This is a detailed How-To to get NeoCD Emulator and a game you own to run from your completely unmodded PS2 (Tested on a v9) via HDD/HDA. This is a very simple process so don't try to make it seem like more then it really is. Stress, frustration will just make it that much harder. I'm sure there are other ways of doing this so if you know one post it.
Overview of whats needed for this Guide:
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Playstation side:
PS2 Console (bet you didn't know that

)
Hard Disk Drive (Original or 3rd party will work)
Network Adaptor
HDAdvanced/Exploit PS1 Game
PC side:
IDE Ribbon Cable/CAT-5 Cable (or any other means of connecting your HDD/PS2 to a PC)
Application/Programs:
neocd_ps2.zip
CDGenPS2
WinHiip, HDL Dump/Dumb etc.
Misc:
Neo-Geo CD Game
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Instructions:
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#1: Once you have an Image of a Neo-Geo CD game you own you need to create a new ISO image out of it.
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#2: Mount the image you made onto a virtually drive with tools like Dameon, Alcohol, Nero etc. or if you have a program that will allow you to view the contents of an Image and transfer data from it that will work aswell.
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#3: Once the Image is mounted double click on it or the drive to view the contents of the disc, from here you should be able to Drag-and-Drop data from the Virtual Drive or Program onto your PC's Hard Drive. Make a new folder (Name it something you will remember like NeoCD) on your PC. Nexted highlight all the files and Drop them into the folder you created on your PC. NeoCD v0.6b does not support CDDA from the HDD.
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#4: Nexted you need to create a new ISO Image out of the Data in the newly made folder you created and the files located in the NeoCD_PS2v0.6b zip you also need the NEOCD bios (Posting on where to get this will be ignored and probably get you banned so please don't). The following files will be used out of the NeoCD zip file.
NEOCD.ELF
SYSTEM.CNF
NEOCDPS2.TXT
#5: When you have all the files ready you will be re-creating the image using CDGenPS2 just follow these simple steps.
1 - Open up CDGen and click on the
VOL button under
Name: change it from
CDGENPS2 to
NEOCD click
OK when done.
2 - Nexted highlight the NEOCD.ELF, NEOCD.BIN, SYSTEM.CNF and NEOCDPS2.TXT, Drag-and-Drop these into CDGen.
3 - When done go to the NEOCD folder you created on your PC and extracted the data from the disc. Highlight all of these files and Drag-and-Drop them into CDGen.
4 - Click on the
IMG button and where it says "
Save as type:" change it from
BIN files (*.bin) to
ISO files (*.iso) save your work some place where you will remember where it is located.
#6: Your all done!. Transfer the newly made ISO Image with whatever you plan on using to get it to your HDD and run it using HDA.
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Question & Answers (Q&A)
Q: Will this work for my PSTwo slimline if I use USBXtreme/ADV.
A: I don't know as I have no PSTwo to try it on and I'm not sure how the campatiblity is with the new loader.
(
If someone does try this out please post or PM your results.)
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Q: Can I fit more then 1 game in the new ISO Image I created.
A: Nope, for every game you wish to install onto HDD/HDA you must redo this entire process.
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Q: evilo has released a new version of his Emulator how can I update my current Images with the new version.
A: Delete all/some of the Neo CD games you currently have installed onto the HDD from HDA and re-create the Image again using the latest version of the NEOCD.ELF and SYSTEM.CNF files.
EDIT: For future reference If you where able to access the HDD from PC with something like FlashFXP and could open the ISO Image and delete and add files to and from it you probably could update the versions without having to delete them all.
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Q: The Image I just created is showing up larger in HDA then the original Image I created on my PC why.
A: HDA creates an Image in increments of 128MB onto your HDD so games that could be smaller might end up bigger since it doesn't write the image using 1MB increments.
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Q: Will this work on a patched version of HDA.
A: Yes.
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Q: My system is unmodded what ways can I get these Images transfered to my HDD and use them with HDA.
A: For this to work on a completely unmodded system you will need a way of transfering these Images to your HDD for use with HDA check the overview (PC Side) above to see ways you can accomplish this.
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Q: Can I use Nero or another program to make this Image.
A: Yes, check the included text document located in the NEOCD.zip file for further info.
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Credits: Go out to...
evilo and his amazing work.
PS2-Scene and all the wonderful/helpful people.
I hope this guide helps.