Tutorial Softmodding Fat PS2 with Hard Disk Drive

It is some kind of tutorial and faq.


You purchased the phat ps2 and want to run games, programs and do whatever you want. Other words you are searching for easy way for launching ELF files cause if you can launch elf file - you can do whatever you want. There are some methods that are universal for all PS2 (Fat and Slim):

- FreeMcBoot
- SwapMaagic (or something like this)
- ModChip

For installing FreeMcBoot : you need FreeMcBoot (yeah recursion ) and memory card. So you need to find some other console (that is already modded) : get access to it and install FreeMcBoot. Not so easy (e.g. I was searching for it for about YEAR!!!)
For using SwapMagic - you have to buy swapmagic disc and you have to get working laser (for example my Fat PS2 cannot launch disks anymore ). SwapMagic is expensive and not so easy to find. I know that there is a way how to make swapmagic from some licensed game but As for ModChips - I dont like these chips - because they are expensive, can damage your system, and isn't fully compatible with some fat ps2 exclusive stuffs.


But there is one more method - exclusive for "FAT" version. I mean Hard Disk Drive modification.


1) Firstly you need some special accessories for your. If you have SCPH-1x000 version (early japanese units) you have to find somewhere special accessories for it: HDD system external unit, PS2 linux kit, bb navigator kit etc. Unfortunately you cannot connect these official Hard Drives to PC so this guide not for you :P Check this vid.
But if you have SCPH-3xxxx or SCPH-5xxxx this guide is for you. You need to get somewhere Network adapter (external bay). If you are so lucky you already have it but sometimes you need to buy it somewhere. All known models are listed here.


2a) Next you need to purchase IDE hard disk. You don't need to purchase official Sony Hard Disk. Soft Modding will work fine with any of your old IDE hard drive [B]except of Western Digital models (see FAQ below). For example it works fine with my 2Gb (!) 1994year hard drive (Fujitsu Siemens). All my seagate, fujitsu, intel and other drives are working fine.


2b) If you really need SATA for some reason (you cannot find IDE, you need bigger disks, you need faster disk, you dont have motherboard with IDE support etc.) you have to check
this post (Adapter for SATA HDD) Of course if you use SATA disk step 3 is much more easier.


3) Next - you have to find PC with old motherboard which have possibility to connect old IDE hard drive. Or you have to find some USB-to-IDE adaptor. Unfortunately there is no other way for now. As for me I just swap my old DVD-ROM with this hard disk drive (caution don't do it if your PC is switched on). But if you use some USB-to-IDE you can connect it without turning PC off.


So assuming - you need Fat PS2, Network Adapter, IDE Hard Disk and PC with ability to connect IDE devices (running windows).


4) After hdd connection you have to launch some windows on this PC. Start program called HDD Raw Copy Tool (search google).


Here we have to select the SOURCE. Click FILE and select the dump file - ULE_442B_SMALL.IMG (search google).
Click continue...
Here we have to choose the TARGET HDD. Select your PS2 HDD in the list. MAKE SURE IT IS YOUR PS2 HDD AND NOT ONE OF YOUR PC HDDS.(search google)
Click continue...
Click continue;
The "warning" message appears. Make sure it shows the name of your PS2 HDD then click Yes



5) Thats all. Now you can connect Hard Drive to your PS2. Dont forget to set jumper settings into Master. In some cases you have to disable modchip (if you have one). After console launching it will show you uLaunchElf And with uLaunchelf you can launch what ever you want.

Click here to download Fat soft mod files.