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HDLOADER - Found Impressions

Oh! My Car! said:
Could someone clarify whether you need the broadband adapter as well for the HD Loader to function properly?
Click to expand...
Yes, how else would your HDD connect to your PS2 without a NA?
 
It works, the game noticeably loads faster. When you install the game, you have to input a Name first, after installation. You have to boot with the HDLoader CD to see the games you installed to launch. Pretty cool.

Is there any game for the PS2 that is known for lots of loading? I think I might go to blockbuster tommorow. >)
 
I don't understand. Is this hdloader official sony software? It seems like Sony wouldn't make something like this due to pirating concerns...
 
Stuntman
NBA Ballers


maximusPSO said:
I don't understand. Is this hdloader official sony software? It seems like Sony wouldn't make something like this due to pirating concerns...
Click to expand...


no



I didn't remember long loading times for Xenosaga, but it's been a while
 
It's about as legal as emulators. It's not the software itself that is illegal...........

Ooooh, a DVD9 game, that's a good game to test, let's see if it's at my BB tomorrow.
 
if you have an unmodded ps2 and a cd game, try burning it to see if it installs and loads those "silvers"

Because I have a hard time believing the loader can make the difference between a legit copy and a "silver" :p
 
Fularu said:
if you have an unmodded ps2 and a cd game, try burning it to see if it installs and loads those "silvers"

Because I have a hard time believing the loader can make the difference between a legit copy and a "silver" :p
Click to expand...

Everytime you hit the Eject button or it ejects, it always have to recheck the region/protection code on the CD once it is inserted again. So that's why it won't work on backups, it will check for the codes on the backup and won't see it. That's why modded PS2 are needed.

edit: crap realize the link I posted also sell modchips which I think is a bannable offense.
 
tenchir said:
It's about as legal as emulators. It's not the software itself that is illegal...........

Ooooh, a DVD9 game, that's a good game to test, let's see if it's at my BB tomorrow.
Click to expand...


Test CON, that way it may no longer hang :p
 
tenchir said:
Is there any game for the PS2 that is known for lots of loading? I think I might go to blockbuster tommorow. >)
Click to expand...
I will pretend I didn't read that Blockbuster remark Tenchir ;)
 
OK, I ordered one. :)

Now, is it easy to connect a regular non-Sony hard drive to the PS2 with the network adapter? For instance,... does it connect via a regular hard drive connector cord, and is there something inside that will hold the hard drive taught? The would I just need to put the rear panel back on to the unit?
 
Uh, I thought CoN only hanged in online mode? He's gonna have to download the rip and hack the DNAS to try it

maximusPSO said:
OK, I ordered one. :)

Now, is it easy to connect a regular non-Sony hard drive to the PS2 with the network adapter? For instance,... does it connect via a regular hard drive connector cord, and is there something inside that will hold the hard drive taught? The would I just need to put the rear panel back on to the unit?
Click to expand...


Take this

howto2.jpg



Connect it to this

howto3.jpg



Which should look like this

howto4.jpg



Insert like this

howto5.jpg



and wallah!

howto6.jpg



Make sure to set HDD as MASTER
 
Wario64 said:
Uh, I thought CoN only hanged in online mode? He's gonna have to download the rip and hack the DNAS to try it
Click to expand...

It hangs quite often in single player during loading screens. Usually popping the tray out and pushing it back in again will fix it tho.
 
Keep in mind about some WD drives, I read from the other forums that some of them won't fit onto the network adapter. Maxtor is the safest bet.
 
Wario64 said:
Uh, I thought CoN only hanged in online mode? He's gonna have to download the rip and hack the DNAS to try it
Click to expand...

Already thought ahead of you........

A thing about hack the DNAS, it's a lot easier now. You just need the image of the game, use a program and load the image. There are 5 blank hex values(for unpatch games), when you scan the iso which looks like xx xx xx xx xx. Here's the interesting part, the 4th hex value is the region code, which for NTSC games is always 30, so it's xx xx xx 30 xx. The fifth value doesn't seem to be verified for anything, so you can conceivably put any value in that. The first 3 values, you can use values from other DNAS game(if you already scanned them)..... or you can just guess them.

For information about PS2 HDD and online games, just visit the forums on www.ps2nfo.com
 
There are WD drives that fit, I just don't know which model WD drives won't fit. I can't seem to find the thread about compatible HDDs.
 
