PS2 modding...help

[Blacksmith]

I am thinking about getting a ps2 and modding it.  Can somebody point me in the right direction as far as the best, easiest, and cheapest route to go?  Is there a tutorial for this?
Thanks.

[Hoagie_one]

easiest way (not cheapest) is to buy the memor 32 memory card and flash it with the memento firmware.  This gives mostly full mod chip functionality without  voiding the warranty.

Swap disks are the next easiest, but require....swapping disks.

Mod chips difficulty depends on model of ps2 and experience in soldering.  Many wires to solder on slim line ps2's, with very small solder points.

Main use of modding a ps2 is to play backups as its not much good as a media center or anything.

[SNAAKE]

save yourself the trouble and buy a premodded ps2 from craigslist or something.  slim ps2 is the hardest console ive ever modded..not sure which version but I wouldnt wanna do this for people

[Franco]

I don't know a lot about PS2 modding but I have a Phat PS2 and I went for the HD Advance solution.

I got a HDD, Network Adapter and Software disc from HD Advance. Real easy to use, plug the HDD into the adapter and then insert it into the PS2 (I was quite shocked to discover 1/4 of the PS2 is hollow for a HDD!)

Then you just insert the software disc and you then copy any games (originals only I think) onto the HDD. Once you have copied your games on you just leave the software disc in all the PS2 and when it boots you are given a game list of the games on the drive.

Advantages:
Real easy to use (think it may be slightly harder for the Slim PS2)
Games load faster off the HDD compared to normal
Doesn't void your warranty

Disadvantages:
Can be more expensive than other methods.
Your limited by the HDD capacity
You can only copy originals onto it (AFAIK)

[skim36]

I went through 3 consoles modding mine with a chip.  Very small solder points.....very.  The version 9 was the easiest for me cause you had alternate points to solder the bios connections, they didn't have to solder directly onto the bios chip.  Then after you manage to solder the 20 or so points onto the board, you wonder if you may get any cold solder joints....then you have to re-solder them all.  I modded mine at first with the memory card, and that's fine for most fatties.  The slim you need swap disks, unless you chip it.  But again, the points are very small, and the modchip itself is about the size of a postage stamp.  The wire you use is like thread.  Steady hands and a fine.....(we're talking FINE) tip soldering iron, no more than 15 watts or so.  If you're brave enough, it does work slick when it works.  My friend soft-modded his with the memory card and he's fine with it.  You're choice.

[rhoelsch]

I've read that swap disks seem to be (IMO) the easiest/cheapest way to go... ~$25 will get you 2 disks, CD and DVD,  you can make your own slide card for the PS2 phat, then swap to boot your game... problem is, sellers can be hard to find, at least reputable ones, esp. here in the U.S.

[SithMaster]

I went through 3 consoles modding mine with a chip.  Very small solder points.....very.  The version 9 was the easiest for me cause you had alternate points to solder the bios connections, they didn't have to solder directly onto the bios chip.  Then after you manage to solder the 20 or so points onto the board, you wonder if you may get any cold solder joints....then you have to re-solder them all.  I modded mine at first with the memory card, and that's fine for most fatties.  The slim you need swap disks, unless you chip it.  But again, the points are very small, and the modchip itself is about the size of a postage stamp.  The wire you use is like thread.  Steady hands and a fine.....(we're talking FINE) tip soldering iron, no more than 15 watts or so.  If you're brave enough, it does work slick when it works.  My friend soft-modded his with the memory card and he's fine with it.  You're choice.

wait your friend used a memory card for the slim or the fat ps2?  I ask because i have a ps2 with a missed up laser and would like to use a hd with it but my only current option is the usb extreme for the slim.

[stephenp1983]

If you have a phat ps2, then the hd advance/hd loader menthod is very simple.  Unfortunately you need a hard drive to back to games up to, so it wouldn't work with a newer slim ps2.

