Tutorial: Homebrew Booting on Unmodified Consoles

[EugeneWE3RD]

Here is my first tutorial. I wrote this to help people espically newbies who might need help in getting homebrew software to boot on unmodified PS2's. This is just the first part of the tutorial, I other parts are coming later on:

Update:

It has come to my attention on the ps2dev forum post over at http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?p=9927#9927 by dlanor that the PS2 Indepedence Exploit will not work on PS2TWO'S aka slim line PS2's aka V12's. If you own one of the newer PS2's, this tutorial will not work, you will need to own an older PS2. The older PS2's are larger than the new PS2's, older PS2's are the only ones which can load the PS2 Indy Exploit.

Homebrewing on unmodified consoles. To boot homebrew software on unmodified consoles, you have to use the PS2 Independence Exploit.

To use the PS2 Independence Exploit, you have to have a PS2 memory card with free space & a PS1 game, it must be an original PS1 game, backups don't work. You can't use a PS2 game, it must be a PS1 game because the exploit triggers a buffer overrun in the PS2 which is caused by loading a PS1 game. To get the Exploit onto your memory card, you must use a program to get it onto your memory card such as X-Port, Max, N-port, et al.

To easily get started with the PS2 Indy Exploit, download PS2 eXploit Made Easy from http://ps2dev.org/kb.x?T=1069 . Unzip the program & read the readme on how to use the program. The PS1 games which trigger the exploit are included, after unzipping the program, look for these text files which are games-eu.txt (Europe PS2's) & games-us.txt (American PS2's).

Before you start look for the region of your PS2, if you have a European PS2, your region is BEDATA-SYSTEM , if you have an American PS2, your region is BADATA-SYSTEM .

These are the regions:
European:

BEDATA-SYSTEM.max (for users of Max)
BEDATA-SYSTEM.npo (for users of N-Port)
BEDATA-SYSTEM.p2m (for users of Xploder v4 software)
BEDATA-SYSTEM.xps (for users of Sharkport/X-Port)

American:
BADATA-SYSTEM.cbs (for users of Codebreaker via flash drive)
BADATA-SYSTEM.max (for users of Max)
BADATA-SYSTEM.npo (for users of N-Port)
BADATA-SYSTEM.p2m (for users of Xploder v4 software)
BADATA-SYSTEM.xps (for users of Sharkport/X-Port)

Now, use the one of the transfer programs to transfer the exploit to your mem card. If you own a X-port, make sure the PC & PS2 is connected together with the USB cable which comes with the X-port.

For N-port, you need your PS2 & PC have to be connected together thru ethernet cause N-port transfers saves thru the PS2 part of the Network Adapter so you need to own a Network Adapter & your PC & PS2 must be connected correctly.

After you install the PS2 Indy Exploit, insert a PS1 game into your PS2 & restart, if everything went well, you will see a white screen flash & then some text on the screen & after a little while, PS2MENU will load up.

Congradulations, you now have the PS2 Indy Exploit working.

[monkey01]

great tutorial..for some mroe info I have created one too at:
http://ps2.lookatthemonkeys.com

[ubay]

is there a chance to work on jap consoles?

[PS2onCrAcK]

I have a codebreaker for ps2, is there a way i can use this to install the exploit onto my MC?? and what software burns mode2? i know nero full version does but it costs...I have nero express....but it sucks....can anyone help someone on a very slim budget?? I am attempting to backup my kids games so i do keep spending a ton of money on the same games over and over....i am on at least my 3rd copy of each of their games....thanks for any help you guys can give me...

[EugeneWE3RD]

Originally Posted by ubay

is there a chance to work on jap consoles?

Well, I only have a USA console but I will try to help you. To get the exploit on a Jap console using the X-Port, you will need to:

Download Exploit save Files - Xport format , PS2 Menu & Titleman frontend (win32) from http://www.ps2savetools.com/download...download&cid=7 .

Download PS2 Save Builder from http://www.ps2savetools.com/download...download&cid=1

Download Win32 command line XPort utility from http://www.ps2savetools.com/download...titleA&show=20

Unzip exploitxportsaves.zip (Exploit save Files - Xport format). Then look for the X-Port file which says JA_SystemSave2506-436700.xps. This is the X-Port file for a Jap system. The file name is pretty large so rename JA_SystemSave2506-436700.xps to JAP.XPS.

Next, open up titlemanfrontend.zip (Titleman frontend (win32) in your unzipping software & extract only the titleman.exe file into the same directory as your JAP.XPS file.

Next, unzip PS2SaveBuilder.zip (PS2 Save Builder) into the same directory as your JAP.XPS file.

Next, unzip PS2MENU into the same directory as JAP.XPS.

Next, unzip Win32 command line XPort utility (xpstool.zip) into the same directory as JAP.XPS.

Next, open up PS2 Save Builder (ps2save-builder.exe) & open up the JAP.XPS. Now push & hold down the ctrl key & highlight PS2IP.IRX, PS2LINK.IRX & PS2SMAP.IRX & right click on one of the files & select delete. Now save your XPS file. Now, highlight the TITLE.DB & right click on it & select extract. Close down PS2 Save Builder.

