PS2:Using a broken PSX as a PS2

This process has been confirmed to work on a DESR-7100 unit with a dead/missing HDD. If this process works for you on a different model please update this page!

DESR-7100 splash screen

Is the HDD in your PSX dead and it only starts up to a black screen? Well good news everyone! You can still use it as a PS2 with only a little bit of effort!

The process below will allow a partially-broken PSX to boot from a memory card in PS2 mode which will work with Open-PS2-Loader (OPL) to load games from SMB, USB, and MX4SIO.

Prerequisites:

1. A first generation PSX unit model DESR-5000/5100/7000/7100 that can power up and show the PSX splash screen.
2. A spare memory card to dedicate to the PSX
3. A PS2 console running FMCB to set up the memory card
4. A small (less than 4GB?) USB stick formatted as FAT32

Preparing the memory card

1. Download the latest FMCB Installer
2. Extract the latest 7z file to a FAT32 formatted USB drive (must be MBR partition, not GPT)
3. Plug the USB drive into to your FMCB PS2 console and start it up
4. Once started open LaunchELF from the main menu
5. Press Circle to open the FileBrowser
6. Select mass:// and Press Circle
7. Go to the FMBC installer folder and Press Circle
8. Select FMCBInstaller.elf and Press Circle
9. Once started remove the memory card you use for the PS2
10. Insert the memory card you want to use for the PSX in slot 1
11. On the FMCB installer main screen press R1 twice to go to the Memory Card Menu
12. Highlight Format MC and Press Cross
13. Highlight Yes and Press Cross
14. Once formatting is complete Press Cross
15. Press L1 to go to the Extras Menu
16. Highlight Install FMCB (PSX) and Press Cross
17. Highlight Yes and Press Cross
18. FMCB will now be installed
19. Once installation is complete Press Cross
20. Unplug the memory card from the PS2
21. Press Circle to exit or power off the PS2

The memory card can now boot FMCB in a fully working PSX, but not one with a broken HDD. Continue below...

Configuring FMCB to work on a PSX with dead/no HDD

1. Start up your FMCB PS2 console as normal and make sure you get the FMCB main menu
2. Plug the PSX memory card into slot 2
3. Open LaunchELF
4. Press Circle to open the FileBrowser
5. Select mc0:// and Press Circle
6. Select SYS-CONF and Press Circle
7. Select FMCB_CFG.ELF and Press Circle
8. Press Circle to choose a control scheme
9. Select Load CNF from MC1 and Press Circle. Not MC0! We need to load from the PSX memory card
10. Select Configure E1 launch keys and Press Circle
11. Select Auto and Press Square
12. Navigate to mc0:/BOOT/
13. Select BOOT.ELF and Press Circle
14. The Auto selection should now show BOOT.ELF
15. Press Triangle to return to the previous menu
16. Select Save CNF to MC1 and Press Circle. This will save the configuration to the PSX memory card
17. The memory card is now ready to use in the PSX! Turn off the PS2 and remove the PSX memory card

Starting up the PSX

1. Just like the PS2; insert the memory card then power on the system
2. You should get the PSX splash screen, followed by the FMCB splash, then LaunchELF should start!
3. You can now launch homebrew etc from LaunchELF like a normal PS2! To start a game off disc go to MISC then PS2Disc

Why does this work?

When a PSX has a dead HDD system initialization fails and it can not load the OSDSYS. FMCB works by using an exploit in the console's boot process and patches OSDSYS to add new launch options, but a PSX can't use OSDSYS when in a broken state...

We solved this problem by configuring LaunchELF to start by default. This gets us around the OSDSYS problem and means we can boot in PS2 mode! From this mode you can not use any of the PSX DVR features or access memory card contents but the system will fully function as a PS2.