I just ordered one from the site that tenchir posted. It doesn't look very reputable, but it's only $20. Anyway, Wario64 said to make sure it's set to Master, well I have the official Sony one that came with FFXI, will I have to change the jumpers, or just leave them as-is?
 
I just ordered one from divinieo.com. Should be here in a week. Now I need a good hard drive to use. I'll be on the lookout for Maxtor 80+ GB drives.
 
Does this thing only work with PS2 titles? I was wanting to pick one up for my PS1 games (they really need sped up load times) and they're smaller than a PS2 game meaning less space used on my 40 gig Sony HDD.
 
Cool beans. Ever since I moved to a DVD booklet instead of individual cases, I've been afraid of scratches happening out of nowhere. This will at least keep me cool with my PS2 games. I'll never have to bring out my binder again for a while if it works the way it's purported.

HDLoader order +1.
 
ourumov said:
I wanted to use it to play imports...but since my Ps2 isn't modded I couldn't use it...Oh damn...
Click to expand...

If you had a friend then you could borrow his/her import PS2 for a day and get it all done.

EDIT: Well that tip was kinda obvious now wasn't it. :p
 
I have like 25 friends doing cog-swap...The problem comes when there are games with high TOC that cannot be loaded... One of them Xenosaga...
In theory, with the release of Champions of Norrath PAL that should be solved...I'll ask him today.
 
With the MMC exploid it is...The disc is totally stopped...Plus some of them even use special "PS2 boxes" that open their top so you can do the cogswap easier...

ps2.jpg
 
tenchir said:
Everytime you hit the Eject button or it ejects, it always have to recheck the region/protection code on the CD once it is inserted again. So that's why it won't work on backups, it will check for the codes on the backup and won't see it. That's why modded PS2 are needed.
Click to expand...

^^ Has anyone tried not using the eject button to swap out discs?
 
Do I have to have the HD Loader disk in my PS2 every time I want to play a game that is on the HDD?

Can someone recomende a hard drive? make and model

Thanks
 
Try http://www.storagereview.com/ and see if you find anything that suits you.

I can vouch for Seagate's Barracuda 7200.7 series. Very quiet drives and has an estimated net drive temperature of 19.5ºC.

They are also low-profile and will fit in the PS2 expansion bay, just tried it myself
 
So has anyone tried using PS2 games that support the HDD with this? Can I use it as a regular PS2 HDD for FFXI or whatever while also hosting images on the HDD? Come one, someone answer this...
 
Fowler said:
So has anyone tried using PS2 games that support the HDD with this? Can I use it as a regular PS2 HDD for FFXI or whatever while also hosting images on the HDD? Come one, someone answer this...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I must know this too. I already have FFXI installed on the official HDD, and I want to keep it. Can I use both FFXI and the game images? Do I need to format it again using HDD Loader?
 
From what I heard, it should work with the HDLoader. The HDLoader works like any other HDD-enabled games. Socom II and REO each creates each other partition on the HDD and it doesn't conflict with FFXI. The HDLoader should work the same way and will just create a partition on the HDD for each game(FFXI uses it's own partition). I don't have FFXI though.

I lend out my hacked DNAS/HDD-enabled Socom II to a friend so I can't test it out.

Edit: Went to the closest 2 blockbusters, because of the game card(flip card), all the worthwhile game I wanted are rented out. blah. No XenoSaga and no CON.
 
Uh oh, apparantly the HDDloader got delayed or something. At least that's what someone posted in one of those threads


You got the flipcard? I'd rahter just subscribe to gamefly.com


And someone said Xenosaga didn't work. It only transfers 3 GB to the HDD but it doesn't load. I guess it doesn't load then, oops
 
What other board? How can it be delayed if people like me already started receive it? Or does the person meant that people who ordered from other sites such as ps2cover are going to be delayed?

I don't use flip card, I just use coupons I get in game magazine(2 for 1) since I don't rent that many game.

As for XenoSaga, I thought the DVD9 problem is gone..... oh well. The ripped version of XenoSaga(4.3 GB) was installed though when you looked at their screenshot of the menu.
 
Delayed for people who are just ordering the HD Loader now. All those who already preordered before the shipping date should have theirs already or should be in the mail by now.
 
also some people are reporting even hd driives that fit don't always work with it , which was what I thought at frist that as long as the drive fits the ps2 it will work but thats not always the case it seems.
 
Anyone know how Dynasty Warriors 4XL works with this? I assume you have to still insert the DW4 disc even if both games are on the HDD?
 
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