Now, we are going to use titleman.exe which is a command prompt program. If you have Windows 95 or Windows 98, just use a dos prompt. If you are Windows XP (I think that this might work for Windows 2000 or NT), select your start menu & select run & then enter cmd.

Since this is a command line prog, you have to type in what you want. Type this in titleman -a SCUS_000.67 (replace SCUS_000.67 with the name of the of your PS1 game's executable file). To find out, insert your PS1 game into your computer's cdrom/DVD (depeding on what you have). The executable will either start with SLUS, SLES, SCUS or SCED.

After you type in what you need on titleman, your game is then added to TITLE.DB

Now, look for the file called xpstool.exe , this is the command line utility for X-Port files. Now, you will want to get the TITLE.DB back into your JAP.XPS, for this, type this in XPSTOOL A JAP.XPS TITLE.DB . You must type this in using capital letters because the PS2 INDY Exploit files must be in capital letters for the exploit to run.

Exit your dos prompt or CMD (CMD is for Win XP).

Now, unzip PS2MENU into the same directory as JAP.XPS. PS2MENU will create a folder after it's unziped. Open up the PS2MENU folder & copy the ps2menu.elf to the same directory as JAP.XPS.

Now, open up a dos prompt or CMD, now do this:

REN PS2MENU.ELF BOOT.ELF
XPSTOOL A JAP.XPS BOOT.ELF

Now, exit your dos prompt or CMD.

Now, you have the PS2 Indy Exploit. Now make sure the PC & PS2 is connected together with the USB cable which comes with the X-port. Then load up X-Port on your PC & PS2 & transfer JAP.XPS to your PS2's mem card.

Then insert the PS1 game which you listed in TITLE.DB into your PS2 & restart. If everyone was done correctly, you should see a white flash & PS2MENU will load up.

Congradulations, you know how the PS2 Indy Exploit on your JAP PS2.

[ubay]

thank you very much!

[EugeneWE3RD]

Originally Posted by ubay

thank you very much!

Your welcome. I would have wrote the tutorial earlier but I have been playing with my new computer the past week so I didn't have time until now.

[PS2onCrAcK]

Eugene, I am going to use codebreaker for this because it's the only means that makes logical sense as it looks like a simple file transfer....so...my question is...how can I get hdloader, keylauncher, and mediaplayer on there using this method? does the BADATA-SYSTEM.cbs file have to be created manually? or am I just thinking completely wrong here....I don't want ps2menu and i want to be able to boot keylauncher without a disc.

[PS2onCrAcK]

Ok, used codebreaker and it worked beautifully, props to Eugene on this great source...I just need to know how to modify the BADATA-SYSTEM.cbs file so I can throw in the other elf's that i need...can ANYONE help?

[EugeneWE3RD]

Originally Posted by PS2onCrAcK

Ok, used codebreaker and it worked beautifully, props to Eugene on this great source...I just need to know how to modify the BADATA-SYSTEM.cbs file so I can throw in the other elf's that i need...can ANYONE help?

Unfortunetly, I have no experience with the newer codebreakers, the codebreaker which I own is an older version of Codebreaker which was released around 2000 or 2001. You might want to contact the author of PS2 eXploit Made Easy to see about how he made the *.cbs files or who he got them from.

[EugeneWE3RD]

New Tutorial: How to get homebrew on the mem card using Xport.

Well, since you now have PS2MENU on your mem card, you will probably now want to run some homebrew thru PS2MENU. Here is how we get homebrew of the mem card so you can run them thru PS2MENU. For this example, I am going use the freeware PS2 game written by Hermes which is called Pintor. Here is what is needed.

First, you have to download PS2 Save Builder (if you don't already have it) from http://www.ps2savetools.com/download...download&cid=1 .

Next, you will need Pintor. You can download Pintor.rar from my post at games..homebrew .

After downloading pintor.rar, unzip PS2 Save Builder & Pintor into the same directory.

Now open up PS2 Save Builder & click of the file menu & select new & 2 files will be added called icon.sys & my.icn (don't delete these files). Now click on edit menu & select add files & the dialog box will open up & select pintor.elf & click on the open button on the lower right hand corner.

Now, chance the Root/ID which says NEW_FILE to something else. The Root/ID is what differentiates each save from each other. I like to change the ID name to the name of the prog for this example, change the Root/ID to Pintor. Now to the left of the light bulb icon is the icon which says Text. Click on the text icon & a window will load up which says:

Game Name: NEW_FILE
Save Name: Made with PS2 Save Builder

I also recommend changing Game Name & Save Name to the name of the prog so for this example, change both of these to Pintor & click OK.

Now we will save the prog, click on the file menu & click on save as & when the dialog box opens up select from the pulldown menu which save program you have & after selecting your save program, next save it as whatever filename you want.

PS2 Save Builder allows you to create saves for SharK-Port 2, X-Port 2, N-Port & Xpolder 4 Prof.

This tutorial will work with other homebrew software.

Next load up X-port & transfer the file you just created to your mem card.

