Ace's guides: A TRUE working exploit for slim PlayStation 2s(CD, Memory Card, and USB Memory Stick) Also available for users of fat PlayStation 2s.

Okay, so that clears things up. Once it's confirmed that this would do the exact same thing as the Independence Exploit, we'll announce it to the most important PlayStation 2 modding sites. Oh, and by the way, I added the disclaimer at the end of the guide.

 

*Update* Hey Ace i've did a revision of your guide for the USB SoftMod for Slimline and edited the guide a lil bit. Hope you dont mind. I've tested this vs the orginal way and this way is a lil bit quicker.

What you need:
-Action Replay MAX
-MAX Media Creator(included with Action Replay MAX)
-USB Memory Stick
-1 blank CD-R(Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, or Sony)
-CD Loader ELF(found here: http://www.geocities.com/jjax1975/CDLOADER.zip)
-Cog-Swap ELF(found here: http://console.iscentral.net/index.php?go=downloads&cat=6 at the bottom of the page)
-PS2 Exploit Utility(found here: http://console.iscentral.net/index.php?go=downloads&cat=5)
-WinRAR(to extract the compressed files)
-Alcohol 120%(to burn the exploit disc)

1) Now that you have all you need, un-zip all the files you downladed with WinRAR and launch PS2 Exploit Utility.

2) Here's what you have to do for each of the tabs:
-Title.db: nothing
-Loader: nothing(keep uLaunchELF 3.61 selected)
-Files: Browse for file (I keep all my elf files in 1 folder that way it'll be easier to find)find the cogswap.elf and select it. Now right beside it you should see "Add Files" click that. Under Added files you should see cogswap.elf
-IP Options: click "Yes" ONLY if you will use your PlayStation 2 over a network
-Region: NTSC for NTSC U/C consoles, PAL for PAL, and JAP for NTSC J
-Extras: keep the dummy file the way it is, now select any button you want (this will be the boot button) and on the pull down screen of the button select cogswap.elf
-Create Exploit: select "CD/HD image (bin/cue)" and select "Live CD" in "Options for CD image"

3) Now that everything is set up, click "Create Exploit!". You will get a window saying that there are no title IDs in Title.db, and that no files have been chosen. Click "Yes" both times. When the job is done, you will see this message:
A CD image has been built here: C:\IsCentral\ that can be used as a CD or HD image!

4) When the image file is made, put in your blank CD-R and start Alcohol 120%. Click "Image Burning Wizard". Locate your CD image, click it, then click "Next". You will now be at a window called: Prepare your CD/DVD recorder. Set the write speed to 4X (some burners wont burn at 4x speed for some reason, if yours dont then just keep it at maxium), datatype to PlayStation 2 (if you have this option, some versions of Alcohol only have customize in the datatype box), check "Rectify Sub-Channel Data", then click "Start".

5) You now have the Exploit CD ready. You now need a way to boot it. We'll use CD Loader. Install MAX Media Creator and start it up. Click "Add file", and locate CDLOADER.elf. Click "USB Drives" in "Output Media", select the location of your USB memory stick, and click "Create".

Now were ready to boot our backup!

1) Start cdloader.elf from the memory stick in Max Media Player

2) When the AR disk stops spinning, swap it for the uLaunchElf disk, the one you created with the utility and alcohol and press X.

3) uLaunchElf should load. If it dont, then either two things are wrong 1. You burnt the media wrong 2. Your laser may need cleaning

4) Ok were down to final step! Press the key you assigned to load cogswap. And Voila!!! Cogswap will load!

Now instructions on using Cogswap for those who dont know.

1) Remove the piece you have put over the front lid sensor of your PlayStation 2

2) Insert a high TOC ORIGINAL DVD-ROM game(one that has a silver base) whose size is over 4GB(you have to check on your computer, and you CANNOT use a Dual Layer DVD-ROM game, which are those that are over 4.5GB, I think).

3) Place the piece you removed from the lid sensor shown earlier back where it was.

4) Keep an eye on your screen until a yellow disc shows on the screen with "PS2 DVD-ROM" or something like that under it.

5) Once you see the yellow disc with "PS2 DVD-ROM" or similar, press X on your controller. The disc will spin again(it stops when the screen shows the yellow disc). When the disc spins, keep your eyes on your TV screen until you see the yellow disc turn purple and "PS2 DVD-ROM" or similar kind of writing change to "Use Cogswap".

6) When that change happens, swap your original with your backup.

That's the best I can do. If that doesn't help, there are two other things that can play a factor:

1) The way you burn your games.

2) The media you use.

So Ace as you can see your guide as made a big impact on me As i said earlier i've tested this method and its quicker...theres always room for improvement.

