A PS2 (US/Candian question - Probably stupid...) - and a PS2 HDD Q

[Friction]

Hi everyone,

Quick and easy question:

I'm after a new US PS2 - After a 50000 series because I want HDD support. I've decided to get one now as I suspect once the new slimline machine arrives the old ones will become hard to get, just one thing I was wondering:

If I got one from Canada would it be the same as getting one from the US? Would everything work the same, peripherals etc etc - presumably just end up with French manuals?

Also regarding the HDD: I have a US HDD unit installed in my old PS2 (some 3 years old so looking for a new replacement) and would obviously like to put it in the new machine.

Anyone know if it's as simple as just putting it in, or would I need to reformat it and reinstall it all over again?

The reason I ask is I read a while ago over on the Sony forums that once you install it clean it locks to that machine and needs to be reformatted if you want to put it in another machine. I did email Sony about this but they were not too clear?! Any ideas?

All help appreciated as always

[yashiro]

The PS2 would be fine, yes.

I would think as long as you use the HD with the same net adapter it'll be fine. Maybe.
I'm suprised no-one has replied about this.

[Friction]

Thanks fot the response

I actually have my new PS2 on order now, so as soon as it arrives I can update this thread with just what I needed to do to get the HDD working in the new machine.

I checked the Playstation.com forums once more for newer info, given I first checked around the time of the release of the HDD, and there seem to be two different ideas of what needs to be done.

A few people claim a full format and reinstall must take place before the HDD will work in the new machine, whilst another few people claim that everything will work fine except for titles that launch off the HDD - in my case this would only be Final Fantasy 11 - more specifically the Playonline browser.

If the second idea is correct all I would need to do is reinstall the Playonline browser and everything would be fine - apparently it isn't the actual HDD that keys to a machine, its just the progs that boot from it. This would make sense as when you first get the HDD you have to use the Playonline disc to activate the Playonline browser which is already on the HDD....