[waveryder]

I have an old fat PS2. Bought a second hand network adaptor and chucked in a spare 120gig maxtor Hardrive. I use free HDLoader and the PSX exploit on the memorycard. The exploit is easy to install. My Ps2 has the psx version of resident evil sitting in the drive, when it starts up it loads the exploit and my loading prog from there I can select to load games off the Internal Hard drive, usb hardrive or memory stick. I also dont have the HDadvance issue of only being able to install originals on the drive. As im here in the uk we kinda get screwed on progressive scan versions of games so I load the NTSC versions as iso's onto my internal hardrive with a prog called winHP. Well worth doing considering a second hand fat PS2 goes for bugger all on ebay here! If I could only get it to output VGA id stick one in my cab.

[skim36]

My Friend is actually using one of my old ps2's I thought I cooked...doesn't read discs too well, but it will boot to a HDD.  Breathed new life into it.

[Hoagie_one]

can you get it to boot to a hard drive without a disk?  I have a ps2 that will not read 95% of disks, but it practiacallynew in every other way.

[SithMaster]

I think you can if you put certain elf files on a memory card.

[Silver]

I think you can if you put certain elf files on a memory card.

Or you just mod it with a chip that supports HD booting, works a treat... no cd required.

In fact, no CD drive required at all - I've removed the CD reader completely and installed a 2.5" HD in its place after I saw someone else do it on the forum ages ago. Tight fit, but looks just like a slimline PS2 so very nice and small.

Installing a modchip and the 'HD Connect' addition (slimline ps2's need this as they are not HD ready) on a v13 ps2 was easily hardest console mod I've done by a mile. The solder points are far, far smaller than any other console I've opened (which is all of them apart from a 360 and ps3).

[SithMaster]

I think you can if you put certain elf files on a memory card.

Or you just mod it with a chip that supports HD booting, works a treat... no cd required.

In fact, no CD drive required at all - I've removed the CD reader completely and installed a 2.5" HD in its place after I saw someone else do it on the forum ages ago. Tight fit, but looks just like a slimline PS2 so very nice and small.

Installing a modchip and the 'HD Connect' addition (slimline ps2's need this as they are not HD ready) on a v13 ps2 was easily hardest console mod I've done by a mile. The solder points are far, far smaller than any other console I've opened (which is all of them apart from a 360 and ps3).

Hmm never thought of removing the cd drive for a hd.  Id love to do this to my slim but like you said the solder points are small and i cant really solder at all.  Could you maybe post a pic of the hd inside the slim case?

[Silver]

Hmm never thought of removing the cd drive for a hd.  Id love to do this to my slim but like you said the solder points are small and i cant really solder at all.  Could you maybe post a pic of the hd inside the slim case?

Yes here you go - please note these pics are NOT mine - I took these off a forum ages ago; they gave me the idea (ok, I stole it!).

If you can't solder, don't try and learn on a slim ps2, esp adding a HD, without plenty of practice....

[solid187]

I'll sell you mine for $150.00 shipped.  Save you the trouble.  Has a chip in it (not sure which one).  I never use it anymore.  e-mail me if interested.  bdaley1 @ columbus.rr.com

[SithMaster]

I'll sell you mine for $150.00 shipped.  Save you the trouble.  Has a chip in it (not sure which one).  I never use it anymore.  e-mail me if interested.  bdaley1 @ columbus.rr.com

Thanks but id rather use the one i have.

Hmm never thought of removing the cd drive for a hd.  Id love to do this to my slim but like you said the solder points are small and i cant really solder at all.  Could you maybe post a pic of the hd inside the slim case?

Yes here you go - please note these pics are NOT mine - I took these off a forum ages ago; they gave me the idea (ok, I stole it!).

If you can't solder, don't try and learn on a slim ps2, esp adding a HD, without plenty of practice....

Looks good.  Thanks for the pics they should come in handy when i learn how to solder well.  You mentioned the hd connect so can i assume you used the same paper thin cables it used?  Ill lookup mod chips that would work best.

[SavannahLion]

If I could only get it to output VGA id stick one in my cab.

The cable or getting the PS2 to play games in VGA?

[Silver]

Looks good.  Thanks for the pics they should come in handy when i learn how to solder well.  You mentioned the hd connect so can i assume you used the same paper thin cables it used?  Ill lookup mod chips that would work best.

