Successfully running a utility disc on older TEST PS2

[Golberg]

Has anyone actually managed to run a utility disc (BB. Nav, HDD Utility, DVD Driver Update, Network Setup Disc etc) on a debug/TEST PS2 that is from the DTL-H3000X series or before?

The information is very sketchy, some people say you can patch them and they will work, others say they won't work at all. What I am after are definite accounts of people having run them. In my experience I haven't managed to get a DTL-H30002 S to load a utility disc wether its retail, straight copy or master patched to anything past the "PlayStation 2" Screen.

[dickibow]

Well, now that my DTL-H30001 is back in service - I tried it and nope I cannot get past the "PlayStation 2" logo either.

Let me try my Linux kit.....

[Sally]

Oops, i missed this thread before... I have the network adapter and hard drive discs running on my DTL-h30002. Just patched the iso as master with looser's app and they worked. With your TEST being an "S" type, you might have to make sure the disc is set for the right reigon in the config file.

[dickibow]

My DTL-H30001 is NTSC U/C and a patched version of the US HDD utility disc won't boot either.....hmm...

The disc works fine on my DTL-H50001.....why???!!!

[Golberg]

With your TEST being an "S" type, you might have to make sure the disc is set for the right region in the config file.

I just got REZ NTSC J and it works fine in retail form, so I am starting to believe that the only difference between an "S" and a normal is the cover logo. I believe the "S" series consoles were the ones sent to magazine game reviewers (where mine came from).

By the way ProgrammingAce the reason i got REZ was because of your raving review of it on your website. And another thing do you think there is any point in getting the "Trance Vibrator", do you have one?

Before I pull this topic to far off track, in answer to this:

The disc works fine on my DTL-H50001.....why???!!!

I believe that in the early days of the PS2 Sony didn't want developers being able to make their own utility discs so that they could manipulate the console. This only my opinion, but it would explain why the older debugging stations weren’t able to run utility discs. When the network adapter was brought in and games started going online the debug stations needed to be able to run utility discs so that they could test the online functionality. Hence why your DTL-H50001 reads utility discs without any trouble at all.

One last point, the Linux discs should work on any console, as they are not made as utility discs. My DTL-H30002 S will read the disks and boot fine but because the discs aren't original it doesn't recognise the second disc properly and so I can't install it.

Sorry for this massively long post, had a lot to say

[dickibow]

Well - did a lot of testing last night....

My DTL-H30001 will not play ANY game that uses the HDD/network adapter. If you have a PS2 with an HDD (properly formatted and recognised by the console) you'll notice that if you play a regular game that doesn't use the HDD as the "PlayStation 2" screen comes up, you'll hear the HDD click off and go into sleep mode. I cannot get the DTL-H30001 to even recognise that the HDD is plugged in.

Ok, tried to run HDD utility disc - nope. Tried to play FFX International (choice of installing to HDD on main screen) nope blank screen, tried to run Juiced (Acclaim beta) - nope, Linux for PS2 nope! Managed to play MGS3 but if I try to download the camouflages, I get an error message saying communications device not attached. I cannot get the HDD to spin once in this console. How weird.

I have no idea if it is true or not but maybe only some of the newer DTL-H3000x consoles can run the HDD because I know some can. I had one once that would not play the utility disc but I could run the HDD whilst I was in a game (such as FFX International).

Oh well, that's where the newer 50001 comes in handy!

99.5% of all region retail games work on the console fine (just not HDD compatible ones, JAP ones mainly)

[Golberg]

Interesting, what actually happens when you run the Linux disc?

I think I may have a way to get your HDD games to work with the HDD. There are settings you can put into the SYSTEM.CNF file that tell the ps2 to turn on the HDD at boot. You will need to extract all the data from your disc using Apache 2: http://www.backuptools.co.uk/modules...op=getit&lid=2
Now that you have extracted all the data, open Notepad then choose to open the SYSTEM.CNF in the folder to which you extracted everything. You should see a small amount of text something like this:

BOOT2 =cdrom0:\SLPS_999.99;1
VER =1.00
VMODE =NTSC

Now from there you need to add a new line so that it says:

BOOT2 =cdrom0:\SLPS_999.99;1
VER =1.00
VMODE =NTSC
HDDUNITPOWER =NICHDD

Save it and that should tell the PS2 to run the HDD at boot. Now you need to open CD_DVD-ROM Generator. Drag each file into the directory window that you extracted, do it one by one in the same order that they appear in Apache. Now you need to fill in the Volume details then export the iml file. Open Apache again now find import iml file, import the iml you just made, now you can choose build iso. Burn away!!!

Hopefully after all that your DTL-H30001 will be able to play HDD games, personally i can't test it because: 1. I don't have an offical HDD, 2. I don't have any HDD games.

Now, after going through all that I realised that Apache is able to convert the CD iml files to ISOs, this should help you dickibow to burn the QA Tool.

ProgrammingAce, could you check for me how many screws/screw caps are on the bottom, of your DTL-H30002U. I am interested to know what motherboard it has, as that may be the key to why your one runs utility discs and others don't.

[Sally]

Interesting, i have 10 screws in my DTL-H30002... My SCPH-H30001 only has 8... I know the debug is legit, it came from Assembler himself, it still has the Acclaim sticker on it.

[mdmx]

Ok, tried to run HDD utility disc - nope. Tried to play FFX International (choice of installing to HDD on main screen) nope blank screen, tried to run Juiced (Acclaim beta) - nope, Linux for PS2 nope! Managed to play MGS3 but if I try to download the camouflages, I get an error message saying communications device not attached. I cannot get the HDD to spin once in this console. How weird.

same problems as me :(

I hope Goldberg's trick with the SYSTEM.CNF works. Has anyone tested that?

