hdl_dump and hdl_dumb

Contents

• Intro
• Networking server
• Compilation
• Configuration and list file location
• Configuration
• New features

Intro

The latest version, as well as documentation can be found on the new official repository, https://github.com/ps2homebrew/hdl-dump/

Me reads w1zard0f07@yahoo.com and psx-scene forums every now and then.

Easy guide for installing games can be found here http://web.archive.org/web/20120720230755/http://openps2loader.info/hdldump/howto.html

Networking server

Update: Currently, opl built-in server is the preffered option.

Deprecated: A UDP-based network server is available, based on the SMAP driver released by @sp193 http://ichiba.geocities.jp/ysai187/PS2/smap.htm. It is called hdl_svr_093.elf and is now part of the hdl_dump sources.

Note: You might need to punch a hole in your firewall for incoming UDP from port 12345.

Compilation

First of all you have to update your PS2SDK.

Next: you have to run diskload.sh to get the latest version of MiniOPL.

Finally: You just can run shell script in the project folder: mkrel.sh. It will compile both gui and normal version for Windows.

• Linux: Build and copy executable into a directory of your choice. make RELEASE=yes Advanced Linux build commands: make XC=win # for Windows cross-compilation using mingw32 make -C gui # for WineLib compilation (for now doesn't work) make -C gui XC=win # for GUI cross-compilation using mingw32

• Mac OS X or FreeBSD: You'll need to have GNU make installed, then gmake RELEASE=yes IIN_OPTICAL_MMAP=no or make RELEASE=yes IIN_OPTICAL_MMAP=no

• Windows: You need to have CYGWIN installed; then use make RELEASE=yes make -C gui RELEASE=yes to compile command-line or GUI version. You can use this guide for preparing sdk for Windows.

Configuration and list file location

You can place this files in folder where is installed hdl_dump for making it portable.

• Windows: (cited names are for English version of Windows) %APPDATA%\hdl_dump.conf %APPDATA%\hdl_dump.list

• Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD: (~ is your home dir) ~/.hdl_dump.conf ~/.hdl_dump.list

Configuration

• disc_database_file -- full path to your disc compatibility database file;

New features

All new stuff can be used from HDDOSD or BB Navigator or XMB from PSX DVR.

inject_dvd, inject_cd, install or copy_hdd.

This command will install games onto the hard disk.

Warning: Be careful with copy_hdd - every HDLoader game will be given the same icon.

Optionally, you can place boot.elf (which is actually miniopl.elf) in the folder where hdl_dump is launched from. You can also optionally include list.ico (*.ico from memory card) and icon.sys (*.sys from memory card), or you can write your own icon.sys file.

If you don't include an *.ico, the HDLoader logo is used. If you don't include *.sys, the default HDLoader icon settings are used..

boot.elf - you can use everything but I prefer miniopl. Miniopl allows you to launch titles from HDD OSD or BB NAV by pressing on title.

boot.elf injection address - 0x111000

boot.elf size limit - 2,026,464 bytes (thanks to kHn)

initialize

hdl_dump initialize /dev/sdb MBR.KELF

When you use this command and place the hard drive into your PlayStation 2 phat, it will launch the injected MBR.KELF. So it can be used as Free MCBoot replacement (no need for memory card or modchip for lauching homebrews).

All HDD data will remain intact.

MBR.KELF injection address - 0x404000 (for compatibility with PlayStation BB Navigator)

MBR.KELF size should be maximum 883200 bytes and have valid header.

Note: In a previous version this command tried to install one __mbr partition, but this command didn't work correctly and was replaced with MBR injection.

modify_header

This command injects header attributes into an existing partition.

hdl_dump.exe modify_header 192.168.0.10 PP.TEST

It can inject these files:

• system.cnf
• icon.sys
• list.ico
• del.ico
• boot.kelf
• boot.elf
• boot.kirx

Any one can be skipped. It first tries to inject boot.kelf, then if not found it will try to inject boot.elf.

Now icon.sys can be in any of 2 formats: Memory Card format or HDD format.

del.ico injection address: 0x041000 (If del.ico is used list.ico maximum size 260,096 bytes)

boot.elf (or boot.kelf) injection address - 0x111000

boot.elf size limit - 2,026,464 bytes (thanks to kHn)

boot.kelf size limit - 3,076,096 bytes (if boot.kirx not used)

boot.kelf size limit - 2,031,616 bytes (if boot.kirx is used)

boot.kirx injection address - 0x301000

boot.kirx size limit - 1,044,480 bytes

Hiding Games

You can hide games so that they are not visible in the HDD Browser by using the -hide switch with the install, inject_cd, inject_dvd or modify commands. A hidden game can be made visible again using the -unhide switch with the modify command.

Others

If you want to know more about these files (and their restrictions) you have to study official ps2sdk document called hdd_rule_3.0.2.pdf

There are also some undocumented features like this:

• If you want to inject boot.kelf (or boot.elf) you have to change BOOT2 in system.cnf

  BOOT2 = PATINFO
  

  This is used for HDL games for example. If you need to erase boot.elf from PATINFO you have to place zero-sized boot.kelf or elf in program folder.

  Note: PSX1 (DESR 1st generation) doesnt support PATINFO paramater. Only next option is available.

• If you want to launch KELF from PFS partition you have to change BOOT2 in system.cnf

  BOOT2 = pfs:/EXECUTE.KELF
  

  where EXECUTE.KELF - is path to KELF which is placed into partition. Can be changed.

• If you want to inject kirx into partition you have to add a line into system.cnf

  IOPRP = PATINFO
  

  Don't ask me about kirx - I don't know where it can be used.

• If you don't want to boot from HDD OSD you have to add such a line into system.cnf

  BOOT2 = NOBOOT
  

Happy gaming.