Guide for backing up Ps2/Xbox Games (You can add this to your guide too if you want.)
DVD Decrypter

First, go to Mode>ISO>READ
Select a destination
Then click the decrypt button
Once it has completed reading
go to Mode>ISO>WRITE
Select the file you saved before it should be a .MDS file (thats what it is when i backup PS2 games)
Wait until finish and test in xbox

Alcohol 120%

Click on image making wizard
click next and select a folder for it to be saved in
after it has completed reading click on image burnig wizard
broswe to the folder you saved the file in before and select the file saved (off the top of my head its a .ISO)
and click burn and wait for completion

you could also use DVD Wizard Pro which has an in built function to burn console games from Xbox, PS2 and PC games.

 

Thanks, Ghost, I never thought of doing that. I'll add whatever you changed. BUT, you did remove the procedure to assign buttons, so I'm keeping that(you can only assign buttons in the utility if you're using the CD method).

 

Dude there isn't no need to thank me...its your guide. I should be thanking you! I'm just glad you thought it was a good idea!

 

hi can i not just burn cdloader.elf onto another cd and boot it from there

 

Sure you can. There is always more than one way to do things

*Instructions* CD Loader on CD

1) Install MAX Media Creator and start it up. Click "Add file", and locate CDLOADER.elf. Click "Save to File" in "Output Media", select the directory in which the file will be saved, click "Create", and choose "CD image".

2) You should now have two files in the chosen directory, Audio.bin and Audio.cue. Open up Nero Express, select "Disc Image or Saved Project". A window will open up. Select "Image files" in "Files of type" and locate and select Audio.cue. Set the write speed to 4X and burn the disc.

There now Cd loader is on disc. Happy Modding!!!

 

Ghost, will the USB method work on a FAT PS2 (SPCH 39001)?

I've tried booting just CogSwap on CD-R from CD Loader and it just got stuck on the red milky way picture with the pink border.

This way would be nice because no PSX game is involved. Easier than jjax's guide.

If I could just get *something* to boot from CD Loader...

 

urm i think the ub method will work yh:>

 

hi does the backup you swap with the original have to be the same and can you use action replay cheats to load the disk with aswell

 

Bernstine- I was trying to figure out a way to boot from Cd Loader too. That way you would only need 1 cd, throughout the whole process...besides the high TOC ps2 game. I'm still working on it

 

Ps2gen- The backup you swap with the orginal does not have to be the same. Just make sure that the orginal ps2 game is bigger or equal in size than the back up game. I've been swapping all my games out with San Andreas, its a very big game. (Even bigger than newer games i even swapped it with madden 07) And i dont know if you can use Action Replay...but i read somewhere that you couldn't.

 

hi ghost can you send me the image file you used to create the launch.elf cd cheers. please pm me for my email adress if you would like to send it thank you very much and you would be a great help to me if you would send it as i am having great problems creating the disk

 

Sorry dude i really would like to send it...but its 118 mb and i got dial up Tell me what your having problems with and maybe i can help you. Explain everything you dont understand about making the exploit.

 

hi there when i make the exploit there are 3 differnt files. iscentral 116mb, iscentral.cue 75bytes and iscentral.toc 1kb. i have used 2 different cd's to burn just the is central file and another to burn all three onto. but when i run alcohol120% it does not recognise the 116mb file to burn unless i clik for it to burn all files. anyway i did all that at 8x and took it to my playststion2 i then follwed the methods using action replay and put in the cdloader.elf cd. it then says insert change cd and press x to play i then insert the game americas 10 most wanted and then it says ps2dvd then i press load (x) then it says insert dvd r by ea method then i load my backup and it just says invalid media. please help.

 

Why are you doing it that way? There isnt even a need for the exploit disc doing it that way. I dunno why its reading invalid media, so just do it the way i explained earlier, look about 12 posts up. The way you are doing it now is more related to MasterChu's guide and his didnt work for me so you will just have to follow ACe's.

 

Ps2gen, "Invalid Media" is not supposed to pop up when you boot a copied DVD through CD Loader. Do you have any MOD to make your PlayStation 2 think that the lid is closed when it's actually opened? If not, then that may explain the "Invalid Media" writing popping up. Does it pop up where "PS2 DVD" was? If so, then you have no MOD to keep your PlayStation 2's lid sensors down(or if you have a fat, a MOD to take the disc out without using the "Eject" button).

 

Yo Ace how many posts do i have to make to become a junior memeber/member? Also i'm buying the Swap Magic Discs! I recommend all of those who can to buy them also or modchip. It's quicker that way. Although i do love finding out new things/exploits about my ps2 so i wont give that up! To tell the truth i like exploiting/modding my ps2 than playing the games themselves. lol

 

Is it possible to make a PSX trigger disk from a backup PSX game?

 

ok is there anyway to a dvd exploit? i thougth this was for dvd so i brought out my magic swap cd and tried and everything worked after 1 hour of trying and then its just for cds my cousin has the dvd version of magic swap so is there anyway i can play dvd games on my v14 besides buying a modchip or getting the ddv version bacl?

 

The guide on the 1st page of this thread isnt for Ps2 cd games....Which method are you using? Cd, Memory Card, or USB?