[Golberg]

Interesting, i have 10 screws in my DTL-H30002... My SCPH-H30001 only has 8... I know the debug is legit, it came from Assembler himself, it still has the Acclaim sticker on it.

Its the same as mine in the sense that mine has 10 screws. It seems that most if not all DTL-H3000X models are be based on the same early model of motherboard, my understanding is that it is a V3 motherboard. Your SCPH-30001 is probably based on the V4 motherboard, this only has 8 screws, but the first SCPH-30001s did have a V3 motherboard (with 10 screws).

dickibow, mdmx, how many screws do your DTL-H3000X series consoles have?

I'm interested to see how people go with that HDD method.

[mdmx]

my DTL-H30002U has 10 screws.

[dickibow]

My DTL-H30001 E has 10 screws and doesn't work with the HDD.

My other DTL-H30001 E also had 10 screws and DID work with the HDD....but I sold it to a French guy.

I can only think older DTL-H3000x consoles don't do the HDD but newer ones do...?? Does that sound feasible?

[Golberg]

I can only think older DTL-H3000x consoles don't do the HDD but newer ones do...?? Does that sound feasible?

Chances are that you are correct, they must have realised that they needed to be able to run the HDD at a later stage. It seems strange that they wouldn't update the motherboard to a new version though, but maybe it was cheaper to continue with the old.

I have just been looking at the serial numbers on different models of debugging stations; I got these from eBay auctions because of people who didn't remove the serial from the picture. I have three from the DTL-H3000X series one of which is mine, but out of all of them mine is the latest. The point I am getting to is, if we look at the serial numbers of people's out there then we may be able to figure out at what stage the utility disc compatible ones came about. I'm not asking for you to post your serial number here, but if you could PM me with just the first 3 numbers and the model number of the console. I am willing to give away the first 3 numbers of mine and the other serials I have so if you send me yours I can send you back the others I have.

I will not be offended if you don't want to send your part of the serial, but it might help solve the puzzle of the utility disc capable DTL-H3000X series consoles.

Thanks everyone

1/28/06 (or 28/1/06 for those not in the US like myself):
Shall I take it then that people don't want to share the first part of thier serial, doesn't bother me its yours do with as you see fit. I guess I will just wait until my DTL-H30002 arrives then test if it can boot utility discs. If it does it will be interesting to see what its serial is in comparison to the others I have.

Oh, and has anyone tried that HDD method?

Thanks anyway for your help,

PS. I did have a double post but I thought that it would go down better if I just edited

[mdmx]

Interesting, what actually happens when you run the Linux disc?

I think I may have a way to get your HDD games to work with the HDD. There are settings you can put into the SYSTEM.CNF file that tell the ps2 to turn on the HDD at boot. You will need to extract all the data from your disc using Apache 2: http://www.backuptools.co.uk/modules...op=getit&lid=2
Now that you have extracted all the data, open Notepad then choose to open the SYSTEM.CNF in the folder to which you extracted everything. You should see a small amount of text something like this:

BOOT2 =cdrom0:\SLPS_999.99;1
VER =1.00
VMODE =NTSC

Now from there you need to add a new line so that it says:

BOOT2 =cdrom0:\SLPS_999.99;1
VER =1.00
VMODE =NTSC
HDDUNITPOWER =NICHDD

Save it and that should tell the PS2 to run the HDD at boot. Now you need to open CD_DVD-ROM Generator. Drag each file into the directory window that you extracted, do it one by one in the same order that they appear in Apache. Now you need to fill in the Volume details then export the iml file. Open Apache again now find import iml file, import the iml you just made, now you can choose build iso. Burn away!!!

Hopefully after all that your DTL-H30001 will be able to play HDD games, personally i can't test it because: 1. I don't have an offical HDD, 2. I don't have any HDD games.

tried this setting with my linux disc, but it won't work for me :shrug:


maybe the harddisk needs a different jumper setting on a older TEST ?

[Sally]

The hard drive should be set to primary master

[mdmx]

The hard drive should be set to primary master

yes, it is set as master. But maybe you have to set a cylinder limitation for the older Test models.

the hdd bundled with my linux is a Maxtor DiamondMax D540X-4D:
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...Max%20D540X-4D

I've tried different jumper settings, but it won't work too.

[Golberg]

Older TESTs can run the HDD even if only for non Sony authorised stuff. My DTL-H30002 S used to have HDAdvance running on it fine, and I can also format the HDD with the DMS format tool. Note: this was all done with a standard Maxtor 40G hard drive.

Looking at your old thread about not being able to run the Linux leads me to belive that your expansion port is damaged. If you never hear your hard drive spin up, then it is not getting any power. The HDD will always spin up when you turn on the PS2, and then whatever game/disc you put in will determine if it keeps running or not.

If you were really keen you could try and hack apart your network adapter then run an external power source to try and get a response.

[mdmx]

Looking at your old thread about not being able to run the Linux leads me to belive that your expansion port is damaged. If you never hear your hard drive spin up, then it is not getting any power. The HDD will always spin up when you turn on the PS2, and then whatever game/disc you put in will determine if it keeps running or not.

yes, I think so too. every application that makes use of the network adaptor won't boot on my TEST.

the network adaptor has power, because I get a link signal when connecting a network cable. The power for the hdd works too. I've installed a nice cold cathode and it lights up fine. But the hdd does not spin up :(

it's very strange :crying: