Just put a hdd in my pal ps2 .. why?

[kernow]

Is there much you can do with a pal one except final fantasy?

its silly how much support the hd got over here, in japan most titles use the drive for caching etc

I doubt even a linux cdr will run, sigh,

anyone got any ideas before i just take the drive out again

?

I wonder what filesystem it uses, surely not a derivitive of FAT

[Kubrick]

The official HDD? AFAIK, it was never sold here, hence why no PAL games support it.

[kernow]

the network adaptor has normal ide connectors , and as the sony official hard drive is an identical ide one, I just put a spare pc one in, fits perfectly.

they must have released it over here, as the JP official hard disk was external wasnt it? or was that merely the first PCMCIA version?

http://domain280.tripod.com/PS2_HDD_Pics.htm

[AlonzoUK]

I've fitted a normal IDE drive in mine (chipped PS2) and use the likes of HD loader to install and run my games from the HD. Doesn't work for all games but faster loading times are a godsend for some games. Apart from that though - no other use.

[kernow]

hmm, the jp hard disk was only external on earlier models

there must have released it over here or done something with it as the pal network adaptor still has ide connectors, but ..

maybe they did it for hdloader.. heh thats nice of them

does hdloader require a modchip? the ps2 doesnt rely on signed executables and whatnot does it..

more interested in the official features anyway

[smouty]

It's a good way to extend the life of your PS2. The laser on my v5 is dodgy so I run stuff from the HD. The official HD loader does not need a chip to run.
Oh and hdloader allows you to play any region from the HD

[Kubrick]

Yeah, only the first Japanese HDD was external (for SCPH-10000 & SCPH-15000 machines I think). Later machines used the internal one.

The only way to get the HDD in Europe was with the Linux kit direct from Sony. It was never sold as an "off-the-shelf" accessory like memory cards etc, plus Final Fantasy XI wasn't released here so there was no need for it.

[kernow]

hdloader sounds tempting then

theres a lot of exploits you can do using a certain ps1 game too, hmm, and a lot of homebrew to format the drive to PFS etc, just found a guide on how to do it using an unmodded ps2 and a ps1 game. hmm

thanks for the help fellas, I wish I was japanese, that ps2 with external hard disk is sex

[Kubrick]

Yeah, always wanted one of those external ones. I think someone on here has one..

[sj33]

The external one can't be used for HDLoader mind.

Unfortunately there's little official use for the HDD outside of FFXI and the odd game like RE Outbreak which use it for faster loading.

That said, the DMS4 Pro modchip has a built-in HDD loader called ToxicOS. Basically an improved version of HDLoader with ioncreased compatiblity, loading of homebrew, cheat codes etc... but boots as soon as you turn on the machine as opposed to needing a bootdisc.

Got this on my machine, coupled with a 300GB HDD.

[Jei]

The PS2 HDD was never supported in Pal Regions, No Pal Game supports it.

The Network Adapter obviously has the ports but sadly was never utilised in the UK.

Shame really

As for HDloader another thumbs up from me too. I use to use it in my old v7 ps2. Just a pointer too, your ps2 doesn't need to be modded to run HDloader but if it is you can transfer jap/usa region games onto the HDD too!

[Mayhem]

And if it isn't, you'll need to connect the HDD to your PC and use WinHIIP to transfer over US/JPN games to it instead.

[kernow]

hmm, I'm reading up on how to transfer the exploit to my memcard, I only have cdr's and an unmodded ps2 though, and no-one around with a modded ps2 to install the exploit on.

awesome. fail .. !

[Commander Marklar]

And if it isn't, you'll need to connect the HDD to your PC and use WinHIIP to transfer over US/JPN games to it instead.

Or use USB or hook it up via Ethernet and do it that way. Just as quick (compared to using the PS2 to do it).

Also, the Linux HDD isn't the same as the official drive. Only the official drive appears as a usable memory card in the system's browser. PAL games support it too and the HDD was available from Sony for a short time.

TOCA3 is aware of the HDD, for example.

[mid]

Kernow - you can transfer the custom HDLoader save file to a memory card using Action Replay and a USB thumbdrive; it's how I did mine.