movies is works but the games is not.

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by gyigyo

I have a queston! Why not working the dvd9 games??? i tried the MGS2 SUb and XENOSAGA but not works i patched esr and i select dvd-rom booktype for my NEC huhh dvd9 movies is works but the games is not.

I think you need to patch the ISO with the Toxic DL patch first, and then patch it for ESR. This has worked for lots of people.

Best regards: dlanor