Yes I currently have it hooked up via the thin ribbon cable. The guy who modded the one in the pics soldered the wires directly from the IDE connector to the motherboard which saves some room, so I may be looking to follow suit when I get the time....

[SithMaster]

Looks good.  Thanks for the pics they should come in handy when i learn how to solder well.  You mentioned the hd connect so can i assume you used the same paper thin cables it used?  Ill lookup mod chips that would work best.

Yes I currently have it hooked up via the thin ribbon cable. The guy who modded the one in the pics soldered the wires directly from the IDE connector to the motherboard which saves some room, so I may be looking to follow suit when I get the time....

Yeah i remember finding someone who used an ide cable instead of the thin ribbon cable on hackaday or some site.  Seems like it would be better to use the ide from a pc since it would be easier to manipulate without it tearing and you can separate the individual wires.

By any chance do you have a link to the forum topic you got the info from?  ill google and see what comes up cause i have some more questions and dont want to bug you.

[Silver]

Just found it again....  Not much info, but some pics....

http://www.console-exploits.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2631

[StereotypeA]

I was able to mod my slim PS2 using two pieces of tissue paper and some duct tape. It's the same idea as the "ghost clips" that sites like clear-xbox.com like to rip people off on. Spend 25 bucks on a swap magic disc, then take the top off the PS2, and tape down the two switches that tell the PS2 that the tray is open. It's really, really simple.

I can provide less vague details, if you so desire.

[Justin Z]

There was a similar little trick you could do on the PS1 -- you put a little spring in there and it held the sensor switch down that was normally depressed only when the lid was closed.

I would definitely like more info on that.

[Silver]

I was able to mod my slim PS2 using two pieces of tissue paper and some duct tape. It's the same idea as the "ghost clips" that sites like clear-xbox.com like to rip people off on. Spend 25 bucks on a swap magic disc, then take the top off the PS2, and tape down the two switches that tell the PS2 that the tray is open. It's really, really simple.

I can provide less vague details, if you so desire.

Yeh, if all you want is to do a 'swap trick' to run boot cd's then its a sensible approach for a slim. If you want HD though... better get some soldering practice!

[daywane]

I was able to mod my slim PS2 using two pieces of tissue paper and some duct tape. It's the same idea as the "ghost clips" that sites like clear-xbox.com like to rip people off on. Spend 25 bucks on a swap magic disc, then take the top off the PS2, and tape down the two switches that tell the PS2 that the tray is open. It's really, really simple.

I can provide less vague details, if you so desire.

more info if you have it please.
I have a version 9 I am playing with now.
but have a new slim version an lay-away

[SithMaster]

I think one of my switches wouldnt work even with the lid down so i taped them as well.  Nothing really to it just get some tape and maybe a piece of cardboard or paper folded a few times.

and yes i will be needing some soldering practice.  i have another question though for silver.  is your slim one of the first versions or a revision?  mine is the first that had the laser issue with the mobo using too much power to run it.  I believe the hd mod used the same power dongle for the hd so i would have to either overcome that or find a different way to power the hd.

thanks.

[Silver]

Mine is a v13 if I recall, definately either v13 or v14.

I read about the laser power issue (there is come circuit you can buy/make to get round it). A stock fault from sony if I recall?

I have ripped out the entire CD mech in the slim (laser and all) from the ps2 to make space for the 2.5" HD - so no power issues I've seen. Not even sure the laser was 5V (could have been).

[SithMaster]

Mine is a v13 if I recall, definately either v13 or v14.

I read about the laser power issue (there is come circuit you can buy/make to get round it). A stock fault from sony if I recall?

I have ripped out the entire CD mech in the slim (laser and all) from the ps2 to make space for the 2.5" HD - so no power issues I've seen. Not even sure the laser was 5V (could have been).

yep there is a circuit you can buy (probably to make as well).  right again, sony did make the mistake and i have to suffer since i got it used without a security seal.

silver thanks for the help with the questions.  hopefully when i get around to trying it everything goes well.

[Silver]

No worries, good luck.

Definately practice your soldering before a hd mod on a slim. Far and away the smallest solder points of any console I've been inside (which is basically everything apart from a ps3).