Now, load up your PS2 with your PS1 game which will trigger the PS2 Indy Exploit & when PS2MENU loads up select R1 & select MC, then open up the directory which contains Pintor & load up the pintor.elf file which you can now play.

Congradulations, you now are able to play homebrew games on your unmodified PS2.

Beforewarned, most homebrew software won't run because most software is made to run from CD. Most progs made to run from host will run in PS2MENU since it has a IRX called fakehost.irx which is made to fool the progs to make it think it is running from host.

For example, most emulators won't run since they are made to run from CD's. Snes-station is a weird one, it will load up but you can't run any roms since it only supports loading roms from CD.

If you own an Action Replay Max Evo,you can also follow this tutorial. Download the XPS To Max convertor from overdriver's post at http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=180737 . Create XPS files containing the homebrew software using PS2 Save Builder & use the XPS To Max convertor to convert your X-Port files to Max so you can use homebrew on your Action Replay Max Evo.

[EugeneWE3RD]

Next tutorial is for people who have an unmodified PS2 console with an HDD who have followed the above tutorials. Well, before PS2MENU can be able to access the HDD, you will have to create a HDD file partition.

First of all, you will need PS2 Save Builder (links are posted in my above posts) & DMS HDD format Tool. Download the patched DMS HDD Format Tool which allows you to use large HDD's at DMS3 HDD Tools 48bit patched.

Now, unzip PS2 Save Builder & dms3_hdd_tools_48bit.rar into the same directory. The dms3_hdd_tools_48bit.rar contains HDD Dump, HDD Format & HDD Explorer but you will only need HDD Format which is hdd_format_48bit.elf.

Now open up PS2 Save Builder & click of the file menu & select new & 2 files will be added called icon.sys & my.icn (don't delete these files). Now click on edit menu & select add files & the dialog box will open up & select hdd_format_48bit.elf & click on the open button on the lower right hand corner.

Now, change the Root/ID to HDD Format & click on the Text Icon next to the light bulb & when the dialog box opens up change Game Name & Save Name to HDD Format.

Now we will save the prog, click on the file menu & click on save as & when the dialog box opens up select from the pulldown menu & select X-port 2 & save it as whatever filename you want to.

Next load up X-port & transfer the file you just created to your mem card.

Now, load up your PS2 with your PS1 game which will trigger the PS2 Indy Exploit & when PS2MENU loads up select R1 & select MC, then highlight the directory which contains HDD Format & open it up & select & run HDD Format. Now after HDD Format loads up, select create partition & select how much space you want to dedicate to your partition. After you select the size of your partition, conform it & HDD format will create the parition.

After the partition is created, you can use now PS2MENU to create directories on your HDD, you can also transfer progs from mem card, CD, et al to HDD which means you can use the tutorials above to put homebrew software on mem card & you can copy it to HDD from mem card using PS2MENU & once the software is on HDD, you must use PS2MENU to run it from HDD.

Graduations, you now are able to copy/run homebrew software from HDD's installed in your PS2.

I got PS2 Menu To work off a PS2Exploit Made Easy file (From a .max file) and a PS1 Game. Now I'm scared to use it! I'd hate to accidently delete my HDD as I got like 26 games installed on it. I really want to play some SNES on my PS2. Maybe one day I'll explore more on this Expoit, befor e I start toying around with it.

Nice work, really good!

[EugeneWE3RD]

To people who own Codebreaker 8 or Action Replay Max Evo can now use these tutorials. There is a new release of PS2 Save Builder at http://www.ps2savetools.com/download...2_Save_Builder . This new version can create save files for Codebreaker & Action Replay Max Evo in addition to creating saves for Sharkport/X-port, N-port & Xploder V 4.

If you own a Codebreaker or Action Replay Max Evo, just follow the tutorials above & when it says to save as an X-port file, save the file as a Codebreaker or a Max Evo file using the new version of PS2 Save Builder.

Update:

PS2 Save Builder has been updated to version 0.8x .

[sonyman]

What steps would I need to take to get HDAdvance on my memory card and load in the same way using the independence exploit?

[sonyman]

Well, I can't even get the exploit to work. When I load my PS1 game, it loads as if I had done nothing--It loads the game as normal.

Edit: Scratch that, I reread the readme and I was performing the wrong action in MAX.

[EugeneWE3RD]

I also posted these tutorials at the PS2DEV forums ( forums.ps2dev.org ) to help newbies so that they won't keep posting the same questions. The tutorials have been stickied at PS2DEV & you can check them out at http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?t=672 (these are the same tutorials as the ones posted in this thread except that I edited them so that don't lead to the file attachments on PS2 Scene since you have to be registered to view the forums). These tutorials are my gift to the PS2DEV scene.

[sk545]

For N-port, you need your PS2 & PC have to be connected together thru ethernet cause N-port transfers saves thru the PS2 part of the Network Adapter so you need to own a Network Adapter & your PC & PS2 must be connected correctly.

huh...i thought you needed to have swap magic or hdloader genuine cd's to install the exploit. Those are not needed if you have a PC? Also, does n-port run from the PC or the PS2?

And i think ps2dev.org is down...none of the links mentioned seem to load up.